Elabuga is one of the oldest settlements in Tatarstan. This area is an excellent example of the architecture and arrangement of the county towns of Russia. Yelabuga is associated with the names of several important historical figures, including the artist Shishkin, the poet Tsvetaeva and the female officer Durova. Memorial houses-museums, opened in their honor, await tourists.
In honor of the millennium of Yelabuga, restorers and architects have carried out extensive work to renovate the sights. New monuments have appeared, including the majestic monument in memory of the founder of the city, Ibrahim I bin Muhammad. The Shishkinsky ponds, a picturesque recreation area, have received a second life. Some architectural objects are still being restored, like the Kazan-Bogoroditsky Monastery, but are already partially accessible for visiting.
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What to see and where to go in Yelabuga?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Elabuga settlement
The archaeological complex is the remains of a citadel that served as a refuge for the ancient Bulgar tribe. Separate objects of the settlement were built in different centuries. For example, the fortress appeared in the 11th century. Although the main tower collapsed in 1844, it was restored to almost its original form. The complex occupies 4 hectares and stands on a hill, so a panoramic view of the city opens from here.
Monument to Emir Ibrahim I bin Muhammad
Installed in 2007 near the Yelabuga settlement. Ibrahim I bin Muhammad is the founder of the city. He is depicted on a horse in armor, and with his hand points towards Yelabuga. The sculptor M. Gasimov was responsible for the project. A man-made boulder-pedestal makes the 17-meter monument even higher, thanks to which it can be seen from different points of the area. Nearby there is a restaurant, stylized taking into account the traditions of the past.
Spassky cathedral
The symbol of the city was built on the Toyma embankment at the beginning of the 19th century. The temple has 5 chapters, and its bell tower is 57 meters high. The first bell was cast by the artist's grandfather Shishkin. At the time of the founding of the cathedral, the interior decoration was striking in the amount of gold and precious stones. After the revolution, the values were lost. Services began again only in 2007. The Bell Ringing Festival is held here annually.
Local history complex
The opening of the complex in 2007 was timed to coincide with the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Yelabuga. Main objects: Museum of the history of the city, living corner, Museum-theater "Traktir", exhibition hall, thematic interactive workshops. The building is a historical monument dating back to the 60s of the last century. Tourists are offered to make souvenirs themselves in memory of visiting the complex or buy ready-made ones for a small fee.
House-Museum of I.I.Shishkin
The world-famous artist was born and raised in Yelabuga. He glorified his small homeland, for which in 1975 he was awarded a museum. The collection is located in the house where he lived. And the mansion was built in 1836 by Shishkin's father - a merchant from an ancient Vyatka family. Two floors are filled with personal belongings of the masters, documentary evidence of the era, the interiors of the 19th century have been restored in the rooms.
Museum-estate of Nadezhda Durova
Located in the city center and dedicated to the first female officer in Russia. Located in the house where Nadezhda Durova spent the last years of her life. She participated in the Battle of Borodino, and also showed herself in the field of literature. Details of Durova's biography are reflected in the museum collection. The exposition consists of personal items, uniforms, drafts, models, weapons. All outbuildings of the estate have been restored.
Museum of District Medicine V. M. Bekhtereva
The exposition occupies the building of the former zemstvo hospital. The museum has been welcoming visitors since 2007. The purpose of the large exhibition is to tell about the development of medicine in the region. The collection contains the originals of books and articles published during the life of V. Bekhterev, an academician, a specialist in many areas of medicine, including physiology and psychology. A park is laid out around it, in its center there is a monument to Bekhterev.
Memorial complex of Marina Tsvetaeva
Located in the historical part of the city next to the house where the poet died. A small memorial square appeared in Yelabuga in 2002. A few years later, the house itself was bought and restored. A small museum is located here. In addition, the complex includes: the literary museum, the Portomoynya museum, the Peter and Paul cemetery, the Intercession Cathedral, the library and the Silver Age cafe.
Portomoynia Museum
The former city laundry became a museum after restoration in 2009. In the past, residents of Yelabuga came here to wash their linen, since there were no conditions for this in the houses. In the courtyard, they even recreated a special gutter for water drainage. I used the services of Portomoini and Tsvetaev. The museum is located next to the house where she died and is part of the memorial complex dedicated to the poetess.
Cathedral of the Intercession
It was erected in 1820 next to the stone chapel - the oldest building in the city. In the architectural style, elements of the late Baroque are clearly to blame. The cathedral was closed from the 30s to the end of the 80s of the last century. In 1990, with the blessing of the Patriarch, the funeral service for Marina Tsvetaeva was held here. Since then, a memorial service has been served annually in memory of her. Some of the temple bells are cast at a local factory.
Elabuga Kazan-Mother of God Monastery
Before the revolution, this monastery was the largest in the region. It was founded in 1868 and systematically developed until the revolution. The buildings of the monastery were dismantled into bricks for city buildings. In the 40s, a prisoner of war camp was organized in the surviving premises. In 1995, the restoration began, which continues to this day. A church in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God has already been rebuilt, where services have been conducted since 2012.
Yelabuga Institute building
Vyatka architect Ivan Charushin created the project in 1903. The local merchant's wife paid for the construction of a three-story building for the Diocesan Women's School. During the laying of the foundations of the waters, each corner was laid with a gold coin to attract good luck. Gradually, the educational institution changed its profile and began to produce the best teaching staff of the republic. In 2003, a monument to the writer D. Stakheev was unveiled at the entrance.
Trinity cemetery
Located in the central part of the city. Founded by decree of Catherine II in 1770. Prominent residents of Yelabuga were buried here. After the revolution, the territory of the cemetery was given for building. We managed to save only a part of it. Several dilapidated necropolises and the foundation of the church survived. Especially against their background stands out the equestrian monument to N. Durova - the first woman officer, hero of the war of 19812.
Shishkinsky ponds
The most picturesque sight of Yelabuga. The following objects are united under one name: the Shishkin nursery, the Stakheevs embankment and the Ushakov square. The territory for recreation of the townspeople was ennobled back in the 30s of the XIX century. By 2007, the planned reconstruction of the tourist and recreational zone was carried out. Among other things, paths and carved bridges appeared, ponds were cleaned, fountains began to flow out of them.
Kama river
Elabuga stands on the high bank of the Kama. At this point, the Toyma flows into it. The waterway is of great economic and tourist importance for the city. There are ships, swimming and fishing areas. It floods heavily in spring, so that the city beach is completely hidden under water almost every year. The best view of the Kama comes from the hill on which the Yelabuga settlement was built.
