And on the way to it, it has been serving as a water transport route for centuries and centuries, a good place for resettlement of people, for trade. So it was in those days when the concept of "tourism" was not even in sight. And today the Volga is also blessed tourist route... What cities are on the Volga? There are 68 of them in total. A large number. And this is only the so-called Big Volga! And how many other cities are there in the Volga region?
Countless rivers, streams and streams that flow into main river The cities that stand on the Volga appeared gradually, but the largest settlements at the same time the most ancient. So, Kazan and Yaroslavl celebrated their millennial anniversaries, a little younger than Kostroma - the younger sister of Moscow (they have a common "dad" - Yuri Dolgoruky), founded in 1152. Tver and Nizhny Novgorod are quite a respectable age; Astrakhan, Cheboksary, Saratov, Samara, Volgograd are a little younger. And these are only large cities, regional or republican centers!
And what other cities are on the Volga? Not so large, but with deep historical roots. Myshkin, Rybinsk, Uglich, Kineshma, Ples, Rzhev - it is impossible to simply list all 68 cities and not offend those that are not named. Some of them are included in the famous tourist route " Golden ring", for example, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ples, Uglich. But other cities along the banks of the Volga deserve close attention.
So, answering the question: "What cities are on the Volga?" - the tourist is trying to solve his problem of choice. And the choice is really huge. Holidays on the Volga include, for example, staying in all kinds of sanatoriums, rest homes, tourist centers, of which there are more than 400 tour operators in total! Moreover, in the cities and towns of the Upper Volga there are both places for rest and relaxation, and sanatoriums, which also focus on the general health improvement of vacationers. Fishing here is specific, for an amateur. The Middle Volga specializes in spa treatment and recreation. But the Lower Volga provides tourists with fishing, which attracts amateurs from different parts of the country and from abroad. There is no equal to it in the whole of Central Russia.
And, of course, the Volga itself is at the disposal of tourists throughout the entire shipping period, since a developed branch of the tourism business is river cruises... You can find a variety of routes in terms of length and price range. There are short cruises, literally for a few days, and there are long and very expensive ones, but they cover almost all the famous Volga cities. For example, a cruise from Moscow to Astrakhan and back. Curiously, most of the ships are named after Russian writers and artists.
Thanks to the system of canals and locks, some cruises combine travel along the Upper Volga with sailing to Valaam and St. Petersburg. Which cities are on the Volga, you can see with your own eyes not only from the board of the ship, but also during excursions, which are full of a stay in each city. And each is interesting and beautiful in its own way.
The beautiful Volga Mother is sung in many works of famous writers and poets, many wonderful Russian folk songs have been written about her. The amazing river delights not only with its spacious blue waters and fabulous shores. Almost all Russian cities on the Volga and villages attract attention with their amazing history, majesty and beauty.
Volga river, geography
The largest river in Europe is the Volga. Along the entire length of its channel, various settlements have been built since ancient times. The cities located on the Volga are quite significant in all respects both for their regions and for the country as a whole.
The length of the river before the creation of reservoirs and the cascade of hydroelectric power plants was 3690 km, today it is 3530 km. According to some unspecified data, the length of the Volga has become much shorter - 3430 km. In the general list by the length of all Russian rivers The Volga ranks sixth, and 16th among all the rivers of the Earth.
The territory of 1 million 360 thousand km² is occupied by the area of its basin, and this is about a third of the entire European part of Russia.
This amazing river begins on the Valdai Upland near the village of Volgo-Verkhovye (Tver Region). The Volga flows from the west from the Valdai and Central Russian Uplands to the Urals in the east (the European part of the Russian Federation).
Many large cities are located near the basin of the largest river. On the Volga, sailing along it, you can see many amazing natural landscapes with cities and villages that perfectly fit into them. Moreover, each has its own unique story, their cultural values and unique attractions.
The generally accepted division of the Volga regions. Cities on the Volga
1. Upper Volga represents the territories from the source of the river to the place where the Oka River flows into ( Nizhny Novgorod).
2. From the place where the Oka flows into the Volga to the place where the Kama flows into it - the territory of the Middle Volga.
3. The Lower Volga covers the zones from the confluence of the Kama to the Caspian Sea itself. Now (after the construction of the Kuibyshev reservoir) the border between the Lower and Middle Volga is the Zhigulevskaya HPP (the area of the cities of Togliatti and Zhigulevsk).
Consider some of the largest cities on the Volga, worthy of attention in terms of history and sights.
Yaroslavl
This oldest city on the Volga has a population of more than 590 thousand people.
The historical center of Yaroslavl, protected by UNESCO, is almost entirely a sightseeing.
There are 785 cultural and historical monuments... In one of them - the amazing Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery - a historical collection of ancient manuscripts and books has been preserved.
In the 16th century, the state treasury was transferred to Yaroslavl. There is also a large state museum-reserve (historical, architectural and artistic) with a rich collection of icons.
This settlement, like other cities on the Volga River, has a rich historical heritage of ancient times. It cannot be fully described.
Samara
Samara is located between the mouths of the Samara and Sok rivers, in the very place where they flow into the Volga. The population of the city is over 1 100 thousand people. During Soviet times, the city had the name Kuibyshev.
The earliest mentions of the city in historical annals date back to 1361.
The most interesting sights: Stalin's bunker, built in less than a year in 1942; legendary Revolution Square ( oldest street cities); the bell tower of the Iversky women's monastery (a 70-meter-high building in 1850).
It should be noted that the aforementioned bell tower stood without repair for about 80 years. Only in the 90s of the last century was this historical building reconstructed.
Many cities on the Volga also have similar historical structures that have survived to our times.
Saratov
The beautiful city of Saratov is located on the right bank of the reservoir (Volgograd). The date of its foundation is 1590, when a guard fortress was built on this place.
The population of Saratov is over 830 thousand people.
Sightseeing: the Saratov Arbat is located on Kirov Avenue; a monument to flying cranes (Sokolova Gora); the Nikitin brothers circus; conservatory im. L.V. Sobinova; a monument in honor of Yu.A. Gagarin (Cosmonauts embankment); national village(national houses of all peoples of the Saratov region).
In this unusual village you can not only find yourself in the atmosphere cultural heritage Dagestan, Uzbekistan, Tatarstan, etc., but also try dishes of various national cuisines.
Volgograd
Which city on the Volga had several names? From 1589 to 1925 Volgograd was called Tsaritsyn, and then until 1961 - Stalingrad. The population of the city is over 1 million people. The hero city is the largest historical and cultural center of the region.
A majestic memorial monument (a symbol of the Motherland) was erected in it in honor of the famous Battle of Stalingrad.
Nizhny Novgorod
At the confluence of the two big rivers, Volga and Oka, the ancient city of Nizhny Novgorod is located. It is not only one of the oldest cities in Russia on the Volga, but also one of the largest. Its population is more than 1200 thousand people.
The date of foundation of the city is calculated from the day of foundation of the fortress Novgorod of the Nizovskaya land (hence its name) - it is 1221. This fortress is the main attraction in Nizhny Novgorod.
The Church of the Sovereign Icon of the Mother of God is located not far (7.5 kilometers) from Sennaya Square.
Kazan
Kazan is a city that relatively recently celebrated its millennium (2005), although the exact year of foundation is not fully understood. It is located on the banks of the Volga River at the confluence of the Kazanka River. The city is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, and very often it is called “the third capital of Russia”. The population is over 1 100 thousand people.
Almost all cities on the Volga have preserved in their architecture unique historical ensembles, which are perfectly combined with modern buildings.
The main attraction of Kazan is located in historic center cities: the Kremlin with the Kul Sharif mosque and the Syuyumbike tower.
Modern buildings also fit perfectly into the numerous ancient historical ensembles of the city: Cultural Center"Pyramid", the state circus, modern hotels and etc.
Also in Kazan, the following sights are very memorable and beautiful: a fabulous-looking children's puppet theater, a pedestrian cultural Bauman street (similar to the Arbat in Moscow), beautiful embankments, on one of which there is a wedding palace in the form of a bowl, etc.
Astrakhan
By its location, this city is the last of the regional centers located on the banks of the Volga. It is inhabited by more than 500 thousand people.
On the site of Astrakhan in the 8-10th centuries there was the city of Itil, which at that time was the capital of the ancient Khazar Kaganate.
Here you can see the famous Kremlin for its unprecedented beauty, built at the beginning of the 17th century.
Smaller noteworthy cities on the Volga
On the banks of the great Volga River, more small towns, which are historical and architectural monuments.
Togliatti is the second largest in the Samara region in terms of population. It was founded in 1737. The population is over 720 thousand people.
The city of Syzran is also located in the Samara region near the Saratov reservoir. It was founded by Grigory Kozlovsky in 1683. The population is over 170 thousand people.
The administrative and cultural center of the Kostroma region is Kostroma. The date of its foundation is 1152. Population - more than 260 thousand people.
Tver (former Kalinin) is located at the confluence of the Tvertsa and Tmaka rivers into the Volga. The city was founded in 1135. The population is more than 400 thousand people.
The capital of Chuvashia is Cheboksary. The population is over 450 thousand people.
The town of Mologa was once located near Yaroslavl, at the confluence of the Mologa and Volga rivers. It was located on a flat hill and stretched along the right bank of the Mologa and on the left - the Volga.
Its population was more than 7000 people.
During the Soviet Union in 1935, a government decree was adopted on the construction of a hydroelectric power station (Rybinskaya). According to the project, the area of the reservoir was supposed to be 2.5 thousand square meters, and the height of the surface of its waters above sea level - 98 m. The mark of the city was 98-101 m.
However, in 1937, the famous five-year plans of those times forced to revise the project to increase the capacity of the hydroelectric power station. In this regard, it was decided to raise the water level to 102 meters. As a result, the area of flooded areas has almost doubled.
In April 1941, after the resettlement of people, the filling of the reservoir began. The ancient distinctive city of Mologa (800 years old), which was once an appanage principality with numerous villages, did not exist.
The flooded city on the Volga is a victim of the country's electrification.
Amazing nature of the Volga basin, beautiful cities with peculiar historical architectural and cultural attractions attract the attention of a huge number of tourists to travel to these places.
Always attracted people with its abundance, beauty and grandeur. Since ancient times, people have settled on its shores with a length of more than 3.5 thousand kilometers. From Tver, where the Volga begins, to Astrakhan, where it flows into the Caspian Sea, large and small cities and towns are spread on its shores. In this article, we will only talk about the cities located on the Volga banks.
Tver is an old Russian city that was called Kalinin during the Soviet period, from 1931 to 1990. For the first time this city is mentioned in chronicles in 1208, but the year of its foundation is 1135. Historians suggest that Yuri Dolgoruky, who fought for power in Kiev and built fortresses on his lands, could become the founder of the city. Now it is a large administrative center of the region with a population of about half a million people. It is in the Tverskaya oblast that our city is located.
The cities of the Tver region on the Volga - Rzhev, Zubtsov, Staritsa, Tver, Konakovo, Kimry, Kalyazin
Yaroslavl was mentioned in the "Tale of Bygone Years" for the first time in 1071. The "golden age" of the city was the 17th century, when it became the second largest center Moscow state after Moscow. Numerous churches and temples built in those years remind of this time. After the reforms of Peter the Great, it turned into an ordinary center of the province. During the years of industrialization, Yaroslavl became a large industrial center. The 1000th anniversary of the city was celebrated in 2010.
The cities of the Yaroslavl region on the Volga - Uglich, Myshkin, Rybinsk, Tutaev, Yaroslavl.
About where the name came from ancient city Kostroma, there are many opinions. But the official opinion is that the city got its name from the Kostromka River. At the place of its confluence with the Volga, Kostroma was founded. This city on the Volga owes its foundation in 1152 to Yuri Dolgoruky. Here, on the Kostroma land, the feat of the famous Ivan Susanin was accomplished.
The cities of the Kostroma region on the Volga - Kostroma, Volgorechensk.
The history of Nizhny Novgorod began in 1221. For some time it was called Gorky. This name was given to him in 1932 in honor of the Soviet writer Alexei Maksimovich Gorky. The city was returned to its historical name by 1990. Now Nizhny Novgorod is home to 1260 thousand people, it is the economic, scientific and cultural center of Russia.
Cities Nizhny Novgorod region on the Volga - Chkalovsk, Zavolzhye, Gorodets, Balakhna, Nizhny Novgorod, Bor, Kstovo, Lyskovo.
The capital of Chuvashia, the city of Cheboksary, is famous for the fact that the famous Chapaev was born there. At the place where the hut was, in which the red divisional commander was born and lived as a child, there is a huge stone with a commemorative inscription. Cheboksary and the satellite city of Novocheboksarsk are known for their enterprises producing products for the energy industry.
The cities of the Republic of Chuvashia on the Volga - Cheboksary, Novocheboksarsk, Mariinsky Posad, Kozlovka.
Kazan - ancient beautiful city with a rich history. Its walls ancient fortress Kazan Kremlin amazes anyone who sees them from the side of the river, it was recognized as a UNESCO site. The capital of Tatarstan celebrated its millennium in 2005, and by this date the Millennium Bridge was erected, as well as the Kazan Metro was built and opened for passengers. Representatives of 115 nationalities live on the territory of Kazan, one of the most multinational cities in Russia.
The cities of the Republic of Tatarstan on the Volga are Zelenodolsk, Kazan, Bolgar, Tetyushi.
People of the older generation remember Togliatti as a city that grew up next to the enterprise, where the production of domestic Zhiguli cars was established. These cars began to be produced on equipment purchased from Italy. The Italians helped in the installation and adjustment of their equipment. Several generations of Soviet people drove these cars for many years. There were times when there were huge long-term queues for the products of the domestic auto industry.
Samara is the former Kuibyshev (1935 - 1991). The first mention of a settlement with a fortress in the place where Samara flows into the Volga dates back to 1361, but the official date of the foundation of the city is 1568. It is a large city with a population of about 1 million. 200 people, the main industries of which are mechanical engineering, oil refining, food and light industries.
The cities of the Samara region on the Volga - Togliatti, Zhigulevsk, Samara, Novokuibyshevsk, Oktyabrsk, Syzran.
Syzran is a port city, founded in 1683. It is part of the Samara region and is located on the shore of the Saratov reservoir. The name of the city in translation from the Turkic means "ravine river". During the Soviet period, oil and shale deposits were discovered near the city, and this determined the structure of the industry. They said about Syzran that this is the second Baku.
Saratov was founded in 1590. By the end of the 18th century, the city had become a transit point and a center for the fish and salt trade. Until the end of the 20s of the 20th century, Saratov was the most big city Volga region, it was even called the capital of the Volga region. In 2013, Saratov ranked 10th out of 30 cities in terms of business attractiveness.
The cities of the Saratov region on the Volga - Khvalynsk, Balakovo, Volsk, Marks, Saratov, Engels.
Volgograd had several names: from the day of its foundation in 1589 it was called Tsaritsyn, in 1925-1961 - Stalingrad. The most important attraction of Volgograd is the Mamayev Kurgan, which was opened in 1968. Monument "Motherland Calls!" visible when approaching the city both from the side of the river and from the side railroad... They were built as a sign of the eternal memory of the heroism of the defenders of Volgograd.
Cities Volgograd region on the Volga - Kamyshin, Nikolaevsk, Dubovka, Volzhsky, Volgograd, Krasnoslobodsk
The Great Volga, having carried its waters through many thousands of kilometers, finally found an outlet into the vast Caspian Sea. Here is Astrakhan - the southernmost and sunniest of all cities on the Volga. Thanks to its geographic location where the trade routes of the Golden Horde crossed, Khadzhi-Tarkhan, as Astrakhan was then called, was a trade hub on the caravan route. Volumes of books have been written about the history of the city in the era of the Astrakhan Khanate.
Cities Astrakhan region on the Volga - Akhtubinsk, Narimanov and Astrakhan.
