Who built Kazan. History and year of foundation of Kazan Interior decoration of the cathedral

The aggressive campaigns of the Tatar-Mongol peoples against Rus', apparently, began in the 13th century. But even earlier, various Turkic-speaking tribes roamed the territory of modern Russia. This special period of Russian history was marked not only by massive military conflicts, but also by changes in culture, politics and the way of farming.

Beautiful Turkic and Mongol-Tatar cities were destroyed and built, which, having survived, later became Russian.

Kazan

This city was founded in the XIII-XIV centuries as a border fortress of one of the hordes consisting of Kutrigur tribes and remnants of the Khazars. Subsequently, the settlement became an important trade and political center within the Golden Horde.

The appearance of the unusual name is shrouded in a number of myths and legends associated with the designation of the traditional utensils of nomadic Turkic-speaking tribes - kazan. The general eating was most likely associated with some kind of ritual. But many linguists pay attention to such Russian words as “treasury” and “execute”, which are related to state power.

In the 15th century, Kazan became the capital of a separate Tatar-Mongol Khanate. The production of leather, pottery, and weapons rapidly developed in the city, and trade flourished, including with the Muscovite kingdom.

At the beginning of the second half of the 16th century, the Kazan Khanate was defeated by the troops of Ivan the Terrible and, together with its capital, became part of Russia.

Art - Arsk

In the 13th century, on the Kazanka River, 65 km northeast of Kazan, Batu Khan founded the Art fortress, which translated from common Turkic means rear, rear. The Artskaya citadel was the northern rear outpost of the Kazan Khanate. In 1552, the wooden fortress, guarded by a small Horde garrison, was captured by a Russian detachment sent by Ivan the Terrible. Since that time, Arsk has been a small Tatar town, part of Russia; now it has railway connections and developed infrastructure.

Alabuga - Yelabuga

The settlement, founded by the Kutrigur tribes in 1005-1010 on the high right bank of the Kama, at the confluence of the Toima River, apparently already had stone walls and towers by the end of the 11th century, because one of them has survived to this day. The possibility of erecting a monolithic fortress at that early time suggests that the city was economically developed and had a large population.

Alabuga stood on an important trade and caravan road for the Volga Bulgars, and then the Horde, connecting European lands with the Urals. According to the chronicles, in the 12th century a white-stone mosque with eight towers and half-towers was built in Alabuga, of which ruins now remain. Archaeologists and architects suggest that the design of this mosque was similar to similar medieval mosque-fortresses, partly preserved in Tunisia in Sousse and in the capital of Iraq - Baghdad. This means that even then there was a connection between the Urals and Central Asian, as well as North African lands, thanks to which Muslim culture developed.

Biler - Bilyar

On the left bank of the Maly Cheremshan River, the right tributary of the Bolshoy Cheremshan River, which flows into the Volga, a city with wooden walls up to 10 meters thick was founded in the 10th-12th centuries. In the surviving chronicles of the 12th century it is called the “Great City” and, apparently, Slavs lived in it. However, archaeological research has made it possible to establish that in the 10th century a white stone mosque-fortress with columns and minarets was built there.

At that time, there were stone houses with plastered walls and galleries nearby, which was uncharacteristic of ancient Russian architecture; there was a complex of baths, an entire pottery quarter, and even an alchemist’s workshop. Such a cultural level at that time could hardly be seen even in southern European cities. At the time of the existence of the Golden Horde, Biler was one of the most developed cities of the Khanate; now it exists only as an archaeological museum-reserve.

Bakhchisaray

Bakhchisaray, the capital of the Crimean Khanate, was founded by the Horde in the first half of the 16th century at the intersection of other Tatar settlements - the territory of the Kyrk-Er fortress, created in the 5th century by the Byzantines to protect their possessions, and the village of Salachik.

The city of Kyrym, formerly called Solkhat, and the village of Salachik owe their names to the Italians - the Venetians and Genoese, who at the beginning of the 13th century created them as their colonies and called them Solcati. And many other Crimean Tatar policies were actually founded by Pontic Greeks and Alans, who had lived on the peninsula since ancient times. This is confirmed by archaeological excavations and artifacts found by scientists.

And only Bakhchisarai, picturesquely located on the slope of the Inner Ridge of the Crimean Mountains, was actually built by the Tatar-Mongols as the new residence of the Crimean Khanate.

Already in the middle of the 17th century, Bakhchisarai consisted of more than 2,000 houses, it had Georgian and Greek quarters, leather, tailoring, shoe and weapon workshops, forges, wine, vegetable and other shopping malls. Until the 18th century, it was the most developed Turkic-Tatar city, located on the territory of modern Russia.

The history of the creation of the Kazan Kremlin dates back to the 11th-12th centuries. Initially, the fortress was built as a defensive structure of Volga Bulgaria to protect against enemy attacks. Shopping arcades were located here, a mosque was built, and the main decoration of the square was the Kremlin. But everything was destroyed and burned in 1552 during an attack by the troops of Ivan the Terrible. After the conquest of Kazan, the new ruler ordered the Kremlin building to be rebuilt on Kazan Hill and the appearance of the administrative center to be restored.

In the 18th century, the Kazan Kremlin received the last enemy attack - Emelyan Pugachev in 1773 and defended its positions. The enemy retreated, but archaeologists still find the consequences of the destruction today.

After the creation of the Republic of Tatarstan in 1992, the Kazan Kremlin became the first residence of the president. Active work began to restore the cultural and historical heritage: buildings were restored, museum complexes were opened. In 2000, the unique open-air museum was included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list.

The main attractions of the Kremlin

One of the striking attractions of the Kazan Kremlin is the Kul Sharif Mosque. Built from snow-white marble, the mosque is decorated with blue domes and minarets. The mosque received its name in honor of the national hero of Tatarstan - Imam Khul Sharif. The imam took a direct part in defending the mosque during the attack by the troops of Ivan the Terrible and was killed. The mosque was burned and rebuilt for the 1000th anniversary of Kazan. Construction took 9 long years and became the main event in the capital's anniversary year. The Kul Sharif complex occupies an area of ​​about 19 thousand sq.m. and consists of a mosque, foundation stone and administrative building. The mosque can accommodate 1,500 people, and the surrounding area can accommodate up to 10,000 people.

The Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery and the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kazan Kremlin were built in the middle of the 16th century, the latter was rebuilt, reconstructed and restored several times. Currently, work is underway to connect these complexes to the Museum of Archeology of Tatarstan.

Another attraction of the Kazan Kremlin is the Siyumbike Tower, which is part of the Presidential Complex. The tower, 58 meters high, has a peculiar tilt to the side 1.8 m from the axis. Thanks to the strengthening work carried out in 1998, it was possible to stop the fall of the tower.

Excursions around the Kazan Kremlin

The Kazan Kremlin is located in the central part of the capital of the republic. You can get here by public transport to the TSUM stop, or by metro to the Kremlevskaya station.

Entrance to the territory of the Kazan Kremlin is free for all visitors. Here you can book both group and individual excursions. You will be taken to all significant places and told a lot of interesting information from the history of the fortress.

Kazan history is full of various moments: glorious and tragic. Kazan was part of the Volga Bulgaria, the Golden Horde, the Muscovite Kingdom, the Russian Empire and the USSR. Today the city is an important economic and cultural center of the new Russia.

Kazan is not only the main city of Tatarstan, but a meeting place between Europe and Asia, Orthodoxy and Islam. This is a metropolis with a long history. Our article is devoted to the history of Kazan from its foundation to the present day.

History of the name

The modern Volga region was once the land of Volga Bulgaria. In the northern part of this state they built a fortress in which trade caravans from Kievan Rus, the Byzantine Empire and the Middle East converged into one hub. The fortress was called "Kazan". This is exactly what a boiler with thick walls was called and is now called. If such a connection seems strange to you, then you have not heard anything about the founding of Kazan and the history of its name.

One of the legends says that the settlement was named after the Kazanka River. There is also a more prosaic explanation: the son of a local ruler wanted to get water from the river and dropped his pot there.

According to an alternative version of the appearance of the city’s name, it is believed that a cauldron was buried at the site where the settlement was built, symbolizing well-being and prosperity. There is also a completely fabulous version of the founding of Kazan. The sorcerers ordered to pour water into the pot, place the cauldron in the cart and light a fire under the container. The cart had to move. Where the water boiled, they decided to found a city.

Kazan as part of Volga Bulgaria

The history of Kazan is closely connected with the history of Volga Bulgaria, a historical state in the Middle Volga region and the Kama basin. This state arose at the turn of the 9th-10th centuries. The population of Bulgaria consisted of Volga Ugrians and Finns and Turkic-speaking tribes who penetrated into this region.

The Bulgars were initially nomads, but then switched to a sedentary way of life. The northern cordon of Bulgaria adjoined the Kazanka River - this is where the Kazan fortress arose. The citadel housed a relatively small garrison, whose main task was to guard an important section of the Great Volga Route.

In Soviet times, historians adhered to the theory that Kazan was founded by Khan Ulu-Muhammad. This happened at the end of the first part of the 15th century.

It’s as if Old Kazan was here before, or in Tatar – Iske-Kazan. It was believed that Old Kazan was located on the site of a Tatar-Bulgar settlement, near the settlements of Russky Urmat and Kamaevo.

In the 70s of the last century, during excavations in front of the governor’s palace, archaeologists discovered layers of the city dating back to the Tatar-Mongol period.

Khanate of Kazan

Since 1438, the history of Kazan has become inseparable from the history of the Golden Horde, one of the most powerful states of all times and peoples. This year, the citadel built by the Bulgars fell under the onslaught of the troops of Khan Ulu-Muhammad. Volga Bulgaria becomes part of the Golden Horde state.

Gradually the city was rebuilt and even developed, becoming an important economic center of the new power. At this time, pottery, leather crafts, and weapons manufacturing were rapidly developing here. Kazan had established economic relations with the Turkish state, the Muscovite kingdom and the Crimean Khanate.

The economic well-being of Kazan was favored by the city's favorable geographical location at the crossroads of trade caravans connecting different powers and civilizations. Kazan even minted its own coins, on which the place of minting was indicated: “Bulgar al-Jadid”, in other words “New Bulgar”.

Capture of Kazan

The heyday of Kazan coincides with the increase in the power of the Russian principality. The long struggle between them for dominance in the region ends with the capture of Kazan by the army of Ivan IV. This happened in 1552. For Kazan, the capture was a severe disaster: the conquerors demolished a large part of the city, and resettled the locals to Kaban Lake. This resettlement gave rise to development.

Kazan as part of the Russian state

Thus, after 1552, a new history of the city of Kazan begins, now in the Muscovite kingdom, and later in the Russian Empire and the USSR.

By order of Ivan IV, the construction of a white stone building begins here. The ruler of Muscovy initiates a whole resettlement: handicraftsmen, traders, commoners, as well as nobles who fell into disgrace with the tsar were transferred here from other Russian settlements.

In 1708, the settlement became the main city of a large province. During the time of Peter the Great, a cloth factory and a leather factory were built here, as well as an admiralty that produced various types of ships. In 1722, the emperor himself came here.

In the 18th century, wooden pavements appeared in Kazan, and bridges were built across local rivers. On May 3, 1749, a huge emergency occurred in the history of Kazan: the Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda, as well as other areas, suffered due to a powerful fire. Then Luka Konashevich, the local bishop, tried to drive the Tatars out of their area. To do this, he began to build a seminary in the settlement.

The Tatars moved from the territories adjacent to the seminary. This gave rise to a new district of the city - Novo-Tatarskaya Sloboda. Later, Bishop Luke suffered from his own decision: Empress Elizaveta Petrovna transferred him to Belgorod.

In 1766, a reform of local government took place: the municipal duma began to govern the city. Tsarina Catherine II issued largely liberal decrees regarding the city. Thus, she abolished the restrictions in force before her on the construction of national public buildings and mosques made of stone, and issued a decree “On the Tolerance of Religions.” Thanks to this, in Kazan she is still called the queen-grandmother.

In 1774, the uprising of Emelyan Pugachev began, which directly affected the city. Rebel troops entered Kazan. Only the Kremlin remained under the control of government troops. However, after a severe fire broke out in Kazan, Pugachev had to give the order to the soldiers to leave the city. Three days later, his troops were defeated on the Arsk field.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Kazan changed rapidly. Appears here:

• omnibuses, there were almost none in Russia at that time (1854);
• gas lighting (1874);
• lighting by electricity (1897);
• tram (1899);
• telegraph (1859);
• telephone (1881);
• water supply (1874).

Kazan in the 19th–20th centuries

The history of Kazan in the 19th century is associated with the opening of a number of educational institutions at the national level and with significant discoveries in the field of science.

In 1804, Kazan University was opened. It became 3rd in the entire empire in terms of importance and time of foundation. For a long period, the university was also the most eastern in the country. In 1844, Karl Klaus, a professor at the local university, discovered the chemical. element ruthenium. He was christened in honor of the empire.

In 1841, an institute for noble maidens began its activities here, and in 1858, a women’s school with a spiritual focus.

In the mid-19th century, a School for blind children appeared here. Today this premises houses the second municipal infectious diseases hospital.

In 1859, municipal authorities opened the Mariinsky First Kazan Women's Gymnasium in Kazan. The educational institution received the level of a first-class school.

1874 marked the beginning of the work of the local Veterinary Institute, which became famous for its scientific experiments.

In 1875, a Real School was founded here, and in 1905, a Commercial School was founded. Those who graduated from a real school could go on to study exclusively at a polytechnic university. Since 1901, Kazan has had its own observatory.

In 1890, another educational institution of a technical nature arose in Kazan - the Chemical-Technological School. The most famous graduate of the school was Sergei Mironovich Kirov. The future revolutionary was an orphan, so one of the charitable societies paid for his education. After the October Revolution, in 1919, KPI - Kazan Polytechnic Institute was created on the basis of the school.

In the 20th century, the city withstood considerable trials. Kazan "gave birth" to more than one revolutionary. On March 2, 1917, the local council of soldiers' and workers' deputies became the main elected body of Kazan. The new government “dismantled” the position of governor - a specially appointed red commissioner began to perform his duties.

In 1918, the white and red armies fought not only for the settlement itself, but also for the gold of the empire, which ended up in the city and then disappeared without a trace.

May 27, 1920 is the date of the emergence of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. The main city of the newly created territorial entity is the city of Kazan. The 30s of the 20th century were marked by a rapid industrial revolution. The population of Kazan increased sharply, and the metropolis itself expanded north of Kazanka.

During the Great Patriotic War, a large number of enterprises were transferred to the city, and the scientific elite of the state was evacuated. Before the Great Victory, there was the USSR Academy of Sciences, Design Bureaus and various research institutes.

The active growth of the settlement continued in peacetime. So, in 1979 the number of inhabitants exceeded 1 million people. Surrounding villages were added to Kazan, in particular Yudino and Derbyshki. The layout of the metropolis has practically become radial-circular. Two very large residential areas have emerged in Kazan: Novoye Savinovo and Gorki.

Kazan received the status of one of the largest river ports in the country, and a new airfield was built here.

Kazan today

The modern history of Kazan began in 1990, when the metropolis became the main city of Tatarstan. In 2008, Kazan was declared the 3rd capital of the Russian Federation, the “capital of domestic sports” and the “global capital of the Tatars”.

In 2005, the metropolis celebrated the millennium on a huge scale. For the holiday, a subway, the Millennium Bridge, a newly built hippodrome, Tatneft Arena and other important structures were built.

Kazan acquired the status of an important domestic tourism center, and the Kremlin became a UNESCO monument. A branch of the Institute of Culture was opened in the metropolis. The World Tatar Congress is systematically held here.

In 2013, the Summer Universiade was held here, and in 2015 - the Aquatics Championship. Next year, 2018, Kazan will be one of the cities that will host the FIFA World Cup.

Kazan today is a modern settlement with ancient roots. There is something to see and where and how to relax in luxury. We invite you to Kazan!

The history of the construction of the Kazan Cathedral is the most important milestone in the history of St. Petersburg urban planning. Erected in a very short time, the majestic monument of Russian architecture amazes many generations of people with its splendor and beauty. The Kazan Cathedral was built according to the design of the architect Andrei Nikiforovich Voronikhin from 1801 to 1811. It was built on the site of Nevsky Prospekt, where the modest Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was located. One of the main St. Petersburg shrines was kept in this church - the miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God. The cathedral was built by order of Emperor Paul I precisely for this icon, like the Cathedral of St. Petersburg. At the request of Paul I, the external outline of the cathedral resembles the Church of St. Peter in Rome. A clear indication of this is the single-domed structure and the presence of an external colonnade, which is uncharacteristic for Orthodox churches of the Moscow period. Thousands of workers were involved in the construction of the cathedral. These were mostly quit-rent serfs. Among them were many talented masons, lapidaries, and blacksmiths. The cathedral was built from materials exclusively of domestic, mainly Karelian, origin. The working conditions were extremely difficult, there was practically no equipment. Despite this, within ten years the largest temple in St. Petersburg at that time was erected - 71.5 m high with unique internal external columns carved from huge granite monoliths, weighing up to 30 tons each, an outstanding monument of Russian architecture. At the same time, the Kazan Cathedral is a monument to the work of Russian craftsmen, ordinary people who did everything possible in the name of the Motherland and the Orthodox faith. The construction of the Kazan Cathedral became a major milestone in the history of St. Petersburg urban planning. It is from here that the golden period of Russian architecture begins, and St. Petersburg finally takes on the appearance of the capital of a great empire. Nevsky Prospekt becomes not just a “prospect” connecting the Alexander Nevsky Lavra with the city center, but the main city thoroughfare. The construction of the cathedral became a school of excellence for new generations of architects, engineers and urban planners. Without relying on this experience, it would have been impossible to create such majestic architectural structures as the creations of C. Rossi, O. Monferand, V. Stasov and other architects of the first half of the 19th century.

Church of the Nativity of the Virgin.

In 1733-1737 On Nevsky Prospekt, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was built on the model of the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Its author was supposedly the architect M.G. Zemtsov, the creator of the Church of Saints Simeon and Anna. The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was transferred to it, and therefore this church was often called the Kazan Cathedral. The building, rectangular in plan, was stretched along the avenue. Above the entrance stood a multi-tiered bell tower with a spire, which was balanced by a tall octagonal drum with a dome. Not only ordinary services were performed in the temple, but also bishop's services, as well as weddings of persons of the royal dynasty. On July 3, 1739, “the legal marriage of Her Highness the Blessed Empress Princess Anne with His Serene Highness Prince Anton Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg” took place there. One of the most dramatic events in Russian history of the 18th century is associated with the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin. - Catherine II came to power in 1762 as a result of a palace coup. On June 28 at 8 o'clock in the morning, the Guard, the Senate and the Synod swore allegiance to the new empress within the walls of the Kazan Cathedral (Church of the Nativity of the Virgin). Events such as the conclusion of peace, victories over the enemy and others were often celebrated in the temple. So, after the end of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. The empress addressed the St. Petersburg Archbishop with the following words: “Reverend Bishop Gabriel! Tomorrow, that is, Sunday, I intend to offer prayers of thanks to the Almighty for the gift of peace in the Church of the Kazan Mother of God. Catherine. 1774. August 2. St. Petersburg.” A prayer of thanks was served here on the occasion of A.V. Suvorov’s brilliant victory near Focsani over the superior forces of the Turks. Among other important events related to the history of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, it should be noted the wedding of the future Emperor Paul I with the Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt, who was named Grand Duchess Natalya Alekseevna at holy confirmation. The wedding, as well as the bride’s joining of Orthodoxy, was performed by His Eminence Gabriel. Several descriptions of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, given by foreigners who lived in St. Petersburg, have been preserved. From them we can judge that the temple was indeed one of the most noticeable in St. Petersburg. Here is what Abbot Georgel writes about the interior of the temple: “The Kazan Cathedral is very richly decorated: the sovereigns generously endowed it with jewelry. On solemn days, I saw more than a thousand burning candles there, in addition to many lit lamps made of gold or silver that blaze in front of the altar.” "...The bell tower above the church is wooden and with a tin-covered pinnacle and has a height of 28 fathoms. In the bell tower, the clock is struck on the bell on the wall clock located in the church. In this church, thanksgiving prayers are sent in the summer for the well-being of adventures at court and in the state." However, time passes and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is gradually deteriorating. In addition, luxurious palaces of the St. Petersburg nobility appear on Nevsky Prospect. Among them, the palace of Count Stroganov, built by the great Rastrelli, stands out. Wonderful churches also appear, only heterodox ones - the Church of St. Catherine by the architect Wallen-Delamot, the Armenian Church of St. Catherine by the architect M. Felton. It was necessary to create an Orthodox church on Nevsky Prospect that would be more magnificent than all the buildings surrounding it. The heir to the throne, Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, first thought about this. In 1781, the heir to the throne went to travel around Europe. The attention of the Grand Duke is drawn to Rome - the “eternal city”, attracting artists and poets. Note that the future emperor had excellent artistic flair. Rome delighted Paul with its monuments and remaining traces of the great Empire. Rome was once the world center of Christianity. Here, on Vatican Hill, in 67 AD, a faithful disciple of Christ, the Apostle Peter, brother of the first baptist of the Scythian-Slavic lands and the founder of the future Constantinople Church of St. Andrew the First-Called, was crucified and buried, in whose name the first and highest order of the Russian Order was established. Empire. Peter means "stone" in Greek. Christ himself will give this name for firmness in faith to Simon, the son of Jonah, who passionately loves Him: “And I say to you, as you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Gospel of Matthew, 16, 18). And so, at the burial site of St. Apostle Peter, the “stone of faith,” a majestic temple was erected in the 16th century according to the design of Michel Angelo Buonarotti, Bramante, and Raphael. He made a stunning impression on the heir to the Russian throne. The grandeur of the temple and the beauty of its artistic decoration, the splendor of Bernini's colonnade that forms St. Peter's Square - all this delighted him. Addressing his companions, the “Count of the North,” for such was the august traveler’s incognito, expressed the wish that “the Archbishop of Moscow serve in such a church in Moscow.” This thought sank deeply into the heart of the Orthodox Tsarevich. He returned to her after his accession to the throne. But now the idea of ​​​​creating a temple similar to the Roman one is taking on different shapes.
The place of its construction should be St. Petersburg, not Moscow. The Russian "city of St. Peter" should become the northern Rome. Not only political considerations, but also the religious sentiments of the Emperor played a major role in making this decision. Rome after the French Revolution, and especially after the invasion of Napoleonic hordes into Italy, lost its significance as the spiritual center of Catholic Europe for a long time. The Pope becomes a prisoner of the leader of republican and virtually atheistic France. Sending troops to Italy led by the great Suvorov, Paul dreams of fulfilling the mission of liberator of Christian Europe from the republican-atheistic invasion. To emphasize his solidarity with Catholic Europe, he, the Tsar of Orthodox Rus', becomes Grand Master of the Catholic Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The idea that St. Petersburg should take the sovereign rights of ancient Rome from Moscow is increasingly taking hold of the Emperor’s thoughts. It is in the capital of the Great Orthodox Empire that there should be a temple similar to the Roman one. But since there was already a temple in the capital in the name of St. Apostle Peter, the new temple should be dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos.

Competition for designs for a new cathedral.

In November 1800, Paul I ordered the erection of a cathedral church in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God instead of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. This decision was preceded by a competition for the best design of a new temple, held in 1799. This competition was attended by the outstanding architect of strict classicism Charles Cameron, the architect Jean Thomas de Thomon, who had just arrived in Russia, and the decorative painter, master of park construction, Pietro Gonzago.
However, none of the competitors was able to find a solution that would satisfy the monarch’s requirement to include a colonnade similar to the Roman one in the project. More than all the projects, Pavel liked the project of Charles Cameron, who planned to cover the area in front of the western facade of the cathedral with low colonnades without access to Nevsky Prospekt. In November 1800, Paul instructed the St. Petersburg governor von Palen: “I instructed the architect Cameron to draw up a project for the Kazan Church in St. Petersburg. I am notifying you of this so that you can assist him by making an order. Paul is favorable to you.” However, an unexpected turn soon took place. On November 14 of the same year, the emperor approved another project of the Kazan Cathedral, drawn up by the little-known Russian architect A.N. Voronikhin. The former serf of Count A.S. Stroganov in 1797 received from the Academy of Arts the title of academician of perspective and miniature painting, and only in 1800, at the recommendation of the President of the Academy Stroganov, the title of architect. It is possible that Paul I’s choice between the projects of Cameron and Voronikhin was reflected in his dislike for Cameron, who enjoyed the favor of Catherine II. At the same time, the emperor took into account the opinion of Count Stroganov, who played a decisive role in approving Voronikhin’s project.
After a long creative search, Voronikhin finds an original solution. Voronikhin's project is indeed very reminiscent of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. However, the colonnades of the Roman temple, added by Bernini a hundred years after the long construction of St. Peter's Cathedral, play a supporting role, only forming the square in front of the cathedral. And Voronikhin’s colonnades are organically connected with the massif of the cathedral and include the cathedral in the ensemble of Nevsky Prospekt. The dome is slimmer and lighter than the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral, and in many ways resembles the dome of the Parisian Invalides or the Church of St. Genevieve (Pantheon). In addition, the colonnades of the Kazan Cathedral hide a certain asymmetry of the temple. According to Orthodox tradition, the main entrance to the cathedral is the western one, opposite which, on the eastern side, is the altar. Therefore, at the Kazan Cathedral, which represented a Latin (elongated) cross in plan, the main entrance is oriented not towards Nevsky Prospekt, the city’s main communication route, but towards the narrow Bolshaya Meshchanskaya Street. The dome is not located in the center of the temple, but is significantly shifted away from it towards the east. This asymmetry is hidden by colonnades. The cathedral building itself is hidden behind them. Only the dome is visible, located between the two wings of the colonnade, creating the visual illusion of its central position in the building itself. The project envisaged the construction of two colonnades - on the northern and southern sides of the temple and the creation of three squares around the temple - on the northern, southern and western sides. The colonnades end with side portals - passages from the embankment of the Catherine Canal and Bolshaya Meshchanskaya Street. In connection with the start of construction, the entire surrounding area was reconstructed. The cathedral was built to the south of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which remained in place until the end of construction of the cathedral. Work began on November 22, 1800, eight days after Voronikhin’s project was approved. Paul I ordered: “To build the Kazan Church according to the plan we have formulated, we order that a special commission be formed, in which the President of the Academy of Arts, Actual Privy Councilor Count Stroganov, Infantry General and Prosecutor General Obolyaninov, Privy Councilor Chekalevsky will be present, and the architect Voronikhin will carry out the construction.” . By January 1801, a cost estimate was drawn up and construction time was determined. The commission determined the expenditure estimate in the amount of 2,843,434 rubles. and, obeying the command of the Emperor, undertook to build the cathedral in three years. Pavel personally determined the architect's salary to be three thousand rubles a year. The amount was large at that time, considering that a working mason received no more than three hundred rubles a year.

Construction of the ensemble of the Kazan Cathedral.

Two weeks after the project was approved, Voronikhin compiled an inventory of work and registers of materials necessary to begin construction. From the very first days of construction of the cathedral, the Commission entrusted control over it to the famous architect Ivan Yegorovich Starov, as “who produced magnificent buildings and knew how to strengthen buildings in practice.” Academician Mikhailov was appointed head of the drawing workshop, Chizhev was in charge of earthworks, foreigners Ruigi and Ruska were in charge of stone work, Academician Filippov was entrusted with checking the quality of materials, Voronikhin assigned experienced people who had proven themselves to be honest and hard-working, foreman Zheleznyakov and Popov, to cast water and drive piles . The case began with clearing the area for the building. On the site where the cathedral was supposed to be located, eleven small houses were crowded together. Their owners were given five hundred rubles upon relocation. In winter we started digging ditches. The contractor Karpov undertook to remove four thousand cubic fathoms of earth. According to Count A.I. Ribopierre: “Paul I began the construction of the Kazan Cathedral; the plan was drawn up by the Russian architect Voronikhin; he built it under the leadership of Chief Chamberlain Count A.S. Stroganov. Paul was in a hurry, urging the workers; however, he did not have to complete the construction cathedral: it was completed under Alexander Pavlovich." Indeed, soon an event occurred that changed a lot in the history of Russia, but did not affect the Kazan Cathedral. On March 11, 1801, Paul I died. Voronikhin was afraid that the new emperor would stop construction, but Alexander I completely shared his father’s thoughts on the significance of the new temple in the life of the capital. A large and complex job was underway to pump water from the Catherine Canal using the ingenious invention of the savvy Vologda excavator Chusov, and then the equally complex and labor-intensive securing of the soil with piles for the foundation. Paul I did not have time to lay the foundation stone for the building before his death, although a gilded plaque with gold letters was prepared, announcing that “the most pious, autocratic Great Sovereign, Emperor Paul the First of all Russia, in his fifth year of reign, and of the Grand Master in his third summer, - laid the foundation of the holy temple." However, Alexander I had to lay the foundation for the temple. The Tsar treated the foundation as the first most important event of his reign. On August 27, 1801, the Emperor, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, the Grand Dukes, surrounded by the most prominent nobles, were present at the foundation stone of the building. The emperor laid the first brick with a monogram and splashed a solution of lime on it with a silver spatula. Two weeks after this, the Emperor went to Moscow for his coronation, and the construction of the cathedral was in full swing. Simultaneously with the laying of the foundation, stone quarrying work began. The main building material was Pudost stone, mined near Gatchina in the village of Pudost. It was similar to the Italian travertino stone that lined the walls of St. Peter's Basilica. This stone is easy to mine and can be sawed and cut. Extracted from the earth, it quickly hardens. Regarding the use of Pudost stone during construction, a dispute arose between Voronikhin and the construction controller Starov. The latter believed that the porosity and sponginess of the stone, which also differs in color by three grades, was dangerous in the St. Petersburg climate. Voronikhin, with the support of Stroganov, emerged victorious in the dispute. On the advice of experienced mason Samson Sukhanov, he resorted to a kind of putty - rubbing the surface of the Pudost stone with Riga alabaster and covering the outside with grayish-yellow paint, imitating the main shade of the Pudost stone. The outer walls of the cathedral are lined with this stone; the capitals of the outer columns, frieze, platbands, etc. are made from it.

Interior decoration of the cathedral.

As for the interior decoration of the cathedral, here Voronikhin widely uses marble from the Olonets and Vyborg provinces, as well as porphyry, jasper and especially Finnish granite, mined in the Puterlax area near Vyborg. All work on marble and granite was supervised by the same Samson Sukhanov, already widely known for his work in St. Petersburg, Tsarskoe Selo, where he created a magnificent terrace, and Pavlovsk. The main work on marble in the Kazan Cathedral, first of all, the finest marble carvings decorating the royal place, is the work of the talented self-taught Samson Sukhanov. The base of the building is a high plinth made of large monoliths of gray Serdobol (Sortavala) granite. The floor inside the building is lined with gray Ruskeala marble from near Sortavala and pink Belogorsk marble (from near Kondopoga in Karelia). The floors and steps of the altar, pulpit, and royal seat are lined with crimson Shoksha quartzite (Karelia). The same rock, together with black shungite shales, was used as inserts in the floors of the cathedral. In addition, Estonian dolomites, Altai porphyries and other rocks of exclusively domestic origin were used in the decoration of the cathedral. The internal columns of the cathedral deserve special attention, being both its main load-bearing part and the main decorative decoration. Voronikhin himself visited the mines and quarries where the stone used in the construction of the cathedral was mined. In the fall of 1801, the wedding of Voronikhin and draftsman Mary Lond took place in the palace of A.S. Stroganov. The newlyweds went on their honeymoon to the Karelian Isthmus. Having visited these places, Voronikhin came to the conclusion that durable and beautiful Vyborg granite would be the best material for making columns in the interior of the cathedral under construction. Vyborg granite is called rapakivi in ​​Finnish, which means “rotten stone”. Apparently it was named so due to the fact that its outcrops on the surface of the earth were often in swamps that smelled of rot. The Vyborg rapakivi granite massif is the largest in the world. The breaking of granite near Vyborg began in 1803. People sent by a commission from St. Petersburg worked at the breaking sites. These were mainly Russian peasants from Yaroslavl, Vologda and other nearby provinces. The number of workers at the Vyborg scrap mill reached 350 people. Granite breaking technique at the beginning of the 19th century. not much different from the times of antiquity: metal wedges and rods for drilling, sledgehammers, gates, pulleys, log rollers. The breaking process required a lot of time, experience and dexterity of the mason. First, the top layer of rock was removed, exposed to prolonged exposure to sun, frost, rain and winds, exposing the granite in its original form. Then, in the sheer rock, the shape of a parallelepiped was outlined in size, supposed to be separated from the rock. Then came the long, painstaking and dangerous processing. With the help of rollers and wagons, the column blanks were loaded onto ships, which delivered them to St. Petersburg. The long journey ended on the banks of the Neva at the Admiralty. After unloading, the columns were again moved using rollers to the workshop on Konyushennaya Street, where, as a result of processing, they acquired a completed appearance. The removal, processing and delivery of one column with a height of 10.7 m cost 3,000 rubles. A total of 56 columns were delivered and installed. Foreigners living in Russia were amazed by the Russian workers who built the Kazan Cathedral. “They, these simple men in torn sheepskin coats, did not need to resort to various measuring instruments: having inquisitively looked at the plan or model indicated to them, they accurately and gracefully copied it. The eye of these people is extremely accurate. They were in a hurry to complete the construction; despite the winter time and 13-15 degrees below zero, the work continued even at night. Firmly holding the lantern ring between their teeth, these amazing workers, climbing to the top of the scaffolding, diligently carried out their work. The ability of even ordinary Russian people in the technique of fine arts is amazing." Meanwhile, it became clear that the cathedral could not be built within the original deadline set by Paul I. The scope of work was too extensive, and there were clearly not enough funds. In addition, the pace of construction was negatively affected by foreign policy events, those continuous wars that Russia waged at the beginning of the 19th century. Nevertheless, the work was carried out on a wide front and its pace increased. Great difficulties were brought to Voronikhin in 1804, when his dispute arose with Starov over the strength of the dome ceilings and the ceilings of the colonnade passages he had designed. It got to the point that it was necessary to build a model of the driveway, one-third of its original size, from the same materials. The model passed the tests perfectly, which strengthened Voronikhin’s authority, but could not help but affect the pace of construction. Only in 1808, after the death of Starov, Voronikhin was introduced to the commission and received broad independence. Here again his support from Count Stroganov had an impact. In the same 1808, which began with an overexpenditure of 832,000 rubles, it turned out that another 1,352,384 rubles would be needed to complete the work. The government had to issue new appropriations. However, the work went faster. The year 1811 arrived. The dome had already been erected, and the interior finishing work was being completed. People in the city spoke with delight about the new cathedral, and periodicals often wrote about it. “The entire fenced area around the temple under construction,” wrote a contemporary, “as well as the entrance to its interior...remained open to the curious...I sometimes happened to enter a building that was in ruins and one could not help but marvel at the wealth lavished on its interior decoration.” In this regard, in March 1811, the Commission addressed Stroganov with a letter in which it asked to prohibit the admission of unauthorized persons into the cathedral as interfering with construction. By the autumn of 1811, the construction of the cathedral was basically completed. True, there was still more finishing work to be done, and the Commission’s debt reached 176,500 rubles, but Stroganov hoped to receive not only this amount, but also to obtain permission for the second stage of work, the cost of which exceeded 2 million rubles. The talk was, first of all, about the construction of the southern colonnade of the cathedral. But the main goal of construction was achieved - the temple was erected. On September 15, 1811, almost 10 years after the foundation of the cathedral, on the day of the coronation of Alexander I, the cathedral was solemnly consecrated. The consecration was performed by Metropolitan Ambrose of Novgorod and St. Petersburg himself. Two years later, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, already located on the territory of the new cathedral, was dismantled. The life of the new temple has begun.

On the advice of one sorcerer, the Bulgars had to transport a huge vat of water, and in the place where the water boiled, they needed to build a city. And a miracle happened on the shore of Lake Kleban. This was the beginning of the emergence of the Kazan Khanate.

How it all began

This is just one of many beautiful legends that surround the founding of Kazan. There are versions about the skull of a pious Muslim, from which a miraculous spring flows, and about a terrible fire-breathing dragon, which has invariably been depicted on the coat of arms for many centuries, and many other interesting stories.

Unfortunately, no one can yet name the exact year of Kazan’s founding. The first mentions of it in the Russian chronicle date back to 1376 and 1391, and in eastern sources - to the 15th century. Geographer Rachkov assumed that Kazan was founded after the death of Batu in 1255.

But a completely different time is considered official, when Kazan was founded. The date of 1005 is based on the results of archaeological excavations in the Kazan Kremlin.

For a long time, built as a border fortress of Volga Bulgaria, Kazan was part of the Golden Horde. This was a period of its economic growth. Thanks to the geographical location and the development of many types of crafts, trade and economic ties were established with Turkey, Crimea, Moscow, etc.

New era

Then there was a period of rather difficult relations with Moscow. And despite the fact that diplomatic relations were maintained between the cities, war could not be avoided.

In 1552, the troops of Ivan the Terrible took Kazan. Numerous casualties in the August battle, and then the siege that lasted more than a month, left Kazan no chance. It was the most difficult year in the city's history. The foundations of Kazan and its way of life were completely revised, and after the fall of the city in October 1552, a new era of development of the city began as part of the Russian state.

The local population was outside the city, and the place of their settlement began to be called the Old Tatar Settlement. Kazan itself began to be actively populated by settlers from Russian cities. In 1556, by order of Ivan the Terrible, construction of the Kazan Kremlin began. The city was built up and economically developed. Many craft settlements appeared, bridges were built, and the first manufactories were created.

During the reign of Peter the Great, Kazan received the status of the capital of the Kazan province. And the opening of a permanent theater (1791 and 1804) secured the city’s title as a cultural and scientific center.

But there were also tragic events in Kazan. The fire during the Pugachev uprising and subsequent fires in 1815 and 1842 burned the city almost to the ground three times.

Attractions

Today Kazan is deservedly considered This unique multinational city combines a diversity of cultures and religions.

Despite such a long-standing year of foundation, Kazan failed to preserve truly historical monuments.

Most of the ancient buildings and archival documents about the administration of Kazan were destroyed by numerous fires and destructive wars, and the main ensemble of architectural structures is represented by buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries.

But despite this, there are really a lot of attractions in Kazan.

• Museum of Islam (it presents archaeological monuments of the 10th-11th centuries);
• Monument (erected by order of Catherine the Second);
• Temple of all religions;
• Peter and Paul Cathedral (erected in honor of the patrons of Peter the Great - Peter and Paul);
• Holy Cross Church;
• Azimov Mosque;
• Shamil's House;
• Holy Dormition Zilantov Monastery;
• Kazan University;
• (the first stone mosque built in Kazan after its capture by Ivan the Terrible. Permission was issued by Catherine the Second herself);
• Gostiny Dvor of Kazan (located on the site of a medieval caravanserai);
• Park of the 1000th anniversary of Kazan;
• Blue Lake;
• The Temple of the Not Made by Hands Image of the Savior (located on an island in the middle of Kazanka, built in memory of the Russian soldiers who died during and many others.

And, of course, the most visited by tourists is the Kazan Kremlin. This building is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Founded in 1556, it is still the main administrative building. It houses the president's residence.

Impressive anniversary

In 2005, a round and important date came - the thousand-year history of Kazan was celebrated. The founding of the city (date) attracted many people to the city. There were 10 thousand officials alone who visited the capital of Tatarstan in honor of the anniversary. Festive concerts took place on the stages of the city.

For the anniversary, a new hippodrome and a fabulous cascade of musical fountains were opened. Also, the city residents received a long-awaited gift in the form of an opening. The celebration was completed by a magnificent thousand-volley fireworks display.

Looking at the present-day splendor of the ancient city, it is even difficult to imagine what the year 2000 of the founding of Kazan will be like.