Excursion to my hometown

1.

EXCURSION TO MY
HOMETOWN

2.

Bolgar
is an amazing place where, among the Volga
expanses, the pearl of the Far East opens up to
the eyes of guests. The history of the city dates
back to the Stone Age, when people were
already settling here. Its brightest episode is
considered the heyday of the Volga Bulgaria, a
powerful state that controlled all trade routes
across the Volga and even rebuffed the first
Mongol-Tatar raid. The ancient Bulgar nowadays
lies mostly at the bottom of the reservoir,
however, many buildings of the Golden Horde
period have survived and entered into a unique
historical and architectural complex,

3.

Small minaret
Before the invasion of the southeastern
region of the Golden Horde, residential
quarters were located near the Small
Minaret. After 1361, when the troops of
Khan Bulak-Timur attacked the territory, a
cemetery of the nobility arose in their place.
Several hills have survived from the burials
today, which are hidden by ruined stone
buildings and khan's tombs.

4.

Khan's tomb
The name of this sight of Bolgar comes
from the Tatar legends. According to them,
ten holy Muslims were buried at this place.
Among them are the khans of Bolgar. In
total, at the beginning of the century, 31
graves were found during archaeological
excavations.

5.

White mosque
The architectural pearl of modern Bolgar - the White Mosque complex - was built within the framework of the Cultural
Heritage: Island Grad-Sviyazhsk and Ancient Bolgar program. The White Mosque is one of the most significant religious
buildings of the republic: festive prayers are held here with broadcast on television, conferences on religious topics and
congresses of representatives of the Muslim clergy from the regions of Russia are held

6.

Black chamber
is the best preserved monument of the Bulgar
architecture. A legend has survived to explain
its name.
this building was a judgment seat. The court
was made by a khan and a council of 3 people.
When it was necessary to administer the court,
the khan and each of the judges entered the
chamber through special doors corresponding
to the cardinal points. Khan always entered
through the western doors.
Later in the 19th century, a smokehouse was
installed in this building, which is why the
building turned out to be really black both
inside and out.

7.

Museum of the History of
the Assumption Church
The Assumption Church was erected in the
1730s. in memory of the visit of Emperor
Peter I to Bolgar. The merchant Mikhlyaev
allocated funds for the construction. Initially,
the temple belonged to the Assumption
Monastery, but later it became a parish one.
Under the Bolsheviks, the Assumption
Church fell into desolation. In 1969, it
became part of the Bulgarian Reserve,
which included the most remarkable
architectural monuments of the city. Now in
the temple there is a museum dedicated to
its history and the formation of Orthodoxy in
the lands of the Volga Bulgaria.

8.

Memorial sign to the Sahaba
.
The followers of the Prophet Muhammad were
called Sahibs (also Sahabs). The monument in
Bolgar was erected at the burial place of one of
these associates in 2011.
According to legend, the Prophet Muhammad sent
followers under the guise of doctors to preach
Islam in the lands of the Volga Bulgaria. Two years
later returned to their homeland, and one stayed,
here and spent the rest of his life. Stones are
installed next to the memorial sign: information
about the Sahaba is inscribed on them in several
languages.

9.

BATHS
The 1 bath
White chamber
The 2 bath
Khan's bath