Description of the attraction
The Kazan Kremlin is one of the most beautiful and unusual in our country. It reflects the multifaceted history of the city; mosques and monasteries, old and new buildings, museums and exhibitions of contemporary art coexist in it. The Kazan Kremlin, restored and finished for the 1000th anniversary of the city, has become one of the most attractive tourist sites in the country.
Fortress history
The very first settlements on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin belong to the Mesolithic. But present-day Kazan dates back to the Bulgar settlement of the 10th century - its remains were found in the northern part of the Kremlin hill. A stone fortress stood here already in the 12th century. After the Golden Horde disintegrated, Kazan became the center of one of the states that formed on its basis - the Kazan Khanate. In 1552 the city was taken by Ivan the Terrible.
The current walls and towers of the Kazan Kremlin were built almost immediately after the conquest - in 1556-62. on the basis and using materials of the Tatar fortress, which was dilapidated during the assault. Initially, there were 13 towers, and a drawbridge across the moat led to the city from the Kremlin. Ammunition rooms were arranged in the six-meter walls. This fortress was built in such a way as to withstand and conduct artillery fire.
Five of the towers were dismantled in the 19th century - now their foundations are open for inspection, but in general the Kazan Kremlin is very well preserved. The last restoration took place here in the late XX - early XXI centuries to celebrate the millennium of the city: the towers were returned to the wooden sheds, and this returned the appearance of the fortress, close to the historical one.
Kul Sharif Mosque
The main attraction of Kazan and the architectural dominant of the Kremlin complex is the beautiful Kul-Sharif mosque. Once at about this place in the capital of the Kazan Khanate there was a legendary mosque with many minarets, which was considered the most beautiful - in any case, this is exactly how it is mentioned in written sources. But the mosque was destroyed in 1552, and no images or drawings remained of it. In memory of her, a new mosque was built in 1996-2005. It was named after Kul Sharif, the spiritual leader of the Kazan Khanate in the 16th century.
This is one of the tallest and largest mosques in Russia. The height of its minarets is 58 meters, and the height of the dome is 39 meters. It is faced with Ural granite and white marble, richly decorated inside and out, and the evening illumination makes it especially impressive.
There is a Museum of Islamic Culture at the mosque, which occupies two halls. One room tells about Islam in general - for example, there is a model of Mecca, and the second tells about the history of Islam in Tatarstan. The museum organizes exhibitions, excursions and master classes.
Tower Syuyumbike
The second building in the Kremlin, which cannot be missed, is the seven-tiered Syuyumbike tower - it is almost the same height as the minarets and is "Leaning", that is, it stands at a noticeable slope.
There is no exact dating of its construction; scientists hesitate between the 16th and 18th centuries. The legend of the 19th century connects it with the name of Queen Syuyumbike, who ruled Kazan at the time of the capture of the city by Ivan the Terrible and rushed from the highest tier of the tower so as not to get the Russian tsar.
The tower is not connected with the Kremlin walls - this is a rather rare type of watchtower, which is located not outside the fortress, but inside it.
Blagoveshchensky cathedral
Kazan is a city of two faiths, so not less impressive but more ancient Cathedral of the Annunciation is located not far from the mosque. It was built in the 16th century. Initially, the Moscow Assumption Cathedral was taken as a model, although it is difficult to guess the prototype from the current appearance of the main Kazan temple. This temple was built by the famous Moscow architects Barma and Postnik - the same ones who built St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. A fragment of the painting has survived since that time - the Kazan icon in the altar of the cathedral.
The temple received its current forms, with the baroque completion of the central dome, during the rebuilding in the 18th century, and in the 19th century it was still significantly expanded. Its five-tiered bell tower has not survived. Valuables from the sacristy of the cathedral, confiscated by the Bolsheviks - the precious frames of the icons, the Gospels, decorated with rich miniatures - were mostly plundered. What has survived is now in the National Museum of Tatarstan, located not far from the Kremlin. During the Civil War, the cathedral was badly damaged - the Red Army fired at the city, several shells hit the cathedral. In Soviet times, the building belonged to the State Archives.
In 1970-80. the cathedral was restored - as it was in the middle of the 19th century, and since 2005 it has been handed over to believers again. The main shrine of the cathedral before the revolution was the relics of St. Guria, the first Kazan archbishop, has now restored his cancer here, and a particle of the holy relics has been returned.
The Museum of the History of the Annunciation Cathedral operates at the cathedral. This is an interactive exhibition telling about the history of Orthodoxy in Kazan and the decoration of the cathedral - the way it was before the revolution, and the way it is now. Some relics are kept here: for example, the staff of St. Gury, a model of the carriage of Empress Catherine II, icons and books from the lost cathedrals of the Kremlin, and much more.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky monastery
Another important part of the Kremlin is the complex of buildings of the Transfiguration Monastery. It was founded immediately after the capture of Kazan, in 1556.
The Transfiguration Cathedral was built at the end of the 16th century. Under his altar was the burial vault of Kazan bishops and nobility. Then the church of Nikita Ratny appeared, and at the beginning of the 19th century, the famous Kazan Theological Seminary moved to this monastery. The Transfiguration Cathedral has not survived to this day - only a part of the basement remained, but the Church of Nikita Ratny was restored. Now this complex is being restored and should become a museum of archeology.
Administrative buildings and Cannon yard
In the 18th century, a public office building appeared in the Kremlin. It was built in 1756 by the architect V. Kaftyrev. It is a two-story building with vaulted cellars, which is divided into three sections, separated by driveways. At the same time, in the 17th century, the house of the chief commandant was built on the site of the former khan's palace. By the 19th century, it was dilapidated.
Already in the 1840s, a new pompous building appeared here. This is the house of the military governor, built according to the project of the most famous architect of the Nikolaev time - K. Ton. Its architecture combines classicism with oriental and Byzantine motives. It has always retained its administrative function: in Soviet times, the Council of Ministers was located here, and now it is the residence of the President of the Republic.
Once upon a time in Kazan was located one of the largest arsenals in Russia - centers for the manufacture and repair of weapons. By the middle of the 19th century, its activities ceased, but the complex of its buildings remained. After restoration, one of its buildings became a museum center - events, performances and temporary exhibitions are held here, and it is positioned as the Museum of Weapons. The remains of the foundry have been preserved here.
Museum of Statehood of Tatarstan
Not far from the governor's house there was a house church - first Vvedenskaya, and after rebuilding in the middle of the 19th century - the church of St. Spirit. Now it has been restored, and it houses the Museum of Tatarstan Statehood.
The first floor of the building is occupied by exhibitions, mainly from the funds of the National Museum, telling about the history and culture of the country, and the second is the main exposition - about the formation of statehood, Bulgaria, the Golden Horde, the Kazan Khanate and Russia. It is decorated with modern interactive elements: here you can listen to audio information, watch videos, there are installations and touch panels.
Junker School and Art Gallery
In 1866 the Kazan cadet school was organized. It is located in the Kremlin - in a building that previously housed the cantonists' barracks. Then the building was two-story, in Soviet times a third was added to it. Now there is an art gallery of the republic. Here are collected works of Kazan artists from the 19th century.
The museum occupied three floors: two floors for the main exposition and a floor for temporary exhibitions. The gem of the exposition is the largest collection of works by the most famous Kazan artist, Nikolai Feshin. He taught at the Kazan Art School, but in 1923 he emigrated to the United States and lived there for the rest of his life, so Americans consider him their artist. According to his will, he was buried in his homeland - in Kazan. In addition to his works, there are works of the school of the Kazan avant-garde, and many paintings by contemporary artists on national themes.
Museum of Natural History of Tatarstan
An interesting natural science museum, which tells about the history of the formation of the Earth and the appearance of life on it, is also part of the Kazan Kremlin. Here is a collection of minerals from the Geological Museum of Kazan University, paleontological exhibits - for example, the colorful skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus, models of volcanoes and much more.
The museum is designed primarily for schoolchildren: there are many different interactive and multimedia elements that will be of interest to children. Some of the exhibits are playable - you can touch them and carry out experiments with them, models of volcanoes operate, and dinosaurs move.
Interesting Facts
- By the shape of the teeth of the Kazan Kremlin, you can find out the time of the construction of the section of the wall. Rectangular teeth are the oldest. The dovetail barbs - the same as in the Moscow Kremlin - appeared as a result of the rebuilding of the 18th century.
- The Kazan painter Nikolai Feshin is highly valued in America for his paintings from the life of American Indians.
- The Syuyumbike Tower deviates from the vertical by 1.9 m.
On a note
- Location: Kazan, st. Kremlin, 2, +7(843)567-8001.
- The nearest metro stations are "Kremlin".
- Official website:
- Opening hours: territory - daily from 8:00 to 22:00, museums - from 10:00 to 18:00, on Fri - until 21:00, Monday and Wednesday for most museums are days off.
- Tickets: entrance to the territory and religious buildings is free. Entrance to museums - up to 150 rubles.
