FlightsHotel
Russian Train Tickets |  | "Travel All Russia" - bringing the world to Russia. |  |
|  |
The city of Kazan can trace its history back through the centuries
and the site of the original settlement, forms what is today the
city's outstanding Kremlin. The Kremlin - or walled citadel - in
Kazan was made a UNESCO world heritage site when its uniqueness was
recognised in 2000.
The most striking thing about the Kremlin as you arrive are the
pristine white walls which surround the site mirrored by the white
government buildings and the presidential palace. The Kremlin
reflects the ethnic mix of Russians and Tatars who live there and
their two centres of worship. The Kol Sharif mosque is magnificent,
the largest mosque in Europe, and also home to a rich collection of
ancient books. Visitors are welcome and positively encouraged, but
remember that both men and women are expected to cover their heads
here. The mosque was rebuilt in 2005 replacing the original
destroyed by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century.
The Orthodox Church also has an architectural masterpiece in
Kazan's Kremlin. The Annunciation Cathedral is a gem not to be
missed. Completed in 1561 it is believed to have been designed by
Yakovlev, the architect behind St Basil's in Moscow.
Like all ancient cities Kazan abounds with legends and in the
Kremlin you will find the Söyembikä tower, which dominates the
skyline. Söyembikä was the last queen of Kazan. After murdering her
husband, Ivan the Terrible, struck by her beauty proposed marriage.
She said she would only marry him if he built the tallest tower in
Kazan for her within seven days. Ivan accomplished this, each tier
of the tower being finished one day after the next. Seeing this,
the grief-stricken Söyembikä asked to climb the tower so she could
address the Tatar people before she was taken off to be married.
She climbed to the highest storey and leapt to her death , cheating
Ivan of his new wife. Sadly the modern visitor is no longer allowed
to climb the tower because , rather like the leaning Tower of Pisa,
the Söyembikä tower has begun to tilt alarmingly despite efforts to
stabilise it. |
|
|
