Russian towns - Astrakhan

Each city has its own history. At present, at the beginning of the XIX-th century, Astrakhan, which appeared in the mouth of the Volga, in the land of ancient civilizations, as the southern outpost of Russia, again acquires its historic significance. 

The history of Astrakhan dates back to ancient times.

It is connected with the close relationship between the Volga and the Caspian Sea, with the abundance of life and the infinity of development which Nature gives to Man…
In the Astrakhan Museum of Local Lore there are unique exhibits testifying to the ancient history of Astrakhan Region.
Many various peoples paved the way to the Lower Volga and the Caspian Sea, leaving here vivid traces of their life.

Archeological finds, those mysterious signs of the Time remind us of the gone epochs, disappearing civilizations and the swiftness of life when a century is equal to a moment…
During not one millennium the Sarmation gold was kept in the depths of Astrakhan soil. Today this precious evidence of the past amazes the visitors of the Local Lore Museum by its artistic perfection. Depicted in gold, the intricate images of nomadic life – lions and gryphons – “the animal style” of these refined decorations – have a ring of romantic legends of Sarmation tribes who left the traces of their culture in the Lower Volga.
In the XIII century a large trade centre – Sarai Batu – the capital of the Golden Horde – rose up in the Lower Volga. It attracted the merchants from the most far-away countries and was famous for its palaces and mosques. Time has taken up everything, but the ruins can be read as a thrilling book…
The objects of the Golden Horde family life extracted from the millennial non-existence have been preserved and became museum exhibits, being artistically restored by the restorers.
In 1558 a wooden citadel was erected on the left bank of the Volga. It was the starting point of Astrakhan.
Being the main place of interest in Astrakhan, the Kremlin hasn’t lost its spiritual significance. The ancient walls and towers of the Kremlin remind us of the glorious deeds of our ancestors guarding the frontiers…
The main historic peculiarity of Astrakhan is its multinational character: the Russians, the Kazakhs, the Tatars, the Ukrainians, the Kalmyks, the Chechens, the Jews, the Armenians, the Turkmen… More than 150 nationalities and ethnic groups are peacefully neighbouring under Astrakhan sky.
Astrakhan was a large trade centre where Russia encountered the East: Indian, Persian and American merchants erected their commercial town houses here. The city also attracted nomadic inhabitants of the steppes. One was amazed at the intricate interwoven sound ornament of different languages sounding in Astrakhan streets and markets…
Deep are the roots of Moslem religion… Unity and consent… They are predetermined by a common historical way, by mutual respect, by tolerance to faith, by spiritual service to the common aim – peace among the peoples.
Kurmangazy, the great bard of Kazakh people in the captivating sounds of double-string dombra, is buried in Astrakhan.
Developing as an industrial centre of the Lower Volga, Astrakhan was acquiring its own personal cultural traits: here one could observe a close unity of muses and capital – the patronage of literature and arts… In 1883 the Winter Theatre was built. The project was subsidized by merchant Plotnikov. Nowadays it is a regional drama theatre – the centre of culture and creative activity.
In 1892 merchant Repin donated his wonderful library to the city.
Today the regional scientific Krupskaya Library is the largest of all the 36 city libraries both for children and adults. Its collection is about 2 million books and manuscripts.Emigrants from central Russia – streletses (in Muscovite Russia in the 16-th and 17-th centuries by Ivan the Terrible and enjoying special privileges), craftsmen, merchants formed and basis, of town population and brought to Astrakhan Orthodoxy. The ringing of church bells was heard from the bell-towers of high Astrakhan temples.
The decendants of Russia migrants constitute the bulk on Astrakhan population.
In 1918 Pavel Dogadin’s collection of pictures started the Picture Gallery in Astrakhan.
More than 14000 exhibits of the XVII-XX century art are kept I Astrakhan Picture Gallery, among them the canvases of famous Astrakhan painters – Goryushkin-Sorokopudov, Kotov, Kustodiev. The latter name has become the name of the Gallery.
The Picture Gallery has taken part in the exhibitions in many countries, among them Germany, France, Japan. Local painters are constantly replenishing its collection.
The brightest peculiarity of cultural life in Astrakhan is its multinational character. The unity of different muses strengthens the international concord.
In the constellation of creative groups each of the ensembles preserves its originally.
Culture is impossible without spiritual basis. A wide educational and aesthetic programme is being carried out by a lot of art schools, the Are College named after Vlasov, the College of Culture, which provides education in 8 different spheres of culture.
Honoured Workers of Culture, Honoured Artists and Actors, heads of different creative groups foster in their students skills of mastership and success…
Tamara Milashkina, the famous Russian singer, is ever remembered here. Vladimir Menshov, the famous cinema producer, is the pride of the city. Nadezhda Babkina, who started singing on Astrakhan stages, and a young popular singer Igor Nadzhiev are always warmly received here. People in Russia and abroad know and revere popular cinema actors Boris Nevzorov, Vladimir Steklov, Emmanuil Vitorgan. Composer Yuri Dunaev expands in his creation the best traditions of Russia classical music, Yuvenali Kalantarov has staged a lot of plays in Moscow as well in many other cities of Russia.
Astrakhan is the birth place of many famous modern men of arts.
We love our city, with its unique architecture, vivid multinational culture, good traditions, with all the variety of modern life, which we should make happier.

 Written by: A. Tseplyaeva