What to see in Yoshkar-Ola (Mari El Republic). The most beautiful lakes of Mari El Museum of the History of Yoshkar-Ola
State natural national park"Mari Chodra" was created in 1985 in the southeastern part of the Mari El Republic, where the border with Tatarstan passes. Its main features are the cleanest rivers and lakes, which have become favorite vacation spots not only among the local population, but also among tourists from all over the country.
To preserve a diverse range of animals and vegetable world park, its employees annually conduct various educational programs and improvement events. There are also school forestry areas in the park, where children are given the opportunity to study the natural world, conduct research papers and help care for the park and its inhabitants.
The park also publishes its own newspaper "Mari Chodra", booklets with information and various souvenirs.
Coordinates: 56.15000000,48.36666700
The most popular attractions in Mari El with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places Mari Ela on our website.
It is a richly decorated fairy-tale palace, with dark red walls and a green roof. Windows and doors are framed in snow-white. Graceful turrets in the Old Russian style and battlements in the Gothic style. The palace is difficult to attribute to any one architectural movement. There is a successful combination of several here. Further, seven columns support the glass dome of the winter garden. The interior decoration of the castle is incomparable. Particularly noteworthy is the sophistication of the “Eastern Cabinet”, “Picture Gallery”, “Oak Room”. There are also magnificent fireplaces. One of them even contains a slab found during excavations in Pompeii.
After admiring the castle, you can stop for a rest here. There is a good hotel in the Sheremetyev estate, and a cozy cafe is located very close by. In addition, here, as throughout the republic, you can admire the amazing landscapes to your heart's content.
Museums
Continuing to describe the sights of Mari El, photos of which are presented in the article, one cannot help but talk about the museum of the city of Yoshkar-Ola. Those who want to learn about the history of the republic can visit it. You can learn about the traditions of the indigenous people at the Museum of Applied Arts. It is located in a modest one-story building with an attic. The city also has a museum of peasant labor and life. Its “highlight” is the rich collection of bells and bells.
More recently, the Tsarevokokshay Kremlin was built in the center of the capital. The impressive ancient Russian fortress made of red brick, walls and towers covered with a green roof, resembles the scenery of a historical film. This complex contains a church, an archaeological museum and a monument to the founder of the city, Fyodor Ioannovich.
Sights of Mari El: photos and descriptions
There is an unusual street sculpture in Yoshkar-Ola. It's called Yoshkin the cat. A representative of the bronze cat family sat imposingly on a bench, smiling condescendingly at passers-by.
Let's continue to describe the sights of Mari El. Five years ago it was opened quite significant monument. This is a bronze sculpture depicting the great Russian poet A.S. Pushkin and his most famous hero - Eugene Onegin.
What other interesting sights of Mari El? In the Italian Park of Yoshkar-Ola, the sculptural composition “Lorenzo di Piero de Medici the Magnificent” was recently installed, which symbolizes the triumph of science and art.
Churches and cathedrals
The Church of the Holy Trinity is a monument of Russian church architecture. With the advent of Soviet power, it suffered the same fate as many churches in the country. It was closed and almost destroyed. The restored temple amazes with its splendor and marvelous architecture.
What other interesting sights of Mari El? For example, the Orthodox shrine of the capital of the republic is the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. This is aimed at the sky with its high towers a building with reddish walls with white stripes that visually increase the height of the structure. Green roofs and golden domes attract the gaze of a traveler amazed by this beauty for a long time.
In 2007, the Annunciation Tower was built in the central part of the city. The structure is 55 meters high and resembles a fragment of the Kremlin. Equipped with the most accurate clock, which is regulated by satellite.
Conclusion
Now you know the main attractions of Mari El. Photos with descriptions are presented in the article for clarity. We hope that the sights of the republic and information about them were interesting to you.
What attracts tourists to the Volga Republic? Where do its indigenous people live and what beliefs are preserved here? Traveling to the central regions of Russia is gaining popularity, and tourists coming to Mari El get many vivid impressions from their visit to Yoshkar-Ola and other Mari cities.
Content:Climate, population and location
The territory of Mari El lies in the temperate continental climate zone. In summer, especially in July, it can be hot here - up to +28°C, and in winter the thermometer drops to -20°C and below. The coldest month of the year is January. This is worth considering when choosing clothes for a trip to Mari El.
Mironositsky Convent
The republic is not very densely populated; only 682 thousand people live in it. Relatively Big City– Yoshkar-Ola, where about a third of the total population or 277 thousand people live.
Today, the majority of the indigenous inhabitants of Mari El are Orthodox Christians, but 10-15% of the Mari continue to adhere to traditional beliefs. The peoples of Mari El use a lunar calendar. They worship several main gods. Rituals are held in the Sacred Groves or Kyusoto, of which about five hundred remain. The main prayers or “tunya kumaltysh” occur once every five years, and Mari people from all over Russia come to it.
When traveling around Mari El, it is most convenient to rent an apartment or rent a hotel room in Yoshkar-Ola. Those who want to travel through the regions can stay at recreation centers, guest houses, boarding houses, estates and campsites that accept tourists in different regions of the republic.
Church of the Holy Trinity in Yoshkar-Ola
What to see in Yoshkar-Ola
The main Mari city was founded in 1584 and in those days was called Tsarevokokshaysk. It was an outpost of Russia in the Zavolzhsky region and served to pacify the rebellious local residents. Today there are many interesting sights in Yoshkar-Ola, and since the city is small in size, they are easy to get around on foot.
In the center there is a complex of copies of monuments of the Moscow Kremlin. In the capital of Mari El you can see the Annunciation and Spasskaya towers, a copy of the famous Tsar Cannon and even the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, similar to St. Basil's Cathedral. It is as much as 650 km from here to the Russian capital. Therefore, the Mari decided not to waste energy on long journey, and admire Moscow monuments at home.
Travelers are surprised that several theaters and museums are open in the relatively small city. But perhaps Yoshkar-Ola is most famous for its original monuments. All guests of the Mari capital come to one of them, Yoshka the cat. A carefree bronze cat on a bench greets tourists on Lenin Square, not far from the building of the National Art Gallery.
Sea Eye Lake
In the central park you can see the sculptural group “Tree of Life”. It symbolizes the continuity of the traditions of the indigenous peoples of the republic. Voskresenskaya embankment is decorated with a sculpture of Alexander Pushkin, who talks with his literary hero, Evgeny Onegin. And on Sovetskaya street In the Mari capital, an unusual monument was erected... to a simple hammer.
Camping
Most tourists get to Mari El for her natural beauty. Hiking routes and horseback riding are popular throughout the republic, and in winter people come here for skiing.
The Mari rivers and lakes have long been chosen by fans of water tourism who like to spend their vacation time on kayaks and catamarans. Rafting on the Bolshaya and Malaya Kokshaga, Bolshaya and Maly Kundysh rivers is popular in the republic. Tourists do not neglect Vetluga, Ilet, Irovka, Lazh, Lunda, Nemda, Rutka, Yuronga and Yushut. The picturesque Mari lakes are very attractive - Yurinskoye, Bolshoye Stepankino, Irir-Er, Kar-Yar, Mary-Er, Bryukhan, Kichier and others.
Sheremetevsky Castle in Yurino from a bird's eye view
Near the village of Shariboksad, in the Volga region, there is a real natural pearl - the karst lake Sea Eye. It lies on the side of the mountain and reaches a depth of 38.5 m. The water in the unusual reservoir has a bright turquoise color, and its transparency reaches 5.5 m. In the summer heat, the lake water heats up to +20°C at the surface, and at depth its temperature does not exceed +4°С.
Fans of caving tourism visit the beautiful Nolkin caves. Many years ago, there were adits in this place where building stone and crushed stone were mined. Even in summer it is cool inside the Mari caves. On the walls and vaults you can see stalactites, stalagmites and sleeping bats. Nearby there are ancient millstones, the size of a man. Previously, such devices for grinding grain were used in Mari mills and sold in other provinces of Russia.
Tourists really enjoy traveling through the picturesque national park"Mari Chodra". On the territory of the Middle Volga region there are preserved cleanest lakes, rivers and mighty mixed forests. IN natural park Bears, lynxes, moose, foxes, brown hares and squirrels live here. Among the birds that nest here are wood grouse, grouse, green woodpeckers, ospreys and orioles - a total of 188 species of birds, 11 of which are listed in the Red Book of Russia.
Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God in Kozmodemyansk (1698)
What to see in different parts of the republic
People come to the ancient town of Kozmodemyansk to visit the wonderful ethnographic museum, where open air Samples of peasant buildings, wells, barns and a mill are on display. Lovers of antiquity are sure to check out the majestic Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God and the ancient Streletskaya Chapel.
In the Volga region of the republic stands the huge oak of Pugachev, steeped in legends. It rises on Maple Mountain - one of the places of pilgrimage for tourists. According to legend, it was near this tree that one of Pugachev’s detachments stopped, and the rebels buried their treasures near a noticeable oak tree. Today the tree rises 26 m from the ground, and the diameter of its trunk exceeds 1.6 m. According to recent biologist researchers, the age of the Mari oak exceeds 400 years.
Connoisseurs of Russian architecture lay out routes through ancient Mari estates. One of the most noticeable is. The former count's estate was built in the late Neo-Gothic style at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Chapel of the Savior of the Image Not Made by Hands (Streletskaya Chapel) in Kozmodemyansk
Fishing
It’s very good to come to Mari El for fishing! Fish is caught here on rivers and lakes, and fishermen are never left without a catch. True, the volume of trophies depends on luck, experience and skill.
Most often they fish on the Volga and Vetluga. These rivers are rich in pike, pike perch, perch, carp and bream, and are especially popular with those who want to catch a big catch. The shores near the city of Zvenigovo, near the village of Dubovsky and near the city of Volzhsk are considered fishing spots. In the Mari River Ilet you can catch pike, perch, crucian carp and roach, and on the lakes pike, crucian carp, tench, catfish and chub catch well.
Mari souvenirs
No one leaves Mari El without memorable gifts. What souvenirs do tourists most often buy? Many people like to take home images of Yoshka the cat. One of the main symbols of Yoshkar-Ola can be seen on souvenir mugs, magnets, keychains, T-shirts and even bottles of vodka.
Church of the Archangel Michael in the village of Yurino
Vodka is readily brought from the Mari capital. Local stores sell different varieties, including bottles with the label “Yoshkin Kot”. This vodka is not supplied outside the republic, so it can become an original souvenir from Mari El.
Those who like strong alcohol do not ignore the “Ogni Mari El” balm infused with local herbs. It is sold in bottles and clay containers with national ornaments.
The republic produces excellent cheeses. Today, Mari cheeses are considered one of the most delicious in our country. The Sernur cheese factory produces excellent cheeses, cottage cheese and bio-yogurt from goat and sheep milk. In addition, pickled mushrooms and sausages from the Zvenigovsky meat processing plant can be recommended as tasty souvenirs.
Those with a sweet tooth do not leave without products from the Volga Sweets confectionery company. An excellent souvenir of a trip to Mari El can be a 2 kg box with delicious waffles, cookies, marmalade, marshmallows, sherbet and candies. Want even more? Please! In Mari El they sell boxes of sweets weighing 4.4 kg.
The city of Yoshkar-Ola is the second stop on our May road trip “Nizhny Novgorod - Yoshkar-Ola - Kazan”. It was an amazing and memorable meeting! The well-known Yoshkin's cat and the picturesque embankment of Bruges are still in my memory. And the photographs with multi-colored gingerbread houses are like foreign postcards. This city remains a bright spot in our memory. But, like many Russian cities, Yoshkar-Ola has its own face and its own backside. Let's start from the beginning...
The city of Yoshkar-Ola is the capital of the Mari El Republic and the only Russian city whose name begins with the letter “y”. It is located on the banks of the Malaya Kokshaga River. On one side is the Bruges embankment, on the other side is Voznesenskaya embankment.
The road from Nizhny Novgorod was quite tiring (we were unlucky with traffic jams). But after passing a sign with the inscription “Republic of Mari El”, we immediately felt the local flavor and perked up. There are even stops here public transport decorated with traditional Mari ornaments.
We arrived in Yoshkar-Ola much later than planned. We checked into the Virginia Hotel, refreshed ourselves in a cafe here, and, after resting a bit, hit the road. As time went on towards evening, it was decided to take a walk to the city center according to the minimum program.
Day one: evening walk around Yoshkar-Ola
According to the plan, our path lay from the hotel to the city Park of Culture and Recreation. Further, along Chavaina Boulevard, towards the embankment.
Walk of Military Glory
The Walk of Military Glory begins from Victory Boulevard. The monument of the same name rises here.
On the eve of Victory Day, the atmosphere was special; the city was breathing with the approaching holiday. Young Army soldiers solemnly kept watch at the “Eternal Flame.”
The Memorial of Glory is located in the central part of the city Park of Culture and Recreation.
Central City Park of Culture and Recreation
Park of Culture, or rather, Central Park culture and recreation named after. The XXX anniversary of the Komsomol, created for residents and guests of the city. The park has rides, fountains, and sculptures. While walking along the Walk of Fame, we noticed a Ferris wheel from a distance. And we certainly decided to look at Yoshkar-Ola from a height of forty meters.
Ferris wheel in Yoshkar-Ola
Despite the fact that I am not very good with heights, I was pleased with the attraction. Modern comfortable closed cabins. You can wholeheartedly enjoy the views of the city without fear of wind or rain.
Operating mode of the Ferris wheel:
from 1.10-31.03 (in winter) Sat, Sun – from 10.00 to 21.00
from 1.04-31.09 (in summer) Daily - from 10.00 to 21.00
Ticket price: 100 rub. - adult; 60 rub. - children's.
Sculpture "Tree of Life"
The sculptural composition called “The Tree of Life” is located in the central part of the city park and represents a group of three people with musical instruments: a young man with a drum, an old man with a harp and a middle-aged man with an unusually shaped pipe. In the center we see that very symbolic tree of life. The Mari often depict such a tree in their traditional ornaments.
We leave the Park of Culture and Recreation, find ourselves on Chavaina Boulevard and move further towards the embankment. It's quite lively here. There are numerous shops on both sides of the boulevard.
Well, where would we be without fountains? There are many of them in Yoshkar-Ola. This one adorns Chavaina Boulevard, located closer to the Park of Culture. In the evening the lights are turned on. Beautiful.
And this fountain in front of Nikonov Square. Please note that there are small kiosks on both sides where you can inexpensively purchase all kinds of souvenirs.
And here she is - , which can be seen from the Park of Culture itself. Located on the Square of the Virgin Mary, next to the Annunciation Cathedral, the 55-meter tower appeared before the townspeople in all its glory in 2007. In general, almost all buildings in the city center are new. And many are still under construction. This beauty is one of the main modern symbols of Yoshkar-Ola. Every hour the chimes sound, which, by the way, are a smaller copy of the Moscow ones.
Annunciation Cathedral and the Archangel Gabriel fountain
Having passed under the arch of the Annunciation Tower, we found ourselves on the Square of the Republic and the Virgin Mary. This square is home to the stunning Annunciation Cathedral and the largest fountain in the city. The height of the bronze figure of Archangel Gabriel located in the center of the fountain is 6 meters.
While we were walking, it became completely dark. From the theater bridge there was a stunning view of the Bruges waterfront. For a minute it seemed that we had teleported to some Belgian town. Here it is, the face of modern Yoshkar-Ola. Beauty!
But we will return here in the morning. And now I wanted to quickly find a place where I could pleasantly spend the rest of the evening and have dinner. Google suggested that there was a good beer restaurant “Zhiguli” within walking distance.
Beer restaurant "Zhiguli" on Voskresenskaya embankment
I didn't have to search for long. The illuminated sign can be seen from afar. Here is the address:
Anisimovskaya st., 38, Yoshkar-Ola, Rep. Mari El, 424010
A very cozy place in a retro style with excellent beer and quite affordable prices. On the second floor there is a beer bar, karaoke, a wonderful view from the window of the Annunciation Tower. We returned to the hotel by taxi.
The crayfish there are excellent, I had to ask for more.
Unfortunately, today this establishment no longer operates, if there are pleasant establishments where you can while away the evening, please write in the comments (note 09/05/2018).
Second day: walking around Yoshkar-Ola
The main goal of the next day was to search for the notorious Yoshkin cat. I’m even afraid to imagine how many kilometers we walked that day around Yoshkar-Ola. Historical Center The city is not compact; to see a lot in one day, you need to walk a lot.
So, from the hotel we move towards Leninsky Prospekt. There is an avenue with this name in almost every Russian city, but we found such a bright and memorable one only in Yoshkar-Ola.
Here is Obolensky-Nogotkov Square. On the square there are monuments directly related to the history of the Mari El Republic, and the National Art Gallery with a unique tower clock.
Monument to Obolensky-Nogotkov - the first governor of Tsarevokokshaisk
Tsar Cannon
Monument to the Holy Martyr Leonid, Bishop of Mari
We walk along Obolensky-Nogotkov Square and look around the corner. And here tourists are already crowding, having discovered one of the main attractions of Yoshkar-Ola.
That's how famous he is, with all the details! We take photos at a fast pace, there are a lot of people who want to take them.
Not everyone knows, but Yoshkin’s cat has a girlfriend, who was created by the enterprising owners of the cafe of the same name. This place is located not far from Yoshkina Kota. You need to go to the opposite side of Leninsky Prospekt and walk forward another hundred meters.
Returning back, we were surprised to find that there was nowhere for an apple to fall in front of the National Art Gallery. Every minute there were more and more people, everyone was clearly waiting for something. We joined the onlookers and learned the following. It turns out that, carried away by the search for the famous cat, we almost passed by the city’s unique Orthodox chimes. Here's what they look like.
These watches decorate main tower National Art Gallery of the city. Nothing remarkable in appearance. But they are called Orthodox for a reason. Every hour a wonderful action takes place here, which tells, or rather, shows us the legend of the icon of the Mother of God “Three Hands”. This icon has a special meaning for Yoshkar-Ola. It was with this icon that the independent Yoshkar-Ola and Mari diocese was founded 14 years ago. And it is this image that is close and dear to all Orthodox people, and not only in Yoshkar Ola.
According to legend, the icon with the image of the Mother of God “Three-Handed” was in Serbia in the 13th century. To save her from the Turks who invaded Serbia, local residents attached her to a donkey and sent her to Kosovo. But the donkey miraculously reached Greece and came to the gates of the Helendar monastery. The icon was saved from destruction, and the image of the “Three-Handed Woman” then spread throughout the Orthodox land.
This legend is described in more detail on the slab in the arch under the clock.
When the chimes rang out, everyone in the square, like children, watched in fascination what was happening. We, too. A donkey with an icon on its back appeared from the gate, on the left side of the dial, and, having described a semicircle, disappeared again into the gate, but this time to the right. All this happened to the accompaniment of church hymns. And, to be honest, it gave me goosebumps, it looked so beautiful, touching and unusual. This is a must see if you are lucky enough to visit Yoshkar-Ola.
Clock with a donkey in Yoshkar-Ola video
Then we went along Voznesenskaya Street to the Tsarevokokshay Kremlin. There are also a lot of interesting things along the way.
Trinity Church
The cathedral is located across the road from the Tsarevokokshay Kremlin.
Tsarevokokshay Kremlin
Tsarevokokshay Kremlin - this is also one of the modern buildings of Yoshkar-Ola. Erected in 2009. At this site, during excavations, fragments of ancient defensive fortifications were discovered.
Today the Kremlin is not only a landmark of the city. On its territory there is a tourist historical and cultural complex, several permanent exhibitions and museums. Various events, holidays, exhibitions, and fairs take place. Sometimes there are open-air theatrical performances. Here you can buy honey and souvenirs.
In the arches along the entire perimeter of the Kremlin there are stands with information about the history of the city. Reconstructed guns are also presented.
Fedor I Ioannovich is rightfully considered the founder of the city. It was he who in 1584 issued a decree on the creation of the city of Tsarevokokshaisk (Now Yoshkar-Ola). He also sent Ivan Obolensky-Nogotkov here, who became the first governor in Tsarevokokshaisk. The only monument to Fyodor Ioannovich in Russia was installed on the Resurrection Embankment near the Resurrection Cathedral.
Open-air fairy tale museum in Yoshkar-Ola
Outside the walls of the Kremlin, another remarkable place unexpectedly appeared - a kind of open-air museum of fairy-tale heroes. Along the walls of the most ordinary shopping center there are funny fairy-tale heroes made from wood. There are a lot of characters, it’s interesting to see, take pictures, and, best of all, it’s completely free. Here are just a few of them.
Then we continue moving along Voznesenskaya Street towards the Voznesensky Bridge, along which we will cross to the other side of the Malaya Kokshaga River and find ourselves right on the Bruges embankment. On the way we stop at the Ascension Cathedral.
The weather was not kind to us. The sky was gloomy all day, threatening rain. And it was windy and cold on the embankment, keep this in mind when planning your walk.
Finally, we had the opportunity to take a closer look at the calling card of Yoshkar-Ola - the Bruges embankment. By the way, the name of this embankment was given by the President of the Republic of Mari El, Leonid Markelov.
All these buildings, despite their fabulous appearance, are occupied by various government agencies, departments, etc.
Bruges waterfront — perfect place for photo shoots in any weather. All houses are built in the same Flemish style. At first glance, you wouldn’t think that this is our Russian Yoshkar Ola.
Here, as well as on Obolensky-Nogotkov Square, performances based on a biblical story are held daily for tourists and local residents. Every 3 hours, from nine in the morning to nine in the evening on the balcony of the third floor of the “12 Apostles” complex, accompanied by church chants and bell ringing Jesus and the twelve apostles appear from the gate on the left and, moving smoothly, retire through the gate on the right. It is noteworthy that the arms and legs of the figures move, this makes an incredible impression on the audience.
Chapel of Peter and Fevronia of Murom on Patriarchal Square
Monument to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
This young horsewoman is Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. It's no coincidence that she's here either. It was she who, many centuries ago, when Yoshkar-Ola was Tsarekokshaysk, helped open the first schools in the city. Behind the sculpture is the building of a boarding school for talented children.
We returned to the hotel on foot, with all our strength, but satisfied with ourselves and what we saw. On the way we stopped at a small shop to buy sweet Mari souvenirs before leaving. Once again we were pleased with the openness and good nature of the local residents.
The sweet woman behind the counter, who was sad, was delighted at the opportunity to communicate and told us not only about national sweets. She spoke for a long time and colorfully about how life was in Yoshkar-Ola for “ordinary local residents.” We, tourists, see the face of the city, but the reverse side is not the same). It was a monologue that can be heard from the lips of a person living in absolutely any town in Mother Russia. People's problems are the same everywhere.
“Officials are pouring funds from the city budget into the construction of gingerbread houses for show and tourists, and, as a consequence, the ensuing problems of local residents (with their detailed listing): lack of roads, salaries, social conditions, etc...” This is the main idea of the story. In general, nothing new. Subjective, but from the heart).
This is probably true, but for two days we sincerely admired Yoshkar-Ola. After all, we travel in order to receive exclusively positive emotions. We wish the same for you. Have a good trip to Yoshkar-Ola and have bright impressions! I invite you to share them in the comments.
By tradition, a short video about our stay in Yoshkar-Ola.
How to get to Yoshkar-Ola?
Yoshkar-Ola has railway and bus stations. You can get there by or.
