Hi friends!
Today I will tell you about our trip to the Russian city of Kazan. Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, which is part of Russia. In the 5-6 century ad in this territory was the state of Volga Bulgaria, which was then captured by the troops of Genghis Khan. The age of Kazan is more than a thousand years.
Now the descendants of different nationalities live on the territory of Tatarstan. The main peoples are Tatars and Russians. Tatarstan has two languages - Russian and Tatar.
Tatars have their own language, their own culture. The religion of the Tatars - Islam, unlike the main religion of Russian - Orthodox religion.
Therefore, there are many mosques in Kazan, although there are Orthodox churches. We went to Kazan with my daughter. I was interested to see a Russian city with a different culture and religion.
The Kazan Kremlin
The heart of the city is the Kazan Kremlin. Its ancient walls have survived for many centuries. The Kazan Kremlin is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Kazan is located between two rivers - Volga and Kazanka. Here from the Kremlin you can see the Volga on the horizon.
Söyembikä Tower
It's a falling tower. The vertical deviation is about 2 meters. The age of the tower for about 5 centuries. Different legends are connected with the tower
According to one of them, the tower was built by Queen Suyumbike in memory of her husband Safa Giray, who died in 1549. According to another legend, it was built by order of Ivan The Terrible for seven days (symbolizing its seven tiers) after the capture of Kazan in 1552 on the condition-the request of Queen Syuyumbike, who threw herself out of the window of the tower. In one version of this legend, the Russian Tsar offered to marry her.
Orthodox Church in the Kazan Kremlin. We never went. I have been to Orthodox churches a lot, so it was more interesting for me to see Islamic mosques.
The main mosque of Kazan - Kul Sharif Mosque. It was opened in 2005. Construction took about 10 years. The mosque was built on the site of an old destroyed mosque.
Tourists are allowed to go inside the Kul Sharif Mosque. You only need to tie a scarf on his head, and wear long aprons that cover his bare feet. For tourists there is a separate side staircase, which you can climb and do not interfere with the faithful to pray.
It was my first time in a mosque. It was very interesting. Inside is not arranged as in Orthodox churches. Inside the walls are written Arabic phrases from the Koran.
There are many Muslims in Tatarstan, so you can meet Tatar girls in hijabs and long clothes on the streets of the city. But they look very beautiful and fashionable. Sometimes I thought I was in Dubai.
City centre
All Central streets of the city diverge radially from the Kazan Kremlin. We lived in the center and each time walked through different streets and came to the Kremlin.
The center of Kazan is very beautiful! I liked the old buildings as well as the new ones that are similar to the old ones.
There are a lot of fountains in Kazan! They are on the streets, squares and even in the water channels.
It is a fountain - Water girl from tales of national Tatar writer Ğabdulla Tuqay.
But the fountains in the canal. In the evening, the fountains are illuminated in different colors.
And these fountains on the square near the city theater. This, too, illuminating different colors in the dark.
On this square there is one of the most interesting sculptures of fairy - tale characters-Şüräle and Batyr. It is the characters from tales of national Tatar writer Ğabdulla Tuqay.
The tale of Şüräle
Süräle is a forest spirit with long fingers that tickled lost people to death. Batyr outwitted Shurale. He made him put his fingers in the cleft of the tree. Şüräle's fingers are stuck in the tree. He remained sitting with pinched fingers.
Kaban Lakes
In addition, Kazan is located between two rivers Volga and Kazanka, in the city there is a lake Kaban. . We took a boat ride on the lake and listened to the audio guide. There is a legend connected with the lake that the treasures of Genghis Khan are kept at the bottom of the lake.
There are too many legends in this city!
The old Tatar settlement
The old Tatar settlement is one of the historical parts and complex attractions in the center of Kazan. There are preserved hundred-year-old buildings. This is a pedestrian part of the city.
In the old Tatar settlement there are several mosques. This is the Mosque of al-Marjani. Compared to Kool-Sharif, everything looks modest.
This is a pedestrian street of the city. Very few tourists. Few people come here.
So look at home of the Tatars, who lived here a hundred years ago. Wooden houses, gates-all these buildings are preserved and restored.
On the same street the second mosque Apanaev.
The entire pedestrian street in the old Tatar settlement is planted with lime trees. We were in their flowering period, and it was wonderful.
Old colored houses stand in a row. It looks better than the gray huge buildings in the background.
After a walk along the old Tatar settlement we moved to the other side of the lake Kaban. Here is a complex Tugan Avylym, which translated from Tatar means "Native village". In the middle of the city is a complex of wooden houses. It reproduced the Tatar village. The complex is interesting, there is national Tatar music (very beautiful), there is a restaurant, a playground and apple trees.
Kazan from a bird's-eye view
I heard that we can look at Kazan from a bird's-eye view. For this it was necessary to climb the tallest building in Kazan, where the helipad. Of course, all this was not free. The city from above looks quite different when you are on its streets.
This is the Kul Sharif Mosque.
Here you can see the main pedestrian street of Kazan-Bauman street, which leads to the Kremlin. Most tourists gather here.
This is another view of the Kazan Kremlin.
And here try to find an unusual building. It looks like a big black cauldron on a stand. Look at the center of the photo and a little to the right. See? This building is the wedding Palace!
Amazing, right? The shape of the building is connected with the cultural traditions of the Tatars. This cauldron means a good rich life.
The Kazan metro
Kazan metro is very small and has few stations. We drove it to see what it looked like inside. The Central stations are decorated with images of a dragon - this is one of the symbols of Kazan.
Also on the subway walls you can see scenes from fairy tales of national Tatar writer Ğabdulla Tuqay.
Night Kazan
Night Kazan is as beautiful as during the day! I also want to note that we went with my daughter in the evenings in complete safety. Many years ago Kazan was very criminal, but the state authorities managed to change it.
Kul Sharif Mosque at sunset
That Palace of Farmers, that is the building of the Ministry of agriculture of the Republic. In the centre of a huge tree made of bronze. Despite the fact that the Palace is very similar to Hofburg Palace in Vienna, I like it very much. It looks grandiose both in the afternoon and in the evening with lighting.
In the evening I shot on a smartphone, so the photos are not like my camera. Let's take another walk around the Kazan Kremlin in the evening.
Kul Sharif Mosque
Söyembikä Tower
The area on which is another theater in the city. There are many theatres in Kazan.
But wedding Palace, about which I told you above! In the night it is illuminated as if under the cauldron blaze flames.
And this is the embankment of the Kazanka river. We went there in the evening. On the other side of the new districts of Kazan, there is a aqua park.
Cozy promenade where you can walk. There are also special bike paths. A lot of townspeople ride bikes, scooters and roller skates there in the evenings.
National Tatar food
I did not tell about the national Tatar food. It is different from Russian cuisine. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of Tatar food. Tatar food contains many dishes of dough and meat. A lot of pies, where the filling can be meat and potatoes. There is also the famous Tatar sweetness - Chuck Chuck. Chuck Chuck-a small pieces of baked dough, which are poured with honey. I liked the unusual Gubadiya pie. There is a very unusual filling - rice, baked cottage cheese, boiled eggs and raisins! It's delicious. Tatars are Muslims, so do not eat pork, but have a national sausage, which is made from horse meat.
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My daughter and I liked Kazan very much. We have discovered an amazingly beautiful city with its special culture. I advise everyone to go there
Cheers
Veta
