When going to the Upper Volga region, you should definitely visit the sights of Chuvashia. On an area of just over 18,000 sq. km there are many cultural heritage sites, historical and natural monuments. My friends recently returned from the Chuvash Republic and told me what a tourist should see first.
Chuvashia is a republic within Russia.
Monument "Mother Patroness"
One of the main symbols of Chuvashia is a sculpture depicting the image of a loving mother protecting her own children. The woman is dressed in the national Chuvash costume, her arms are extended forward. Her gesture shows all her immense love and strength, the desire to save everyone who is dear to her heart from troubles and illnesses. Construction of the monument was completed in 2003. The monument reaches 46 m in height and is considered the tallest in the entire republic. Even in the dark, the monument does not go unnoticed; it is illuminated from different sides by multi-colored spotlights and bright lanterns.
Moskovskaya embankment
The embankment is a favorite place for city guests and local residents. The length of this street is 5 km; every day many people come here to relax and stroll along the Volga River. Along the way you will come across various monuments.
Moskovskaya embankment
So, now you know where you should definitely go if you come to Chuvashia. Most tourists are delighted with these places and want to visit them again.
Vvedensky Cathedral
The oldest temple in Chuvashia was built back in the 16th century. The wooden building was completely burned down during a fire, but a few years later the building was rebuilt. Stone was used to strengthen the cathedral.
The temple was reconstructed several times. During the Great Patriotic War, the building was practically not damaged, but after its end, the appearance of the building changed somewhat. Despite numerous reconstructions, the building still retained its former Moscow Baroque features. Inside the cathedral there are surviving ancient icons and fresco paintings dating back to the 17th-18th centuries.
Temple of the Kazan Mother of God, Mariinsky Posad
The temple is located in the central historical part of the city. It was first mentioned in the 17th century. It was erected with donations from residents of Mariinsky Posad. Now the temple has four limits.
The main boundary is consecrated in the name of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. Later, chapels were added in the name of St. Nicholas the Pleasant (Wonder Worker) and the Hieromartyr Lawrence. In the bell tower, erected a little later, there was a limit in the name of the holy noble prince Vladimir of Kyiv. The temple building has survived to this day through reconstruction carried out under the merchant Lavrentiy Matveevsky.
Location: Nakhimova street - 14.
Chuvash National Museum
A huge number of rare exhibits are collected in the museum located in Cheboksary. The founding date is considered to be 1921. With each new year, collections dedicated to the history, nature and culture of Chuvashia have been replenished. Currently, the museum houses over 160 thousand exhibits related to various fields of art and science.
One of the most visited exhibitions is “Nature and Man”. It is dedicated to the world of flora and fauna of Chuvashia. In the other two halls, visitors will be able to learn more about the history of the republic and its gradual development. A tour of the archeology hall will be no less interesting.
Merchant Efremov Boulevard
This street is one of the most important in the capital; in its importance it can be compared with Arbat in Moscow . Previously, it was called Blagoveshchenskaya, and then it was renamed in honor of Prokopiy Efremov, an honorary merchant and protector of the Chuvash. His houses, which were distinguished by their rich architecture, were located on the territory of the boulevard.
Merchant Efremov Boulevard
Victory Park
Near the river On the Volga River there is a memorial park dedicated simultaneously to several of the most terrible and bloody events in the history of Russia. In the center is the Monument to Military Glory. The main position is occupied by a kneeling soldier, holding a weapon in his hands. He bent over a motionless woman dressed in national clothes. An eternal flame burns brightly in front of the memorial. On the territory of the park there are park areas, benches for those who want to sit down and relax a little, enjoying the silence and tranquility.
Natural attractions
Prisursky State Reserve
Coordinates: N 55.01.31, E 46.45.25 Website: prisursky.ru How to get there: - by car along the Anish road (to the Ibresi-Alatyr section); — by train “Kanash – Red Knot” to the Atrat junction.
The total area of the natural reserve, located on the territory of three administrative districts of the republic, is 9,150 hectares. The reserve is young: it was founded in 1995.
The main section of the reserve is located in the valley of the Sura River in the Alatyr region. The main attraction of this place is the coniferous forests. In other areas of the protected areas there are forest-steppes, on the territory of which many rare species of plants grow, which are of real value for science. The pride of the reserve is the floating water chestnut, listed in the Red Book of Russia. Among the fauna you can find pine marten, elk, lynx, brown bear, white hare, steppe marmots - bobak and other inhabitants.
The Prisursky Nature Reserve offers walking or horseback excursions.
White Lake
Coordinates: N 55.10.22, E 47.44.50 How to get there: you need to go to the Yalchik district of Chuvashia, landmark - the village of Belaya Ozero
The White Lake of karst origin is a natural monument of regional importance and in terms of its volume ranks second in the republic. At the same time, the depth of the lake is small, only about 3-4 meters. But the total area reaches 18 hectares.
Despite the fact that White Lake is surrounded by shores overgrown with plants and trees, the reservoir itself is not overgrown with mud and reeds. The lake water remains clear and clean all year round.
Lake Izyar
Coordinates: N 56.16.57, E 47.15.04 How to get there: from Cheboksary, go from the Station bus station by bus No. 204, heading to Sosnovka to the Astrakhanka stop.
Lake Izyar is called a legend of Chuvashia. It is located only 30 kilometers from the main city of the republic - Cheboksary.
The name “Izyar” translated from the Mari language means “small lake”. And this is true: the area of the reservoir is 4 hectares, and the maximum depth is no more than 3.5 meters.
The lake is unique for its water, which does not have any smell or color. Izyar is surrounded on all sides by birch, pine and aspen forests. Since 1981, the lake has been a national natural monument of regional significance.
Sovereign Mountain
Coordinates: N 56.07.174, E 47.44.235 How to get there: to Mariinsky Posad, then through Kalininskaya Street - another 2.5 km
If you believe the legend, Catherine the Great loved this place in the Chuvash Republic. She came here in 1763. Then, on the way from Kazan, the Empress visited Sundyr. To impress Catherine, all the local nobility arranged a luxurious dinner right in the open air, on this very mountain. Later she received her name - Gosudareva.
And in 1768, the famous Catherine Grove was founded at the foot of the mountain. Majestic oak trees still grow there.
From the observation deck you can see the entire Mariinsky Posad and part of the Volga.
Lake Svetloe
Coordinates: N 56.14.44, E 46.59.56 How to get there: the lake is located on the territory of the Zavolzhye natural park, 18 km northwest of the village of Sosnovka and 1 km from the Parat River
Lake Svetloe is located in close proximity to the border of Chuvashia and Mari El, and has clean and clear water. But at the same time, the second name of the lake - Shundy-yar - comes from the Mari word “shun” (which means “clay”). Probably, this name was given to the lake for the reason that part of the bottom and shore of the lake is clayey. However, the lake also lives up to its main name: the water here is so clean that its transparency reaches two meters in depth.
Like most lakes in the Chuvash Republic, Svetloe also has a karst origin and a regular oval shape. The area of the lake reaches 13 hectares, and its greatest depth is 16 meters.
Waterfall "Silver Cascade"
Coordinates: N 56.09.567, E 46.51.822 How to get there: approximate point - the village of Kuskino in the Morgushansky district. After passing through the village, you need to come to a deciduous forest, through which the road leads to the waterfall. It will take about 10 minutes to walk through the forest.
Waterfalls on the flat territory of the Volga region are a rare, almost unique phenomenon. One of these rare examples is the “Silver Cascade” - the largest waterfall in Chuvashia. The waterfall was discovered only in 1999, since the forest reliably hides this natural attraction. Today, tourists have already trodden the path to it.
Initially, the height of the waterfall reached 10 meters, but the clay soil, collapsing from the influence of water, gradually makes the “Silver Cascade” lower and lower. Today the height of the waterfall in Chuvashia is 4 meters.
The waterfall originates from the underground flows of the Sundyr River and spring sources. Under the waterfall itself, rock falls formed a cave into which the waters of the Silver Cascade rush.
It is not recommended to go close to the waterfall and the cave, because the unstable clay soil can collapse under your feet at any moment.
Lake Al
Coordinates: N 55.36.12, E 47.43.45 How to get there: the main landmarks are the village of Belyaevo (1.7 km to the south), Nyushkasy (2 km to the east), Aldiarovo (2.2 km to the southeast). Also 700 meters east of the lake there is the Yantikovo - Shorkistry highway.
Lake Al, located in the Yatnikovsky district of the Chuvash Republic, is a natural monument of regional significance. Like other lakes of karst origin, Al is distinguished by its perfectly oval shape and clear water.
There are many legends associated with the lake. According to one of them, there is an underwater island approximately in the middle of the lake. If you stand on it, the water level will only be up to your neck. Another legend, on the contrary, says that the lake has no bottom and is connected by some underground channels to the ocean. This belief appeared after a funny incident when one soldier dropped his cap into the lake, and then it was found in the Caspian Sea.
Pilgrims often came to Lake Al to pray to the hills. A ritual was widespread among them: lighted candles were attached to wood chips and launched into the water. In this way they appeased the spirits of the lake, and also left them hotels and donations.
There is still a sign: when clouds rise from behind the lake, they will definitely fall with long and heavy torrential rains. Local residents believe that the water of the lake can heal from illnesses and cleanse from sins.
Lake Syutkul
Coordinates: N 55.53.49, E 46.36.40 How to get there: follow the Morgaush district, to the southern outskirts of the village of Syutkul
Among more than 750 lakes of the Chuvash Republic, Syutkul is the deepest: the depth reaches 16.75 meters. At the same time, the dimensions of the lake are very compact: the width of the reservoir is 140 meters, the length is 250 meters.
If you believe the words of local residents, cold underground springs flow through the clay bottom of the lake, so the reservoir cannot boast of warm water even in the summer months. And there are almost no places for swimming on the lake: the banks are overgrown with tall grass. Among local residents, Syutkul is used mainly for domestic needs and for fishing. There are quite a few species of fish here, including tench, roach, rudd, bream, carp and crucian carp.
Sovereign Mountain
A few kilometers from the capital of the Chuvash Republic there is an amazing place, striking not only with its beauty, but also with a rich history. In 1763, the Great Empress Catherine II visited here. The ruler decided to hold a gala dinner at the top of the mountain, and a few years later the oak grove surrounding this place was named in honor of the empress.
Local residents love Sovereign Year for the wonderful tranquility that the view from its top can give. Tourists who dream of taking unique photos and looking at the picturesque Volga landscapes, which several decades ago were able to win the heart of Catherine II herself, also find it attractive to visit.
The most famous springs in Chuvashia
Where else can you find the purest and most delicious water, imbued with the energy of Mother Earth herself? Of course, in springs and underground springs, flowing in the most unexpected places. According to official data, there are more than 2,000 springs in Chuvashia, but not all of them have drinkable water.
Baideryakovsky spring
- Coordinates: 55.130483, 48.051683.
This unique natural monument, which is a system of ponds, is located on the border with Tatarstan. At the beginning of the 20th century, one of the most complex water supply systems of that time was built here according to the design of a German engineer, supplying water directly from a natural source.
He also designed the structure that hides the mechanism, which, by the way, has been working without failure for more than 100 years. The snow-white building is decorated with towers topped with Orthodox crosses, and in the center - a mysterious bas-relief. The spring is surrounded by thickets of Manchurian walnut and fruit trees.
Black keys
- Address: Latyshevo village, Yantikovsky district.
The cascade, consisting of 4 springs, is a wonderful place to relax. It is located in the village of Turmyshi, Yantikovsky district. The area in the vicinity of the keys is landscaped, so both residents of the Republic and tourists come to these places quite often. The water in them is suitable for drinking, and in the Turmyshka River, into which the springs flow, you can swim and fish.
