Stalin’s bunker

When the German’s had almost reached Moscow in 1941 Samara was chosen as a 'reserve' capital, mainly for its advantageous geographical location. While many of the top Kremlin officials were relocating to Samara work had begun on accommodation for Stalin. A team of more than 500 metro builders from Moscow, sworn to complete secrecy, were brought to Samara to construct the bunker. The 8-meter diameter shaft down to the bunker was dug by hand to an incredible depth of 37 meters. The project was carried out in complete secrecy so that not even the neighbors knew that construction was going on. These days the bunker is a museum, and is Samara’s greatest tourist attraction. If you make it down the shaft you’ll see the bunker preserved as it was in the 1940s. Features include a conference hall, offices for the top Kremlin brass, living rooms, a dining room, all adorned in an amazingly opulent fashion. Incidentally, Stalin decided to stay in Moscow so never used the bunker himself.

Rocket

Perhaps the most impressive monument of Samara, which was left to Samara from the USSR time, is a rocket. It is a new monument. It was erected only several years ago. The exhibit is a real carrier rocket, produced in Missile Space Center “TSKB-Progress”.

The product has already worked its technological resource. The total height of the rocket together with a wireframe metallic building — 68 m, weight — 20 t. The rocket was constructed in 1985 by order of the Department of Defense for the range “Plesetsk” as a pattern for training fighting estimation. In honor of 40-anniversary of the Rocket forces of strategic destination and also 40-anniversary of Jury Gagarin flight into the space it was decided to erect the monument.

The monument is erected in Samara as the city made large contribution to the development of the native cosmonautics. Samara Missile Space Center produced 1660 firmest rockets of “Soyuz” type.

Railway station

The Samara modern railway station was built in 2001 and now it is considered to be the highest building of the railway station in Europe (it’s height with a spike makes 100 meters).

Today’s Samara railway station is the second in the history of the city. The first railway station in Samara was constructed in 1876 and had been being of great assistance for the city for 120 years, serving passenger trains of distant running and suburban electric trains. The total area of the old railway station of Samara station was 3380 sq. m with the capacity of 980 and daily average throughput — 1700 passengers a day. The railway station has a viewing point. It is a big balcony round the dome of a station complex from where there is a magnificent view of Samara from the embankment to Bezymjanka districts. The venue is at height of 105 meters — an equivalent to level of 18th floor, and the general height of a dome together with a spike reaches 114 meters. There is a historical museum of Kuibyshev trunk on the second floor.

The embankment

The embankment of the river Volga is a real masterpiece of landscape art. It’s extension is 4,2 km. The first discussions about the building of embankment started in 30th years of the last century. The design works were begun in 1935. That time the coastal part was represented with continuous warehouses, wooden houses, stables.

The designers were aspired to expand the embankment strip, to strengthen the coast line, to plant trees and bushes, to arrange beaches.

Design works were started in the beginning of the fiftieth years. As a result of harmonious work of designers and builders the city got a magnificent area for rest. Wide sandy beach which was considered to be as good as beaches of Riviera became the attractive factor for the population. The new and the best embankment on the Volga was drawn with admiration of inhabitants and passengers floating across Volga who expressed their approval and delight with applause.

Architects and artists worked much over the creation of color harmony of the embankment. All space was separated into four sectors, each of which had its own color of garden seats, flowers and bushes. Such peculiarity created a really fantastic beauty.

Philarmonic society

Samara Philharmonic Hall is the main concert hall in the city. It stands on the corner of Frunze and Leo Tolstoy streets as an Art-Nouveau revival landmark reminding of the motifs of Olymp circus (its predecessor) and Soviet monumentalism. The hall is brightly lit before concerts. The auditorium sits 975 people (686 in the stalls and 289 on the balcony). Foyer is splendid in itself with architectural forms and design.

Samara Philharmonic hall was established in 1940 and was housed in the former Olymp circus, a wonderful specimen of Art-Nouveau style. The circus saw the world-famous Shalyapin and numerous circus performances. The theatre-circus was opened on 1 December 1907. The Philharmonic Society was established in 1858, in 1900 a branch of Imperial Russian Musical Society opened too.

And then in 1907 came Olymp theatre-circus built by Platon Shamansky in the then popular in Samara Art-Nouveau style. Apollo and Erato overlooked the entrance from above. They still stand on top of the façade though now they look smaller in proportion. The theatre had its own orchestra. The building was used for various performances — circus, opera, drama, lectures. The stage was easily transformed for a circus arena, while the auditorium seated 1,100. Most notably the acoustics was excellent. In 1940 the building was given to the newly established Philharmonia. In 1974 the concert hall was closed for reconstruction: the building was torn down and completely rebuild. The new building (opened in 1987) is bigger and somewhat different, although resembles the architectural features of Olymp. Since the scale was upped, the statue of Apollo and Erato now look less prominent.

Samara Philharmonic Hall bought a Beckerath organ in 2001. Now a full spectrum of classical and modern music can be performed before an audience of 975. The Hall is used for concert of classical music and tours of pop/rock musicians, as well as for corporate concerts and meetings.

Kuibyshev Square

Kuibyshev Square in Samara is considered to be the largest square in Europe covering 17,4 hectares (including the side parks).It is the central and the biggest square of our city. The monument to Kuibyshev, an outstanding revolutionary, who took part in the Civil war, commemorates the Soviet era. Nowadays Kuibyshev Square is a traditional place for different fairs and feasts. There is no traffic in the square in winter and various attractions for children are placed there, including snow-fortresses, artificial hills, a big skating rink and others. On Shrove day a straw dummy of winter is burnt and pancakes are cooked in Kuibyshev Square.

Unfortunately, now Kuibyshev Square bears no trace of the magnificent Cathedral of Resurrection which once was in the middle of it. Only a big wooden cross in front of the Opera and Ballet House reminds of its existence. The Cathedral was erected to commemorate the name of the Russian tsar Alexander II who liberated the peasants from serfdom. The Cathedral was 75 meters high and it had a form of a cube with 5 golden domes. It took 25 years to build it. Many famous architects were involved into this project. Emperor Alexander II laid the 1st corner stone. People were christened, wedded and read the burial service over in it. On great occasions it could hold 2500 people. Unfortunately, in 1920 the services were stopped in the Cathedral and later it was demolished.

Iversky convent

It was created in 1850 year. This convent is situated on the bank, considered a decoration and spirit centre of the city. The Iversky Women’s Monastery, or nunnery, was once home to more than 500 nuns. The ensemble, which faces the Volga and includes chapels and a 70 meter belfry as well as accommodation for the sisters, is largely a late 19th and early 20th Century creation. The monastery was closed in 1925 and used as a residence for the workers at the Zhigulevsky Brewery across the street. Parts of the monastery were destroyed in the following years. The Iversky Monastery is nonetheless an aesthetically pleasing creation and is well worth a look. The monastery is also renowned for its crafts so is a good source of souvenirs.