Novocheboksarsk

Nine cities and towns are situated on the territory of the Chuvash Republic. Each of them has its own look and history. Some of them are centuries old, others are very young. Novocheboksarsk is the youngest of 9 cities and towns in Chuvashia.

Novocheboksarsk was founded in November 1960. It appeared and developed thanks to the chemical enterprise Khimprom. The city is situated on the right bank of the Volga, 15km away from Cheboksary.

The economic-geographical situations of these two cities have much in common: they have one construction and energetic base, water purification and supplying system, the same methods of transport. Nowadays there is close cooperation in economic and social-cultural spheres.

Novocheboksarsk has a very favourable geographical and transport location: an automobile highway crosses the Volga and goes to Ioshkar-Ola and Kazan. Novocheboksarsk takes the second place in Chuvashia in the economical potential and population (126,000 people). It is a big industrial and cultural centre of the republic. The city occupies the territory of 51 square km. The city plan is very simple: there are 3 districts in the western part of the town and the industrial area is located in its eastern part. There is also a beautiful Yelnikovskaya grove taking 190hectares on the territory of the city.

The Coat of Arms of Novocheboksarsk was designed by V. A. Shipunov in 2005. Three ducks with green oak branches in their beaks are depicted on it.

More than 200 enterprises of all forms of ownership make up the industrial potential of Novocheboksarsk. It is called a city of chemists, power engineers and construction workers.

The Cheboksary hydroelectric power station was built in 1980s. It produces electricity for the republic and neighbouring regions. It is also used as a bridge to the other bank of the Volga.

The Khimprom employs more than 6000 people. It is one of the biggest suppliers of chemical articles not only in Russia, but abroad as well. It cooperates with enterprises of the USA, Hungary, Latvia, India, and Great Britain. It has business partners in 38 countries. About 300 types of chemical substances are produced there.

The most actual problem of the city is ecological and is connected with air and water pollution because of the chemical and electric power enterprises which are situated there.

One of the priority trends in the work of city authorities is the development of social infrastructure. The educational system includes 44 kindergartens, 20 secondary schools, an evening secondary education school, a chemical- mechanical college, 3 vocational technical schools, a branch of the Chuvash State University, a branch of Kamsk Institute of Physical Training, music and art schools, and a branch of the Art Museum.

The unique sporting facilities include 4 children-youth sporting schools, a school for Olympic reserve, 14 swimming-pools. In the centre of the city you can see one of the largest sport complexes of Russia.

Not long ago in 1990s the only church in the city, the Cathedral of the Saint Grand Prince Vladimir, was built. Situated in the town centre, it forms a part of the architectural complex which also includes Cathedral Square with a fountain, a colonnade with arches and a monument to Prince Vladimir. The fountain is made to commemorate 13 villages on the place of which the town is built. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church Alexei II visited Novocheboksarsk twice. In 1996 he sanctified the cathedral. In 2001 he came to congratulate citizens with the holiday of the Icon of Our Lady of Vladimir.

In Novocheboksarsk tourists can visit the Museum of Local Lore, the City History Museum, and the Hall of Military Glory. The Art Museum is constantly exhibiting works by Chuvash, Russian and foreign artists.

The city also attracts tourists by its straight streets and high buildings, cozy playgrounds, public gardens and green avenues.

ALATYR

There are 9 cities and towns on the territory of the Chuvash Republic. The most ancient of them are Alatyr, Tsivilsk, Mariinsky Posad, and Yadrin.

Alatyr is situated in the south-western part of the republic, on the border with the Republic of Mordovia and the Ulyanovsk Region. Its population is 46,200 people.

Alatyr was founded in 1552 at the time of Ivan the Terrible’s conquest of Kazan. First it was a fortress. In the 18^th century it lost its military importance and became an administrative and trade centre.

At different times Alatyr had different nicknames: the military stone, the sad stone and the white stone as there were many white buildings which reflected in the water and people thought that the town stood on a big cloud.

Today Alatyr is a quaint combination of modernity and tradition.

120 monuments of architecture are protected by state. The town is famous for its 18 churches and cathedrals. The most ancient of the monasteries is the Holy Trinity Monastery and the Kiev-Nicolas New Virgin Convent. The Holy Trinity Monastery was founded in 1584. From 1996 it began functioning again. Since the mid 18^th century the monastery has been visited by many pilgrims from all parts of Russia. Its most famous inhabitant was monk Vassian, who lived there in the 17^th century. He was famous for his holiness and miracle which took place in the monastery after his death. According to a legend the water of the holy well of Monk Vassian and his relics can be helpful for ill people. In July 2001 the monastery was visited by Alexei II who held there a divine service.

The Cathedral of Ioann the Precursor has a status of the federal historical monument. It was founded in 1553 and is one of the oldest churches in the town. It has 5 domes. The 4 columns at the front door symbolize the 4^th of August, Alatyr's foundation date.

There are a number of significant historical and cultural monuments of the 17^th -19^th centuries in Alatyr, which are of great interest.

Alatyr is included into the Federal programme Revival, construction, reconstruction and restoration of historical small and medium-sized towns of Russia.

All this favourably influences further development of tourism business in this town.