Description of the attraction
Saratov Circus is the first stationary circus in Russia. It was founded in 1876 by the Nikitin brothers, artists and entrepreneurs. And although history tells that not long before that the Nikitins built a circus in Penza, it is generally accepted that it was Saratovsky that was the first. Prior to this, performances were held in temporary tents with the approval of the city police chief, in a strictly designated place and only for a few fair days.
Saratov became the founder of the Russian circus thanks to the activities of the three Nikitin brothers: Dmitry, Akim and Peter. In 1876, they built a round wooden building resembling a tent, with the sign "The First Russian Circus of the Nikitin Brothers". In 1921, Saratov, like the entire Volga region, was seized by famine. The circus performers and animals were dying of hunger and cholera, but they never stopped giving performances. Having survived all the hardships and hardships, the wooden building is completely dilapidated. In 1928 it had to be demolished.
In 1931, according to the project of B. S. Vilensky (designer of the VDNKh pavilions and several metro stations in Moscow), a new stone circus building was erected. From 1959 to 1963, the circus was reconstructed, the premises were enlarged, the facade was changed. But only in 1998, after a major overhaul on the 125th anniversary of the Saratov circus, the building was named “Saratov circus im. brothers Nikitin.
