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Saratov Saratov History in Dates
The official date of the town’s foundation is the 2d of July, 1590. According to one of the versions the name of the town originates from the combination of the Tatar-Mongolian words “sary” (“yellow”) and “tau” (“mountain”). This could be the name of Sokolovaya Mountain, yellow by colour. |
During the history the town was moved from one site to another more than once.The settlement founded on the Volga above the present Saratov was burnt down completely in the winter of 1613-1614. In 1617 Saratov was rebuilt, this time on the left bank of the Volga. It was a fortress surrounded by a wooden wall and encircled by an earth mound.
On 15 August, 1670 Stepan Razin with his army marched in Saratov. He was welcomed by the citizens of the town. From that moment until July 1671 Saratov was one of the centres of the Peasant War in the Lower Volga Region.
In 1674 construction of Saratov on the right bank of the Volga began. Its centre was located in the present Museum Square. Saratov boarders ran alongside the present Oktyabrskaya and Valovaya Streets. At the intersection of the present Moscovskaya and Oktyabrskaya Streets there were the gates at which started the highway leading to Moscow.
On 6th March, 1700 Peter the Great granted the lands surrounding Saratov to the town.
In 1764 Catherine the Great signed the manifest inviting foreign citizens to live in Russia. After that foreigners (mainly Germans) started arriving to settle in Saratov and its suburbs.
In 1774 the Volga Region was in peasant revolt under the direction of Yemelyan Pougatchev. On 6 October, 1774 the army of 5000 people headed by Pougatchev marched in Saratov. They met little resistance. The majority of Saratov citizens and the garrison effectives swore allegiance to him. Many of them joined his army. Two days later the army marched to Tsaritsyn Town.
On 11 January, 1780 Catherine the Great issued the edict instituting Saratov government. In 1781 Saratov coat of arms was instituted – three starlets on a blue background symbolizing the abundance of this kind of fish in the region.
In 1810 a new layout of the town was approved. After that construction began developing at the site of the present Tchernyshevsky Square. In 1815 the foundations of Alexander-Nevsky Cathedral were laid at the site to commemorate the victory of Russian army over Napoleon’s army. Gradually it was becoming the second centre of the town. There appeared Lipki Park, the construction of Nemetskaya Street began (the present Prospect Kirova). The first residents of Nemetskaya Street were mainly German colonists and French captives. Alexander-Nevsky Cathedral was destroyed in 1938, now there is the Dynamo Stadium in its place.
The end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century in Saratov were remarkable for its cultural achievements. In 1891 Saratov brothers Nikitins founded the first National Circus in Russia. In 1885 the first public museum in Russia was opened. In 1891 was opened the first public theatre (now there is the Drama Theatre in its place). In 1912 the first provincial conservatoire of music was opened (the 3d one in Russia).
The Famous Sights of Saratov
The Cosmonauts Quay
The total length of the quay is about 1,5 kilometres. Originally the site was occupied with buildings and constructions associated with trading life of the town – port terminals, warehouses, shops … Above them was Millionnaya Street comprised of dwelling houses and numerous public houses. In 1950-s construction of the quay began and the Cosmonauts Quay replaced Millionnaya Street.
Saratov Regional Museum of Local Lore, History and Economy
In 1780-s one of the richest Saratov merchants M. Ustinov built two detached houses. In 1810-s they were reconstructed and architecturally designed as one building. It was designed by St. Petersburg architect I. Kolodin who had assisted the famous architect A. Voronikhin in constructing Kazansky Cathedral in St. Petersburg. In 1829 the building was sold for the needs of the theological seminary. Since 1930 the regional museum of local lore, history and economy has been located in this building. In 1931 the name Starosobornaya Square was altered to Museum Square.
Troitsky Cathedral
The Cathedral was founded by streletses in 1695; its final decorating was completed in 1723. Between 1814 and 1823 a covered arcade and a refectory were built on to the Cathedral. The Cathedral was built in the style of Russian architecture of the 16th – early 17th centuries (so-called “Moscow” or “Naryshkin” Baroque). In June 1695 Peter the Great visited the Cathedral during his three-day stay in Saratov. There is a wonder-working icon “Spas Nerukotvorny” in the altar on the first floor. It was brought by the first settlers who founded Saratov.
Lipki Park
In 1815-1826 Alexander-Nevsky Cathedral designed by V. Stasov was constructed to commemorate the victory of Russian army in the war of 1812. At the same time a boulevard was laid out around the cathedral called after it Alexandrovsky Boulevard. Later, when young lime-trees in the boulevard had grown up, Saratov people named it Lipki Park. In 1907 it was extended up to the present Radishcheva Street and was enclosed with the wrought-iron railings that have survived to the present day.
The Church in the Name of the Virgin’s Icon “Utoli Moya Petchali”
The Church was built in 1907 from a design by the architect P. Zybin. Originally it was a chapel at the archbishop’s house. The Church is dedicated to the Virgin’s Icon “Consolation in sorrows and grief” (Saratov people called it “Soothe My Sorrows”).
The Monument to N. Tchernyshevsky
N. Tchernyshevsky was a writer and a revolutionary democrat. He was born and spent his childhood in Saratov. From 1851 to 1853 he worked as a teacher in a male gymnasia. N. Tchernyshevsky died in 1889 after he had returned home from banishment and was buried at the Voskresenskoye cemetery in Saratov. The monument to N. Tchernyshevsky by the sculptor A. Kibalnikov was erected in 1953.
Conservatoire of Saratov named after L. Sobinov
In 1900-1902 a building for musical classes was built from a design by the architect A. Yagn. In 1912 it was reconstructed by the architect S. Kallistratov in pseudo Gothic style for the conservatoire. Saratov conservatoire was opened in 1913. It was the first Russian provincial conservatoire of music (after Moscow and St. Petersburg).
The Volga Hotel
The original name of the hotel is the Astoria Hotel. It is a monument of art Nouveau architecture. The building was designed by the architect S. Kallistratov and built between 1913 and 1917. The construction was funded by German manufacturers. S. Rakhmaninov, M. Mayakovsky and other famous people stayed in the Astoria Hotel.
The Covered Market
It was built in 1914-1916 from a design by Saratov architect V. Lyukshin. Contemporaries recognized it as one of the best constructions in Russia of that time. They called it “the architectural wonder”. Lyukshin’s idea was to build several additional trading buildings near the market. But World War I and the Revolution of 1917 prevented the plan from realization.
The Circus of Brothers Nikitins
The First performance of the Circus took place in 1873. Nikitin’s “Russian Circus” became the first national one in Russia. Later the brothers built the first circus building. The opening of the present circus with the seating capacity of 3000 took place in 1931. Since that time the building has been reconstructed more than once.
The Monument to P. Stolypin
The Prime-Minister of the tsarist Russia Pyotr Stolypin was the governor of Saratov from 1903 to 1906. The monument was made by the sculptor V. Klykov in 2002.
Saratov State Art Museum named after A. Radishchev
It is the first public art museum in Russia. The building was designed by St. Petersburg architect I. Shtrom. The museum was opened to public in 1885. It contains one of the largest art collections in Russia. The Museum was founded by the professor of painting A. Bogolyubov, Radishchev’s grandson. A. Bogolyubov granted the collection of Russian and West-European Art works to the city.
The Chapel in the Name of the Virgin’s Icon “Zhivonosny Istochnik”
Construction of the chapel was funded by Saratov Cossacks. It was built to commemorate the escape of Alexander II from being killed when Saratov citizen Dmitry Karakozov had attempted upon his life. In 1930-s the chapel was destroyed. In 1999 a new chapel was built virtually reproducing the original.
The Theatre of Opera and Ballet
In 1810 Saratov Governor A. Panchulidzev built a wooden theatre in the Khlebnaya Square (now Theatre Square), where his serf actors performed. Half a century later the theatre was burnt down. In 1865 a new stone building designed by the architect A. Salko was constructed at the site. The latter, in its turn, was rebuilt in early 1960-s. Since 1986 the annual All-Russian Festival of Opera named after L. Sobinov has been taking place in the theatre.
The City Park
A magnificent oak-wood with natural ponds is a favourite leisure spot among citizens. The park history started in 1812. The park takes pride in living squirrels, swans and century-old oaks.
In 2002 a fairground “Lukomorye” was established on the territory of the park. Here you and the whole of your family can enjoy a holiday, take a ride in the most modern marry-go-rounds, take a photo with merry characters of Pushkin’s fairy tales and have a fun of your life.
ORGANIZE A WALKING TOUR AROUND SARATOV SHOWING YOUR FOREIGN FRIEND THE MOST POPULAR SITES OF YOUR NATIVE CITY.