Russia Kazan travel guide

Kazan history

Russia Kazan was founded in 1005 and located on the Volga river bank. The city population is about 1,4 millions persons (2024). Kazan is one of the most popular tourist cities in Russia. Here in the distant past the first routes of the East and West crossed. On these lands were the troops of Khan Batu and a long period of conquests of the Golden Horde. Later, the troops of the descendants of Genghis Khan came here and created their state Kazan Khanate. In 1550, Tsar Ivan Grozny , who ruled Moscow at that time, took the city by storm. He began to build the Kazan Kremlin and resettle Russian artisans here from all lands of the Russian state. From these times, the formation of Kazan as the largest city in the country began.

Kazan best tourist sights

Walk along the Kazan ancient streets, where every stone has its own history and at the same get ecquaintance a modern metropolis living in the frantic rhythm of the informal Muslim capital.

• Old Tatar settlement with ancient Tatar mosques;
• Lake Kaban, shrouded in legends;
• The sailing ship building of the Tatar Academic Theatre named after G. Kamal;
• Tatar village “Tugan Avylym” • Fairytale palace – puppet theatre “Ekiyat”;
• Kazan University  • Freedom Square – the cultural and administrative center of Kazan;
• Bogoroditsky Monastery and its shrine, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. Excursion around the Kremlin territory;
• Kazan Kremlin – the main attraction of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site;
• Spasskaya Tower – the main gate of the Kremlin;
• Kul Sharif Mosque – the main mosque of the city and the republic;
• Junker School building;
• Annunciation Cathedral;
• Cannon Yard;
• Residence of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan (Governor’s Palace);
• Symbol of Kazan – the famous “leaning” tower of Khan Syuyumbike

Kazan Muslim Mosques

Kul Sharif Mosque.

A symbol of the revival of Islam in Russia built in 2005.

Al Marjani Mosque.

The oldest mosque in Kazan was built with public funds by permission of Catherine II.

The mosque is named after Imam Shigabutdin Marjani, who served in it from 1850-1889. Other names include Afende (Lord’s) and Yunusovskaya

The Asimov Mosque It was built in the forms of eclecticism of the national romantic trend in 1887-1890 on the site of an old wooden mosque that existed since 1804. The construction was carried out at the expense of merchant M. M. Asimov. The Asimovskaya Mosque is a one—story, two-hall jami mosque with a 51 m high minaret above the entrance. The decorative decoration uses motifs of the architecture of the Muslim East

Irek Mosque. The mosque was built in memory of the victims of the plane crash at Kazan airport in November 2013. The architecture of the “palace” resembles the image of the famous Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The size of the Irek is quite modest. But the mosque was distinguished by its elaborate decoration and rich interior decoration.

Yardyam Mosque. On July 19, 2013, a unique Yardem mosque was opened in Kazan, which has no analogues in Russia and the Near abroad. It is a whole complex, which includes a prayer hall, a hostel for nonresidents, a dining room, computer classes, a library, and a mini-printing house.

Bolgar UNESCO Heritge sight

Bolgar was the capital of Volga Bulgaria – one of the early state associations of Eastern Europe. The Bolgar Historical and Architectural Complex is the northernmost monument of medieval Muslim architecture in the world, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Bolgar is a holy place for the Volga Tatars. Here in 922, Islam was adopted as the official state religion.

• The Cathedral Mosque and the Great Minaret – the centre of the architectural ensemble;
• The Eastern Mausoleum – a Muslim burial vault • The Northern Mausoleum – a symbol of the Bulgarian settlement;
• The Khan’s burial vault and the Small Minaret – sacred places of memory of ancestors;
• The Black Chamber – popular memory associated its name with a beautiful legend about the Bulgarian princess; Altynchech, who threw herself from the roof of the building, refusing to marry the Golden Horde Khan;
• The White Mosque – one of the most significant structures that have replenished the modern collection of architectural heritage of Tatarstan. The white decorum of the building makes the mosque resemble the Indian Taj Mahal.

Kazan national cuisine

Kazan has a very tasty national cuisine. Examples of some of the most popular dishes.

• Echpochmak – A triangular pie made of unleavened dough with a filling of potatoes, onions and meat;
• Kystyby – A fried flatbread made of unleavened dough with a filling of mashed potatoes or millet porridge;
• Kazy – A tender horse meat sausage;
• Tokmach – Soup with homemade noodles on any broth (meat, fish, vegetable and even mushroom);
• Shurpa – Soup on meat broth with onions, potatoes and herbs;
• Beshbarmak. A dish of boiled potatoes, meat and noodles;
• Azu in Tatar style (similar to goulash) – Fried meat with tomatoes, carrots, onions and potatoes;
• Chak-chak – Pieces of deep-fried dough, which are poured with honey or syrup;
• Gubadiya – National closed pie with a multi-layered filling with meat or as a dessert with cottage cheese, boiled egg, rice and raisins;
• Talkysh kaleve – Dessert in the form of cones made of flour and caramelized honey.

Kazan is informal Russia Muslim capital