Sviyazhsk Island-City in Tatarstan

Island-city of Sviyazhsk

Sviyazhsk is an island city located near the mouth of the Sviyaga river, 60 kilometers from Kazan. If you look at the island from above, it resembles a leaf of a tree or a classic elongated heroic Shield (given the history of its creation), which is connected to the "mainland" by a thin embankment. It appeared here in the middle of the XVI century as a military fortress, and today is a unique monument of Russian antiquity, historical, architectural and Art Museum "Island-City Sviyazhsk", and one of the most visited sights of Tatarstan. In 2017, the architectural ensemble of Sviyazhsk was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Tourists are interested in its history, unique atmosphere, spirit of Orthodox culture, architectural monuments, authentic frescoes of the XVI century. Here every street, every house has its own history.

Sviyazhsk was built in 1551 after the unsuccessful campaign of Ivan the terrible's troops against Kazan. Before the re-offensive, the King decided that next to the impregnable city it was necessary to make a strong base. And a small island between the Rivers Sviyaga and Pike was ideal for these purposes.

But it was impossible to start large-scale construction under the very nose of the enemy. Therefore, it was decided to assemble a fortress near Uglich, and then transfer large fragments by water on rafts to the island. That is, Sviyazhsk was created as a kind of old Russian designer. The fortress walls, watchtowers, barracks, houses and temples were all erected in just four weeks. The Tatars did not even have time to recover. Moreover, the size of Sviyazhsk at that time exceeded the territory of the Moscow and Novgorod Kremlin.

By the way, the plan of Ivan the terrible worked one hundred percent, just a year later the stronghold played an important role in the fall of Kazan. Until 1719, Sviyazhsk remained a military fortress, until it was given the status of a city. The most "black page" in the history of the settlement is the XX century. On the territory of the island there was a colony, where they brought first the repressed, and then the criminals. There was also a psychiatric hospital and mass executions of "enemies of the people" were carried out.

Only in 2010, a large-scale historical reconstruction of Sviyazhsk began. And now it is an architectural, cultural and historical monument, which is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of tourists.

Tourism in Sviyazhsk, how to visit the island-grad

Most of those who come to Sviyazhsk are tourists vacationing in Kazan. You can buy in the travel agencies of the city an excursion by bus or boat, or come here yourself. Access to the island is free, and visits to individual museums are paid extra. There is also a single ticket to visit all attractions at once, which gives a 20% discount. You can purchase a single ticket upon arrival on the island, or on the official website - http://www.ostrovgrad.org.

If you decide to visit the island yourself, and not as part of an excursion from Kazan, we still recommend purchasing a sightseeing tour of the island, the cost is from 1500 rubles per group up to 10 people). Such excursions can be ordered on the official website or in the Information Center next to the parking lot (Information Center on the map).

Usually one day is enough to see all the sights and museums, but some tourists stay here longer to feel the atmosphere of a unique Russian town. Of course, you should not spend your entire vacation here, it will be too boring, but for two full days there are enough interesting places and activities for leisurely walks and a detailed study of the town. To stay here there is all the necessary minimum tourist infrastructure: several hotels, cafes and restaurants, shops. But there is no entertainment here.

Hotels:

• "Manor Kamenev" with spacious rooms and interiors, stylized as ancient mansions, the cost of living from 3000 rubles per day
• Hotel "Sviyaga" with 7 rooms and amenities on the floor - from 1000 rubles per day
• "Pilgrim's house", which is located in the assumption monastery, the conditions are" spartan", but the cost is only 300 rubles per day.

If there is a desire to have a snack, then there are again three places to choose from:

• Cafe "fisherman's farmstead" with a great view of the Sviyaga River, where the menu is based on fresh fish caught by locals
• Cafe "Buyan", which is more like a Soviet dining room, both on the menu and in the atmosphere
• Cafe "Tavern", located in the stable yard. Here they feed classic dishes of Russian cuisine, of all the listed establishments it is the most expensive.

On the territory of Sviyazhsk there are also several shops and souvenir shops, where, in addition to standard magnets and sets of postcards, they sell handicrafts – birch bark figurines, clay pots, embroidered shawls, painted plates, forged horseshoes and medallions. Also, as souvenirs, tourists carry traditional Tatar delicacies from the island-chak-chak, smoked fish, sbiten and honey. All this can be bought in special tents.

Sights Of Sviyazhsk

The main attractions of Sviyazhsk are temples and monasteries, built almost at the same time as the city itself. There are also several museums. You can explore everything yourself while walking around the city-Island, or as part of a sightseeing tour. If you arrive here with a tourist group from Kazan, then, as a rule, excursion support is already included in the price of the tour, or you can purchase an excursion at the local information center (from 1500 rubles for a group of up to 10 people). The size of the island is small, so everything is easy to get around on foot. For ease of orientation, information boards with a plan-scheme of the island and indicating your location are located everywhere, so finding everything you need will not be difficult. Here are the main attractions of the island:

• Bogoroditse-assumption monastery. It was founded in 1555. The first rector was Archimandrite Herman, who was later canonized. And the main relic is his relics. In Soviet times, the NKVD prison was located on the territory of the monastery. Today it is a functioning temple, which can be visited daily from 6.00 to 18.00 (on weekends from 9.00).
• St. Nicholas Church. It was built in 1955, later a 43-meter bell tower was added to it, and this is the tallest structure on the island. Tourists are not allowed inside the temple.
• Assumption Cathedral. It was erected in 1556-60 on the territory of the Bogoridice-assumption monastery. It was created by the same architects as St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. Inside are preserved ancient frescoes and icons, including the church image of Ivan the terrible.
• St. John the Baptist convent. Built in the late XVI century. It survived several fires, and in Soviet times was used as an economic warehouse.
• Church Of The Trinity Life-Giving. The oldest temple in Sviyazhsk. It was brought to the island by logs from Uglich and "assembled" together with the fortress in 1551. And this is the only surviving structure of that time.
• Church Of St. Sergius Of Radonezh. It was erected in 1604 on the site of a wooden church by decree of Boris Godunov.
• Cathedral of the icon of the mother of God "joy to all who mourn". It is the largest temple on the island. It was built later than the others-in 1906. Outwardly very similar to the Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt. Unfortunately, the external painting was lost in Soviet times, now they are trying to restore it.
• Museum of history of Sviyazhsk. The museum has several exhibitions on the history of the island. Among the exhibits are a model of the island, archaeological finds, many photographs and documents, models of steamships and more. It is best to start exploring the island from this museum. Entrance fee 150 rubles adult; 100 rubles schoolchildren, pensioners, students; preschoolers free of charge.
• Civil War Museum. The exposition of the museum recreates the events of the days of the Civil War of 1917-1925. Among the exhibits are banknotes of the Civil War, stamps, weapons. There are wartime items found on the territory of Sviyazhsk: cartridges, shells. In one of the rooms of the museum, a conditional Office of the people's commissar of military affairs (people's commissar of defense of the USSR) was created.
• Exhibition Hall "Old water tower". It hosts themed exhibitions of works by local artists and artisans. Entrance fee 100 rubles adult; 50 rubles schoolchildren, pensioners, students; preschoolers free of charge.

On the territory of Sviyazhsk there are also many ruins on the site of once existing churches. All of them are marked with massive crosses and information plates.

Of the more modern attractions, it is worth mentioning the memorial buildings in memory of the victims of political repression and the Sviyazhsk Museum. Here you can learn more about the history of the city and take part in master classes on making souvenirs. Also in Sviyazhsk there is a stable yard where tourists can practice riding or rent a carriage to ride with the breeze, as well as shoot arrows and try on real armor. And on weekends there are theatrical jousting tournaments.

How to get to Sviyazhsk

Sviyazhsk is located 60 kilometers from Kazan on an island connected to land by a narrow causeway with a road (Sviyazhsk on the map). It is most convenient and profitable to visit Sviyazhsk as part of an organized excursion from Kazan (from 1200 rubles per person for a bus tour), because in this case you will be accompanied by an experienced guide. On the spot, for excursion support, you will have to pay 1500 rubles (for a group of up to 10 people). However, group excursions are conducted quite fluently, there is no time for independent leisurely walks along the streets of the city. Therefore, many travelers prefer to visit Sviyazhsk on their own.

Independently, you can get here by car or rail transport or swim along the Volga on a motor ship.

The most interesting route is by boat from the river station of Kazan. The journey is about two hours, go only in the summer. From Kazan, the ship departs at 08:20, back at 16:30. Cost from 114 rubles.

You can get from the railway station of Kazan by train to the station "Sviyazhsk", but then you have to get to the island 13 kilometers by hitchhiking or taxi, because no other transport goes here. The cost is from 50 rubles, on the way 50-80 minutes.

The only bus route to Sviyazhsk departs from the southern bus station of Kazan on weekends. Departure at 09:00, return at 14:00. The cost is from 170 rubles, one and a half to two hours on the way. Unfortunately, the bus schedule is such that it will not allow you to see anything for a trip in one day.

A taxi ride will cost from 2200 rubles per car, about an hour on the way. You can order a transfer using the search form:

If you arrive on the island by personal or rented car, then it should be left in a large parking lot in front of the entrance to the island, and then continue on foot, since the entry into the city of motor vehicles that do not belong to residents is prohibited. But this is not a problem, since the island is very compact, it will not be difficult to get around it on foot. If you book a hotel on the island, then by private transport you can drive to the island, and park it near the hotel. But there is no point in moving around the island by car: it is too small, besides, it is in hiking that all the courage of his visit is.