Russia is a multinational state. Representatives of different nationalities have their own history and culture. The Kul-Sharif Mosque is of great historical and cultural importance for the history of Tatarstan. It is the central attraction of Kazan and attracts tourists with its magnificent view.
The history of the construction of the Kul Sharif mosque
The Kul-Sharif Mosque is the central attraction of the Kazan Kremlin. It is located at: Kazan, st. Kremlin, 13. The history of the mosque is quite tragic. It began in the 16th century, during the Kazan campaign of Ivan the Terrible. The ancient mosque was a structure with many towers and minarets, which during the conquest of Kazan became a fortress that guarded the entire population of the city. As a result of the conquest, the mosque was destroyed and burned. For a long time she did not recover.
The new life of the Kul-Sharif mosque began in 1995, when the President of the Republic of Tatarstan signed a decree on the reconstruction of the temple. The construction took 10 years. As a result, Kazan received the long-awaited symbol of the city - Kul-Sharif. The mosque got its name in honor of its defender Sharifkul, who died during the conquest of Kazan. The temple has become a major attraction listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Description
The site for the construction of the mosque was the courtyard of the Junker School, which separates Kul-Sharif from the Kremlin wall. The temple is installed in such a way that the minarets seem to rise above the entire territory of the Kremlin. The building is completely symmetrical. On the sides of the temple there are pavilions - "mausoleums", which complement the image of the memorial.
The main dome of the mosque is the "Kazan cap" - the headdress of the Kazan khans. Kul Sharif can accommodate up to 10 thousand people in the square in front of the building. The interior of the temple is decorated with white and blue marble and granite. The stained-glass windows and window openings use a tulip motif and traditional Arabic script.
Kul Sharif has five floors. Three ground floors are available for visiting. They have balconies for excursions, a museum of Islam, a library and a prayer hall. The room is decorated with painting, woodcarving, shades of blue, blue and white. A huge Bohemian crystal chandelier is installed in the center.
Tours
When traveling to Kazan, first of all, you must visit the Kazan Kremlin and the symbol of the city - the Kul-Sharif mosque. Excursions to Kazan are held at any time of the year. They can be both group and individual. You can order tickets and the tour scheme on the official website of the Kazan Kremlin. The guide will tell you about the history of the construction of the mosque, its architectural features.
Opening hours: from 9.00 to 19.30. The mosque closes for 1.5 hours on Friday during namaz. Kul Sharif is a functioning mosque, admission is free. Before entering, you must remove your shoes and cover your head. The entrance to the Museum of Islamic Culture, located on the ground floor of the mosque, is paid.
The Kul-Sharif Mosque is a religious monument in Kazan, a symbol of the combination of Orthodox and Muslim traditions.
