Old mosques, beautiful Orthodox cathedrals and green manicured parks - this is what Kazan is ready to please any tourist with! Black Lake is a historical monument and an excellent recreation area, which both city visitors and its direct residents like to visit. Where is this park located, what is its history, and what makes it interesting? Read about it in our article.
Kazan city: history and modernity
This city is often called the third capital of Russia - a large port on the Volga River. Here on the streets you can hear both Russian and Tatar speech, and the magnificent domes of Orthodox shrines are forced to compete with the graceful minarets of ancient mosques.
The city was founded at the beginning of the XI century. The toponym comes from the ancient Bulgarian word "cauldron", which translates as "cauldron". Today, over 1 million people live in Kazan. The city is especially beautiful in summer: at this time fountains begin to work here, and in the evenings, numerous cultural and jazz events are held.
Key sights of the capital of Tatarstan can be seen in 2-3 days. Where to go to Kazan in the first place? This will be discussed in the next section.
Where to go in Kazan: overview of the main attractions
First of all, you should definitely take a walk through the historic center of the city. It is located on the left bank of the Volga, within the Vakhitovsky district. The most beautiful streets are Bauman, Pushkin, Kremlin, Petersburg and Dzerzhinsky.
It is incredibly difficult to imagine a voyage to this city without visiting the white-stone Kazan Kremlin! Moreover, the entrance to the territory of the architectural complex included in the UNESCO conservation list is absolutely free. For many tourists, the local Kremlin resembles a fabulous Disney castle.
There are many other expressive and valuable architectural structures in Kazan. This is the mansion of Shamil, the Alexander Passage, the Epiphany bell tower, the Palace of Farmers and many other monuments. Separately, it is worth mentioning about mosques, of which there are about fifty in Kazan. Among them is the largest Kul Sharif mosque in Russia and Asia, 58 meters high. The religious building was built in the mid-90s and is one of the main business cards of the city.
Another interesting object of Kazan is the so-called temple of all religions. The author of the unique building project was the artist Ildar Khanov. It is very difficult to describe the structure in words. It's easier to come to Kazan and see it with your own eyes.
Green parks with lakes are what Kazan is also famous for. Black Lake is a great place for relaxation, solitude and leisurely walks. Where is this facility located?
Kazan: Black Lake. Location and current status of the park
Black Lake is a popular pastime for locals. Especially a lot of young people here - the proximity of the location of several universities affects. The park was formed in the first half of the XIX century on the shores of the lake of the same name. In 1859, the first inn was opened by one of the local merchants.
Black Lake Park is located in the city center and is limited by three streets: Dzerzhinsky, Lobachevsky and Chernyshevsky. The nearest metro station is the Kremlin.
In the western part of the park there is a rectangular pond (all that remains of the historic Black Lake), which turns into a skating rink in the winter. Within the recreation area there are also many swings and children's slides. Almost all citywide holidays are traditionally held in the park - Kazan Day, Maslenitsa and other celebrations.
Legends and dark pages of the history of the Black Lake
At the entrance to the park there is an interesting object - the Arch of lovers. The peculiarity of this structure is as follows: if you stand at one of its edges and whisper a word, the other person standing on the other end of the arch will certainly hear this word. This phenomenon is particularly attracting the attention of children.
This park in Kazan was not always a pleasant place to relax for citizens. So, at the end of the 19th century, he enjoyed a rather poor reputation. Thieves, pickpockets and prostitutes actively hunted here.
In the 20s of the twentieth century, the regional NKVD department was located near the fence of the park. Many residents of the city went through his prison. Therefore, very soon the phrase "Black Lake" acquired a completely different, darker and eerie meaning from the townspeople.
But despite all these historical moments, today the Black Lake Park is a favorite vacation spot for Kazan. Students, couples in love and families with small children love to walk here.
Finally
Dozens of old and new mosques, magnificent temples, cozy parks, unusual sculptural monuments and your own Kremlin - this is what makes the “third capital” Kazan interesting! Black Lake is a park that is worth a visit for every tourist. After all, this is not just a wonderful relaxation area, but also an important historical monument of the urban landscape.