What to see when everyone has already seen in Kazan-unusual and little-known sights

Kazan has hundreds of famous and popular attractions that are included in the standard tourist routes that offer visitors to the city guidebooks and tour guides. There are several dozen museums, many temples and mosques, several pedestrian zones, and, of course, the "cherry on the cake" is the Kazan Kremlin.

If you are not the first time in the capital of Tatarstan and have already seen everything that is possible on the well-trodden tourist trails, then you will certainly want to visit something new. We have prepared a list of unusual and little-known sights of Kazan, which will allow you to see the city from the other side. In this list, we also included some famous places that, although they are in the epicenter of tourist life, but often simply do not attract attention in the shadow of much more famous tourist places.

So, here is our list of unusual and little-known sights of Kazan for sophisticated travelers and tourists:

St. Petersburg Street

Every guest of the city knows about the main tourist street Bauman, but not everyone gets to another pedestrian street Petersburg, which begins immediately after Bauman Street from Tukaya Square and the shopping center "ring", and stretches for 500 meters. It is not as interesting as Bauman Street, there are much fewer people here, but it is very beautiful and well-groomed, made with elements of St. Petersburg architecture. Learn more about St. Petersburg street and photos here.

Kunche Street - the shortest and narrowest in Kazan

Kunche Street is the shortest and narrowest street in Kazan. It is not particularly beautiful, although it is decorated after Reconstruction with lanterns and shops in the style of the XIX century, and therefore it is worth visiting it only along the way during a walk through the tourist area of the Old Tatar settlement. The street faces the rear side of the Apanaevskaya mosque, and on the other side it is bounded by the fence and buildings of the Kazan College of Technology and design. The length, according to various estimates, is from 90 to 110 meters, the exact figure depends on the start and end points of the measurement. Read more about Kunche street here.

Temple of all religions or universal temple

According to the author of this architectural landmark, the temple should become a symbol of religions, cultures and civilizations. Its construction began in 1994, but to date has not been completed.

Despite the fact that the name contains the words "temple", in fact, it is not a temple. No rites and services are held here. More about the temple and photos here.

Monument to the first tram of Kazan

The monument to the first tram of Kazan or as this place has now become known as the "alley of trams" is actually not one monument, but a small one, in which there are three old trams that have worked out their long and difficult life on the roads of Kazan. In some of them you can even go, sit on the seats or be the helmsman. Such an action, of course, is liked by children, and therefore this place can be safely recommended to guests of the city who came here to rest with children. Read more about the monument to the first tram of Kazan here.

Sculpture "Trust"

An unusual sculpture called "Trust" harmoniously fits into the natural urban arrangement of Kazan. It is located near the tourist Bauman Street at the intersection of Chernyshevsky and Trade Union streets. It was installed in 2015 by sculptor Fanil Valiullin. According to residents and guests of the city, this is a very touching and living monument, as you can see for yourself, slightly deviating from the route during a walk along Bauman.

Sculpture "Dragon Zilant"

Zilant is a mythical creature from Tatar folklore, a half-dragon-half-bird. Zilant is depicted on the flag of Kazan and is one of the symbols of the city and the Republic of Tatarstan. According to one of the myths, Zilant lived on a hill very close to the center of Kazan, where the zilantov monastery is now located.

Monument to echpochmak

A funny monument to the traditional type of Tatar baking echpochmak is installed near the main entrance to the tourist and entertainment complex Tatar village or Tugan Avylym. With it, you can take a few selfies just for fun and for memory, and nothing more. Interestingly, this monument was recently completely renovated: previously it was a completely closed echpochmak, and now it is slightly open in the middle.

Puppet theater "Ekiyat"

Puppet theater "Ekiyat" (translated from Tatar - fairy tale) is one of the oldest puppet theaters in Russia, it has been operating since 1934. True, he was not always in the building in which he is now. In the new building, made in the form of a fairy-tale palace, he entered in 2012. The building is very colorful, really fabulous, beautifully illuminated at night and in fact it can be attributed to a modern architectural landmark, although the design, of course, is controversial. Inside the building is also very colorful.

The repertoire of the theater includes classic children's performances Mukha Tsokotukha, Teremok, The Wizard of Oz, etc., as well as performances based on Tatar folk tales. If time permits, be sure to bring your kids here during the trip. Tickets are purchased for both children and accompanying adults. Learn more about puppet theater here.

Church of the Holy Martyr Evdokia

The Church of the Holy Martyr Evdokia, although it is an important historical monument, because the year of its construction is considered 1734, but for some reason it is little known among tourists and is not mentioned in guidebooks. Nevertheless, its history is interesting and in some ways even unique. In 1932 it was closed and used for various economic purposes. And according to some sources, they even kept prisoners here and even executed them. Read more about the Church of the Holy Martyr Evdokia here.

Irek Mosque

The Irek mosque in Kazan is still little known, since it is an ode to the newest mosques in the city, but it still deserves attention. Outside it is snow-white with blue domes, two high minarets. The interior is also impressive:white walls and ceilings with a bright floral pattern. The mosque was built from 2015 to 2018. For decoration, the whitest marble was used. Externally, it resembles the nearby Kul-Sharif mosque. Read more about Irek mosque here.

Wedding palace

The wedding palace or Family Center "Kazan" is a modern architectural landmark of Kazan, which appeared in 2013. The unusual structure, sparkling with copper, is perfectly visible from almost any point of the embankment, and it is located on the peninsula opposite the Kremlin. You can not only explore this unique building from the outside, but also climb to the observation deck on the roof. From there there is a wonderful view of the Kremlin, the historical part of the city and the Kazanka River. It is better to climb, of course, in good clear weather. Read more about the wedding palace and photos here.

Palace Of Farmers

The palace of farmers is the building of the Ministry of Agriculture of Tatarstan, and, perhaps, the most unusual architectural landmark of the city. The modern eclectic style building was built from 2008 to 2010, and although the controversy over its construction is not inferior so far, you should definitely see it with your own eyes. Yes, unfortunately, huge budget money was spent on the construction of this monumental structure, and it was built on the site of the old building, which could become an excellent attraction after restoration. But now this administrative building has become an integral part of the city facade, and invariably attracts the views of tourists. You can only look at it from the outside, you can not get inside. An excellent view of it opens from the observation deck of the Kremlin, as well as from the park of farmers in front of the building itself. Read more about the palace of farmers and photos here.

Church-monument of the Savior not made with hands

The church-monument in honor of the image of the Savior-one of the oldest Kazan monuments and war memorials in Russia. It was installed at the beginning of the 19th century in memory of those who died during the siege and capture of Kazan in 1552. The history of the temple in modern times is sad. It was often subjected to acts of vandalism, gradually destroyed and not subjected to restoration, and as a result, it is now in an extremely neglected state. One of the reasons is that it was built in honor of Russian soldiers, and according to one version, that is why the monument is not given due attention by the leadership of the city and the Republic of Tatarstan. Read more about the church-monument of the Savior in Kazan here.