Kazan

There is a wonderful land in the very heart of Russia on the left bank of the Volga River. It is full of greenery and beautiful nature, wide rivers, pure lakes, picturesque national surroundings and modern standard life. Every region of this enormous area is different and unique in its own way.

If you like history and are ready for unexpected discoveries this land is for you and you will enjoy it greatly. Here you can learn about the tour to Kazan more.

Excursions and activities in Kazan

Walking around the city

The boundary of the historic center almost coincide with the city limits of Kazan of 1890. It covers an area of the cape between the rivers Volga and Kazanka, goes from the shore of Kazanka along the Arsky cemetery and Vishnevsky, Esperanto, Pavlyukhin streets, Vakhitov square, covers old Tatar cemetery and ends at the Volga embankment (Vahitovsky region and part of Volga region). The oldest street in the city – Bauman street — (now it is pedestrian) remains the main artery of the city, its business center, focal point of entertainment. The main local places of interest are: Brening’s pharmacy with a small exhibition of personal belongings of the pharmacist, fountains and sculptures of Bashmakov, Printing House — interesting monument of Soviet Constructivism, — a bronze copy of the coach of Catherine II at the entrance into the Drama Theatre named after Kachalov, a temple complex that includes St. Intercession Cathedral and the Church of St. Nicholas of Nyssa. Also certain interest presents Petersburg street in the center of Kazan, opened on the eve of the 1000 anniversary of the city which is a gift of St. Petersburg for the anniversary.

Kazan Kremlin

On the territory of Kazan Kremlin the State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Preserve was created. Modern mosque Kul-Sharif was erected in memory of the one that was destroyed during the capture of Kazan in 1552. «Shamil House», built in the late 19th century, has an appearance of a medieval castle with turrets, projections, high hipped roof and weather vane.

Other sights

University of Kazan (19 cc.) is one of the most outstanding monuments of Russian architecture, built in the style of Russian classicism of 20-30 years of the 19th century. Old-Tatar Sloboda (18-20 cc.) is the lower part of the city beyond Bulak. Construction in this part of the city began in the 15-16 centuries. The overall architectural appearance of the «sloboda» is created mainly due to the buildings of the middle of the 19th — early 20th century: rich Tatar bourgeoisie mansions, houses and estates of rich and middle classes, intellectuals and clergy, public buildings, mosques, “medrese”, retail shops, industrial buildings. Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Musa Dzhalil is the where the International Opera Festival named after Fyodor Chaliapin and the International Festival of Classical Ballet named after Rudolf Nureyev are held. On the shore of Lake Kaban there is a building of the Tatar Theatre named after Galiaskar Kamal, reminding a big white ship.

Temples of Kazan

Peter and Paul Cathedral (built in memory of the visit of Kazan by Peter I in 1726), Cathedral of the Epiphany in Bauman Street, Cathedral of the Annunciation in Kazan Kremlin, The Virgin Convent with the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Kazan. St. John the Baptist Monastery (built after the conquest of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible) and Apanay and Bornay mosques.

Bibars Saray

National Park Bibars Saray is a place in Kazan, where you can touch the Eastern traditions and ancient crafts, enjoy the atmosphere of the Kazan Khanate and even see the queen Soyembike with the Khan.

Dramatized programs include dancing to the national music, playing instruments and tasting treats. Guests can mint coins, practice archery and make souvenirs with their own hands!

Two programs that are worth visiting:

— Musical program «Ancient Chants»

13.30 — 14.30, 15.30 – 16.30

The musical culture is presented in Bibars Saray in all its diversity. This are different Tatar musical instruments that have been continuously linked with the daily life of the people (clay whistles-akarinas, kurai, kubyz, def, etc.).

You can listen as well to early music ensemble «Bibars» which plays traditional instruments to the accompaniment of which munadzhats, epics, legends, historical tales are told.

You can not only enjoy the music, but also learn how to play on a variety of instruments. You will be enchanted by the music: its depth and lightness, desperate joy and sadness.

— Interactive dramatized activities «Tales of Bibars Saray» Theatrical program on the central stage of «Bibars Saray» 11:00-18:00

12.30 — 13.30 “Lifting of the Khan on the felt rug» stage act

Part 1. Entrance to the quarter of Queen Soyembikethe, Return to the quarter of Bibarsbey

Part 2. Entrance of Sultan, the heir to the throne, Lifting of the Khan on the felt rug, the Khan gives a yarlyk to Bibarsbey to rule the Bibars Saray

Photoshoot

14.00 — 14.30 «Celebration in honor of the Khan» stage act

Part 1. Demonstration of traditional crafts

Part 2. Sabantuy. National wrestling

Photoshoot

15.00 — 15.40 “The Khan is out to the City” stage act

Part 1. The Khan is walking around the city

Part 2. The stadium

The Khan and his suite are at the stadium (demonstration of shooting skills, the Khan and his suite give lessons of shooting)

15.00 — 15.40 «Music box» stage act

Live music using the traditional musical instruments (kurai, kubyz, dumbra, surnay, def etc.) is played on the stage

15.15 — 16.00 Act in the city. Nasreddin Hodja conducts an interactive entertainment program on the central stage

15.40 — 15.50 «Return of the Khan to Kazan» stage act

15.50. — 16.00 «Mukhamedyar and Soyembike bid their farewell to the guests of “BibarsSaray” quarter” stage act

Raifa Monastery

40 km from Kazan

The monastery was founded by monk-hermit Filaret. He traveled the Volga region and in 1613 built a cell here. Then, at this point there was a chapel, and after the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible here was laid the first Orthodox monastery, named after the slaughtered elders of settlement Raifa in the Sinai coast. Since then, the monastery has experienced a lot of sharp turns in its history. During the Revolution, it was closed in 1830 for «anti soviet views», several monks were shot and the very monastery was converted into a prison, than into a prison for minors. The revival of Raifa monastery took place in 1991. Today Raif monastery is visited by thousands of pilgrims. Even if you are not an Orthodox believer, it will win your heart with its splendor. There are accurate flower beds and sculptures made by novices everywhere. The monastery is located on the shore of a lake and surrounded by pine forest which is a part of the Volga-Kama national park. We recommend you to spend all day visiting the monastery. Here you can find a lot of curiosities to see: Sofia church, which was built in the 18th century, Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Georgia, which has a copy of the sacred object, the cathedral of the holy fathers massacred in Raifa and Sinai. Drink and take the water from the Holy source with you, so do not forget to arrange a container for it. After visiting the cathedrals have a stroll along the lake shore. As a legend says the frogs in the lake do not croak not willing to disturb the monks offer prayers to the heavens. If you will find yourself in Raifa in winter, you will see dozens of ice sculptures on the lake. What a spectacular view!

Ancient settlement «Velikiye Bulgary»

140 km from Kazan

One of the unique and most valuable sights of Russia is in the vicinity of the small town of Bolgar in Tatarstan. Ancient settlement «Velikiye Bulgary», formed in the tenth century, was one of the largest cities of the Volga Bulgars till the thirteenth century, and in the fourteenth century (after the destruction of Biliarsk) became the center of the Bulgar territory. The Bulgar settlement is part of the State Historical and Architectural Museum-Preserve and contains nine most ancient monuments of architecture and epigraphic monuments dated the ninth century. The ancient city was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The first conquest of Bulgar happened in 1236 during a pan-Mongol Western Campaign, the second defeat to the Volga Bulgars was inflicted by Bulat-Timur in 1361, and the city was completely destroyed by voivode of Vasily II, Fedor Motley in 1431. The stone buildings, partly preserved to this day, were built in the 13-14 centuries, during the reign of muslim Berke when Bulgar had become the center of Volga Bulgaria. The main attraction of the settlement is the Mosque, built in the middle of the thirteenth century and representing an architectural ensemble, which connects the Khan’s palace with the Great minaret. Special features of the mosque are the corner turrets (the structure was in the center of the ancient settlement). In the Northern mausoleum there are epigraphic monuments and gravestones (9-14 cc.), in the Small minaret the visitors can climb the symbolic 40 steps of the spiral staircase and visit the tomb of the Khans. On the territory of the settlement there are also: the ruins of the White Chamber (13-14vv.) with heating furnaces and water supply system, the legendary Black Chamber, where the Khan’s Tribunal was situated, and the Eastern Mausoleum. Around Bulgar settlement you can see the preserved defensive wall and the moat, and from one of the sides the ancient buildings of the Small Town as well.