Fairy-tale island-town of Sviyazhsk. By boat from the river port. Trinity Wooden Church

One of the pearls of Tatarstan is rightfully the city - the island of Sviyazhsk. Located in one of the most beautiful places Russia, having a huge number of historical monuments and special energy, this city, by right, has become very attractive for tourists.

You can get to Sviyazhsk by road transport, along the M7 highway, but upon arrival, you will have to leave the car in the parking lot, because the whole city is pedestrian zone. You can also get to Sviyazhsk by boat from Kazan, enjoying great views and listening to the entertaining stories of the guide.

There are few places in Russia where there are so many attractions in such a small area as in Sviyazhsk. Most interesting places islands:

When visiting the city-island, it is impossible to ignore the building river station. Despite the equipment that allows servicing modern river transport, he seemed to have descended from the pages of Ostrovsky's books.
Arriving in Sviyazhsk, a person finds himself in a different era, with a different course of time and with different moral values, and the situation of the station immediately sets him up for the right perception.

Location: Rozhdestvenskaya street - 1A.

The fresco painting, the original fragments of which have been preserved for quite a long time, gives the temple a special value. large area. At the time of the founding of the temple, the frescoes of the Assumption Cathedral were, in truth, a revolutionary word in iconography. Their plots were taken by the creators not only from canonical texts, but also from apocryphal legends.

Here is the only image of St. Christopher with a horse's head in Russia, later such icons were banned by church authorities. Also in the cathedral you can see the only fresco image of Ivan the Terrible. In general, the frescoes of the Assumption Cathedral in Sviyazhsk are very close to the Western European style of church painting, which is very unusual for Russian churches of the 16th century.

Location: Uspenskaya street - 1.

The Church in the Name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is the first stone refectory church and was built in 1555-1556. The author of the project is unknown, but there is evidence that the Pskov artel of masons Ivan Shiryai took part in the construction of the temple, which, obviously, brought to it architectural appearance elements characteristic church complexes Pskov.

The height of the building and the conciseness of the facade make it dominant both in the complex of the Assumption Monastery and in the architecture of the entire city.

Location: Nikolskaya street.

In addition to churches, some of which are active, on the territory of the monastery there is a wooden abbot's complex, cells for novices and nuns, and a stone refectory.

In the existing temples, pilgrims can bow to such shrines as the icons of the Tikhvin Mother of God”, “Inexhaustible Chalice”, the image of John the Baptist, the relics of St. Herman of Kazan. The ensemble of the monastery, created over the course of three centuries, forms the majestic appearance of Sviyazhsk. On the territory of the temple complex there is an architectural and art museum.

Trinity Church is the most ancient building Sviyazhsk. This wooden structure is made without a single nail. The construction was carried out under the leadership of the first Russian military engineer, clerk Ivan Vyrodkov. It is to him that historians attribute the idea of ​​building Sviyazhsk. The fortress was cut down many kilometers from the construction site, in the town of Myshkin. Then all the logs were numbered and secretly transported to the banks of the Sviyaga. In a matter of days, powerful fortifications were erected 30 kilometers from the then enemy Kazan, which played a huge role in its capture by Russian troops in 1552.

The carved iconostasis, wooden images of saints, ancient icons give the temple a discreet comfort, and the knowledge that Ivan the Terrible himself could communicate with higher powers here makes the temple one of the most attractive places in Sviyazhsk.

Location: Troitskaya street - 3.

The church in the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh began to be built in the 16th century by order of Tsar Boris Fedorovich. The building is made of white limestone, the decor is very laconic, typical of the Pskov style.

Presumably, craftsmen from Pskov took part in the construction of the temple. On one of the outer walls, an ancient fresco depicting the "Trinity" has been preserved. The temple is one of architectural gems Sviyazhsk.

Before the revolution, this church was the only township church in Sviyazhsk. The current stone building was built in the 18th century on the site of a wooden church. In its appearance, the influence of the Baroque style is clearly felt, which makes the church very elegant and joyful.

Since the 1920s, the building has not been used for religious ceremonies. It was only in the 90s that it was returned to its direct purpose, and now the inhabitants of Sviyazhsk and pilgrims from all over Russia are present at regularly sent services.

Location: Konstantinovskaya street - 2.

The landmark of Sviyazhsk, built in our time, is the chapel in the Name of the Royal Passion-Bearers, consecrated in 2004. It is dedicated to the family of the last Russian emperor, who was martyred at the hands of the Bolshevik government. At the entrance to the temple there is an icon depicting royal family. There are many old icons in the chapel, some of them stream myrrh from time to time.

Starting from its foundation, Sviyazhsk, first of all, was military fortress, which suggested the presence here of the best weapons at that time. In the 16th century they were cannons. Each of them was individual, and even had its own name. For example, "Snake", "Dragon", "Whistler".

The most fortified were the Christmas Gates of the city, where the cannon "Devka's Head" was installed, which got its name because of the image on the gun carriage of the head, reminiscent of Medusa Gargona. In our time, through the efforts of restorers, with the active participation of caring local residents this cannon was recreated according to the drawings found in the ancient chronicles. Now it decorates the entrance to the Sviyazhsk Museum of Local Lore.

Location: Moscow street - 6.

You can learn more about the history of Sviyazhsk, its temples, its legends by visiting the magnificent exposition of the local museum. There are many interactive exhibits here, which is especially impressive for young visitors. For example, you can try yourself as an archaeologist, activate all excursion routes Sviyazhsk on a large electronic map, and skillfully made panoramas will not leave anyone indifferent.

Location: Uspenskaya street - 22.

This monument is dedicated to the black page in the history of Sviyazhsk, and indeed the whole country. After the revolution, the city became a place of executions and torture. Ancient monasteries turned into dungeons. There is a legend that by order of Trotsky, in 1918 a monument to Judas was erected here.

However, physical evidence this fact no, but in Sviyazhsk there is a monument to the victims of repression, rare in its poignancy. A grating is carved in a stone block, through which the prisoner's hand, holding a free bird, sticks out. It must be visited to honor the memory of innocent victims and not remain indifferent to attempts to turn back history.

Location: on the side of the dam at the entrance to the island.

The complex of historical reconstruction "Lazy Torzhok" perfectly recreates the atmosphere of bygone centuries. Works here a large number of souvenir shops selling unique handicrafts. Several times a day, master classes in pottery, blacksmithing, and leather crafts are held.

You can also try your hand at painting clay toys or making items from birch bark. On weekends, battles that took place in the 16th century between Russians and Tatars are reconstructed on the square. Here you can put on medieval armor and try out different kinds weapons.

Location: Uspenskaya street - 2b.

Not far from " lazy cake» there is a horse yard. Here you can ride in a phaeton or on horseback. The horses are amazingly beautiful, many of them were champions of international competitions in the past. They can be fed and photographed.

Undoubtedly, the sights of Sviyazhsk are the landscapes of Russian nature, which were so loved by both artists of past centuries and modern creators.

The combination of the mighty calmness of the waters washing the island and the majestic power of the temples leaves no one indifferent. But the peculiar architecture of public and residential buildings of the town has a peculiar charm that touches the heart of any Russian person.

Why you still need to visit Sviyazhsk

In addition to visiting historical sites, the city-island offers an interesting cultural program. Throughout the year, fun folk festivals are held here.

The benevolence and hospitality of local residents deserve a separate discussion, which is facilitated by the presence comfortable hotels and restaurants. Most people who have visited this wonderful city will forever have a desire to return here again.

Sviyazhsk is both the name of an island and a rural settlement. Sviyazhsk is located in the Zelenodolsk region of the Republic of Tatarstan, at the confluence of the Schuka and Sviyaga rivers.

Our trip to Kazan has come to an end and it's time to move home to Samara. We made this trip in our own car, so we planned to see as many sights as possible along the way. We went to Kazan through, and we will go back through Sviyazhsk, Ulyanovsk and Dimitrovgrad.

Sviyazhsk on the map.

Sviyazhsk, how to get there?

The first question that arises when planning a trip to this glorious island city is: “How to get there?”

Kazan - Sviyazhsk.

Since Sviyazhsk is located 60 kilometers from the capital of Tatarstan and the third capital of Russia - Kazan, we will consider options for how to get to Sviyazhsk from Kazan:

Sviyazhsk bus.

From the "Southern" bus station of Kazan departs daily at 8-40 to Sviyazhsk scheduled bus. Price 150 r. On weekends at 9-00 additional buses run from the "Central Bus Station". (price 170 rubles) - back at 14-00. On the road 1-30.

Sviyazhsk ship.

A comfortable motor ship also runs from Kazan to Sviyazhsk, though only from May 1 to the end of September. Since 2011, a renovated river station has been operating on the island.

Every day at 8-20 from Kazan river port the passenger ship departs. Swim for more than two hours, but in this option you are guaranteed magnificent scenery Volga, as well as the opportunity to see the sights of Tatarstan from the water, such as Svyato-Voznesensky monastery and the Temple of All Religions. The cost of such pleasure is only a little more than a hundred rubles.

You can also combine bus route With river walk. Take a bus to Vasilyevo, and then transfer to a boat.
Also on weekends there are more expensive excursion routes (moving 200-300 rubles) with a tour of Sviyazhsk (400-500 rubles)

Kazan - Sviyazhsk train.

One option is to take the train. There is a small ambush here. Railroad station Sviyazhsk is located 14 kilometers from the island of Sviyazhsk. In this option, you will need to take a taxi.

Schedule of trains, trains Kazan - Sviyazhsk.

The stone fence of the monastery built in the 18th-19th centuries, stretching for 1 km, resembles the Kremlin wall and gives the monastery the appearance of a fortress. Has a majestic look gate church Ascension of the Lord. Free entrance to the monastery is carried out through it.

The church of Herman of Kazan and Mitrofan of Voronezh adjoins the fence and the fraternal cells. The church does not make a strong impression, since in the course of several significant reconstructions it lost covered stairs and porches, baroque window frames, and at the beginning of the 20th century. was completely disassembled. The modern building was recreated according to old drawings, descriptions and photographs.

Assumption Cathedral, Sviyazhsk.

The main building in the monastery. The Assumption Cathedral was founded in 1555 and built in the style of the Pskov cathedrals, using elements of the Moscow style. The cathedral was to become luxurious and majestic. The temple was built from white hewn stone for 4 years by a master from Pskov, presumably under the guidance of Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Shiryai, who had previously worked on the creation of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.
In the 18th century, the temple was rebuilt in the Baroque style: it was then that 12 “kokoshniks” appeared and the shape of the dome changed.
The interior decoration retained the features of the 16th century, including rare, well-preserved frescoes from 1561. The only one in the world, for example, is a fresco depicting St. Christopher with a horse's head.

Assumption Cathedral - Holy place, since Herman of Kazan often served in it, and his cell was located at this cathedral. It is in it that the relics of the great saint are located.

The Rector's (Bishops') building was built in the second half of the 17th century and is a rare example of a residential building of that era.

The monastery school was built in the late 17th - early 18th century. Just like in the Rector's House, in Soviet times a psychiatric hospital was located here.

Sviyazhsk prison.

The fraternal building, built in the late 17th - early 18th century, served as a prison in the early 20th century, and then in 1953-94. closed mental hospital.

Since 1928, a children's commune was located in the monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin, which was transformed in 1938 into correctional facility per 200 juvenile prisoners. Since 1943, prisoners of war have been placed here.
During the period 1937-48. political prisoners are housed in Sviyazhsk, executions are organized, as a result of which 5,000 people died. Since 1960, the correctional institution was again reorganized into a correctional labor colony.

Let's finish the sad things and move on to entertainment, but this is already outside the monastery.

Excursions Sviyazhsk.

In Sviyazhsk you can visit interesting excursions:
pedestrian "From fortress to empire";
"History of the miracle city", including walking tour around the island with a guide, as well as a visit historical museum and Trinity Church;
"The Tale of Sviyazhsk", which includes a tour of the museum halls, the Trinity Church and entertainment event"Shooter fun";
excursion “Listing through the past of Sviyazhsk…” – with additional participation in master classes in craft shops;
"Shooter Fun" interactive tour, which provides an opportunity to try on historical costumes, shoot from ancient bows and crossbows, etc.

On the picture - Historical building, Horse yard built in the 17th century. Now there is an ethnographic center with a craft settlement where you can forge a horseshoe, mold pottery and much more.

You can come to Sviyazhsk for just a few hours, as in our case, or you can come for a whole day or even for several days. Then there will be an opportunity to visit the most interesting programs and even learn horseback riding at the Horse Yard!

For children, the program "On the island of Buyan ..." is held, including a walk, an excursion to the museum, master classes and an interactive historical game with elements of reconstruction in the Skazka leisure center.
Suitable for adults and children of all ages gaming event"Heroic Strength", where two teams fight each other in historical costumes with ancient weapons, as well as in intellectual competitions.
Applications for excursions are accepted by e-mail: [email protected]

Sviyazhsk is a venue for many cultural events. Since 2009, the festival of music named after F.I. Shalyapin, since 2010 - a tournament in shooting from ancient weapons (bow and crossbow).

Good day to all!

Sviyazhsk is an island-village, which is located 60 kilometers from Kazan, in the Zelenodolsk region of Tatarstan. Of course, it is called an island conditionally. Sviyazhsk can be reached by car along the road laid along the embankment. However, not so long ago, the island-town of Sviyazhsk was still an island. But for most of its history, it was still a peninsula and was located on Mount Kruglaya, where in 1551 the city was built by decree of Tsar Ivan the Terrible.

Nowadays, Sviyazhsk is a village, where in a small area there is a huge number of religious, cultural, architectural and simply historical monuments, which are of great importance not only for Tatarstan, but for the whole of Russia!

But to make it easier for you to imagine the importance of Sviyazhsk for our country, you need to plunge into history a little…

So, in May 1551, the Russian army headed by Ivan the Terrible sailed to the site of the future city, along the Sviyaga River. The tsar had one goal - the capture of Kazan. And before him, other Russian tsars tried to take the capital of the Kazan Khanate, but to no avail. For this, an outpost was needed, or more simply military base, which would protect the rear of the Russian army and provide it with supplies during the long siege of Kazan. And such a base was supposed to be Sviyazhsk.

The city was built in just 4 weeks and eventually played a crucial role in the conquest of the entire Kazan Khanate and the capture of Kazan in 1552.

After the capture of Kazan, the city of Sviyazhsk played an important role in the history of Russia throughout the following centuries. But this role was not always triumphant. Sviyazhsk also remembers the black pages of its history. But more on that later...

Now Sviyazhsk is one of the most visited places of Tatarstan by tourists. And along with the Kazan Kremlin, it can be attributed to the most famous, even though Sviyazhsk is far from Kazan.

Let's start in order...

Very simple actually. From Kazan, and from many others major cities Russia will organize here excursion tours. As a rule, they combine the visit, which I wrote about in my last article. As well as some other sights of Tatarstan. But if you want to go to Sviyazhsk on your own, then this can be done in several ways: by bus, train and, of course, by car. We took the last route.

In order to get from Kazan to Sviyazhsk by car, you need to leave the city in a western direction along the Gorky highway. At the intersection with federal highway M7 will need to go left. Further, after passing the village of Isakovo, turn right. There will be signs everywhere, so getting to your destination will not be difficult. And even easier, you can just turn on the navigator

Here we are in place:

In winter, of course, it is not as picturesque here as in summer, when there is a lot of greenery and the city surrounds beautiful river. But to get acquainted with the history and architecture of the city you will not be prevented by any weather and season.

As befits an important historical monument, in Sviyazhsk everywhere you can see signs with a map of the city and a description of all the sights:

At the entrance you can see a monument to the victims of political repressions - this is evidence of the later history of the city, when in 1935-1953 the NKVD prison was located here.

But let's not talk about sad things right away. Getting to Sviyazhsk, you can walk around the city and explore the sights different routes. Since we were without a guide, we chose the route ourselves. And our first stop was the Horse Yard Building Complex, which was erected in the 17th-18th centuries on the site of a wooden stable from the 16th century:

Nowadays, although the stable is used for its intended purpose (here you can ride horses), but basically it is a series of souvenir shops.

And in the courtyard of the complex you can buy honey and excellent sbiten! By the way, it is non-alcoholic, so children can also drink sbiten. Yaroslav really liked it!

The wooden Trinity Church was built in just one day! This speed of construction was due to the fact that at the time when new town(especially since it was built on enemy territory), the main building that should be erected in the first place was the church, where you can hold a service, consecrate and bless the future city.

And what is most interesting, the Trinity Church has survived to this day! Imagine, it is almost 500 years old, it is made of wood, but it still stands! They knew how to build!

Of course, the church has not been completely preserved to this day. Now it has been restored. And the porch, the roof and some of the logs of the walls are later buildings. But still most of walls still remembers Ivan the Terrible!

The building material of the walls is larch logs, which only become stronger with time.

If you look closely, you can see the replaced more recent logs in the walls:

Unfortunately, when we were in Sviyazhsk, the Trinity Church was closed. But if you are lucky enough to get inside, then there you can see an old wooden bench on which Tsar Ivan the Terrible himself sat! It might just be a legend, though.

Sergius Church:

Built from 1570 to 1604. This is the first non-wooden building on the territory of Sviyazhsk. Now it is under reconstruction and unfortunately it is not possible to get inside.

And this is a more modern building - the Cathedral in the name of the icon of the Mother of God of All Who Sorrow Joy:

Although modern it can be called very conditionally, because the cathedral was built more than 100 years ago - in 1898-1906.

The cathedral is now active and there is a service. Inside the temple:

Sviyazhsk is not only a historical monument, but also just a village where people live. Now the population of Sviyazhsk is only 259 people, but before the revolution, more than 2,000 people lived here! Although Sviyazhsk certainly cannot be called a dying village. It's just that this place is very touristy and it leaves its mark, and the land here is sooo expensive!

On the streets of Sviyazhsk:

And this main square cities. On holidays there are mass celebrations, fairs and other events.

Another attraction is the Manor of the merchant Kamenev:

It's refurbished architectural monument end of the 19th century. The first floor of the estate once housed a bakery and a shop, the second floor was residential.

Opposite the square there are numerous souvenir shops and all sorts of entertainment for tourists:

Here, too, various holidays and festivities often take place, as well as real knightly battles!

Anyone can take a picture in knight's armor.

Yaroslav liked being a royal knight!

You can also shoot from a bow or crossbow:

Well, there's a lot more to do...

Museum of the History of Sviyazhsk:

Another sad historical monument is the wall near which the Red Army soldiers were shot in 1918:

Then, on the orders of Trotsky, every tenth Red Army soldier from those who were instructed to liberate Kazan from the White Czechs was shot. They failed in this task.

Approaching the end of our route, we approached the Assumption Monastery of the Mother of God. By the way, some of them begin their inspection of Sviyazhsk with it.

Monastery walls:

Another church under active reconstruction:

On the territory of the monastery:

Having examined our monastery self-guided tour ended in Sviyazhsk. But in fact, in this article, I told and showed you far from everything that can be seen in this small but so interesting town. To tell the whole history of Sviyazhsk and all its legends, you need to write a separate book, not just one article!

So it’s best to come here on your own and preferably for the whole day, so that you can take a leisurely stroll through the quiet streets of Sviyazhsk, see all the churches and temples, get acquainted with the amazing history of the city, shoot with a bow and, of course, try delicious sbiten!

See you in the next interesting posts about Kazan and beyond. Bye!

Finally, a video shot in Sviyazhsk: