Category: Volga Region

Volgograd was founded in 1589 as Tsaritsyn, a mighty fortress at the convergence of the Volga and Don rivers. Nothing is left of ancient Tsaritsyn, however, due to events in more recent history.

The Volga region (Povolzhye – literally ‘Along the Volga River’) is the heartland of Russia. ‘Mother Volga’, the majestic river that dominates the region, is one of the nation’s most enduring and endearing symbols. The cultural legacies of Russian merchants, Tatar tribes and German colonists are displayed in the ancient kremlins, spire-topped mosques and Lutheran churches along the river banks. The Volga was the site of WWII’s fiercest battle, now marked by a jaw-dropping monument.

Founded as Simbirsk in the 17th century, Ulyanovsk is a tourist stop for only one reason: it’s the birthplace and boyhood home of Lenin (born Vladimir Ilych Ulyanov).

Although it lacks major tourist attractions, Saratov is a pleasant city with a thriving commercial centre and an attractive green river embankment. Founded in 1590, Saratov was initially a fortress forming a line of defence for the trade route along the Volga.

On a summer day, Samara’s river banks are packed with bathing beauties, in-line skaters and beer drinkers. The lazy Volga is indeed inviting on a hot day, and Samara is the place to jump in. If you’re not a beach bum, Samara has a few good museums and also serves as the base for excursions into the nearby Zhiguli Hills.

Sometimes called Russia’s ‘third capital’, Nizhny Novgorod is markedly less cosmopolitan than Moscow and St Petersburg. But its ancient kremlin on the banks of the Volga and its pleasant pedestrian promenade make it an appealing place to spend a few days.

Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan, home to the descendants of the nomadic Turkic tribe that wreaked particular havoc in ancient Rus. The atmosphere of this intriguing autonomous republic is redolent of Central Asia. The spires of many mosques dot the skyline – including the grand Kul Sharif Mosque inside the historic kremlin.

Situated at the upper end of the Volga River delta, about 100km from the Caspian Sea, Astrakhan is both a river and a sea port. The Golden Horde controlled this area in the 13th century and founded a city on the west bank of the Volga River. After Kazan fell to Ivan the Terrible, however, his troops took over the rest of the Volga River region and destroyed the original Tatar city. In 1558 the Russian troops built the kremlin on the east bank of the river and founded the modern city of Astrakhan.