Sights.
Kremlin.
KazanÕs most famous site is its Kremlin. Declared a world heritage site in 2000,
there is evidence that this area was used as a fortress from as early as the 11th Century. The buildings there today, however, mainly date from the 16th Century. The
Annunciation Cathedral dates from 1561-2 and is quite beautiful inside. From about the same time is the famous
Suyumbiki Tower, a striking construction 55 meters high and built with a slight lean. Next to the tower is the
GovernorÕs House (completed in 1853), home to the President of Tatarstan.
The white towers and walls of the Kremlin are also very impressive.
They were constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries. The most notable tower is at the entrance to the Kremlin. Construction on the clock-bearing, 45m high
Spasskaya Bashnya began in 1555. Also on the grounds of the Kremlin are a number of office buildings housing various government departments and a couple of museums. The
National ArtistÕs Gallery (Open Tue-Thur, Sat, Sun: 10-17; Fri: 10-16, closed Monday) houses some interesting decorative art, paintings, sculptures and jewelry. Entrance costs 50 R ($1.85). Next door is the
WWII Memorial Museum which is nothing exciting, but at 15 R ($0.60) entry thereÕs no harm in popping in. The
Jewelry Studio (Open 9-18 daily) is also worth a look. Basically itÕs just a shop selling Tatar style jewelry but there a few exhibition pieces there as well and some of it is quite exquisite.
But today the dominant building on the grounds of the Kremlin is the
Kul Sharif Mosque. Built to coincide with KazanÕs 1000 year anniversary the new mosque stands on the site of an old mosque of the same name which was destroyed when Moscow conquered Kazan in 1552. The mosque is the largest in Russia, and reputedly also the largest in Europe.
Directions: The Kremlin sits at the beginning of Kremlevskaya Ulitsa (at the Kazanka River end of the street). If you come out of metro Kremlevskaya you will see it immediately.
Musa Jalil Statue.
Just outside the entrance to the Kremlin grounds,
in front of the Spasskaya Bashnya stands an imposing
statue of the famous Tatar poet Musa Jalil. The poet is depicted with his arms tied behind his back and his legs entangled in barbed wire: a tribute to his heroic efforts fighting in WWII, where he ultimately met his end. This spot also offers great views onto the intersection of the Kazan and Volga Rivers.
Kazan State University.
Kazan is renowned for its university which, founded in 1804,
is one of the oldest in Russia. Among its famous students are Nikolai Lobachevksy, Leo Tolstoy and Vladimir Ulyanovsk (Lenin). There is a
statue of the young Vladimir facing the university building. There are a number of museums inside the university including one which covers the establishmentÕs history (see museums section below).
Address: The main building (and statue of the young Lenin) is towards the end of Kremlevskaya Ulitsa (at #18 to be precise) where it turns into Universitetskaya Ulitsa, but the comlplex takes up a full block.
St Peter and PaulÕs Cathedral.
St Peter and PaulÕs is a massive and absolutely
beautiful baroque cathedral. Built to commemorate Peter the GreatÕs visit to Kazan, construction was finished in 1726. Inside it is equally sumptuous featuring a towering iconostasis, although the interior looks a little washed out. From the top of the steps leading to the main entrance you will have one of the most perfect views of the Kazan skyline possible. The tower-like building next to the church is actually the cathedralÕs chapel.
Address: Ul. Musy Dzhalily, #21. Open 9-18 daily. Entrance is free.
Baumana Ulitsa.
KazanÕs main street is a huge pedestrian mall to rival MoscowÕs Arbat in length.
It has some of the same features as well: fountains, streets artists, a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants, interesting lanes on either side holding churches and the like. Of course, though, it is far less tourist oriented and is therefore much more relaxed.
At the end of the street (the Tukaya Ploshchad end) stands a
statue of Fyodor Shalyapin, who was an opera singer and one of KazanÕs most famous sons. Just on a little bit further is the towering
Chapel of the Church of the Epiphany. With this mighty structure blocking your view it would be easy enough to miss the actual golden-domed, light blue colored
Church of the Epiphany which stands just behind it.
Bulak Canal.
In the old days, this canal divided Kazan into two living quarters. To the north-east on the hill was a predominantly Russian area while the south-west, between the canal and the Volga River was where most of the Tatar population lived. The old division can still be seen in that the Orthodox churches dot the old Russian area while the cityÕs mosques can be found in the old Tatar area.
Mosques.
Dating from 1867, the small, green Soltan Mosque is probably the most accessible one in the city to visit, outside of the Kul Sharif in the Kremlin. Address: Gabdully Tukaya Ul., #14.
Another one worth a look and only a short distance away is the Nurullah Mosque, which was originally built in 1849.
Address: Moskovskaya Ul., #74/15.
Central Market.
This is well worth checking out even
if you donÕt need any supplies. One of many markets like it in Kazan, this is the most accessible and gives you a good idea of the atmosphere. In the main building fruit, vegetables, dairy products and meat are for sale as well as some delicious, locally made treats such as fresh honey. A walk around the stalls seeing whatÕs on offer is an experience in itself. Outside the main building the stalls sprawl out onto the streets where all manner of food, household goods, CDs/DVDs and assorted knick-knacks can be bought.
Address: Mezhlauk Ul., #13. Open 8:00-17:00 (closed Mondays).
Beach.
The beach on the north shore of the
Kazanka River is something special. Notwithstanding the fact that itÕs a largely artificial set-up on a river bank, the atmosphere here in summer is so carefree that itÕs impossible not to be won over. Plus it gives you the chance to swim just near the waters of the mighty Volga. If you visit Kazan in the summer months you should definitely pack a swimsuit.
Directions: Take tram 20 or 21 or marshrutkas 96 or 115 (see transport section) to get across to the north side of the city. The beach is right after the bridge.
Afghanistan War Memorial.
ItÕs not something you should make
a special trip for, but if youÕre going to the beach then make sure you pay attention to the small memorial on Dekabristov Ulitsa, just next to the entrance to the river bank. After all, itÕs not often you see a special memorial to the Afghanistan War.
Park Pobedy (Victory Park).
As a park itÕs nothing special: mainly concreted,
there is little in the way of gardens, grass or trees. But the memorial column at the front is quite impressive, as is the round memorial building listing the names of KazanÕs war dead. Inside the park there is a decent selection of tanks, artillery and war planes which you are free to peruse as you like. Or let your children climb over if you want. There is also a mosque in the far north-eastern corner.
Area: North of the Kazanka River, on Prospekt Yamasheva, between Bondarenko and Musina streets.
Museums.
Museum of 1000 Years of Kazan.
If you only have time to make it to one museum in Kazan it should be this one. Opened in August 2005 as one of many events to coincide with KazanÕs big anniversary, the painstaking effort that has been made in putting this museum together is plainly obvious.
As the name would suggest it follows KazanÕs 1000 year history using artifacts, paintings, poems, clothes, maps, reconstructions of old dwellings and any other conceivable means to put the story together. There are three halls. The first traces KazanÕs first 400 years. The second runs from the start of the 15th Century to the start of the 20th Century and the third covers the Soviet era and the modern city. The museum teaches everything you could want to know about Kazan and the Tatars and is probably the best example of how proud these people are. Unfortunately itÕs only in Russian and Tatar. You might get a free tour guide (if theyÕre bored) included in the admission price, but again they only speak Russian or Tatar. ItÕs worth going just to look around though. When I went I was the only person there and they seemed a bit shocked that they had a visitor. Maybe people usually go with tour groupsÉ
Address: Ploshchad Sultana Galiyeva, #1 (Inside the Kazan National Cultural Center). Tel: 238-3361. Open Tue-Sun: 10-17. Entrance: 30 R, photography pass: 10 R.
National Musem of the Republic of Tatarstan.
ItÕs the museum the locals will tell you to see but thereÕs nothing really special about it
unless you have an interest in Tatar culture or art. Although there are some interesting exhibits which can be admired purely for their aesthetic value. The museum is heavier on arts and crafts than you might usually expect, but is otherwise mainly composed of artifacts from different points in history. The exterior of the beautiful building that houses the museum (built in 1770) is as impressive as the exhibits inside. And to rant a little, the foreigner admission price is ridiculous. If they want to charge more for foreigners they should at least have information about the exhibits in English instead of making them pay more for a diminished experience.
Address: Kremlevskaya Ul., #2 (opposite the entrance to the Kremlin). Tel: 292-7162. Open Tue-Sun: 10-17.
Entrance: students: 20 R, adults 30 R, foreigners 100 R, photography pass 30 R.
The Musa Jalil Apartment Museum.
A small museum devoted to the famous Tatar poet Musa Jalil. This is the apartment where he lived for one year from 1940-41 before leaving for the war.
He never returned home after being captured and held in a prisoner of war camp for several years, from where he managed to organize a resistance movement against the Nazis. But ultimately he was found out and killed. The apartment consists of four rooms which he shared with another family. The kitchen and bathroom were communal. It was here, in JalilÕs preserved study/bedroom that he wrote the poem ÒPismonetsÓ and the opera ÒAltynchechÓ. As part of the entry fee you get a brief tour (in Russian and Tatar) but are mainly left to read the information hung on the walls yourself (also only in Russian and Tatar). Most of his works are for sale here, but unfortunately they donÕt stock any of the English translations, which are easy enough to buy on the streets in Moscow.
Address: Ul. Gorkogo, #17 (entrance from Ul. Gogolya). Tel. 230-5048. Website: www.tatar.museum.ru/jalil/. Open Mon-Sat 10-17.
Entry: 15 R adults, 12 R students.
Kazan State University History Museum.
This museum, which is set in an impressive room, mainly has memorabilia of the universityÕs most
famous students and staff. There are a lot of things to do with or owned by the famous mathematician Nikolai Lobachevsky. The personal effects of various other academics, who probably mean something to somebody, also crowd the room. Otherwise there isnÕt a lot of interest. To pass the time try searching for the photo of LeninÕs father. If you go around the corner from the museum entrance you will see a small doorway leading to a staircase. Go up and you are on the balcony above the museum. There is some artwork of limited value along the walls up here.
Directions: Kremlevskaya Ul., #18 (inside the main university building on the second floor). Tel: 231-8189. Open Mon-Fri: 10-17.
Entrance is free.
Museum of Wax Figures.
Sure, you didnÕt come to Kazan to see this. But itÕs just off the main street,
itÕs a bit of fun and itÕs cheap, so why not? ItÕs a very small museum, housing maybe only 25 figures arranged in a circle. Among the notables are Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Katherine II, Pope John Paul II, Castro, Lenin, Yeltsin, Gorbachev, Putin, Gandhi, Princess Diana and the triumvirate of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. LetÕs face it ø youÕre not going to get your photo taken with wax figures of this quality cheaper anywhere else. Nor will you have the same range of Russian figures to choose from.
Address: Baumana Ul., #70 (entrance from the courtyard just behind McDonalds). Tel: 251-9272. Open 10-20 daily. Entrance: 60 R adults, 40 R students, 30 R children.
Clubs.
Right Bull.
A restaurant/bar/club spread over three stories as seems to be the fashion in smaller Russian cities.
Face control consists of an aggressive door man grilling you on your city of origin and your profession. Presumably if he doesnÕt like your answers you donÕt get in. The second floor bar is quite nice. The upstairs club suffers from terrible retro decor complete with a disco ball and pumped up Ô80s music. But the kids seem to enjoy it. Smoking and drinking is not allowed on dance floors in clubs in Kazan. Since the entire club area is a dance floor it creates a very eerie impression and very few drunk patrons. If you want to drink you have to lean against the bar, where you can enjoy draft beers for 50-80 rubles ($1.80-$2.90), cocktails for 200 rubles ($7.40) and spirits for about 100 rubles ($3.70). If you want to smoke, there is a small balcony off to the side.
Address: Pravobulachnaya Ul., #29. Tel: 292-5928. Open Sun-Thur: 12:00-3:00, Fri-Sat: 12:00-5:00.
Sahara.
Another restaurant/bar/club. The summer terrace is a lovely spot for breakfast or a sunset meal.
As for the club, the non-drinking and smoking dance floor leads to a crowded bar area. It also causes low alcohol sales and few drunk patrons. Russia is no place for such social responsibility. Quite a decent club though ø good music and one of the few places that draws a crowd on weeknights, although the clientele is majority male. There are plenty of expensive things on the menu but the standards are reasonable priced: averages of 150r ($5.50) for cocktails, 60-100 rubles ($2.20-$2.90) for bottled beer, 50 rubles ($1.80) for draft beer and 100 rubles for spirits ($3.70). Vodka is cheaper.
Address: Pravobulachnaya Ul., #2. Tel: 292-4316. Website: www.sahara-club.ru. Club is open daily 21:00-3:00. Restaurant: 24 hours.
Doctor Club.
One of several clubs in KazanÕs main nightlife district on Ulitsa Pushkina.
Doctor Club is quite a stylish place and therefore the door thugs are wankers. The layout has one large bar and chill-out area with a sunken dance floor in front of it. Music is mainly R&B, intermixed with some hip-hop and the odd, out-of-place dance track thrown in every now and then. The DJs generally lack mixing talent, but nevertheless the club has a great atmosphere and a fashionable young crowd. Cover is 200 rubles ($7.40) for men and 100 rubles ($3.70) for the ladies. Drinks cost about the same as elsewhere. KazanÕs most impressive club.
Address: Pushkina Ul., #29a. Tel: 250-2280. Website: www.doctorclub.ru. Open Fri-Sat 22:00-5:00.
Kommuna.
No face control, almost no visible security and no cover: Kommuna just doesnÕt seem right in this country. Kommuna appears to be a rave club, judging by the DJsÕ preferred choice of hard dance music and the number of kids with large eyes who only drink water. It makes for a very friendly atmosphere, though the dancing is terrible. Even the mirror running the length of the dance floor doesnÕt dissuade the clubÕs patrons from their convulsive movements. Kommuna is a bedlam of rooms. In addition to the main dance floor there are two separate bar areas, two chill-out rooms and various other little nooks and alcoves. Downstairs there are a set of filthy toilets. Very cheap drinks with draft beer just 45 rubles ($1.60), cocktails 150 rubles ($5.50) and spirits about 100 rubles ($3.70). And since most of the patrons have no need for alcohol it makes you wonder how the club makes money. And guessing could get me done for libelÉ
Address: Butlerova Ul., #16. Tel: 236-4201. Open Thur, Sun 20:00-2:00, Fri-Sat 20:00-5:00.
Arena.
Has a reputation among locals as KazanÕs best club. Not exactly sure why, but it does boast the biggest
dance floor by a good measure. Spread out over two floors, upstairs features a small games room, large billiard hall and a severely under-populated DJ bar. Downstairs has the main dance floor and a ÒDJ cafeÓ that has no DJ, making it just a plain old cafe. In the main hall the DJ, tucked away above the stage on the right hand side, takes second place to the onstage dancers. Which is probably fair enough, too, although the dancers would be a lot better if they didnÕt wear such stupid wigsÉ and so much clothing. Less drug-fuelled activity than elsewhere in the city but, judging by the number of people wearing sunglasses, Arena still has its fair share. Or maybe thatÕs just a popular Kazan fashion, like the mullet haircut. Cover costs 200 rubles ($7.40) on weekends and drinks are reasonably priced. ThereÕs a convenient strip club in the same complex. You can have a lot of fun at Arena, even if the clubÕs reputation is overblown.
Address: Pushkina Ul., #17. Tel: 236-2362. Website: www.clubarena.ru. Open Sun-Thurs 22:00-3:00, Fri-Sat 21:00-5:00.
Boomerang.
A massive entertainment complex
spread over two stories. Boomerang features two large concert halls, a smaller dance hall, a cafe and a chill-out room. One of KazanÕs best venues for live music. DJs play all genres of music: dance, rock, hip-hop and so on. Difficult to fill up due to its size but can be great fun when people are packed in. Drinks sell for standard Kazan club prices.
Address: Pravobulachnaya Ul., #13. Tel: 292-9221. Open 19:00-6:00.
Tsentr Klubnoy Zhizny.
The somewhat arrogant name is perhaps intended to hide the fact that the club is actually
located well outside the center of Kazan, across the Kazanka River to the north of the city. ItÕs not really worth the trek if youÕre only in Kazan for a short time, but people staying longer-term should enjoy it. Tsentr Klubnoy Zhizny is a large, popular and apparently fashionable night club. On top of two separate bars there is a large dance floor with two levels of balconies above it. The balconies are lined with tables for dining. Cocktails sell for about 180 rubles ($6.60), draft beer is 55 rubles ($2) and spirits are around 120 rubles ($4.40). The club thoughtfully provides taxi vans heading to various parts of Kazan every hour on the hour after public transport finishes. Alternatively you could head down the road to the strip bar Murena if things donÕt work out for you at the club.
Address: Frunze Ul., #5. Tel: 555-3131. Open: Fri-Sat 21:00-5:00, Sun: 21:00-3:00.
Murena.
A small and somewhat run-down looking strip club.
Its ÔintimateÕ size means that you are never too far from the action. Murena features some cute girls who prance about on a large stage on top of a fish tank and the staff are relatively friendly. The Crazy Menu is expensive with most items priced the same as at MoscowÕs strip clubs. But if youÕve got the cash then anything you want is on offer. And the drinks are a good deal cheaper than in the capitalÕs counterparts so you can save some money that way.
Address: Frunze Ul., #1. Tel: 542-2597. Website: www.myrena.ru. Open 18:00-5:00 (strip show from 23:00). Comments, Questions, Feedback?
