Description of the attraction
Shamil's house is located in the historical center of Kazan, in the Old Tatar settlement. It is a landmark of the settlement and an architectural monument of Kazan. This is an object of cultural heritage of Tatarstan.
The building was built in 1863 for the honorary citizen of Kazan Ibragim Apakov. Ibrahim Iskhakovich Apakov was a millionaire, a merchant of the first guild. The two-story mansion was built near Yunusovskaya Square, on Ekaterininskaya Street.
In 1884, Apakov's daughter was married to the third son of Imam Shamil. The son of the imam was a general, his name was Mukhammet-Shafi. The house became a wedding present from the merchant to his daughter and her husband. In all historical documents "Mrs. Shamil" is indicated as the mistress of the house. In 1902 the house burned down, and in 1903 it was thoroughly rebuilt. The rebuilding was undertaken by architects G. B. Rusch and F. R. Amlong. In 1906, after the unexpected death of Mukhammet-Shafi while traveling to Kislovodsk, the widow and her children left for St. Petersburg. The house was sold to the merchant of the second guild, Valiulla Ibragimov. In 1919 the house was expropriated. It was settled with tenants. The house was residential until 1981. Since October 1981, by the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the republic, the house began to be protected as a monument of history and architecture. From 1981 to 1986, the building was restored.
The architectural appearance of the mansion is reminiscent of medieval European architecture. On the main facade, above the main entrance, there is a large bay window. The risalit is completed in steps to the left of the main entrance. On the right, it ends with a semicircular bay window with a high tent. There is a weather vane on the tent. The facade of the building is richly decorated and combines decorative elements of a wide variety of styles. Eclecticism and national romantic modernity are combined.
In June 1986, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gabdulla Tukai, the Literary Museum of Gabdulla Tukai was opened in the House of Shamil. And in 2001 - the Memorial Hall of the Laureates of the State Prize of the same name.
