Muslim Kazan

Now we are standing on Kirov street and come to Nurullah mosque.

Its was built to admit large amount of people, who came to the market, situated nearby. After the revolution the mosque was dismantled. It was newly opened in 1991. There are many XIX century mosques on the territory of the Tatar Settlement. Now we will walk to Zabulachye.

Here is Tatarstan street – one of the main motorways of our city. Earlier it was called Evangelistovskaya. This street divides Old Tatar Settlement to 2 parts, which can be named northern (Zabulachnaya) and southern (Zakabannaya). Former Ekaterininskaya street was the center of the settlement. It got its name thank to the parish church of Saint Martyr Catherine. Today this street is named after outstanding Tatar national poet G.Tukay.

The buildings of the Tukay street are performed in Tatar national style. The street is built up with houses of upper and petty bourgeoisie, manufacturers and clergy. Walking through this street we come to Yunussov square. This square was constructed thanks to Catherine the Great who approved new plan of Kazan in 1768. According to this plan the square should appear in Tatar settlement. Russian squares were built with churches or markets, but the Tatars never constructed mosques on the squares.

To the end of XIX century social life of the Tatar settlement became more intense. The square became the place of mass meetings and gatherings. In 1918 the square was the base station of the Red Guards. When the city was captured by the White Guards the square became the place of the battle. Last years the square lost its function of the place of numerous meetings and its territory was planted by trees.

Old Tatar settlement was built with wooden houses and consisted of small streets, side streets, emerging in the result of non-systematic construction. Only central Zakharyevskaya street (nowadays Kayum Nassyri street) was wider and richer. Muslim clergy and aristocracy lived here. First stone mosque of Kazan – Mardjani mosque was built here.

We can see it on the other side of the street. It is the most ancient mosque in Kazan named after the most outstanding Tatar scientist, historian Shigabutdin Mardjani. His portrait is kept among the portraits of the most outstanding scientist of the world in British Academy of Science.

The building was constructed by Russian architect Kaftyrev in 1767. Its main elements are mikhrab, which faces Mecca and minaret. As Muslim women and men pray separately there was build the hall for women.

From that very place we can come to Azimovskaya mosque.

Before we enter the mosque, let’s look at its eastern wall. It is beautifully decorated. Making hajj to Mecca Azimov traveled all over the Asia. He was so amazed by architectural decoration that he brought its examples to Kazan. The mosque was built in Moresque style. Gothic window of the minaret ends with tulip form. Gothic style is often connected with Muslim constructions. Tulip – is the symbol of the Turkish people. David’s star can be seen on the fence. By that mix of styles Azimov wanted to stress his credo that all religions are of the same origin. Minaret was faced by beautiful metlakh tiles. During the Soviet period the mosque premises was used as dormitory and was in awful state. When the mosque was returned to the believers the tiles should have been cleaned, but as it was rather expensive activity, minaret was painted in green color.

We come out of the mosque and pass industrial manufactures. To the left we can see the premises of the Radiopribor plant. It is the largest plant of that industry. We drive out to Tukaevskaya street, to the left we can see famous Kazan medical instruments plant, which makes unique medical equipment. Then we turn to the right and see Burnaevskaya mosque.

Then we move to Tukaevskaya street and turn to the left. Here we can see the building, constructed in classic modernist style, which is called Shamil’s house.

Today it is the museum of famous Tatar poet Gabdullah Tukay. Then we turn to the left where we can see newly reconstructed Apanayevs’ house. It is one of the few reconstructed house in the Old Tatar Settlement.

Walking along the streets of the Old Tatar Settlement we come to the bank of Kaban lake to the Theatre Square. It is the place where Kazan inhabitants and guests of the city celebrate different holidays and festivals or just rest sitting on the comfortable benches, admiring beautiful fountains and magnificent view of Kaban lake. From here we go to the main mosque of the capital, which is situated in the Kazan Kremlin. It is Kul Sharif mosque.