Kazan Kremlin: what to see. Kazan: Kremlin, description and photo of the Kremlin, history and architecture, excursions to the Kazan Kremlin, Syuyumbike Tower and Kul-Sharif Mosque - travel agency Another dimension White stone Kazan Kremlin

On a high hill located on the left bank of the Kazanka River, rises the symbol and main attraction of Kazan, its heart and soul - the Kazan Kremlin, which is a historical, architectural and archaeological monument. During the capture of the city in 1551, many buildings and walls of the Kazan Kremlin were destroyed, so new ones were erected in their place. Today, centuries seem to be mixed on its territory: next to the buildings of the 10th century there are buildings of the 20th century.Since 2000, the entire ensemble has been protected by UNESCO. The area of ​​the Kazan Kremlin is 150 thousand m2, and the total length of the walls, the width of which is about 3 m, is more than 2 km. The height of the walls of the Kazan Kremlin exceeds 6 m. A distinctive feature of the Kremlin is the unique combination of cultural and historical monuments of the Orthodox and Muslim religions.

Annunciation Cathedral of the Kazan Kremlin.

The current (since 2005) Annunciation Cathedral, built by Pskov craftsmen in the mid-16th century, is considered the real pearl of the complex. During its existence, the temple was rebuilt and reconstructed several times. Unfortunately, in 1922 the bell tower was irretrievably lost. At the same time, many valuables stored in the temple (icons, manuscripts, early printed books, gold embroidery) disappeared without a trace. Some exhibits were preserved through the efforts of art critic P. Dulsky and professor I. Stratonov. Today, the rescued rarities are part of the collection of the Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Towers of the Kazan Kremlin.

The Kazan Kremlin is famous for its watchtowers. 13 towers were immediately erected, of which this moment only eight survive. Tainitskaya and Spasskaya towers are the most famous, which are also gates. They were built in the 16th century.

Spasskaya Tower of the Kazan Kremlin.

Adjacent to the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands, the Spasskaya Tower of the Kazan Kremlin burned several times, it was restored, and two centuries later its appearance was complemented by the clock installed on it.

Tainitskaya tower of the Kazan Kremlin.

The Taynitskaya Tower got its name thanks to a secret passage leading to a source of spring water. Unfortunately, it has not survived to this day.

Syuyumbike Tower of the Kazan Kremlin.

Visitors are attracted by the Syuyumbike watchtower, built at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. It can be called Kazan " Leaning Tower of Pisa" The deviation of the structure from the vertical is about 2 m. Thanks to restoration work and strengthening of the foundation, its fall has been stopped.

Mausoleum of the Kazan khans.

You cannot ignore the Mausoleum of the Kazan Khans, located not far from Syuyumbike. It was discovered during sewer work completely by accident. This is the last refuge of two Kazan khans. The mausoleum was covered with a glass dome to provide access to it in any weather.

Mosque of the Kazan Kremlin.

In honor of the celebration of the millennium of Kazan, the Kul-Sharif mosque was erected on the territory of the Kremlin, arousing admiration for its grandeur and unique beauty. In the evening, thanks to the spectacular lighting, everything here takes on an unforgettable look. The construction of a mosque near Orthodox churches symbolizes the commonwealth of two religions.

Governor's Palace, built in the 19th century, attracts tourists with its architecture. Today it serves as the representative office of the head of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Museums of the Kazan Kremlin.

There are several museums on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin:

• Museum of the History of the Tatar People and the Republic of Tatarstan, located in the Vvedenskaya Church.
• Complex "Cannon Yard".
• Junker School, with a Hermitage department, a WWII museum, an art exhibition and a museum natural history.
• Museum of Islamic Culture, which is located on the ground floor of the mosque.

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.

The Kazan Kremlin complex also includes the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, founded in 1556. In the first years of Soviet power, most of its buildings were blown up. Today, restoration work is being carried out.

Kazan Kremlin

In the UNESCO lists it is listed as “the only surviving Tatar fortress.” But, so as not to mislead you, let's tell the truth. In front of you is a Russian fortress, built on the site of a Tatar one by Pskov masters Ivan Shiryai and Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma.

The Tatar fortress was built from wood. Eyewitnesses describe oak walls in two rows, between which sand and stone were poured. The stone houses in the Kremlin itself and in the surrounding suburbs were made of river rubble, which is “afraid” of fire and crumbles. Therefore, after the capture of Kazan, the city was completely rebuilt and today, alas, apart from the foundations, not a single building from the period of the Kazan Khanate has survived!

So we see Spasskaya Tower and on its sides are two later reconstructed turrets. The one on the right once housed the “Black” prison, in the basement of which the Yaik Cossack Emelyap Pugachev was kept.

He was imprisoned here because “after getting drunk, he called himself an empirator in taverns.” The prisoners earned their own food, so Pugachev walked around the city all day with a guard, begging for alms. The soldier accompanying him was old and blind, and soon the Cossack fled. Right there in the city he hid in a hole, then the Old Believers - “kindred souls” - transported him to the other side of the Volga, from where he left for the free Yaik. Just a year later, in July 1774, the Cossack returned as an “ampire” and besieged the city. But Pugachev was hampered by the unbearable heat that set in that summer. The heat was such that “haystacks in the meadows and gunpowder in guns burst into flames, and people escaped standing up to their necks in the river.” Fire and looting began. Pugachev could no longer gather his drunken army together!

The Spasskaya Tower has survived to this day in its original form. Only the Outer Chapel, which was, as it were, “stuck” in front of the entrance to the tower, and the double-headed eagle, which crowned its crown until the revolution of 1917, were lost, and a deep ditch was filled in, over which a drawbridge was thrown. The tower itself was not always white stone; at one time it was painted with ocher.

Now let's enter the Kremlin. Pay attention to the thickness of the walls and the fastening loops remaining from the fortress gates. We are located on the shortest street in Kazan (about 500 meters long), which is named after the Red Commissar Yakov Sheinkman, who was shot by the White Czechs near the Kremlin walls. The rebel regiment of Czechs in August 1918 drove the Reds out of the city in two days, during which time the entire gold reserve of the Russian Empire, which had been transported here shortly before from Moscow, disappeared from the vaults of the Kazan Bank. They say that gold was transported from Kazan on sixteen carts towards the city of Laishev. Some of the carts got lost there...

Near Kazan, the future famous writer Yaroslav Hasek went over to the side of the Reds. True, here he introduced himself by his name literary hero- Josef Schweik! He was appointed commandant of Bugulma, where, according to eyewitnesses, he zealously set to work. He passed sentence on the enemies of the revolution and carried it out himself. Here he got married, but when leaving Russia and filling out the form, he entered “single” in the “marital status” column.

In Prague, Hasek’s homeland, they well remember this “page” of his biography, red with blood, and in Bugulma, on the contrary, they are even proud that he “managed” so well here. In a provincial town, grateful descendants opened a literary museum Yaroslav Hasek.

Kul Sharif Mosque

To our left, if you follow the signs, there is a passage to the Kul Sharif Cathedral Mosque - this is the largest Muslim religious building in the north-east of Russia.

“...The wide popularity of Kul Sharif in the last period of the existence of the Kazan Khanate is confirmed by many historical sources, as well as information preserved in popular memory and summarized by Shigabutdin Mardzhani. Based on them, it can be argued that Kul Sharif in the Khanate on the eve of his fall was the head of the Muslim clergy, the supreme seid. Andrei Kurbsky, describing the episode associated with the capture of Kazan by the Russian army in 1552, calls him in the European style the “great biskup,” that is, the bishop, and adds that the Tatars themselves consider Kul Sharif the “great anaryi,” or “amir.”

Supreme Seid Kul Sharif died during the capture of Kazan by the Russians in 1552 during a battle with them. Marjani, relying on folk legends, reports that Kul Sharif with his followers, united in a special military unit “regiment”, consisting of young dervishes and Sufis, defended themselves up to the building of the madrasah, then, retreating, climbed to its roof, where they were stabbed to death and fell down. Thus the life of this outstanding personality of the era of the Kazan Khanate was tragically interrupted.

Annunciation Cathedral of the Kazan Kremlin

If, during the construction of the Kul-Sharif Cathedral Mosque, archaeologists tried to restore a religious building destroyed during the siege, then they would have to take as a basis St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow, built “for the conquest of the Kazan and Astrakhan Khanates,” as there is an assumption that after the conquest of the Kazan Khanate, the same Pskov masters who rebuilt the Kazan Kremlin erected a small copy of one of the enemy’s architectural symbols in the very center of Moscow. However, for some unknown reasons, they then began to build the main Orthodox (Epiphany) Cathedral on the land of the Gentiles.

The consecration of the five-domed Cathedral took place in 1562. For construction, as the Kazan Scribe Book reports, “1148 rubles 24 kopecks and half were spent, and iron was purchased for 100 rubles.” The influence of the styles of Pskov, Vladimir and Moscow architecture is felt in the forms of the Cathedral.

Since then, all the royal persons of the Russian Empire from Peter I to Nicholas II have attended services here. Today the Cathedral has been restored and is open to the public, and church services are held here.

Tower Syuyumbike

Now from the Annunciation Cathedral we will proceed to the leaning tower of Syuyumbike (Syuyum is a female name, and Bika, or Bike, is a respectful address to an adult woman).

It really falls towards the Presidential Palace, on which you see the flag of Tatarstan with the coat of arms - a white leopard. Why this particular animal was chosen, one can only guess, because leopards have never been found on the fauna-rich land of Tatarstan.

The deviation of the tower from the main axis is 1.98 meters. This slope is clearly visible next to the Annunciation Cathedral.

Tower Syuyumbike- architectural and spiritual symbol of Kazan. Her image can be found on many emblems of various Tatar societies, for example, the “Association of Tatars in America.” We can also remember the analogue of the Tatar tower in Moscow - this is the building of the Kazan railway station.

No written sources containing mention of the time of construction of the tower and its original purpose have been found. On the earliest plans of the city of the 18th century, it is shown as the entrance to the courtyard of the commandant’s house, which stood on the site of the “old Tsar’s courtyard.”

Favorable location of the building on the very high point the hill suggests its use as a watchtower. Inside, the narrow staircase galleries are designed in such a way that just one archer could hold off an entire detachment of the enemy with a spear. A supply of stones, tow, resin, spears and arrows, as well as provisions would allow the siege to be maintained long time a small group of defenders.

Before the revolution, the Syuyumbike Tower was open to tourists and served as an observation deck. On the oak door of the upper tier there is an inscription made by a certain traveler - “Gavrilov was here.”

Some researchers are inclined to believe that the Syuyumbike tower with “non-Russian architecture” was built by Pskov craftsmen on the foundation of the high seven-tier gates, dilapidated during the capture of Kazan, installed at the entrance to the Khan’s Palace. Perhaps the Russian masons were struck by the shape of the gate and they did not rebuild it, but only restored its former appearance. On one side it was the front gate, on the other - a watchtower, on the third - a minaret for calling for Friday prayers, as well as for announcing the khan's decrees to the people. There is another version according to which the tower structure is a mausoleum or funeral mosque.

Many legends are associated with the Syuyumbike tower. There is a legend that it was built on the burial site of three Muslim saints, to whose graves local residents and the dervishes went to worship. And recently, at the foot of the tower, archaeologists excavated burials of the khan period, where the last Kazan khans rest, including Safa-Girey, who died in 1549. A legend passed on by the Tatars from generation to generation has been preserved, telling about the crying of Queen Syuyumbike over the resting place of her beloved husband.

Folk tales depict Syuyumbike as an indescribable beauty, having heard about which, Ivan IV sent ambassadors to her with an offer to become the queen of Moscow. And Syuyumbike’s refusal was the reason for the Russian campaign against Kazan. When Russian troops besieged the city, the proud Khansha agreed to the marriage on the condition that within a week the archers would be able to raise the tower higher than all the minarets of the “Pearl of the East.” The princess's demand was fulfilled on time. Seven days - seven tiers! During the wedding feast, the bride expressed a desire to take one last look at hometown from the height of a seven-tier tower. She climbed to the very top platform and rushed down.

In fact, it was much more prosaic. After the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible, on the orders of the Russian Tsar, she was forcibly married to Kasimov’s Khan Shah-Ali, who was pro-Moscow. This marriage served the king as the best reason for refusing her father, the Nogai Khan Yusuf, who asked to return his daughter and grandson Utyamysh. The king wrote to the khan about him: “We hold your grandson for my son.” In fact, he was excommunicated from his mother and baptized. In one of the Moscow monasteries the grave of Syuyumbike’s son has been preserved; a new name is engraved on the slab - Simeon.

Monument to Russian soldiers who died during the capture of Kazan by the troops of Ivan the Terrible

From the site near the Syuyumbike tower there is a view of the Kazanka River, which flows into the Volga a few kilometers from here. If you look closely, you will see an acropolis monument standing in the water, resembling a small pyramid, erected in 1823 in memory of the capture of Kazan. In 1552 here, in a hastily dug mass grave, brought the bodies of dead soldiers. Despite the fact that not only Orthodox Christians took part in the siege of the city, but also Gentiles who went over to the side of the Russian Tsar, buried everyone indiscriminately and had Christian funerals. Later, a chapel was built over the grave, and after the Kuibyshev Reservoir overflowed, the water approached the monument, turning it into an island.

Why was it decided to bury the soldiers at this particular place? According to chronicle sources, it was here that the headquarters of Ivan the Terrible was located (the tsar, by the way, was only 24 years old at the time of the siege). From his royal tent he led the capture of the city. There is a version that an underground hole led from Ivan the Terrible’s tent to the walls of the Kremlin. Allegedly, it existed even before the revolution, and Nicholas II himself, when visiting the sights of the city, went down into it, but the rubble prevented him from getting to the Kremlin. Be that as it may, one thing is certain that engineer Butler, who was specially brought to blow up the fortress walls with “Apglitz bombs,” approached the wall unnoticed through dug passages and laid barrels of gunpowder under its base. After the explosion, two breaches were formed. One of the explosions occurred just under the wall that overlooks the tomb monument.

Kazan was besieged by a 150,000-strong army against 33,000 defenders, and the Russian Tsar had 160 cannons, as well as the engineer Butler with his “infernal machines.”

On October 2, 1552, the Kazan Khanate was annexed to the Russian kingdom, and the last khan, Yadyger, was captured.

Ivan the Terrible had a Kazan hat made from ferrets, which were found in abundance in the local forests, and decorated with precious stones from the khan’s staff.

Apart from a dozen pebbles, nothing valuable was found in the Khan's palace. The treasury was empty, which later gave rise to the legend of a treasure at the bottom of Lake Kaban.

They say that the king received only the Khan's library with Arabic volumes. They added to his legendary collection of rare books, which, however, are still being searched for.

This was the fifth Russian siege of the capital of the Kazan Khanate. The previous ones ended in failure (once even the cunning khan, like Kutuzov, ordered the capital to be surrendered to enemy troops. A month later he entered the city back and rebuilt it on the site of the ashes new town more beautiful than before!).

The fifth campaign was much better prepared. Higher along the Volga on the island of Sviyazhsk, a fortress was pre-built for wintering troops and storing weapons and fodder. A temple and a monastery were also erected here to conduct missionary activities among the “non-Christians.” The boats, loaded with everything necessary for the siege of the city, regularly sailed from Sviyazhsk to Kazan. Today, you can get to the island of Sviyazhsk either by water on an excursion boat or by land. A dam leads to the island from the village of Vasilyevo. Sviyazhsk has retained the charm of the Russian province; services are held in its churches, darkened by time. Several dozen monks support life on an island forgotten by civilization. Here, on the church vaults painted by icon painters, you can see a rare image of St. Christopher the Pseglot... but with a horse's head.

Tainitsky Gate

On the left side of the Syuyumbike tower is the Cannon Yard (the inscription about this says on the weather vane). Blacksmith workshops have long been located here, where chain mail, armor, arrow and spear tips, swords were made, and cannons and cannonballs were cast.

Now let's head down to Tainitsky Gate. One glance is enough to understand that this is not a new building, but a really old fortification. Inside it you will hear the hum of footsteps and feel the coolness of the past. Pay attention to the thickness of the walls and massive fastenings for gates and bars, as well as the characteristic cranked - from left to right - passage into the fortress. This was done so that the enemy army, armed with swords and shields, would face the garrison of the fortress with its unprotected side during a siege. After all, the shield was usually held in the left hand, and the sword in the right!

The Taynitskaya Tower was erected in the 16th century on the site of the Nur-Ali Tower, which was blown up during the siege of Kazan. She got her new name from the exploded secret passage to the spring from which the besieged took water. After the capture of Kazan, Ivan the Terrible solemnly entered the city through these gates.

Coin of St. Wenceslas and the 1000th anniversary of Kazan

In 1997, during excavations on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin, archaeologists found a lead coin, which, according to the largest numismatist in Europe, Czech researcher Jarmila Haskova, was made in Prague. The most plausible minting date can be considered 929-930. At this time, jewelry was made from lead. In addition, there is a hole on the coin. This allows us to conclude that the coin was also used as decoration. The coin is unique - the only one in the world. By this archaeological find it was proven that Kazan is already more than a hundred years old.

Description and history

Since ancient times, people have built settlements protected from the enemy by reliable walls. This is the heart of the capital of Tatarstan - the Kazan Kremlin. Here began the chronicle of two great nations. So different, they still managed to create a single cultural space. Inside the fortress, architectural monuments have been preserved to this day, reminding tourists that Muslims and Orthodox Christians are able to establish a joint peaceful life, which has remained unshakable for more than four centuries.

Kazan - ancient city, standing on seven hills. It combines the cultures of East and West. Archaeological research indicates that the capital of modern Tatarstan began to take shape back in the distant 10th century. Initially, the Kremlin Hill and its surroundings were inhabited by the ancient Bulgars. The walls of the structure were erected to strengthen the trading settlement. Scientists still disagree about the dating of the construction of the citadel. Some believe that the process began in the 12th century, others are of the opinion that architects erected the walls in the 15th-16th centuries on the orders of the Russian Tsar.

Between the 13th and 15th centuries, the city was captured and devastated by the troops of the Golden Horde. Many indigenous people have left native land and subsequently erected new capital- Iske-Kazan. In the 14th century, by order of the Bulgar ruler Hassan, construction of a fortress began in the place where the museum-reserve is now located. It served as a princely residence until the 15th century. As soon as the Horde yoke ended, the Kazan Khanate was founded, the heart of which became a stone fortress - the Kremlin. The new state existed almost until the end of the 16th century.

In 1552, Kazan was captured by the Russian Tsar. After the battle, he, like all the buildings of the city, received serious damage. By order of the tsar, architects from Pskov Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Barma began restoring the city and building new fortress. Most of the buildings were made of oak and only towards the end XVII century wooden walls were replaced with stone ones. Pskov architects built not only the fortifications of the citadel, but also orthodox churches, temples, cathedrals. In 1672, the Kremlin was severely damaged by fire. After this, it was decided to restore the damaged areas of the structure using brickwork.

In the 18th century, the Russian government founded the Kazan province. In those days, the Governor's Palace (now the residence of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan) and the Junker School were erected. But Peaceful time didn't last long. Already in 1774, the Kazan Kremlin again served as a defensive line, protecting the tsarist troops from cannon fire launched by the rebels of Emelyan Pugachev. This time the rebellious ataman failed to penetrate the fortress, but he still visited the city, albeit later, and as a prisoner awaiting execution in one of the towers.

Modern architectural complex the Kremlin has developed to end of the 19th century century. After the revolution of 1917, the Transfiguration Cathedral, the bell tower and cathedral church of the Spassky Monastery, and the bell tower of the Annunciation Cathedral were destroyed. The Church of Saint Barbara and the Church of Saints Justinia and Cyprian also became victims of militant atheists.

In the second half of the 20th century, the archaeological study of the Kremlin territory proceeded at an active pace under the leadership of the famous Kazan historian and archaeologist A. Kh. Khalikov. In the 1960s The Tatar restoration workshop was formed, which managed to stop the fall of the Syuyumbike tower, restore the governor's palace and the Palace Church. On the territory of the Kremlin there is a two-story building of the residence of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan in the pseudo-Byzantine style, built in the mid-19th century by the architect K. Ton and which was once the Governor's Palace. In 2005, the construction of the most famous mosque in Russia and Europe, Kul Sharif, was completed.

Back in the 1970s, the Kazan Kremlin was the place where significant city events were held. In those years, the city authorities organized sailing regattas near the Kremlin walls: Soviet athletes competed for first places near the Lenin Dam. Today, within the white stone walls of the Kazan citadel, various festivals are held dedicated to events that happened on memorable dates. The museum-reserve is visited by famous artists and musicians. Nowadays, it has become a symbol of the unity of the Tatar and Russian peoples.

Attractions

On the territory of the ancient fortress there are many attractions: ancient towers and cathedrals, the most famous mosque in Russia and Europe, historical and memorial buildings, museums and galleries, observation decks.

Towers of the Kazan Kremlin - Spasskaya, Tainitskaya and others

At the entrance, travelers are greeted by the Spasskaya Tower of the Kazan Kremlin, built in the 16th century - one of the symbols of the fortress. Next, tourists see the South-West, Nameless and Preobrazhenskaya towers. All that remains of the Pentagonal Tower now is the foundation. The Tainitskaya, North-Eastern, Consistor and South-Eastern towers have been preserved. The Voskresenskaya, Northern, Northwestern and Dmitrievskaya towers are irretrievably lost.

Orthodox shrines

After a successful military operation in 1552, Christians came to the ancestral lands of the Turkic peoples. Therefore, many iconic monuments of the citadel are associated with Orthodoxy. For example, the Palace Church is a temple of the 17th century, which has now become a republican historical museum. A century earlier, another iconic structure appeared on the territory of the fortress - the Annunciation Cathedral, from whose bell tower the Bolsheviks knocked down the most Big city sky bell Also located within the Kremlin walls are: the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery with the Brotherhood Corps, the Bishop's House - the residence of the bishop and the Consistory Building - the church administration of past years.

Muslim monuments

The Kazan Kremlin also preserves Muslim monuments. The main one is the Kul Sharif mosque with four high minarets. The sanctuary opened its doors to believers only in 2005. Construction of the mosque began in 1996. Then a stone was laid within the walls of the citadel in honor of the revival of the main shrine of the Tatar population. Near the walls there is a statue glorifying the feat of Musa Jalil, an underground fighter during the German occupation, who was shot by German punitive forces in 1944.

Historical buildings

In the Kazan Kremlin there are still traces of buildings from those times when the Russian Tsar had not yet approached the ancient walls with his troops. The fortress preserved for posterity the ruins of the Khan's Palace, discovered by archaeologists in 2000, and the ruins of the mausoleum of the Kazan khans, in which the rulers of the citadel city rested. There are also more recent buildings on historical lands. For example, the Syuyumbike watchtower, built in the 17th century. In subsequent years, the Governor's Palace, the Junker School and the Artillery (or Cannon) Yard were built here.

During the era of endless wars, the Kazan Kremlin housed military structures: the drill arena building, where cadets of the military school practiced drill training, and the guardhouse, built on the site of a demolished military warehouse. In our time (2003), a monument to the architects who began the construction of the Kazan citadel appeared on the territory of the bastion. The monument is a composition of two figures - Russian and Tatar architects.

Near the white stone walls of the Kazan fortress there are zilants - figures of dragons that have become a symbol of the city. Legends say that mythical creature, which became the prototype for the monuments, lived on a mountain near the Kazanka River. Today, the Zilantov Assumption Monastery was erected there, during the construction of which a buried dungeon was found. Maybe a mystical serpent lived in it? This page of history is still hidden from the eyes of travelers.

• During excavations on the territory of the former Khan's court, archaeologists discovered a layer with numerous buildings dating back to the period of the Kazan Khanate, and in one of the courtyards - a treasure of Russian minted silver coins dating back to the beginning of the 16th century.
• During archaeological excavations in the Kazan Kremlin, a layer of fire was also discovered during the capture of the city, in which numerous human remains, arrowheads, cannonballs, and fragments of facing slabs that were probably lined with the Kul Sharif mosque were found.
• There is a legend that the Kazan queen Syuyumbike, who was the regent under the young ruler of Kazan, after capturing the city, jumped from the seventh tier of the tower so as not to be captured by Ivan the Terrible. However, according to research, the tower was built in the 17th century, and the story of the queen is simply a beautiful legend.

Kazan Kremlin - UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 2000, the attraction was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The first reason why the organization’s competition jury made such a decision was the fact that over the years of its existence, the Kremlin influenced the historical continuity of the cultures of the two peoples. The second argument in favor of the heart of the capital of Tatarstan, officials called the exceptional antiquity of the only surviving Tatar fortress. The third argument of the commission was that the architecture of the building is a synthesis of Bulgarian, Horde, Tatar, Italian and Russian styles.

Observation platforms

Within the walls of the Kazan Kremlin, travelers have access to three observation platforms, which offer picturesque views of the surrounding area. The first “tower” is located near the Syuyumbike tower. From it you can see in detail the opposite bank of the Kazanka River - big wheel observation, belonging to the entertainment complex "Kazan Riviera", and you can also see the famous Kazan Family Center in the shape of a huge bowl. The second observation deck is located behind the Annunciation Cathedral and offers an overview of the beautiful Peter and Paul Cathedral. The Kazan Kremlin also has a third observation deck- it can be found behind the Kul Sharif mosque.

Operating organizations

Historically, the Kremlin was the center of public life in Tatarstan. Although there are exhibitions and museums within the walls of the ancient citadel, there are also government organizations on the territory. The Office of the President of the Republic is located here. The institution carries out the instructions of the head of the region. On the ancient lands there is a Council of Municipal Formations, which organizes the work of the administrative leadership of the districts. This is a real control center.

The Central Election Commission of the Republic operates in the Kremlin of Kazan, which organizes and conducts elections and referendums. Democracy presupposes access for ordinary citizens to the institution of power, therefore, behind white stone walls, meetings of the Public Chamber, consisting of respected and worthy residents of Tatarstan, are held. Controversial issues is decided by the Arbitration Court, located in one of the buildings.

The Central Election Commission of the Republic operates in the Kremlin, which organizes and conducts elections and referendums. Democracy presupposes access for ordinary citizens to the institution of power, therefore, behind white stone walls, meetings of the Public Chamber, consisting of respected and worthy residents of Tatarstan, are held. Disputed issues are resolved by the Arbitration Court, located in one of the buildings.

Research related to the past is carried out by the Marjani Institute of History, which is part of the Republican Academy of Sciences. On the territory there is also a post office number 14, which is engaged in the dispatch and delivery of parcels and correspondence from residents of the Vakhitovsky district.

Location, how to get there, opening hours

The attraction is located in the Vakhitovsky district of the city, on the left banks of the Volga and Kazanka. The citadel stands on a hill. You can use the services public transport. Near the landmark there is the Kremlevskaya metro station. Buses 6, 15, 29, 35, 35a, 37, 47, 74, 74a, 75, 98 and trolleybuses 1, 4, 10, 17, 18 go to the historical complex. Near the complex there are stops "TSUM", "Palace of Sports " and "Central Stadium". Motorists can also find the attraction by GPS coordinates: 55.798611°, 49.106389°.

The Kazan Kremlin Museum-Reserve has 24-hour access through the gates of the Spasskaya Tower. You can also get inside the citadel through the entrance in the Tainitskaya Tower, but it is not open around the clock: from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from October 1 to April 30 and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May 1 to September 30.

Museum ticket prices

There is no need to pay to visit the Kremlin courtyard, but tourists who want to see the current exhibitions will need to purchase entry tickets to the following museums of the Kazan Kremlin:

• Museum at the Annunciation Cathedral - from 100 rubles.
• Exhibition complex "Manege" - from 150 rubles.
• Museum of the History of Statehood - from 80 rubles.
• Museum of Islamic Culture - from 200 rubles.
• Museum complex "Khazinә", including the Museum of Natural History of Tatarstan, the Art Gallery and the Museum of the Great Patriotic War - from 200 rubles;
• Cannon Yard Museum - from 200 rubles.
• Branch of the St. Petersburg Hermitage "Hermitage Center-Kazan" - from 200 rubles.

The Kazan Kremlin often hosts various events, for example, the “Night of Museums” with master classes, exhibitions, concerts, performances by creative groups, the theatrical program “Reviving Heroes”, performances, coffee ceremonies, etc. Find out about upcoming events, see big photo can be found on the official website of the Kazan Kremlin.

The Kremlin of Kazan is unique place, where the cultures of more than 100 nationalities come into contact, forming a single space filled with enchanting legends and customs. Visiting Kazan and passing by the Kremlin is the same as coming to Moscow and voluntarily refusing to visit Red Square. Only the busiest tourists miss the chance to enjoy the beauty of the white stone walls, which they later regret.

Excursions

Travelers who want to visit the main Kazan attraction have access to interesting excursions. One of them is an opportunity to admire the sights of the city from the windows of a comfortable bus for 4 hours. The bus makes a stop on the territory of the fortress, so city guests can take memorable photos of the Kazan Kremlin. Inside the walls, tourists will see the Kul-Sharif Mosque, the Annunciation Cathedral and the seven-tiered Syuyumbike watchtower in all their glory.

A plan has been developed especially for romantic guests of the capital of Tatarstan and lovers. With the onset of dusk, the bustle of the metropolis flows into the measured flow of life. Spectacular lighting is turned on near iconic landmarks. Even in the dark, the Kremlin opens its doors to inquisitive people. The Kul-Sharif Mosque looks especially bright in the light of floodlights. The minarets soar into the sky, and the white stone walls fascinate with their beauty. The journey lasts 3 hours.

A stone Kremlin appeared on this site in the 12th century. In 1552, the troops of Ivan the Terrible captured Kazan: the old fortress, including the mosque located on its territory, was destroyed. The construction of new fortifications, which have survived to this day, began in 1556. The work was supervised by the builders of Moscow's St. Basil's Cathedral - Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Shiryai.

In 2000, the architectural complex of the Kazan Kremlin was included in the List of objects World Heritage UNESCO.

Photo of the Kazan Kremlin

Historical and architectural complex

The modern complex of the Kazan Kremlin occupies an area of ​​150 thousand square meters, the length of the Kremlin walls is almost two kilometers, the width reaches three meters, and the height is more than six meters. Behind the walls of the Kazan Kremlin there are many interesting objects - both historical monuments and modern attractions. - symbol of the Kazan Kremlin. According to the official version, it was built at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century as a watchtower and entrance to the courtyard of the chief commandant. However, there are different opinions about the age of the tower. One of them says that it was built at the end of the 15th century and survived the devastation of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible.

The tower has five tiers. The first three are tetrahedrons, the last three are octahedrons. The height of the building is about 58 meters, it is crowned with a spire. The Syuyumbike Tower is tilted to the side. The deviation from the vertical axis is almost 2 meters. - the youngest and most luxurious building of the Kazan Kremlin. It was erected in 1996-2005 for the millennium of Kazan. Part of the building performs religious functions, part is museum - it houses the Museum of Islamic Culture.

The Kul Sharif Mosque has five floors. In plan it consists of two intersecting squares. The building is lined with white marble and covered with a blue dome. Around there are four minarets 55 meters high with the same blue endings. Stained glass windows are inserted into the windows of the mosque, and part of the building is covered with ornaments.

The monument has its own backstory. Until the 16th century, when Kazan was taken by the troops of Ivan the Terrible, there stood a mosque of the same name, named after its last imam. So the construction of a new building is not only a symbol of equality of religions in the republic, but also a tribute to history.

Also on the territory of the Kremlin (in the south-eastern part) there is Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery complex, which has its own buildings. The monastery is not active today.

The main temple of the monastery was Transfiguration Cathedral, built at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century. The cathedral was blown up in the 1920s. Now all that remains of it is the ground floor. Near the wall of the cathedral there is a small cave in which miracle workers were buried.

This also includes Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. This church, built in the second half of the 16th century and rebuilt several times later, Soviet time survived. Restoration is currently underway. The last building included in the monastery complex is fraternal corps, built in the second half of the 17th century.

In addition, in the Kazan Kremlin there are:

• Presidential palace(former governor's palace)
• Bishop's House
• Cannon Yard
• Junker School(the building houses museums and an art gallery)
• Manege

The pearl of the Kazan Kremlin is, built in the mid-16th century, the main Orthodox building of the Kazan Kremlin. It began construction in 1556 and was completed by 1562. The reason for construction was the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible. Tradition says that the king himself even chose the site for the foundation of the cathedral. Until 1922, the temple had a bell tower, which was then blown up.

Spasskaya Tower

The Spasskaya Tower of the Kazan Kremlin was erected in the 16th century; it is located on the side of May 1 Square. This is the main tower of the Kremlin with the entrance gate; adjacent to it is the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands, from which the tower got its name. The tower was completed several times, rebuilt and burned several times. In the 18th century, a clock was installed on it. After the revolution, the double-headed eagle that crowned the bathhouse was replaced by a golden star - it remains on the tower to this day.

Taynitskaya Tower

The Taynitskaya tower was erected in the 16th century on the site of the destroyed Nur-Ali tower, from which Ivan the Terrible entered the captured Kremlin. The tower received its name later: all because of the secret passage that led from here to a clean source. Here it was possible to get water even when the Kremlin was under siege. The source has not survived to this day.

The Spasskaya and Tainitskaya towers were built at the same time; initially they were very similar. However, over time, due to numerous reconstructions, their appearance began to differ.

Museum-reserve

The Kazan Kremlin Museum Reserve was created in 1994; all historical buildings on the territory of the Kremlin are under its jurisdiction. They house expositions of several museums, as well as exhibition halls.

Among them, the Museum of Natural History of Tatarstan stands out, where you can see the skeletons of prehistoric animals and finds from the era when there was an ancient sea on the territory of Kazan.

The Museum of Islamic Culture located in the mosque is also interesting.

The Museum of the History of Statehood of the Tatar People and the Republic of Tatarstan is located on the territory of the Khan's court. Here you can see a coin that is about 1000 years old, ancient jewelry and other items that tell about the material culture of the people and their way of life.

Cannon Yard

The Cannon Yard complex, consisting of four buildings, dates back to the 17th century; various reconstructions were carried out until the mid-19th century. The Cannon Factory, one of the largest in the empire, operated here. After a major fire, weapons production was stopped here, the School of Military Cantonist Battalions was opened in the buildings of the Cannon Yard, and in 1866 it was replaced by the Junker Infantry School.

In 2014, the restoration of the Cannon Yard was completed; temporary exhibitions are held in the buildings and a permanent exhibition is being prepared.

Monument to the Architects

The monument to the architects of the Kazan Kremlin was opened in 2003; it is located in front of the building of the Bishop's House. The idea of ​​the composition is this: to celebrate the merits of both Russian architects, whose creations have survived to this day, and the talent of the Tatar architects who erected the Kremlin destroyed by Ivan the Terrible. Today, fragments excavated by archaeologists help us appreciate the greatness of this original building - they are specially open for viewing.

Embodying the idea of ​​friendship between peoples, the sculptures created figures of two men - one of Slavic appearance with a drawing of the Spasskaya Tower, and the second of Tatar appearance, with a drawing of the Khan's Palace. The pedestal is surrounded by Russian and Tatar national ornaments.

Excursions

In the Kremlin you can book a number of exciting excursions, which are held not only on the territory of the Kremlin itself, but also in its surroundings - Kremlevskaya Street, for example. Duration sightseeing tour around the Kremlin - about 1.5 hours, it also includes a visit to the Kul Sharif Mosque and the Annunciation Cathedral.

Scheme and map of the Kremlin

Operating mode