Posted Thu, 31/10/2019 - 08:02 by Cap

Mordovia is proud of all the peoples who have ever inhabited it. The republic meticulously collects everything related to national identity, but at the same time emphasizes the inextricable connection with the rest of Russia. Orthodox churches and monasteries are a great opportunity for pilgrims to visit holy places, as well as travel throughout Mordovia.
Many attractions are concentrated in Saransk. Here the most demanding tourist will be able to occupy himself: an art gallery, a theatre, walking areas, monuments - what is there in the capital of the republic. Another direction is traveling to the bosom of nature. Smolny National Park, lakes and rivers, as well as forests of all types are ideal for lovers of ecotourism.

MAP and Geography of Mordovia

The distance from Moscow is 621 km. Saransk was founded as a fortress to protect the borders of the Moscow state in 1641. Initially, the fortress was called the “Saransk prison” and stood on the banks of the Insar River, at the mouth of the Sarley River (this is where the name is believed to have come from).

The first settlers of the fortress were Cossacks and Streltsy, then the local population moved here from nearby villages. IN different time the fortress was captured by the rebel detachments of S. Razin and E. Pugachev.

Saransk history of the city.

In the 18th century, the city grew and gradually began to turn into a commercial and industrial center. Single handicraft production grew into small factories and artels, and trade in local goods developed. In the 19th century, a series of large fires destroyed almost the entire city, but it was always rebuilt. The development of Saransk was positively influenced by the Moscow-Kazan line that passed through it. railway. From 1780 to 1930 Saransk was county town, territorially belonging to the Penza province. In 1930, the Mordovian Autonomous Region was formed, then it became a republic, but Saransk always remained the capital.

Geographical position

Located in the central part of the East European Plain on the Volga Upland (Volga basin) in the forest-steppe landscapes of the central part of the Insar basin, 642 km (500 km in a straight line) southeast of Moscow. The area of ​​the city is 81,478 km².

The city of Saransk is located in the eastern part of the Republic of Mordovia. The distance from Moscow in a straight line is 500 km, however, due to the fact that Saransk is located away from federal highways, the distance by road is 642 km. The nearest regional center is Penza (128 km). Geographical coordinates(city center): 54°11′ north latitude and 45°11′ east longitude.

Saransk is located in the MSC time zone (Moscow time). The applied time offset relative to UTC is +3:00.

The climate is moderate continental, characterized by relatively cold, frosty winters and moderately hot summers. The average annual temperature is +3.9 °C. The average winter temperature is −11 °C, summer +18 °C.

The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of −11.7 °C, the warmest is July, its average temperature+19.3 °C. The absolute temperature maximum is +37 °C (in 2010 there was an abnormal heat wave, the air temperature exceeded +39 °C), and the absolute minimum temperature is −49 °C. The average annual precipitation is about 500 mm. Deviation towards the minimum and maximum values ​​is up to 180 mm.

monument to Patriarch Nikon in Saransk

Modern Saransk.

Modern Saransk is a beautiful, prosperous city - the political, economic and cultural center of the republic. It has repeatedly won prizes in the annual competition “The Most Comfortable City in Russia.” Saransk has several museums and theaters, shopping and entertainment centers, modern cinemas, swimming pools and sports complexes. Inclusion in the list of cities participating in the 2018 World Cup was an honor for the city and prompted active preparations for the event and the preparation of the Saransk Arena stadium. Saransk has been actively building in recent years. The buildings of modern architecture look impressive, especially the city center.

Attractions.

Soviet heritage and modernity are closely intertwined in the city. This was especially reflected in the names of streets and squares. Sovetskaya Square is the main square of the city; it has existed since the 17th century, having changed several names during this time. The square contains administrative buildings and a monument to Lenin. Political, cultural and sporting events take place here, and New Year The city's main Christmas tree is being installed. Cathedral Square. A new cathedral square was formed near the Fyodor Ushakov Cathedral. On it there is a monument to the legendary admiral, as well as the “Family Monument”, sculptor N. Filatov, which has become quite famous.

Cathedral of Theodore Ushakov.

The Cathedral of Theodore Ushakov was built in 2006. It became one of the largest churches in Russia and the tallest in the Volga region. The height of the building is 63 meters, the area is 900 square meters. m, capacity - 3000 people. The stone building was erected in the neoclassical style, in the shape of a rotunda with 4 corner bell towers, on which there are 12 bells. The interior decoration is luxurious, the wooden iconostasis is covered with gold leaf. The temple contains the relics of the great naval commander, the holy righteous warrior Fyodor Ushakov, canonized in 2001.

Park named after Pushkin.

The park is located on the site of the former city garden. Name A.S. Pushkin Garden received in honor of the 100th anniversary of the poet’s birth, in 1899. In 1935, it was expanded and received a different status, but the name remained the same. The area of ​​the park is almost 40 hectares. There are modern attractions, summer cafes, concert and dance venues here. You can also see sculptures depicting heroes of Pushkin's fairy tales and other characters. On the territory of the park there is a city zoo, from the side of Sovetskaya Square there is a beautiful Fountain Descent leading to it, on which the monument “Pushkin and the Muse” is installed, as well as a monument to the founders of the city. In summer, Saransk blooms with many flower beds and landscape compositions. Clean streets are the hallmark of Saransk. Visiting tourists will enjoy walking around the city and will find something to see.

Mordovia Arena.

The stadium was designed specifically for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Four matches of the 2018 World Cup were held here. The capacity is 30,000 seats (at the time of the World Cup - 44,149). The appearance of the stadium is based on the sun - main symbol ancient myths and legends of the Mordovian people. The rectangle of the structure is smoothly rounded and resembles a pipe closed in a ring. The field and stands are hidden behind an outer skeleton of metal structures that rise from the concrete base of the stand and extend into a canopy above it. The structure is tilted inside the arena bowl, creating an “airy” effect. The uniqueness of the stadium lies in its small size. The exterior of the building is decorated in bright sunny colors.

St. John the Theologian Church.

St. John the Theologian Church is an architectural monument of federal significance. This is the oldest temple preserved in the city. Presumably, the wooden church was built before the fortress was founded, around 1600. In 1693, a stone building was erected. In the 30s of the 20th century, the temple was closed and reopened only in 1944. Under Soviet rule, for a long time it was the only functioning temple in Saransk.

St. Nicholas Church.

St. Nicholas Church is one of the churches that survived during the USSR. It was built in 1906. The temple was built of red brick with a three-tier bell tower. Before the revolution it was called Petropavlovsk. From 1937 to 1990 The church was used as a warehouse, administrative premises, and library. Since 1990, it began to function again, was restored and re-consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Aal Mansour Mosque.

The central mosque of Aal-Mansur was built in 2002. The capacity of the mosque is more than 1000 people. Nearby there is a park area of ​​about 2 hectares for Muslims, and a parking lot is open. In addition to the above, in Saransk there are also Orthodox churches and monasteries, mosques, as well as representatives of other religious denominations.

Founded in the 2nd half of the 16th century. In the “List of Populated Places of the Penza Province” (1869) Old Terizmorga is a property village of 272 households (2,127 people) in the Insarsky district. According to 1913 data, there were 486 households (3,285 people) in Old Terizmorga; zemstvo school, 16 windmills, 2 forges, a butter churn, 3 peeling sheds, 3 wool combs, 9 beekeepers, a shop, 2 brick sheds; the estates of Satina and Kavtorina; St. Nicholas Church (1894; active since 1985). In 1931, the village had 585 households (3,332 people). In 1934, there were 2 collective farms - named after. Budyonny and “17 Years of October”, since 1974 - “40 Years of October”, since 1996 - Agricultural Production Complex “Staroterismorgsky”. In the modern village there is a secondary school, a library, a House of Culture, a first-aid post, 3 shops; Monument to soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War.
In 1957, the Staroterismorg Folk Choir was created. Old Terizmorga is the birthplace of the poet I. M. Devin, folklorist T. P. Devyatkina, chemist S. A. Yamashkin, Candidate of Historical Sciences T. N. Kaderova, R. N. Yamashkina, Candidate of Philological Sciences A. P. Kochevatkina , I. I. Sheyanova, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences V. G. Sheyanov, Candidate of Technical Sciences Yu. I. Sheyanov, Candidate of Chemical Sciences N. G. Sheyanov, Candidate of Economic Sciences O. I. Sheyanov. The Staroterismorg village administration includes the village. Akshov (34 people) and the village. Porub (31 people).

- a real reserve of Moksha culture. The village is located in the Staroshaigovsky district of the republic, on the left bank of the Sivini.

The village arose in the second half of the 16th century on the banks of the Sivin River. For a long time, the inhabitants of Terizmorga were engaged in agriculture and beekeeping. Now about 800 people live here, mostly Mordovians-Moksha. In 1992, the Center for Moksha Culture opened in Old Terizmorga, and in 2007 the First Festival of Finno-Ugric Peoples was held. In the center of the village stands the majestic St. Nicholas Church, nearby is the open-air ethnographic museum “Peasant Estate”. The local folk choir performs in concerts in many countries around the world.
Old Terizmorga is a Moksha village where the traditions and customs of the Mordovian people are carefully preserved and passed on to the younger generation. This village is called a unique storehouse of Mordovian national culture. In Old Terizmorga, residents wear national clothes and conduct national rituals for everyone. Back in 1797, the Polish writer and archaeologist Jan Potocki described local life this way: “Mordovians, especially girls, dress extremely strange and fantastically.
They wear large pieces of wool in their ears; bells are woven into their hair and large copper bells are tied around their necks.” In Old Terizmorga tourists will be told about every detail of the costume. In the village you can visit the open-air ethnographic complex “House of a Prosperous Peasant”: here is a bathhouse, which caretakers heat for tourists, and an oven where food is prepared. Guests can try pancakes and poza, a low-alcohol beetroot drink. On Sundays, all residents of Old Terizmorga gather in the St. Nicholas Church - a white building with blue domes. In the modern village there is a secondary school, a library, a House of Culture, a first-aid post, shops, and a monument to soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War.
Old Terizmorga is the birthplace of the poet I. M. Devin, folklorist T. P. Devyatkina, and chemist S. A. Yamashkin.

Echoes of the ancient beliefs of the Mordovians are still active: people from all over the republic, and from other regions of Russia, travel to the ancient oak tree, which is still growing in the thicket of the Simkinsky Natural Park.
Many are sure that it was oak that helped them give birth to a child, maintain health and become happy.
There are many places on earth that are attributed properties that violate the laws of nature, or the intervention of divine forces. Mordovia is no exception. Far beyond the borders of the republic, an ancient oak tree in the Bolshebereznikovsky district is known, according to local residents, which has healing properties and cures infertility.
This tree is over 600 years old. Popular rumor says that it helps to give birth to healthy children, maintain family happiness and fulfills various cherished desires. Oak grows in Simkinskoye natural park Mordovia and not only became a local landmark, but even officially received the status of a wildlife monument of Russia.
“I learned about this oak tree when I was studying at a technical school. My sister and I made wishes there, and they came true! Now I continue to visit the oak tree every year and take my husband with me. I ask for health and happiness for my son. And whoever doesn’t believe it, let him go to the oak tree and check!
Valentina Aleksandrovna, resident of Saransk
At the time of Epiphany, the Mordovians categorically refused to accept the faith of others (although now they are considered the most Christianized people of the Volga region. - Ed.). To perform pagan rituals they had to choose secret places. It was near this tree that the people turned to their gods, conducted prayers and magical rituals, and performed sacrifices. Obviously, then the belief in the special properties of this place and the tree growing on it arose.
“My husband and I didn’t have children for a long time, although we had been married for a long time. We began to think about adopting a child from an orphanage, but a neighbor told us about this miraculous oak tree in Berezniki. Well, I went there secretly from my husband. I arrived early in the morning and had to wander around a bit and look for him. I sat down by the oak tree and talked to it, to myself, of course. She tied a ribbon, touched the branches of the tree, looked into the hollow, and said goodbye to it. About three weeks later, I decided to take a pregnancy test again, and then I was surprised: two stripes. I immediately ran to the doctor, he confirmed my pregnancy.

Insarsky St. Olginsky Monastery
It arose on the basis of a small hotel for nuns, founded in the 80s of the 19th century. In 1900, the temple built nearby was consecrated. It has 12 chapters, all small. The purpose of such architecture is to reduce attention to the bulky facade. In Soviet times, a local history museum was located here. Since 1988, the monastery began to be revived. At the time of restoration, 30 sisters lived in the monastery.

Klyuchevskaya Pustyn
It is located near the border with the Chuvash Republic. The monastery arose in the 18th century and dates back to the appearance of an icon at the holy spring. The spring was popular even during the years of desolation of the monastery. It began to be restored in the mid-90s of the last century. The previous buildings were restored, a new bell tower, baths with a chapel at the source and a hotel for pilgrims were built.

Paygarm Paraskeva-Voznesensky Monastery
The year the convent was founded was 1865. It grew rapidly, with workshops and an orphanage operating there. The main shrine is the icon of the holy martyr Paraskeva, which contains a particle of her relics. Two cathedrals, two churches and three chapels were built on the territory. Each building has its own characteristic features, but the ensemble looks like a single whole. Nearby: a spring with a chapel and a bath and a hotel for pilgrims.

Sanaksar Monastery
Built in the Temnikovsky district in the middle of the 17th century. For some time, the men's monastery was considered one of the spiritual centers of the country. After 60 years of neglect, restoration began in 1991. A small sawmill and a candle shop opened. In the forest nearby there is the holy spring of St. Theodore. The area has been landscaped, baths have been built and there is convenient access to the water.

Makarovsky St. John the Theologian Monastery
Founded in the mid-90s of the last century, most of the temples and other buildings were built much earlier. They have been restored and supplemented with modern details. In the 18th century there was a churchyard here. There are a number architectural features. For example, the bell tower is built into the fence along with the towers. It is the residence of the local metropolitan. The Synodal Department for Youth Affairs operates on the basis of the monastery.

- a village in Ruzaevskoye on the Pishle River.

Suburb of Ruzaevka. Population: 3,737 inhabitants. 1412 yards. There are two mosques in the village (one of them is the largest in the republic).
Population 3737 people (2017), mostly Tatars.

Located on the river. Pishle, 3 km from the district center and railway station Ruzaevka.

The name is a hydronym, the definition indicates the ethnic composition of the population. It was founded at the beginning of the 17th century, as evidenced by the documents of the Insar district court on the allocation of lands in these places to the Tatar prince Uraz (1631).
In the “List of populated places of the Penza province” (1869) Pishlya is a state-owned village of 345 households (2,255 people) of the Insar district; There were 4 mosques. According to the 1913 census, there were 584 households (3,607 people) in the Tatar Pishla; 3 Tatar schools, 5 grain stores, 2 fire trucks, a mill with an oil engine and 8 windmills, 3 butter churns and peeling mills, 4 forges, a brick barn.

In 1929, the collective farm “Kech” (“Strength”; chairman I.F. Zemin) was formed from 28 households, in 1939 - the 2nd, “Chatky” (“Iskra”), since 1958 - a larger farm “Russia”, since 1997 - 2 K(F)H. In the modern village there is a secondary school, a library, a House of Culture, a kindergarten, 5 shops; a monument to soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War; 2 mosques.

Tatarskaya Pishlya is the birthplace of the writer Sh. Kamal (one of the village streets and a school are named after him), agronomist D. D. Gurin, and Honored Worker of Public Education of the Republic of Mordovia R. S. Gorbunova. The Tatarsko-Pishlinskaya rural administration includes the village of Bogolyubovka (2 people)

arrival of the mufti from Ufa to the village

Story
Previously it was part of the Insarsky district of the Penza province.

In 1869, there were 345 households in the Tatar Pishla. In the article “From the history of Old Ruzaevka” prof. I.D. Voronin cites a document from the Insarsky district court, from which it is clear that the lands along the rivers Pishlya, Nurkolei and Paygarma were allocated to the Temnikov Tatar prince Uraz in 1631.
This year is the year the village of Tatarskaya Pishli was founded.

Notable natives
Sharif Kamal (1884-1942) - Tatar writer.

As a child, I was born and raised on the street named after the legendary Admiral Ushakov in the village. Krasnogorsky.

And I was always interested in the fate of this famous naval commander, since his victories were unique, he did not suffer a single defeat and did not lose a single ship. Admiral Ushakov was like the invincible Suvorov, but on the naval battlefields!

The life and heroic biography of the righteous warrior Theodore is inextricably linked with Crimea and Sevastopol!

It was thanks to Russian weapons and Russian courage that they managed to keep the Crimea peninsula from enemies.

And now it would be useful for us to look into the depths of history, since pressure on Russia is not new, and wars against our Motherland have been declared more than once. But our valiant ancestors always knew how to stand up for their land!

Sanaksar Monastery

Sanaksarsky monastery in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the city of Temnikov, Krasnoslobodsk diocese
Address: 431220, Russia, rsb. Mordovia, Temnikov

Located in a bend of the Moksha River, three kilometers from the city of Temnikov, downstream of the river. On the northern and western sides it is bordered by forests and groves, on the south and east beyond Moksha there are floodplain meadows rich in herbs and a countless number of large and small lakes. The monastery got its name from Lake Sanaksar, which lies in the lowlands near its walls. The history of the monastery goes back nearly three and a half centuries.

In 1659, a resident of the city of Temnikov, scribe and serving nobleman Luka Evsyukov, owning land on the banks of the Moksha, found this place very convenient for a solitary monastic life, and therefore, having love and zeal for the monastic order, he decided to found a monastery. For this purpose, he invited the elder Abbot Theodosius from the deserted Staro-Kadoma Monastery, who subsequently decided to stay here forever. With the help of Luka Evsyukov and, probably, the brethren who came from the Staro-Kadoma monastery and the desert lovers who had also joined, Abbot Theodosius first built a chapel for conducting prayer services in it, then they began to clear the forest and the place for the construction of a monastery, and built the cells necessary for housing. The small brotherhood gathered in the Lord, under the leadership of Abbot Theodosius, thus lived in squalor for about ten years.

In 1669, the residents of Temnikov, together with Abbot Theodosius, asked His Holiness Patriarch Joasaph II to bless and allow them to build a church in the Sanaksar desert in the name of the Most Pure Mother of God, the Presentation of the miraculous icon of Her Vladimir, and to be here a monastery deserted for monks, exposing, except for the urgent needs of those gathered hermits in the church, and also for the reason that there are neither male nor female monasteries in the vicinity of them, and those who wish to be tonsured have nowhere to fulfill this desire. According to this general request, in the same year, on October 30, His Holiness Patriarch Joseph II gave a blessed letter for the construction of a church and monastery. Probably, the first monastery was extremely meager, for construction was delayed, and only in 1676, at the request of Abbot Theodosius and his brethren, a letter was given from His Holiness Patriarch Joachim for the consecration of the Sretensky Church, and the monastery received the name of the Sretensky Sanaksar Hermitage.

The elder hegumen Theodosius lived in the Sanaksar desert until 1681. After Abbot Theodosius, there were builders one after another: Zosima, Tryphon and Dorofey. How many years each of them ruled the desert and what rank they had is not known. During their administration, the wooden Vladimir Sretenskaya Church, due to its dilapidation, was dismantled and a new one was built, also wooden, cold.

On March 12, 1730, under the builder Hieroschemamonk Peter, at his request, according to a decree from the Synodal Treasury Order, it was allowed to build a second church, a warm wooden one, in the name of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.

Then there was the builder Philagry. There is no definite information about how long each of them ruled the desert. It is only known that under the management of all the aforementioned builders, the Sanaksar hermitage was meager in all respects: there were few brethren, the churches and cells were wooden, poor, and there was an extreme lack of church decoration and sacristy.

On February 24, 1752, by decree of the Suzdal Spiritual Consistory, Hieromonk Porfiry from the Spaso-Evthymius Monastery was appointed builder of the Sanaksar Hermitage. Having stayed here for one year, seeing a lack of brethren and poverty in everything in the monastery, he again asked the Suzdal consistory for his return to the Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery, where he was dismissed in 1753, by decree of March 17, and the Sanaksar Hermitage, due to its extreme impoverishment in all respects, it was assigned under the supervision and management of the Sarov desert, as the closest to Sanaksar and, moreover, well-maintained.

This continued until 1759, when the monk Theodore Ushakov first appeared here, on the banks of the Moksha River, and had the firm intention of renewing Sanaksar. From that time on, the number of brethren increased, and through the labors of Fr. Theodore with donations from benefactors, including Catherine II, instead wooden church a two-story stone building was built. In 1774 St. Theodore, due to a false slander, was exiled to the Solovetsky Monastery.

In 1776, the following were consecrated: the warm cathedral church on the lower floor, in the name of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist; and above the holy gates under the bell tower is the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. In the same 1776, the masonry of the bell tower, about twenty-six fathoms high, was completed. On both sides of it, in the same summer, a stone front wall was built, thirty-three fathoms long and eight arshins high. A passage gate was made in this wall, on the right side of the entrance to the monastery; there are two towers at the corners: in one of them, on the northern corner towards the Moksha River, there is a chapel, in the other, on the southern, there are two cells. Both towers are ten fathoms high. These buildings were carried out according to the plan of the painter Hierodeacon Philaret, under the supervision of Hieromonk Veniamin. In 1777, on the northern side towards the Moksha River, the construction of a two-story stone refectory building, fourteen fathoms in length, began, and was completed in two years. At the top there is a dining room with a kitchen, and at the bottom there is a bakery with pantries for flour and various household products.

On August 16, 1780, the main cathedral church of the Nativity of the Virgin was consecrated. The hospital Vladimir Church, according to the plan of the painter Hierodeacon Philaret, was built in 1780 and 1781 and consecrated on June 6, 1782.

In 1781, on the south side, in line with the hospital cells, a building for fraternal cells was built, two-story, fourteen fathoms long, in parallel and symmetry with the refectory building on the north side. In 1782, on the same southern side, at a short interval, a two-story stone building of fraternal cells was built over a distance of twenty-two fathoms; In it, on the lower floor, there is a common room-workshop for the monastery tailors and shoemakers.

In the interval between the indicated buildings, a stone fence wall was built and a small tower with a spire was built on it, and below - with open storerooms for firewood and other household items. In 1783 and 1784, on the opposite northern side, in symmetry, over twenty-two fathoms, a stone two-story building was built, with a similar tower in the wall. There are rooms in it: for the abbot, treasurer and brethren at the top, and below there is a pantry, a junk tent and cells for several brethren. In 1784 and 1785, an external stone fence was built around the monastery to strengthen the walls of the buildings, wrapping around the entire elevated area of ​​the monastery on three sides: from the river, from Lake Sanaksar and from the meadows. This fence was built with a distance of four or more fathoms from the walls of residential buildings; consists of arches with a height of three or more arshins at the base. Along this outer fence on the days of Holy Easter, patronal and other holidays There were religious processions around the monastery. In the same year, two small buildings for prosphora and carpentry work were added to the fence on both sides of the bell tower; and in the north-eastern corner, cellars and a brewery were built, with a tower and cells in it.

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SOURCE OF MATERIALS AND PHOTO:
Team Nomads.
Sights of Mordovia
http://zapoved-mordovia.ru/
Specially protected natural areas Mordovia (Under the general editorship of V.I. Astradamov): Monograph. - Saransk: Mordovian book publishing house, 1997.
Surface water resources of the USSR: Hydrological knowledge. T. 10. Upper Volga region / Ed. V. P. Shaban. - L.: Gidrometeoizdat, 1966. - 528 p.
Isaev A.I., Karpova E.I. Fish farming. - M.: Agropromizdat, 1991. - 96 p. Gafferberg I. G. A brief physical and geographical sketch of the nature of the Mordovian Nature Reserve // ​​Proceedings of the Mordovian State Reserve named after. P. G. Smidovich, 1960. - issue 1. — P. 5-24. Gortsev V.N. Nature of Mordovia. — Saransk: Mordov. book ed. 1958. - 122 p.
Kharitonychev A. T. Nature of the Nizhny Novgorod Volga region: History of use, protection. — Gorky: Volgo-Vyatka book. ed. 1978. - 175 p.
Native land. Between Moksha and Tesha: History of the region and modern life. - N. Novgorod: Litera Publishing House, 1998. - P. 3-9.
Yamashkin A. A. Physico-geographical conditions and landscapes of Mordovia: Textbook. allowance. Saransk: Mordov Publishing House. un that, 1998. - 156 p.
Sights of Saransk.

Magazine "Evening Saransk"

Getting to know the city of Saransk

Saransk (Republic of Mordovia). People's encyclopedia "My City".

The year of foundation of Saransk is indicated in the book of the Chief Secretary of the Russian Senate I.K. Kirillov “The Blooming State of the All-Russian State,” written in 1726-1727: “Saransk, a city of chopped wood, was built in 149 (1641), but only now collapsed from decay, stands on a mountain near the Inzara River, and the Saranka River flows through that city.”

Saransk: Historical and economic essay / Editorial committee: Kleyankin A.V., Zhiganov M.F., Zhochkin N.M., etc. - Saransk: Mordov. book publishing house, 1985. - 192 p.

Pospelov E. M. Geographical names Russia: toponymic dictionary. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2008. - P. 388. - 523 p.

Kuklin V.N. Biographies of Saransk streets. — Saransk: Mordov. book publishing house, 1983. - P. 9. - 160 p.

Subsequently, the village of Posop, since 1959, has been part of Saransk

All about Mordovia: Encyclopedic reference book / comp. N. S. Krutov, E. M. Golubchik, S. S. Markova. — Saransk: Mordov. book publishing house, 2005. - 840 p. — ISBN 5-7595-1662-0.

Voronin I. D. Saransk. — Saransk: Mordov. book publishing house, 1961. - 268 p. — 10,000 copies.

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Some Russian cities do not have kremlins or the title of million-plus population, but this does not make them any less beautiful. For example, the city of Saransk in Mordovia. Once upon a time it was a small county town, but there was a fortress here. At first, only military personnel lived here, but in less than a century it turned from an outpost into a full-fledged city. There are many attractions here, steeped in national culture and history.

Description of Saransk

Saransk is the capital of the Republic of Mordovia. The city is named because of the Saranka River, which used to flow through the city. The area of ​​Saransk is 81.4 km2, and the population reaches almost 319 thousand people. Saransk is located on the East European Plain (Volga Upland), in the eastern part of Mordovia. The Insar River flows through the city, and the nearest regional center of Saransk is Penza.

The distance between Saransk and Moscow in a straight line is 500 km, however, due to the fact that Saransk is located away from federal highways, the distance by road is 642 km

History of the city's formation

The history of Saransk began with the creation of a fortress in 1641. The created fort was called “Saransky Ostrozhek”, and its first inhabitants were Cossacks, gunners, archers and Cossacks. Later, villagers from neighboring villages settled here. The fortress was wooden, there were 16-meter towers in the corners, and the entire structure was surrounded by a rampart. Saransk received official city status in 1780, but it knew the center of Saransk district earlier - in 1651. In 1670, the entire district was captured by the army of Stepan Razin, but a few months later the troops left the fortress. In the 18th century the city lost its military significance.

Gradually, different types of industry developed in the city, and the economy depended on it. The comprehensive development of the city was facilitated by geographical position- Saransk was on the way between Crimea and Kazan, Moscow and Astrakhan. After the Pugachev uprising, Catherine II ordered that the city be divided into streets and neighborhoods. The city itself became part of the Penza province in 1796, and then to the Simbirsk province. Caused significant damage to the city Civil War. Hunger and unemployment came, some enterprises closed, and there was no fuel. The capital of Mordovia suffered another blow during the Great Patriotic War. In recent years, the city has been actively developing; entire residential areas, hotels, art districts and even a sports stadium.

How to get to Saransk

You can get to Saransk in several ways:

By plane. Airplanes fly to Saransk airport only from 3 cities - Saratov, Samara, Moscow (it takes 3 hours to fly from Moscow).

By train from almost any city (it takes about 12 hours to travel from Moscow).

By bus (from Moscow, Penza, Saratov, Nizhny Novgorod etc.). By bus from Moscow it takes about 12 hours, from Penza - about 3.5 hours.

By your car or taxi. From Moscow it is convenient to travel along Nosovikhinskoye or Yegoryevskoye highways.

It is convenient to get to Saransk from major cities: Moscow, Samara, etc.

Main attractions of Saransk

Saransk is famous for its architectural, historical, natural and cultural attractions.

City architecture

The architectural sights of Saransk are considered to be temple buildings and modern buildings.

St. John the Theologian Church (Church of St. John the Theologian) was built in 1693 in the Naryshkin Baroque style. This is an Orthodox cathedral and an architectural monument of federal significance. It is considered the oldest surviving building of the republic. From 1991 to 2006, the Saransk and Mordovian diocese was located in this building.

Initially, the temple was built to replace an old wooden church, and since the 18th century the temple building was constantly reconstructed and completed. This is how several chapels and a bell tower appeared. After the revolution, the church was closed and the building was used as an NKVD archive. At the end of the Great Patriotic War, the church was opened, and in 1991 (when the Saransk and Mordovian diocese were separated in the Penza diocese) the temple became the second cathedral.

Information for tourists:

• address: Democratic street, 28 (city center);
• official website of the deanery: http://sarep.ru;
• Opening hours: daily from 7:30 to 19:00;
• the entrance is free.

The church building is a cube on which five decorative domes are installed, and the main decorations are window frames, a cornice, kokoshniks and a perspective portal

The Cathedral of Theodore Ushakov is an Orthodox church and cathedral of the Saransk diocese. The temple was built in 2006 in the Empire and Neo-Byzantine architectural styles. The height of the main dome is 62 meters. Notable are the 12 bells created in Tutaev and the wooden gilded iconostasis created in Saratov (the author of the project is I. Shemyakin). The iconostasis is divided into three altars: Theodore Ushakov, Seraphim of Sarov and the holy Mordovian martyrs.

St. John the Theologian Church is more modest in size, so to fulfill its function cathedral she turned out to be too small. Barsanuphius (Archbishop of Saransk and Mordovian) initiated the construction of a new, larger building. And when Admiral Ushakov was canonized in 2001, it was decided to name the temple under construction after him. A year after construction began, the cathedral was recognized as significant, and private sponsors were found. Alexy II (Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus') consecrated the new building.

Information for tourists:

• address: Cathedral Square (coordinates: 54°10′53″N 45°10′54″E);
• official website: http://sobor-ushakova.ru;
• the temple is open 24 hours a day, the schedule of services is on the official website;
• the entrance is free.

The capacity of the Temple of Theodore Ushakov is up to 3000 people

Saransk Train Station was built in 1940. True, at first it was a small building, so in 2009 a large-scale reconstruction took place. The modern building combines classical architectural and palace styles. The building itself doubled in size and was equipped with modern equipment, and the area in front of the station was expanded and improved.

Now the station building has a comfortable waiting room, sensory guides have appeared, and the entrance area has been adapted for the disabled. For passengers with children there are mother and child rooms, and there are newsstands and a bistro in the waiting room.

Practical information:

• address: Vokzalnaya street, 7;
• official website: http://rzd.ru;
• Opening hours: daily, 24 hours a day;
• the entrance is free.

Train traffic in Saransk began in 1893 and today more than a dozen trains pass through the station in different directions, connecting big cities countries

Cultural entertainment of the Mordovian capital

The cultural attractions of Saransk are museums and theaters, libraries and city squares.

The Russian Drama Theater of Mordovia was opened in 1932. This institution hosts performances based on works of classical literature. Touring theater groups also perform on the theater stage. The Russian Drama Theater was recognized as the best professional and creative team. Every year he becomes a laureate, diploma winner and winner in various theater competitions and festivals. Now productions based on the works of Ostrovsky, Gogol, Coldoni, Gorin, Griboedov, etc. are popular.

I went to see “Dead Souls” here in Penza, and then I watched the same performance in another drama theater. The beauty of classical works is that each time they are perceived in a new way. For example, my first impression of Gogol’s play is a gloomy, utopian atmosphere, pity for the characters and a little irony. The second time, all this “gray” faded into the background, I saw the meaning that was originally inherent in the work. I have been to the Saransk theater, local actors are worthy of their titles, so I visit it sometimes.

Information for tourists:

• address: Sovetskaya street, 60;
• official website: http://grdtrm.ru;
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday (11:30 to 18:30);
• ticket prices depend on the production (average price: 300–400 rubles).

Complete official name Russian Drama Theater: State cultural institution "State Russian Drama Theater of the Republic of Mordovia"

Cultural Center named after Gerard Depardieu

The Gerard Depardieu Center is a cinema complex opened by the French actor in the building of the Rossiya cinema. The cultural site was reconstructed (it took 370 million rubles). The renovated cinema and concert hall has 630 seats, and there are separate rooms: a children's room, a family room and a VIP room. total area cultural center is 3300 m2. Now there are plans to open a children's cafe and restaurant on the territory of the center.

Interesting fact: in 2013, Depardieu received Russian citizenship and registration in Saransk. The actor told reporters that he was going to receive 7 passports from different countries - he positions himself as a citizen of the world. Your journey through different countries and cities, Gerard Depardieu explained that the French government had greatly increased taxes for wealthy citizens. Before his visits to Mordovia, Depardieu lived in Belgium. The actor does not have his own house in Saransk; he is registered in the apartment of his friend.

Information for visitors:

• address: 50th Anniversary of October Avenue, 17 “B”;
• official website: http://kinosaransk.ru;
• Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 0:00;
• Ticket prices depend on the session.

Gerard Depardieu was personally present at the opening of the cultural center

Museum fine arts named after Erzya is not only an exhibition of paintings by Mordovian painters and sculptors, but also a research institution. At first there was a Sychkov art gallery in Saransk, but in 1987 it was reorganized into a museum of fine arts. In 1995, the museum was given its current name.

The museum's collections contain the largest collection of works by S. D. Erzya (200 exhibits). Dmitry Stepanovich is considered one of the most outstanding sculptors of the 20th century. In addition, there are paintings by F.V. Sychkov and I.K. Makarov. All these artists were born and lived in Mordovia. The main art collections date back to the 18th-19th centuries. The museum has 3 branches: the Museum of Mordovian Culture, as well as the house-museums of Erzya and Sychkov.

Information for tourists:

• address: Kommunisticheskaya street, 61;
• official website: http://erzia-museum.ru;
• Opening hours: daily, except Mondays (from 9:00 to 18:00);
• entrance ticket cost: from 100 to 200 rubles (children under 7 years old and schoolchildren under 16 years old - free).

In 2002, the Museum of Fine Arts named after S. D. Erzya was classified by the Government of the Republic of Moldova as one of the most valuable objects cultural heritage Mordovian people

Museum of Mordovian Folk Culture

Museum of Mordovian folk culture was opened in 1999. The exhibition is located in an architectural monument building (built in the 20th century). At first, a branch of the 1st Army of the Eastern Front of the Red Army was located here. Later, at various times, this building housed the Supreme Court, a hospital, the House of Unions, a branch of the Writers' Union, etc.

Now the museum’s exhibition includes items related to Mordovian culture: tools, clothing and household items, icons, paintings, sculptures, photographs, documents, etc. In total, the museum’s collection includes about 4 thousand exhibits. There are several separate exhibitions, which are mainly dedicated to national holidays and rituals (each of them occupies a separate room). In addition, temporary exhibitions are sometimes held here.

Information for tourists:

• address: Sovetskaya street, 19;
• official website: http://erzia/filialy/muzej-mnk;
• Opening hours: daily, except Mondays (from 9:00 to 17:00);
• Entry cost: from 100 to 200 rubles (children under 7 years old and schoolchildren under 16 years old - free).

The Museum of Mordovian Folk Culture is a branch of the Mordovian Republican Museum of Fine Arts. S. D. Erzi

Historical sights of Saransk

The main historical attractions of the capital of Mordovia are monuments and memorial complexes.

The memorial complex to the soldiers of Mordovia is a tribute to the memory of Soviet soldiers, natives of the republic, who fell during the Great Patriotic War. The complex was built and expanded over more than 40 years. In 1970, the center of the memorial was installed - a monument depicting Mother Mordovia and a warrior. Next to the monument there is a granite pylon 18 meters high with an inscription on behalf of the grateful people. The project was developed by architect A. Dushkin and executed by N. Tomsky. In 1985, a monument was erected here, symbolizing a soldier fleeing the shackles of war. Authors: N. Filatov and V. Brodovsky. Also, a Museum of Military and Labor Feat was built near the memorial complex.

In the 21st century, a memorial wall consisting of black slabs and columns and a monument in the form of figures of Soviet prisoners of war from a fascist concentration camp were installed here. Architects R. Kananin and A. Kostin developed a plan for the display of units military equipment. And on the other side of the memorial, the Alexander Nevsky Chapel was built (architect - V. Babakov).

A couple of years ago I visited the museum of this complex. I was impressed not only by the exhibition dedicated to the exploits of the Mordovian people. This was the first time I had ever seen such a building. Firstly, the shape of the building resembles a kokoshnik, and secondly, the facade consists of stripes of orange and black colors - like a St. George’s ribbon. By the way, in one of the halls of the museum there is an exhibition dedicated to Mordovian military personnel who died in hot spots (Afghanistan, Chechnya, etc.). I found this interesting, since usually modern exhibitions are rarely combined with exhibitions related to the Great Patriotic War.

Information for tourists:

• the museum is located at: Sovetskaya Street, 34 “A”, coordinates of the memorial complex: 54°10′49″N 45°10′59″E;
• official website of the museum: http://patriotrm.clan.su;
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (11:00 to 21:00);
• the entrance is free.

On the site of the monument to soldiers who died in the Great Patriotic War, there used to be a monument to A. I. Polezhaev, but it was made of short-lived materials, became dilapidated over time and was dismantled

Monument to the Stratonaut Heroes

The monument to the stratonauts was erected in 1963. It is dedicated to Pavel Fedoseenko, Ilya Uskin and Andrey Vasenko. They flew on a stratospheric balloon in 1934. The flight altitude was 22 km, and when the altitude decreased, the stratospheric balloon broke down and crashed near the Mordovian village of Potizh-Ostrog. The monument was built after an all-Union design competition in 1957. There was a first competition, but it was not possible to erect a monument - the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War prevented it. The project was developed by the architect A. Dushkin and the sculptor A. Pismenny.

It is interesting that relatives of aviators still live on Mordovian soil. Some of them came to the opening of the monument in 1963. Some personal belongings of the stratonauts, documents and photographs were transferred to the local history museum.

Information for tourists:

• the monument is located on the Square of Heroes-Stratonauts;
• exact coordinates: 54°11′45″N 45°11′22″E;
• You can visit the attraction for free and at any time.

Portraits of stratonauts on the pedestal of the monument: from left to right - P. Fedoseenko, I. Usyskin, A. Vasenko

The monument to the builders of the Saransk fortress was erected in 1982. It is a sculptural composition in the form of a stone with an image of 5 heroic builders carved on it. The author of the project is sculptor V. P. Kozin.

Previously, there was a watchtower on this site. This tower was used as a guide when creating the fortress rampart. Neither the tower nor the rampart survived until the 20th century, which is why the idea arose to designate this place as a monument. I have seen similar objects in different cities. For example, in Penza the fortress also did not survive, since it was wooden and was built late, so it quickly lost its military significance. The place where the outpost was located is marked from different sides: on the southern side - an artificial rampart and a cannon, on the western side - outpost pillars, etc.

Information for tourists:

• the monument is located near Fountain Descent (Moskovskaya Street);
• exact coordinates: 54°10′46″N 45°11′02″E;
• You can explore the attraction at any time and for free.

The military fortress was the south-eastern outpost of Russia, and Saransk, formed on a hill between wetlands (“sara” in Finno-Ugric languages ​​means “swampy”), until the 18th century remained an important outpost holding back the raids of nomads

Natural monuments of the Mordovian capital

The most beautiful natural places Saransk is considered to have city parks, beaches, squares and botanical gardens.

Botanical Garden named after Rzhavitin

The Botanical Garden named after V.N. Rzhavitin was created in 1960. The object belongs to Mordovsky state university named after N.P. Ogarev (Faculty of Biology), but it was opened by Professor Rzhavitin.

The area of ​​the botanical garden is 35.1 hectares. More than 1,700 species of local Mordovian flora grow here. Particularly noteworthy are the garden compositions - alpine slides, flower beds, etc. The rarest species: weigela, spery, Manchurian walnut, Maas bird cherry, Amur velvet, cork, etc.

Information for tourists:

• garden address: r. Lukhovka-1 village, Michurina street (3 km from Saransk);
• It’s convenient to get there by buses No. 7, 109, 110 or by minibus No. 14 to the Avtoremzavod stop;
• official garden: http://bio.mrsu.ru;
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday - from 09:00 to 16:00 (from May to October);
• visiting is free, but by appointment.

The structure of the garden has 4 departments: the floriculture department, the dendrological department, the flora and vegetation department, as well as the practical implementation department

Pushkin Park

Pushkinsky Park in Saransk was opened in 1935. This was the first city park in the republic; before that there was only the Pushkin Garden. There are several sculptures in the park (including monuments to Pushkin and Lenin). art objects (reconciliation bench, topiary, etc.) and many attractions. There are also several fast food outlets, cinemas (5D, 7D, etc.) and a planetarium in the park. During the holidays, special events are held here, which anyone can attend.

Historical information: the first city garden was mentioned back in 1870. There was no equipment or buildings there. Only trees grew on an area of ​​about 2 acres. The city garden was named after the famous Russian poet in 1899, and a bust of Pushkin was placed in the center of the garden (this was a gift from Vladimir Lilienfeld, the chairman of the zemstvo government). A summer theater and cinema were also built here (but it burned down in 1929).

Information for tourists:

• address: Krasnoarmeyskaya street, 12;
• official website: http://parkisaranska.ru;
• Entrance to the park is free, visiting attractions starts from 50 rubles.

In 2009, the Park of Culture and Leisure named after A. S. Pushkin was awarded a diploma in the category “ The best place recreation and entertainment"

Pond at the Start stadium

The pond at Start Stadium is a body of water that is used for catamaran and boat riding. However, locals come here for their summer holidays. On the shore of the reservoir there is a well-maintained beach with changing cabins and dry closets. The beach has a lifeguard booth, a small children's area and kiosks with ice cream and drinks. There is also a rental of sports and swimming equipment on the beach. During the warm season, open air parties and discos are held on the beach. Lovers active rest can find an equipped beach volleyball field.

The stadium was built in 2004 as a multifunctional sports complex. In addition to the beach, there is football fields(with natural and artificial turf), running tracks, an arena for athletics, tennis courts and a gym. “Start” is considered the largest stadium in Mordovia, its capacity is almost 12 thousand people.

I was on this beach once. True, I was not able to swim, since it was spring and the water was still cold. While my management was talking with the stadium workers, several of my colleagues and I decided to look around. At first we decided that this pond was created for beauty, to create atmosphere and the scale of the stadium. When we were already leaving, the stadium workers told us that special treatment facilities had been laid along the bottom of the reservoir, so the water was safe for swimming.

Information for tourists:

• stadium address: Moskovskaya street, 12;
• official website: http://startrm.ru;
• Opening hours: daily from 7:00 to 22:00;
• the entrance is free.

On holidays, the Start stadium also becomes a venue for special events and theatrical performances.

What season is best to come?

Temples, monuments and parks of Saransk are good at any time of the year. There are also seasonal attractions in the capital of Mordovia. These are national and folk holidays.

"Sabantuy"

“Sabantuy” is a republican Tatar holiday dedicated to the end of spring field work. The holiday takes place outdoors. The “Sabantuya” program includes: awards for the best agricultural workers, sports competitions, attractions, national Tatar cuisine, live music, etc. Participants in competitions and competitions receive the titles of strongmen, live sheep and other valuable gifts.

Usually, honored guests (governor, mayor, etc.) come to Sabantui. Residents from neighboring villages and regions come here. You can attend such an event with your children, since it takes place during daylight hours and no alcohol is sold at the festival.

Information for tourists:

• location of the holiday: Lyambir village, Lenin Square;
• It’s convenient to get there by minibus No. 103 (from the stop opposite the Virazh auto store);
• time: third ten days of June;
• There is no need to pay for entry to Sabantui.

Video: how Sabantuy is celebrated in Mordovia

Entertainment for children

Children's attractions in Saransk include a puppet theater, amusement parks, sports complexes and zoos.

Republican Puppet Theater

The Mordovia Puppet Theater was created in 1938. At first, the theater group worked only as a touring group. In 1970, the main director of the theater V. Kazachenko staged the first performance intended for viewing by adults. A few years later, the team was given a permanent building, where the puppet theater is still located. The auditorium accommodates 180 spectators, and on its stage you can watch performances based on classic fairy tales (Mordovian folklore).

The puppet theater performs not only in its premises. The team is still actively touring (often in Mordovia, Moscow, Penza and Nizhny Novgorod regions). In addition, the institution’s staff often participates in festivals and city celebrations.

Information for tourists:

• address: Volodarskogo street, 90 “A”;
• official website: http://gtkrm.ru; Since 1969, Honored Artist has worked at the theater Russian Federation, People's Artist of the Republic of Mordovia Vladimir Ivanovich Sidorin

  Ski and biathlon complex

  The Saransk ski and biathlon complex was built in 2007, and in 2013 it was reconstructed. Ski and biathlon tracks can be used both in winter (skis, snow scooters, etc.) and in summer (roller skis, roller skates, bicycles, etc.). Length ski slope- more than 2.5 km (at night, the route is illuminated). All points of the complex are equipped with chronometers and other measuring instruments. There is also a shooting range here (you can shoot from bows and crossbows, everything you need can be rented).

  The complex has 1,200 seats, a gym, a buffet, etc. You can prepare your own equipment and rental equipment in a special room; there are storage lockers. If you want to stay overnight in the complex, or your child needs a rest, then a hotel and a dining room have been built here for this purpose. And the parents of a young tourist can sign up for a sauna (in winter) or rent a gazebo in nature (in summer).

  The ski and biathlon complex of Mordovia has hosted competitions on an all-Russian scale several times: the Russian Summer Biathlon Championship, and in 2008 the final of the first winter Russian Youth Spartakiad

  Saransk Zoo

  The Saransk City Zoo was created in 2001. The initiative to create it belonged to Ivan Nenyukov (mayor of the city) and Yuri Filev. At first it was a small exhibition of animals with small animals for contact communication. Later, large animals also appeared here. Now the zoo is a favorite vacation spot for city residents; up to 80 thousand people visit it annually, almost half of whom are children.

  Now the zoo is home to 120 species of animals (more than 500 animals and birds). More than 40 species living here are listed in the Red Books of the Republic and Russia. More than half of the species belong only to the Mordovian fauna. Peacocks, pumas, tigers, monkeys, bears, camels, etc. are very popular. In addition to the stationary exhibition, the zoo sometimes organizes visiting exhibitions in neighboring villages. There are also themed events dedicated to various holidays(Children's Day, Elderly Person's Day, etc.).

  Information for tourists:

  • address: Pervomaiskaya street, 6;
  • official website: http://zoo13.ru;
  • Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 17:00;
  • Entry cost: up to 160 rubles.

  Video: a walk through the Saransk Zoo

  How long does it take to look around the city?

  You can see the main attractions of Saransk in 1–2 days. If you did not have time to do this during the day, then you will need a place to stay for the night. There are many hotels in Saransk, and prices here are much lower than in Moscow, so finding a suitable place will not be difficult.

  What else to see

  If you have a little time left, visit 1 more place - “Fox Bridge”.

  "Fox Bridge"

  “Fox Bridge” is a park ensemble opened in 2009. It is a small bridge with metal openwork railings and a sculpture in the center of the ensemble. This is a figure of a fox, the prototype of which was the fox from the coat of arms of Saransk (the coat of arms was approved by Catherine II in 1781).

  The facility quickly became popular with local residents. There is even a sign - if you rub the nose of a fox, good luck will come. But the townspeople especially like the fortune balls installed on small pillars on both sides of the bridge. To get a prediction, you just need to spin the balls. People come here in couples or entire families; newlyweds arrange photo sessions here.

  Information for tourists:

  • “Fox Bridge” is located next to the S. D. Erzya Museum;
  • exact coordinates: 54°11’5″N 45°10’43″E;
  • You can come to the bridge at any time and for free.
  
  "Fox Bridge" in a short time became popular place residents of Saransk and guests of the capital of Mordovia (many want to believe in miracles, in a better life, success in business and in fulfillment cherished desires)

  Here are some tips for staying in the Mordovian capital:

• If you are going to travel outside the city, then keep in mind that the bus station is located far from the train station.
• It is not necessary to have a lot of cash with you; prices in Saransk are low. Moreover, almost all stores accept cards.
• Select a convenient roaming tariff in advance. You don’t have to change the SIM card, but you can connect some options. In Mordovia there are all the same operators as in Moscow.
• Prepare before your trip tourist map.
  Before your trip, save a tourist map of Mordovia, which shows the attractions of Saransk and its surroundings

The most interesting sights of Mordovia are located in the city of Saransk: museums, parks, churches, a monastery and much more. Of the natural attractions of Mordovia, the most striking are beautiful lake Inerka, nature reserve named after Smidovich and national park"Smolny".

Lake Inerka

The Republic of Mordovia is located 330 km from Moscow (MKAD). Why is she interesting? Despite its proximity to Moscow, many people confuse it with Moldova or have heard very little about it.

The center of Mordovian life is the city of Saransk, the capital of the Republic of Mordovia. Here is the center of culture, entertainment and everything else. Saransk is a city of republican significance. Citizens flock here from all over Mordovia for some more specific problem: medical examination, receiving government services, etc.

About 315 thousand people live in Saransk. In second place in terms of population and importance is the city of Ruzaevka - with a population of about 46 thousand people. In third place is the city of Kovylkino with a population of 20 thousand inhabitants. Next come the urban-type settlement of Komsomolsky - 13 thousand people and the working settlement of Zubova Polyana - 10 thousand people.

There are 7 cities in Mordovia: in addition to Saransk, Ruzaevka and Kovylkino, these are Krasnoslobodsk, Ardatov, Insar and Temnikov. The city of Temnikov is considered the oldest and smallest. Its population is only 6.3 thousand people, its foundation date is 1536.

The entire population of the republic is less than 1 million - approximately 800 thousand people. Russians, Mordovians and Tatars live in Mordovia. Mordovians are divided into three nationalities: Moksha, Erzya and Shoksha.

Natural objects of Mordovia

The largest lakes in Mordovia are:

• Inerka- the largest lake in the Republic. Translated from Mordovian “Inerka” means “Great Lake”. Its length is 3.35 km, width - 80-150 meters, maximum depth - 11.5 meters.
• Imerka- the most deep lake Mordovia, located on the territory of the Zubovo-Polyansky district.

The rivers of Mordovia are flat and calm. The main rivers are Moksha and Sura.

Map of Mordovia

M5 highway

Passes through Mordovia federal highway M5 Moscow-Chelyabinsk. Driving along the highway after Moskovskaya and Ryazan region Mordovia begins. The furthest to Moscow and the most large area Mordovia - Zubovo-Polyansky.

After entering the territory of Mordovia, the famous village of Umet will be on the highway. It is famous for the abundance of tiny cafes along the highway (more than 200 of them) and the strong smoke and smell from the kebabs. The names of the cafes are varied, the most famous of them is Mordonald's.

Umet

The main target audience of local catering is truckers, but there are also simply hungry people passing by. When stopping at the Umeta cafe, remember that everything here is simple, for an undemanding client: a wooden toilet on the street, simple dishes, unpretentious home-cooked food.

The entire village of Umet, numbering 2.7 thousand people, works in public catering.

Sights of Mordovia

Camps

Mordovia is famous for its prisons; Dubravlag or ZH-385, part of the Gulag system, was built here at the end of the 20s of the last century. This is not something to be proud of, but it is a sad fact. The camps are located among the forests of the western part of Mordovia in the Zubovo-Polyansky region, now there are more than 30 of them.

The center of this largest state. The institution is the village of Yavas, previously called 36 kilometer and Zavodskoy. Therefore, the Mordovian zone is often called Java.

During Soviet times, there was a special camp for political prisoners here. Now among the correctional colonies (IK) there is the only zone in Russia for foreigners. There is also a zone for those sentenced to life and women’s camps. By the way, modern political prisoners were imprisoned here again: Yukos lawyer Svetlana Bakhmina, Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova.

Saransk

Most of the attractions of Mordovia are concentrated in Saransk. - these are museums and monuments, theaters and cinemas, parks, a zoo, attractions, nightclubs, restaurants, shopping centers and other pleasures. If you find yourself in Mordovia, in order not to get bored and buy, be sure to come to Saransk.

Fountain Star of Mordovia on Millennium Square

The city makes a favorable impression. There are many squares, beautiful modern ones and embankments. Despite a large number of factories, it does not give the depressing impression of an industrial city. Saransk is an oasis of civilization among the endless forests, fields, swamps and small settlements of Mordovia.

In addition, Saransk is an ancient fortress city, founded in 1641. Stepan Razin’s troops and Emelyan Pugachev himself visited it. It's always interesting when a city has some history.

Saransk is the smallest Russian city, which hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup. For this event, the Mordovia Arena stadium was built in the shape of a sun, with a maximum capacity of approximately 44 thousand people.

Ruzaevka

Railway station in Ruzaevka

Ruzaevka is the second city after Saransk in terms of population in Mordovia. After the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Ruzaevka has changed for the better. The railway station was renovated, street improvement work was carried out, and main roads were repaired. And also the bus station has finally been put in order and, most importantly, the railway station has been reconstructed pedestrian bridge.

What pleases passengers of the Ruzaevka station is that the railway station and bus station are located in the same place. The truth is separated by a pedestrian bridge over by rail. Now it has become covered and beautiful instead of the still quite new, but shabby and broken-down bridge.

The bridge now has elevators on each side. No more carrying heavy bags up onto the bridge and then down. Walking across the new glass bridge, I just want to say: thank you, World Cup. If it weren’t for you, passengers would still be suffering dragging their luggage across the bridge.

In 2011, a monument to the railway workers of Ruzaevka - the Lebyadyanka freight locomotive - was erected on Station Square. The locomotive was built in 1954 and was used for most of its life on the Penza-Ruzaevka and Ruzaevka-Krasny Uzel sections. Nearby are bronze figures of a railway worker and his son.

From the Ruzaevka bus station to the Saransk bus station - 27 km.

Sights of Ruzaevka

Locomotive Depot Museum

Ruzaevka is not rich in interesting or beautiful places. The city of railway workers can offer as cultural leisure— locomotive depot museum. It is located at: st. Revolutions of 1905, building 7.

Trinity Cathedral

The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Ruzaevka with 16 golden domes was founded in 2009. Built in 2012 with funds from the Ruzaevsky Glass Factory and donations from believers at the address: st. Karl Marx, house 61. The construction of the temple was timed to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the unity of the Mordovian people with the peoples of Russia.

The temple is huge, 40 meters high, there is a library and a Sunday school, a refectory and an assembly hall, and the Ruzaev diocese is located here. It is divided into upper and lower temples. It is located at the entrance to the city from Saransk on the highest place.

Near Ruzaevka there is the village of Paygarma, in which there is an ancient women's Paraskeva-Voznesensky monastery. The monastery is active.

Temnikov

The city of Temnikov is located on the Moksha River and is surrounded by pine forests. Here is the relict pine grove Emashevskaya on the shore of Lake Vyakchisheva.

The city of Temnikov is primarily famous for the ancient Sanaksar monastery, where the grave and relics of Admiral Fyodor Ushakov are located. The Temnikovsky Museum of History and Local Lore and the House-Museum of the composer L. I. Voinov are also located here.

The decoration of Temnikov is the ancient Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1827). It was built in honor of the Temnikov militia of 1812.

A few kilometers from the city of Temnikov there is the beautiful ancient Nativity of the Theotokos Sanaksar Monastery. It is located on the banks of the Moksha River and was founded in 1659.

The name of the monastery is associated with the personality of Admiral Ushakov, a famous Russian naval commander. He spent the rest of his life on his estate in the village of Alekseevka near the city of Temnikov. Now nothing remains of the estate.

The famous admiral was buried in the Sanaksar monastery. In 2001 he was canonized by the church as a saint in the face of the righteous. And now the monastery houses not only the grave of the great military leader, but also the relics of the saint.

The remains of Fyodor Fedorovich Ushakov travel from time to time throughout Russia as holy relics for ceremonial church events with the participation of military personnel and sailors.

It is noteworthy that the uncle of Admiral Ivan Ignatovich Ushakov, after tonsure, Theodore of Sanaksar, was the governor of the Sanaksar monastery (1764-1774), died and was buried here. In 1999, the church canonized him as a saint, but only locally venerated by the Saransk diocese.

Krasnoslobodsk

Passing through the city of Krasnoslobodsk, you will not confuse it with anything. A notable landmark of Krasnoslobodsk is the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. It is located at the crossroads of the main roads and rises 35 meters above the houses.

The sight of such a tall, pompous temple with dazzling gilded domes against the background of dull standard houses causes dissonance. It absolutely does not fit into the local landscape and once again emphasizes the pathos and greatness of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Chamza district

The Chamzinsky district of the Republic of Mordovia cannot boast of any attractions, despite the fact that the villages of Komsomolsky and Chamzinka are located here. They are large settlements Republic. In Komsomolskoye there are large factories “Mordovcement” and “Lato”.

There are no large lakes or rivers in the Chamza region; the only natural attraction is Bald Mountain, located next to Alekseevka.

You can also note the beautiful ancient church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the village of Makolovo.

Torbeevo

The village of Torbeevo with a population of 9 thousand people is located on the M-5 highway between Zubovaya Polyana and Krasnoslobodsk. Torbeevo was glorified throughout the world by a man who managed to escape from a German concentration camp - fighter pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union Mikhail Devyatayev. He was born in Torbeevo, now in his homeland there is a house-museum dedicated to the pilot’s feat.

Website: mrkm.ru Address: st. Oktyabrskaya, 29 Price: 50 rubles, schoolchildren, students - 20 rubles, children from 5 to 7 years old - 15 rubles.

The museum was opened on May 8, 1975. It consists of two parts: ethnographic and dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. Here are Devyatayev’s personal belongings, documents, photographs, awards, as well as items from the Sachsenhausen concentration camp: a prisoner’s striped robe, wooden shoes, a whip and others.

Today we present to you an article on the topic: “Mordovia attractions” with full description where to go and what to see. We also offer interesting comments from travelers.

Sights of Mordovia - overview and photos of interesting places

Mordovia is a republic within the Russian Federation, belonging to the Volga region and located in the western part of this region. The capital of this Volga republic is the city of Saransk. Its history as an independent region began in 1930, when the Mordovian Autonomous Region was formed. Four years later, the autonomous region received the status of a republic within the RSFSR.

According to the nature of the relief, the republic can be divided into two parts: its western part is located on the Oka-Don Plain, and the eastern, more extensive part is on the Volga Upland. From the northwest to the southeast of the region, the natural zones also change - the zone of coniferous-deciduous forests gradually turns into the forest-steppe zone.

Mordovia has many cultural, historical and sports attractions, as well as unique natural monuments of interest to guests of the republic.

This museum, located in the capital of Mordovia, is considered the oldest cultural institution on its territory. It was created in 1918 through the efforts of about a hundred local historians, who spent years collecting exhibits for it. In 2001, the museum officially became one of the institutions with the greatest cultural value in the republic. Another 4 years later, he was given the name of Ivan Dmitrievich Voronov, a local historian who distinguished local history as an independent science, literary critic and writer.

The museum has a historical exhibition, a department modern history and exhibits telling about the nature of the region. The total number of its exhibits exceeds 200 000 . Here you can get acquainted with valuable books, collections of coins, ancient weapons, and also see stuffed animals of different species.

This wonderful museum is located in Saransk. It exhibits the world's largest collection of works by the famous sculptor Erzya. Also in the museum you can contemplate the works of artists Sychkov and Makarov. These three cultural figures are natives of Mordovia.

The museum has an art salon where you can not only view, but also buy your favorite works of painting and sculpture by contemporary authors.

The museum is located on Victory Square in Saransk. It was opened for the 50th anniversary of the Great Victory. The area on which it is located is memorial Complex. The granite slabs on the facade of the museum are designed in the form of a St. George ribbon, and the roof is stylized as a Russian kokoshnik.

The locomotive depot museum is located in Ruzaevka, a large railway junction and one of the main centers of railway transport in Russia. At the entrance to the museum there are two soldiers with guns, as was the case at the beginning of the twentieth century. Visitors to the museum have an excellent opportunity to learn the history of the legendary steam locomotive "Cuckoo", which is considered a symbol of Ruzaevka, as well as about the local depot and railway transport of the beginning of the last century.

The Mordovian State National Drama Theater is located in the capital of the republic. In addition to classical performances, here you can see productions by Mordovian playwrights, which are staged in the Mordovian languages ​​(Erzyan and Moksha) with simultaneous translations into Russian. Theater actors actively tour the territory of the republic and neighboring regions where Mordovians live.

The theater has existed since 1889. Then it was organized by graduates of the Shchepkinsky Theater School who returned to their small homeland and were given an ancient house at their disposal. Since 2007, the theater has been located in a new building.

One of the attractions of Saransk is the musical theater. It hosts classical music concerts, operas, operettas, comedy musical and ballet performances. The theater opened in 1935. By the beginning of the 75th season, the theater was allocated a new building. Its auditorium began to accommodate more than 700 people. In terms of its acoustic characteristics, this hall is one of the best in Russia. Then, in 2011, it was named after the Mordovian singer I.M. Yausheva.

The cathedral was built in Saransk in 2006. It was consecrated by Patriarch Alexy II. The cathedral building was erected in the Empire style, and the dome is made in the neo-Byzantine style. The temple rises 62 meters from ground level. It has 4 bell towers, each of which has 3 bells made in Tutaev using ancient technologies. The cathedral can be visited by more than 3,000 people at the same time.

The Church of St. John the Evangelist in Saransk was erected in 1693 on the site where there had previously been an old wooden church.

At the end of the 30s, the temple was closed and the NKVD archive was placed here. In 1944, the church was reopened to parishioners. For a long time it was the only functioning church in the city. Since 1960, the temple has been included in the number architectural monuments federal significance.

The monastery is located on the territory of the Ruzaevsky district in the village of Paygarma. In 1865, an icon of the martyr Paraskeva was discovered on the territory of a rural church, and in connection with this significant event, it was decided to build a monastery here, which would bear the name of the saint. The territory of the monastery covers an area of ​​about 11 hectares. Its temples, chapels and bell towers were built in different architectural styles, and in general architectural complex The monastery looks very harmonious. The monastery is regularly visited by many pilgrims seeking spiritual growth and searching for their true path.

The Sanaksar Monastery is located near the town of Temnikov on the banks of the Moksha River, surrounded by a pine forest. Its history began in 1659. The most revered shrines of the monastery are the relics of the saints St. Theodore, the righteous warrior Theodore (Ushakov), St. Alexander the Confessor, as well as the icon of the Mother of God. Pilgrims from all over Russia come to touch its shrines.

This is the main national library of Mordovia. It began its existence in 1899, when a library-reading room was created through the joint efforts of the intelligentsia of Saransk. Her visit was absolutely free.

At first there were very few books in it, but through donations its fund gradually increased. In 1939, the library became a republican library and a separate building was allocated for it. In 1970 it was moved to a new building, where it is still located.

Recently, a 9-story building was added to it, which made it possible to increase the size of the library several times. Among its many divisions there is a department entirely dedicated to the work of literary figures of Mordovia. The institution has established close contacts with other libraries of the Finno-Ugric peoples, including those located in foreign countries.

The reserve is located on the right bank of the Moksha River. Almost its entire territory is covered predominantly pine forests. The age of the pines growing here is estimated at 300-350 years. There are also mixed forests where pine, birch, linden and oak trees grow. In river valleys you can find spruce forests.

Lake Inerka is located near the regional center of Bolshiye Berezniki in the valley of the Sura River. This is one of the most beautiful and largest lakes in Mordovia (56 square kilometers). Its banks are covered with coniferous-deciduous and birch forests.

Tourists like to pitch their tents on the shores of the lake. Here good places for fishing, and in the coastal forests you can pick mushrooms and berries. In addition, off-road rallies are held annually near the lake.

This amazing park is located in the Leninsky district of Saransk. In the park you can stroll along picturesque alleys, cross the streams flowing through its territory, climb wooden bridges with railings made by masters of artistic forging, and relax in gazebos covered with green ivy. Everywhere there are sculptures of heroes from fairy tales by A.S. Pushkin. The park has a variety of attractions and is home to the country's largest zoo. This favorite place It is a place of recreation for residents of Saransk; both adults and children love to visit it.

The legendary instigator of the peasant uprising visited Saransk in the early summer of 1774. He spent only a few days in these places, during which he managed to execute many representatives of the nobility and clergy who displeased him and publish a manifesto on freedom for the serfs.

In memory of those events, a monument to Pugachev was erected in Saransk. The tent of the leader of the peasant war, which is an ancient house made of stone, was also preserved.

This is the largest sports facility in Mordovia, which trains athletes of all levels in many sports. The sports complex has been open since 2004.

The Saransk Sports Palace hosts sports competitions from the city to the All-Russian level. Competitions take place here aquatic species sports, different types wrestling, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, basketball and volleyball.