Attractions and entertainments of Cheboksary and Chuvashia, and what to see on your own

The main place of concentration of sights of the Republic of Chuvashia is, of course, the capital of the region, Cheboksary. Here you can visit a dozen museums, ancient temples, walk along a pedestrian tourist street or Red Square. In general, the variety of attractions and tourist Entertainments is not very large, so two full days will be enough to see everything. True, it should be borne in mind that on Monday you will not be able to visit much, since most state museums in Cheboksary have a day off.

If you have only one day left, then here's what you should visit in Cheboksary first:

• Walk along the pedestrian street Efremov Boulevard and Red Square
• Chuvash National Museum
• Chuvash State Art Museum or one of its affiliates to your liking: Center for Contemporary Art or gallery of Russian and foreign art
• Tractor History Museum
• Beer museum

Cheboksary attractions are concentrated in the central part of the city around Red Square and Efremov pedestrian boulevard. From here on foot you can see all the main museums and temples, and only some of them will have to go by taxi or public transport. Alternatively, you can use ready-made sightseeing tours, so it will be even more interesting. Unfortunately, Cheboksary does not have travel agencies selling excursions at every turn, as in more developed tourist cities, so the preferred option is to search and book online. If you still prefer to book in the old-fashioned way, we advise you to start looking for excursions from the Tourist Information Center on the pedestrian Efremov Boulevard. And you can find and book online on these proven sites for searching and comparing prices for excursions:

• 📷 search excursions in Cheboksary on Tripster.ru
• 📷 search excursions in Cheboksary on Sputnik8.com

Tourist entertainments in Cheboksary are not very much. You can take a one-day pleasure cruise along the Volga (tickets can be bought at the river station or at travel agencies), in summer walk along the Moscow embankment and relax on the City Beach, taste national cuisine in a cafe on Efremov Boulevard and taste local beer in the beer museum. If there is enough time and there is interest, then you can visit the Chuvash State Academic Drama Theater named after K. V. Ivanov, the State Philharmonic, the state puppet theater or the State Opera and Ballet Theater.

With children, you can go to the state puppet theater, ride them on the ferris wheel on Red Square, take them to the 500th anniversary Cheboksary amusement park or Lakreevsky Forest Park, and to an excellent playground with figures of Crocodile Gena and Cheburashka on Presidential Boulevard opposite the Center for Contemporary Art. And the kids really like the Museum of the history of the tractor, they probably do not want to leave there.

And now a list and description of the sights of Chuvashia and Cheboksary, indicating their opening hours, ways to get to them and the entrance fee:

Red Square and Efremov Boulevard

These are the two main pedestrian zones in Cheboksary and a kind of tourist center of the city. This, of course, is far from a pedestrian Arbat like in Moscow or Bauman Street in Kazan, but in general it is the most tourist place in Cheboksary. Near the Square and the boulevard are the main museums of the city, and from here on foot you can go to the other shore of Cheboksary Bay on a pedestrian bridge to the monument to the patron mother and the main historical temples. Learn more about Red Square and Efremov Boulevard here.

Moskovskaya embankment and beaches

This is another great place in Cheboksary for walking, but unlike the tourist Red Square and Efremov Boulevard there are no attractions here. The embankment is well equipped: there are shops for recreation, there are playgrounds, cafes, there is modern night lighting. But, unfortunately, in winter there is nothing much to do here, almost everything is closed and covered with snow. Of the interesting things in winter you can visit here except that the holy spring of Nicholas the Wonderworker, equipped with a locker room and a place for dousing.

But in summer the embankment blooms in all its glory. There is a city sandy beach, sports and children's playgrounds, sports equipment is offered for rent, bicycles, roller skates, velomobiles, etc.we can safely say that after the partial reconstruction, Moskovskaya embankment has become one of the best on the Volga, and will become even better, since the continuation of work is planned for 2021-2022. Therefore, we advise you to visit it and relax on the beach if you find yourself in Cheboksary in June-August.

Chuvash National Museum

This is the first place to visit, from which we advise you to start acquaintance with the city and the Republic. This is the largest and most informative museum of the Republic of Chuvashia, where you will get acquainted with the history of the region, Life, Culture and achievements of the Chuvash people. The exhibition is without exaggeration interesting and informative, however, provided that you will inspect it with a tour (offered when buying tickets) or without hurrying to get acquainted with the exhibits with the help of information signatures. It is divided into several sections of different historical periods and themes, and the entrance to each hall is paid separately. There is a single ticket for all halls. Learn more about the Chuvash National Museum here.

Chuvash State Art Museum

The museum pleasantly surprises with its size and scale of the exhibition, because you do not expect to find such a place in a relatively little popular tourist place. The exposition is located on two floors of a large detached building, and even for a cursory inspection it will take at least one hour. And to recharge with emotions from the work of artists, a leisurely inspection will take half a day. Learn more about Chuvash State Art Museum here.

Gallery of Russian and foreign art

The gallery is a branch of The Art Museum of Chuvashia and is located in a separate historical building - the mansion of merchant Efremov. This beautiful mansion houses a collection of Russian and foreign art, which differs from the exposition in the main building of the Chuvash State Art Museum in the breadth of its geography. that is, there are works not by local artists, but from all over Russia and the world. Unfortunately, the building has been under reconstruction for a long time and as of 2021 it is impossible to visit it. Learn more about the gallery of Russian and foreign art here.

Center for Contemporary Art

This is another branch of the Art Museum, located in a separate building. There is a permanent exhibition of works by contemporary artists, but most of the exposition is a temporary exhibition. Painting, graphics, sculpture, applied art and photography are presented. Master classes, seminars, meetings and other creative events are also held. Information about current exhibitions can be obtained on the museum's website.

Tractor History Museum

This is one of the most interesting in Cheboksary, especially liked by children. The fact is that on the first floor of the museum there is a huge collection of real tractors from all over the world, and all of them can be touched, climbed inside, turned the steering wheels, pulled levers and pressed buttons. Children are just crazy about it, and they are not so easy to drag them away from this exhibition. On the second floor there is a lot of thematic cognitive information for adults about the history of the tractor, its importance in human life, tractor manufacturers from different countries. Learn more about the tractor History Museum here.

Beer museum

Beer is a national drink and the pride of Chuvashia, so it is not surprising that such a museum appeared in Cheboksary. It operates in the same building in conjunction with the beer restaurant "Old Town". The museum consists of two small halls, the exposition of which tells about the history of beer from ancient times to the present, and about the peculiarities of Chuvash beer production. It can be visited by buying only an entrance ticket and independently inspecting the exposition in two small halls. But in our opinion (the authors of the site) this will not be very interesting, since the signatures under the exhibits will not give you any information. It is much more interesting to get acquainted with the museum exhibition with a tour conducted by an enthusiastic guide who has been working in the museum since its opening. The tour lasts 20-30 minutes. After visiting the museum, you can go to a cozy bar with a wooden interior, and there you can taste local beer. Learn more about the beer museum here.

Memorial Museum-Spiridonov's apartment

Moses Spiridonovich Spiridonov (1890-1981) - famous Chuvash artist, one of the founders of the Chuvash Professional Fine Art. The museum is really located in the apartment of the most ordinary block five-story apartment building on the second floor. In this apartment the artist lived and worked from 1966 to 1981. Inside are Spiridonov's personal belongings, his paintings, his collection of works of Chuvash folk art (embroidery, weaving, costume details), photographic materials, expedition Diaries. It can not be said that it is necessary to visit this museum, because nevertheless its theme is quite specific. But if you are interested in fine art and its figures, then you can visit it with excursion service.

Museum of Chuvash embroidery

In this museum, tourists can get acquainted with one of the most famous types of National Folk Art – traditional Chuvash embroidery. There is also an additional exhibition about the jewelry craft "silver pantry". Each of the exhibitions (main and Additional) is visited by a separate ticket, but you can buy a single ticket, which gives a symbolic savings of 10 rubles. Objectively speaking, this museum is too specific, and for a wide range of tourists it may not seem very spectacular. Therefore, we advise you to visit it with excursion service, if you are willing to pay extra for it when buying tickets. Learn more about the Museum of Chuvash embroidery here.

Ivanov Literary Museum

Writer and poet Konstantin Vasilyevich Ivanov is not very well known to a wide range of tourists, but for residents of the Republic of Chuvashia and Cheboksary it is a significant literary figure, whose biography and work are studied in local schools. This literary museum introduces his work, as well as the work and fate of other Chuvash writers and poets. In addition, at the beginning of the inspection there is a small local history section. The exhibits are personal belongings of the authors, their works, documents and photographs. Learn more about the Ivanov Museum here.

Mikhail Sespel Museum

Mikhail Kuzmich Kuzmin (Sespel) - the founder of the new Chuvash poetry, statesman and public figure of the early twentieth century. The museum is located in an architectural landmark, the former House of the Philistine S. V. Cherkasov, where in 1921 Mikhail Sespel worked as a translator of the publishing Commission. The exposition introduces visitors to the life and work of the author, there are Chamber exhibitions, meetings with writers and researchers of the biography and work of the poet.

Museum and Exhibition Center

The museum and Exhibition Center hosts thematic exhibitions related to the National Museum. Temporary exhibitions, cultural events, master classes are held here, as well as a permanent exposition-the Museum of Military Glory. Two other sections of the museum and Exhibition Complex: the children's Museum Center for live lessons and interactive classes for children; the merchant Hall for temporary thematic exhibitions.

Chapaev Museum

The famous Divisional Commander Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev was born in the village of Budaika, which later became part of the city of Cheboksary. That is why there is a museum here, telling about the fate of the legendary divisional commander of the first World War and the Civil War, and who later became the hero of many works of art and folk jokes. In general, a whole complex of sights of his memory has formed around the museum: the museum itself; the old family house where Chapaev was born (restored and moved from another place); Chapaev square with his monument; memorial wall. Unfortunately, the museum has been under reconstruction for a long time, please check about its opening on the website of the Chuvash National Museum.

Victory Park and Museum of military equipment

At the main entrance to the city Victory Park there is an exhibition of large military equipment of the Second World War. In total, there are more than 15 exhibits, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, helicopters, airplanes, Katyushas, artillery pieces. Children are happy to touch and climb the equipment, and then you can walk through the green Victory Park past the fountains, the Victory Monument, and go to the Volga on the Kazan embankment.

Monument to the patron mother of the Chuvash people

The monument to the patron mother of the Chuvash people or simply the monument to the mother is the highest (height 46 meters) and a significant monument in Chuvashia, one of the symbols of the city. There are fountains around the monument, cafes and children's entertainments in summer. On the other side of the Bay, a pedestrian bridge leads from Red Square to the monument. In 2021, a large-scale reconstruction is being carried out on the historical embankment and around the monument.

Holy Trinity Monastery

It is one of the oldest temples and the only monastery in the city. It was founded in 1566 by the decree of Ivan the terrible as a missionary for the promotion of orthodoxy among the pagan peoples of the Volga region. During the Soviet period it was closed, and reopened and restored after 1993. In front of the entrance to the territory there are information boards with a description of the history and significance of the monastery, the shrines stored in the temples.

Tourists can freely visit its territory and enter its temples, provided that the rules in clothing and behavior are observed: women have a covered head; men must remove the headdress; mini-skirts, short shorts, revealing and provocative clothing are unacceptable. In the courtyard of the monastery you can take pictures, inside the temples shooting is prohibited.

Vvedensky Cathedral

Vvedensky Cathedral is one of the oldest in Cheboksary, its fate is inextricably linked with the city almost from the moment of its foundation. The stone church that has survived to this day was built in 1651 to replace the old wooden church that burned down. Subsequently, it was repeatedly rebuilt and completed after fires and natural disasters. It was particularly badly damaged by the Great Fire of 1773, when most of the city was destroyed by fire. Surprisingly, unlike most other churches in the years of Soviet power, it almost did not suffer, and even continued to develop and be completed, and services ceased only for a few years.

Church Of The Assumption Of The Mother Of God

The Church of the assumption of the mother of God or the Assumption Church is one of the most picturesque in Cheboksary, because it is located on a tiny peninsula of Cheboksary Bay and looks great from Red Square with its blue domes. In its current form, it was built in 1763, although during the years of Soviet power it was significantly destroyed. So, the two-tiered bell tower was demolished, the porch and bypass galleries, the stone chapel, the western gate with a wrought-iron openwork lattice were removed, and the Local History Museum was opened inside. Today it is an active temple, which continues to be restored.

Church Of The Archangel Michael

The Church of the Archangel Michael was founded in 1702 and erected on the donations of parishioners. In the Soviet period, it did not escape the fate of oblivion: the activities of the church were discontinued, the building was used as an archive and Book Depository. Only in 1996 the church was revived, and today not only services are performed here, but also novices of Cheboksary Orthodox Theological School undergo liturgical practice.

Monuments and sculptures

Cheboksary tourist center is decorated with thematic and historical sculptures and monuments that diversify your walks around the city. We advise you to pay attention to the sculptural composition of the heroes "12 chairs" on Efremov Boulevard. There is also a "Planet of the Little Prince" nearby. On Sovetskaya embankment there are two thematic sculptures of Cheburashka and Crocodile Gena. If you do not remember how Cheboksary is connected with this cartoon, we advise you to watch its very beginning. On the other side of the Bay there are majestic monuments to Catherine II and Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom. Several more monuments to historical figures are located in the park named after K. V. Ivanov.

Attractions outside Cheboksary

Attractions of Chuvashia are not limited only to interesting places in Cheboksary. Several more museums, natural and architectural attractions are scattered throughout the region. Unfortunately, we could not find ready-made group excursions to these places, so they will have to get there on their own by private or public transport. Here are the brightest sights of the Chuvash Republic with an indication of how to get to them:

• Ibresin Ethnographic Museum

  

  This is an open-air ethnographic complex consisting of a house and outbuildings of a peasant estate of the XIX-XX centuries, a brewery, a working well and an artificial pond. Most of the buildings are historical, they are more than 100 years old. The complex also includes an art museum with an exhibition of paintings by local artists. Inside the buildings, the interior is recreated and exhibits are displayed that tell about the life and craft of the peasants of that time, there are more than 4,000 of them here. An excursion with a demonstration of the production of Chuvash beer is held in the brewery. In general, the museum is interesting and worthy of visiting, although it is located quite far from Cheboksary.

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: http://old-ibresi.cap.ru

  🕐 Working hours: Monday-Friday-from 8:00 to 17:00 (Lunch from 12:00 to 13:00); Saturday - from 9:00 to 14:00; Sunday – day off. Excursions are best booked in advance by Phone 8(83538) 2-13-06.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance to the complex: adults-100 rubles, students -75, schoolchildren – 50. Visiting exhibitions and the art museum is paid additionally: adults-20 rubles, students-15, schoolchildren-10.

  🚶 How to get there: located 110 kilometers from Cheboksary in the village of Ibresi, Komsomolskaya STR., 31 (Museum on the map. It is most convenient to visit the museum by private car, and also during the day you can go here by intercity buses from the Central Bus Station Cheboksary. Buses depart approximately every hour, more than 2 hours on the way, the fare starts from 280 rubles. See more how to get to Cheboksary by bus.

• Chavash Varmane National Park

  

  Chavash Varmane is a relatively young national park, created only in 1993. 95% of its territory is occupied by mixed and pine forests, in which about 800 plant species are protected, 57 of which are included in the Red Book of the Chuvash Republic. There are also 44 species of mammals, 184 birds, 6 reptiles, 11 amphibians and 19 fish. 16 species of animals are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

  Tourists can get acquainted with the rich nature of the reserve, for which 5 eco-trails and 8 hiking and skiing tourist One-Day routes pass through its territory. In addition, there are several separate natural and historical attractions: burial mounds of the log cabin culture; places for sacrifices to pagan gods and prayers; places associated with the history of coal burning and tar smoking; a place of iron ore mining; the remains of a cloth factory. There are also places for recreation and picnics, and there is accommodation, so you can come here to relax for a few days. Trails and trails are open for tourist visits all year round.

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: http://npark21.ru/

  🕐 Working hours: ecological trails and trails are only accessible during the daytime from 08:00 to 17:00, the schedule is subject to seasonal changes.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: visiting routes in the National Park – 50 rubles, excursions from 500 rubles per group. The use of recreation areas and equipment is paid.

  🚶 How to get there: Chavash Varmane is located in the south of the region 170 kilometers from Cheboksary (Chavash Varmane on the map). Its territory is 252 square kilometers, and it contains several settlements, accommodation, ecological routes, highways and parking lots. The beginning of trails and routes begins in different places of the park, so it is better to come here on your own transport to get to them. The main office is located in the village of S. Shemursha, Kosmovsky STR., 37, Phone +7 (83546) 2-35-06.

• Bichurin Museum and modernity

  

  Nikita Yakovlevich bichurin (Iakinf) is an Orientalist and traveler, a connoisseur of the Chinese language and one of the founders of Russian Sinology of the early XIX century. He lived in China for 13 years, becoming the first sinologist to gain European fame. He wrote 14 books and about 100 articles about China and Asian countries. The appearance of a museum named after him in Chuvashia is not accidental. He was born in the Chuvash village of Akulevo, becoming one of the famous Chuvash.

  The museum exhibition tells about the life of Bichurin, his works and merits. There is also a Hall of local lore and about the period of the Second World War, temporary exhibitions on local lore, photo exhibitions are held. We can not say that you definitely need to visit this museum, but if you drive by, we advise you to make a stop here.

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: hhttp://bichurin.rchuv.ru/

  🕐 Working hours: from 09:00 to 17:00; Sunday and the last Friday of the month is a day off.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults-50 rubles; students and schoolchildren – 30 rubles; photography-30 rubles; excursion service-100 rubles/person.

  🚶 How to get there: located in kugesi Village, School Street, 1 (Museum on the map). It is only 15 kilometers from the center of Cheboksary, and it is located directly on the M-7 highway from Cheboksary towards Kazan, Ulyanovsk and Saransk. You can get here by suburban minibuses from bus stops from Cheboksary suburban bus station on Privokzalnaya Street, 3 and from the railway station, there are routes №№ 325, 162, 251, 137, 217, 148, 538, 530; from the Central Bus Station No. 511; from the center of Cheboksary No. 125 and 173.

• Memorial complex and Museum of the pilot-cosmonaut of the USSR A. G. Nikolaev

  

  Cosmonaut A. G. Nikolaeva-pride of Chuvashia, 3rd Soviet cosmonaut. He was born in the village of Shorshely, where this landmark is now located. From a small school museum, opened in 1972, it grew into a whole memorial complex consisting of a Nikolaev Square; a family wooden house in which the future cosmonaut was born; an independent museum building; a children's "space" playground; a mobile planetarium. Once here, you will surely be surprised at the scope of the complex, located in such a small village and far from the capital of Chuvashia.

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: http://kosmos-memorial.ru/

  🕐 Working hours: from 9:00 to 18:00, seven days a week. The ticket office is open until 17:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance to the park and complex is free, entrance to the museum is paid: adults-80 rubles; students-70 rubles; schoolchildren-60 rubles. Excursion support – 400 rubles for groups up to 10 people; photography – 40 rubles.

  🚶 How to get there: located 30 kilometers from the center of Cheboksary in the village of Shorshely, Parkovaya STR., 14 (Museum on the map. You can get there by suburban bus No. 113, departing every 20-30 minutes from Cheboksary suburban bus station (Privokzalnaya STR., 3).

• Mokrinsky railway bridge

  

  It is a picturesque and architectural landmark, a monument of cultural heritage of regional significance. Built in 1918 for the movement of trains across the Duck River, closed in 1986, the railway track was dismantled. Now trains run over the new bridge one kilometer south on a straightened route.

  The length of the Mokrinsky bridge is almost 400 meters, and the height of the supports at the highest point reaches 20 meters, which is about seven floors. Therefore, it began to be used for extreme jumping from a height of rope jumping. You can also walk along it or just take beautiful photos. Below there is a holy spring with a font and a chapel.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the village of Mokry 95 kilometers from Cheboksary (Mokrinsky Bridge on the map. It is best to get here by your own car, but if you wish, you can get there by public transport from Cheboksary, but you will have to make transfers. To do this, you first need to get to the city of Kanash, which can be done by bus from Cheboksary Central Bus Station (see bus schedule here, more than 2 hours on the way), or by train to Kanash-1 station (see schedule for Kanash-1 station. By the way, Kanash-1 station can be reached by long-distance trains from other regions, including Moscow. From Kanash to the village of Mokra 17 kilometers, which can be overcome by hitchhiking, local buses (go very rarely), or change to another train to the Mokra platform, and from it 2 kilometers to the bridge on foot.

• Silver Cascade Waterfall

  

  Silver Cascade is the only waterfall in the Chuvash Republic. It is small, no more than 5 meters high, but consists of several Cascades, the appearance and height of which change over time due to the erosion of soft clay rocks. But interesting here is not only the view of the waterfall itself, but also a walk to it along the path through the forest and almost wild nature. Between the cascades of the waterfall there is a small grotto, and along the way you will also pass through the observation deck, which offers a view of the Volga from the high bank. The trail to the waterfall and the observation deck is equipped, you can go even with children. On the observation deck there are gazebos for rest, all free of charge. For a walk, wear comfortable sports or trekking shoes, and take something for a picnic.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located near the village of Vasilevka, 50 kilometers from the center of Cheboksary (waterfall on the map. It is best to get here by your own transport, but you can not get directly to the waterfall: you will have to leave the car and walk along the trail for 1 kilometer. In good weather, you can drive along the dirt road almost to the waterfall itself, it remains to walk only 200 meters.

• Bayderyakovsky spring

  

  Bayderyakovsky spring or holy spring is a protected natural monument and cultural and historical complex. It is located in the Yalchik District of the Chuvash Republic, where there are at least a dozen similar places, but this is the most interesting as a tourist attraction. It was equipped in 1911-1912 by residents of neighboring villages, for which a monolithic concrete structure was made, decorated with a mysterious symbol, according to experts associated with the Masonic Order. Around the spring there is a refined territory with an orchard and a system of ponds forming a picturesque landscape park. The spring is very powerful, and through the drainage system its water is still used by residents of the nearest villages and villages. You can visit it at any time of the year, but it is better to do it in the summer: so you can walk around the garden and relax by the lakes.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: works around the clock, it is better to visit in summer.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located 150 kilometers from Cheboksary near the village of Bayderyakovo (spring on the map. You can only get there by private transport or taxi. The road in the last kilometers is not very good quality, but you can get directly to the complex by any car.