Like a fairytale world, Kazan is a place where Eastern and Western cultures collide.
The Republic of Tatarstan is the main settlement area for Tatars in Russia. Initially, the land was inhabited by the Volga Bulgars, a Turkic people. Later, the region was invaded by the Mongols and became a vassal of the Golden Horde. The Mongols and Turkic peoples intermingled, forming the Tatar people. After the decline of the Golden Horde, the Tatars in the region began to move towards independence and formed the Khanate of Kazan. However, a new opponent, the Russians, emerged, and the two sides engaged in a century-long struggle. Eventually, the Tatars were conquered by the Russians and became part of Tsarist Russia.
● Today, the Republic of Tatarstan is almost half Tatar and half Russian. With the intermingling of the two ethnic groups, Tatars are now almost indistinguishable from Russians in appearance, but the Tatars have a strong sense of national identity and retain their own language and customs, with Islam remaining their primary religion. Therefore, Kazan today is a very diverse city. Here you can see mosques and Orthodox churches intertwined, and you can also taste the special food of the Tatars.
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Kazan's historical sites are mainly concentrated in the Kazan Kremlin. This castle is located on a hill and is particularly spectacular when viewed from the opposite bank of the river. The combination of various freshly colored buildings gives it a fairytale-like quality. The oldest building inside the castle is the Annunciation Cathedral, which houses the very precious icon of Our Lady of Kazan. The equally spectacular Kul Sharif Mosque was only completed in 2005. In addition, the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Tatarstan is also located within the castle.