Where Europe Meets Asia
Kazan is one of the most important cities in the biggest country in the world, Russia. In 2009 Kazan gained the right to officially refer to itself as the “Third Capital of Russia”, following Moscow and St. Petersburg and winning the fight over the title with one of the oldest Russian cities, Nizhny Novgorod. Well, Kazan totally deserves the title. It is not only one of the biggest Russian economical, political, scientific, cultural and sports centres, it’s also an absolutely extraordinary city.
Kazan is the capital and the biggest city of Republic of Tatarstan, a federal subject of Russia with its own constitution and Tatar language established as the official one alongside Russian. The influence of Tatars is noticeable everywhere. Russia is undeniably a very interesting country, with a lot of great places worth visiting. But what is also characteristic is that a lot of Russian cities are a bit chaotic and messy. The view of some abandoned wooden house just next to a beautiful monument or a historical church shouldn’t surprise you when you’re in Russia. Nor should pavements full of holes and some absurd makeshift solutions here and there. Kazan undoubtedly stands out from the other Russian cities. Everything there is in order, everything is clearly marked, everything is well taken care of.
Kazan, with the population of 1.14 million, is the eight most populous city in Russia. It is located at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers. The city, although geographically European, is the place where the Islamic Tatar and Orthodox Russian cultures meet. 48.6% of the population are ethnic Tatars, 47.6% – ethnic Russians. Kazan is unofficially called a capital of all Tatars of the world. Throughout its rich history, it’s always been the battlefield of Tatar-Russian war.
Kazan is said to be founded by the Volga Bulgars, the Islamic Turkic people, in the 11th century. However, written records confirming that version are sparse. For sure Kazan used to be a part of the Golden Horde, an established in 13th century Mongol and later Turkicized Khanate. In 1438 the Golden Horde was destroyed and Kazan became a capital of the Khanate of Kazan, a medieval Tatar state. Since then there was a series of wars fought between Khanate of Kazan and Muscovite Russia. The Russians occupied Kazan several times, until the Siege of Kazan in 1552, when Ivan the Terrible conquered Kazan for good. Majority of the population got massacred, those who survived got forcibly Christianised and mosques were ruined.
In 1708 Kazan became the seat of Kazan Governorate – one of eight governorates of the Tsardom of Russia, the Russian Empire and the Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. At that time most of the buildings in Kazan were made of timber. In 1774 the city was destroyed but soon rebuilt, this time in stone and according to a grid plan. Thanks to Catherine the Great, mosques were allowed to be built again. In 1917 Kazan became one of the revolution centres and a year later it was established as the capital of newly founded, but soon suppressed by the Bolshevists, Idel-Ural State. In 1920 Kazan became the centre of Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. During the World War II the city became a centre of military industry.
In the 80s and the 90s Kazan regained the position of the centre of Tatar and cultural identity. Since 2000 a total renovation has been carried out. Kazan government invested a lot of money in a sport industry, which gave the city the title of the sport capital of Russia. Kazan earned the right to host 2013 Summer Universiade and 2018 FIFA World Cup. To meet the expectations as a host, new sport objects were built in Kazan. In 2005 the indoor sporting arena called Tatneft Arena was opened. Its capacity is 10,000. It’s home to two professional ice hockey teams: Ak Bars Kazan and Kontinental Hockey League. Tatneft Arena is also a place where cultural events such as concerts take place. In 2013 the new main football stadium of Kazan was opened – Kazan Arena. Its capacity is 45,000. The stadium was designed by Populous, the company which designed such famous buildings as Wembley Stadium or London’s Olympic Stadium.
In 2005 the citizens of the city celebrated the Millennium of Kazan. As a part of commemoration, several opening ceremonies took place. The underground was opened, making Kazan one of seven Russian cities offering that way of public transportation. There was also the opening of the Millennium Bridge, which main part is shaped like the letter “M”. The most important opening though was the opening of Qol Sherif Mosque, one of the biggest mosques in Europe. It was built in the same location as the other mosque of the same name, destroyed in 1552 during the storming of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible. Nowadays the mosque serves as the Museum of Islam.
Don’t miss the highest tower in the Kremlin – the Söyembikä Tower. It used to be a leaning tower – a tower that doesn’t stand perpendicular to the ground, like The Leaning Tower of Pisa. It’s 55 metres high. The name of the tower is associated with Söyembikä of Kazan, the Tatar ruler and the national hero of Kazan. The Söyembikä Tower was a gift from Ivan the Terrible for her. She agreed to a mariage proporsal from the Tsar provided that he would build a tower with seven tiers for her. When he finished the tower, she climbed to the top of the tower, looked at Kazan and its citizens. She felt she couldn’t marry the Tsar so she jumped off. What is interesting is that Kazansky Railway Station in Moscow is a replica of Söyembikä Tower.
Another well-known tower in the Kremlin is Spasskaya Tower. 45 metres high, it plays the role of the main entrance to the citadel. In front of the tower there is the Musa Jalil Statue, the monument commemorating the poet Musa Jalil who died fighting during World War II. In the Kremlin you will also find the completed in 1853 Governor House, which is home to the President of Tatarstan.
Close to the Kremlin there is the Kazan State Circus. The circus has an extraordinary position in Russia. Circus buildings are quite a common facility in Russian cities. During Soviet era the circus became a prominent piece of culture, which is still reflected in bigger than in Western Europe popularity of that form of entertainment. The first circus in Kazan was built in 1890 and was wooden. The modern building resembles UFO saucer, was built in 1967 and can contain 2400 viewers. Another interesting building that is located near the Kremlin is the building of the Ministry of Agriculture. What is unusual about it is the tree sculpture placed in the front part of the building.
What you should see when visiting Kazan is Kazan State University. It was founded in 1804 and is second oldest, after Moscow State University, continuously operating university of Russia. Famous Students of the university are Leo Tolstoy and Vladimir Ulyanov, better known as Vladimir Lenin. The state of him is situated next to the university. Inside of the university there are many museums. Not far away from Kazan University there is St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral. That baroque church was built in 1726 as a tribute to Peter the Great.
If you want to go to some cafés, restaurants or shops, visit Baumana Street. Nikolay Bauman was a Russian revolutionary. The street has existed since the 15th century. It is now also the place where street artists give their performances. Apart from that, you will also see there Chapel of the Church of the Epiphany and the statue of Fyodor Shalyapin – opera singer and one of the most famous people from Kazan.
When you’re in Kazan, don’t forget to visit Kaban Lakes. It is the biggest system of lakes in Tatarstan, it consists of three lakes: Nizhny Kaban, Sredny Kaban and Verkhny Kaban. There is a number of legend regarding Kaban. One of them says that there is a Khan’s treasure mysteriously lost in the middle of 16th century in the on the bottom of the lake. There is even a film called “The treasure of Lake Kaban” based on that legend. Lots of legends involve Zilant, a legendary creature, sort of a hybrid of dragon and a wyvern that is a part of Tatar and Russian folklore and in 1730 became an official symbol of Kazan. One of them presents Zilant as a dragon-snake with two heads, one of which ate only grass and the other – virgins and youths. There was a brave man who defeated the creature, but didn’t kill it. Zilant escaped to the Lake Kaban and still from time to time takes a revenge on the citizens of the city.
One of the legends says that Zilant transformed into Diü and founded a mystical Underwater Kingdom of Qaban. The most popular legend regarding the foundation of the city is, however, the legend about the boiling couldron. It says that Bulgars had been unsuccessfully searching for the place to start the city for a long time until they decided to ask the wizard for advice. He told them to settle in the place where the water in the couldron would boil without the fire. The right place appeared to be the terrain of today’s Kazan. It is said that the city’s name derives from the word : ”qazan” which means “cauldron”. Another local legend says that the city was named after the shape of the hill on which it sits, as it looks like an upturned cauldron.
The unofficial motto of Tatarstan is “Bez Buldırabız! “ which means “We can!”. And they can indeed. They can provide tourist information in three languages (Russian, Tatar and English), they can ensure clean, new and clearly marked public transportation, they can keep the city in order and take care of the cultural treasures. What is more, they can come up with the idea of the Temple of All Religions – an architectural complex that consists of several types of religious architecture. It is supposed to correspond to 16 most major world religions, including the ones which are no longer practised. The temple will have 16 cupolas – each one will represent one religion. The construction of the temple has started in 1992 and hasn’t been finished yet.
Kazan is a beautiful city, with a rich history and an unusual spirit. It is not only said that it is the place where Europe meets Asia, you can really feel it at every turn. Visit that unique city and feel its special atmosphere yourself.
Words by: Alicja Borza
Excellent post!