Astrakhan tourist information
The first written references mentioning the city of Astrakhan dates back to the 13th century. It was at the end of the same century that a city was founded on the right bank of the Volga River. The Astrakhan Khanate was a part of the Golden Horde. For several centuries Astrakhan prospered on the crossing of trade routes which linked Europe and Asia.
After the Golden Horde disintegrated, the astrakhan Khanate was conquered by Ivan the Terrible’s troops in 1556. Astrakhan became the Russia’s outpost defending its south –eastern borders. July 1606 is marked by the rising in support of the Peasant War under the command of Ivan Bolotnikov. In 1670 the Stepan Razin’s army captured the city of Astrakhan, which was kept in the hands of the rebels for more than a year. In 1772 Peter the Great visited Astrakhan in order to prepare his military campaign to the western shores of the Caspian Sea. The great Russian Tsar laid the foundation of the sea port in Astrakhan. Peter the Great founded the Admiralty and started the construction of the Astrakhan Fleet.
The Astrakhan, with over 250 000 exhibits, preserves the past of Astrakhan as Russia’s south outpost, crossed by the Great Silk Route. The city attracted merchants from Khiva, Bukhara, Persia and India. The Bukhara and Indian arcades, Armenian and Persian trade missions came to Astrakhan. The museum also illustrates the history of a vast area in the Volga’s lower reaches from the Mesolithic Age to the present day, and demonstrates links between eras and nations, their customs, cultures, traditions and religions.
The city has an unforgettable image, with a number of historical and architectural monuments. Of special note among them are St. Vladimir`s Cathedral, the Transfiguration Monastery tower, the former Azov-and-Don Bank, and the Astrakhan Cossack headquarters. The Tetyushininov Mansion decorated with lacy carvings may serve as a good example of the Russian wooden architecture.
The Kustodiev Art Gallery, in its lovely ancient house, is named after Boris Kustodiev, famous painter and stage artist, one of the most brilliant pupils of the celebrated Ilya Repin. The gallery has an extensive collection, with sculptures and paintings by such artists as Nesterov, Kustodiev and Levitan. The Astrakhan Drama, one of the Russia’s oldest provincial theatres, celebrated its 180th anniversary in 1990. It was known for guest performances of renowned drama actresses Maria Yermolova and Vera Komissarzhevskaya, as well as opera singers Fedor Chaliapin and Leonid Sobinov. In more recent times, film and drama star Lydia Tselikovskaya and prima donnas Maria Maksakova and Tamara Milashkina started their careers here.
by Russia-IC
Astrakhan aerial map
Please click on any icon on the Astrakhan 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 Astrakhan.
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