What is Kazan.

Many cities claim to be RussiaÕs third city. Seemingly Kazan wouldnÕt have a hope of bagging this title with its population of 1.1 million placing it a fair way down the pecking order. But some Kazan locals will make this claim nonetheless, saying that Kazan is RussiaÕs third city in terms of historical importance.
In some ways it is difficult to argue with this. KazanÕs tumultuous history was intertwined with RussiaÕs for centuries. Kazan was officially founded in the year 1005. After the Golden Horde besieged the city it became capital of the powerful Khanate of Kazan and was a power center in the continued fighting with Moscow. In 1552 the city was finally conquered by the forces of Ivan the Terrible and the city underwent a process of Russification.
Today Kazan is the capital of the autonomous Republic of Tatarstan. Tatars, the descendants of the Golden Horde, make up about 43% of the cityÕs population and maintain their own culture and language. All signs in Kazan are written in both Russian and Tatar. It is more common to see the Tatar flag than the Russian flag and it is obvious that the Tatar people are very proud of their history. The 1000 year anniversary celebration in 2005 was a major event. The local people are very friendly, helpful and keen to show off their city.
Probably most famous for its Kremlin and its university, Kazan is a very attractive city in the central area. Dotted with mosques and with most buildings restored for the 1000 year anniversary, it is unlike any Russian city you are likely to visit. Kazan has a deep sense of history and mystique to it; a touch of the east mixed with the characteristic flavor of any mid-sized Russian town. Built on the intersection of two rivers, with over 1000 years of history and imbued with the unique cultural heritage of the Tatars, Kazan is a memorable place to visit.