Kazan tourist information
Kazan is the capital of the Tatarstan Republic. It is located at 55 degrees 48 min North and 49 degrees, 26 min East on the Kazanka and Volga rivers. It is 650 miles east of Moscow by rail and 253 miles east of Nizhni-Novgorod by the Volga.
Kazan was founded in the 13th century by the Khan of the Golden Horde known as Kazan-Khan 45 km from the present city. It was moved to its present position in the 15th century. Tatars are a Turkic people descended from Mongol-Tatar armies of Genghiz Khan and his successors. In 1552 Ivan the Terrible invaded the city and forced the Muslims to become Christian. St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow was built to celebrate the taking of Kazan. Kazan architecture combines different styles hinting at the pretentious late Italian Baroque and refined Antiquity, magical Moorish bliss, an oriental cloud cloaking rich merchants and nobility private residences, and ancient skill of a traditional Tatar stone art originating in bas-reliefs.
There are numerous mosques in Kazan, some over 100 years old. The Hay Market mosque dates from 1849; the nearby Soltanov mosque was built in 1868. Apart from Muslim mosques, there are a number of Christian churches and cathedrals. Just west of the Kremlin, there is the 16th century St. John the Baptist Cathedral and Monastery. The colourful twin – towered SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral was built in honour of Tsar Peter the Great after he visited Kazan in 1722. The cathedral is a Russian baroque church, with heavily decorated facade.
by Russia-IC
Kazan aerial map
Please click on any icon on the Kazan aerial tourist map, to find close by places, offering hotels and tourist information. You can zoom in and zoom out our touristical map as well as switch between satelite and map view of Kazan.
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