What attracts tourists to the Volga Republic? Where do its indigenous people live and what beliefs have survived here? Traveling to the central regions of Russia is gaining popularity, and tourists coming to Mari El get a lot of vivid impressions from their visit to Yoshkar-Ola and other Mari cities.
Climate, population and where to stay
The territory of Mari El lies in the zone of the temperate continental climate. In summer, especially in July, it can be hot here - up to + 28 ° С, and in winter the thermometer drops to -20 ° С and below. The coldest month of the year is January. This should be taken into account when choosing clothes for a trip to Mari El.
Mironositsky Convent
The republic is not very densely populated; only 682 thousand people live in it. A relatively large city is Yoshkar-Ola, where about a third of the total population or 277 thousand people live.
Today, most of the indigenous inhabitants of Mari El are Orthodox Christians, but 10-15% of the Mari continue to adhere to traditional beliefs. The peoples of Mari El use the lunar calendar. They revere several major gods. The ceremonies are held in the Sacred Groves or Kyusoto, of which about five hundred have survived. The main prayers or "tunya kumaltysh" take place once every five years, and Mari from all over Russia come to it.
Church of the Holy Trinity in Yoshkar-Ola
When traveling in Mari El, it is most convenient to rent an apartment or rent a hotel room in Yoshkar-Ola. Those who want to travel to the regions can stay at recreation centers, guest houses, boarding houses, estates and campgrounds that receive tourists in different regions of the republic.
What to see in Yoshkar-Ola
The main Mari city was founded in 1584 and at that time was called Tsarevokokshaisk. He was an outpost of Russia in the Zavolzhsky region and served to pacify the rebellious local residents. Today, Yoshkar-Ola has many interesting sights, and since the city is small in size, it is easy to get around them on foot.
View of the center of Yoshkar-Ola
In the center there is a complex of copies of the Moscow Kremlin monuments. In the capital of Mari El, you can see the Annunciation and Spasskaya towers, a copy of the famous Tsar Cannon and even the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which looks like the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed. The Russian capital is as much as 650 km from here. Therefore, the Mari decided not to waste energy on a long journey, but to admire the Moscow monuments at home.
Travelers are surprised that several theaters and museums are open in a relatively small town. But, perhaps, Yoshkar-Ola is most famous for its original monuments. All the guests of the Mari capital come to one of them - Yoshka's cat. A carefree bronze cat on a bench greets tourists on Lenin Square, near the building of the National Art Gallery.
Yoshkin cat
In the central park you can see the tree of life sculptural group. It symbolizes the continuity of the traditions of the indigenous peoples of the republic. Voskresenskaya embankment is decorated with a sculpture of Alexander Pushkin, who is talking with his literary hero - Eugene Onegin. And on the Sovetskaya Street of the Mari capital there is an unusual monument ... a simple hammer.
Camping
Most tourists travel to Mari El for its natural beauty. Hiking trails and horseback riding are popular throughout the republic, and in winter people come here to go skiing.
Sculpture "Tree of Life" in Yoshkar-Ola
The Mari rivers and lakes have long been chosen by fans of water tourism who like to spend their vacation time on kayaks and catamarans. Rafting on the rivers Bolshaya and Malaya Kokshaga, Bolshoy and Maly Kundysh is popular in the republic. Tourists pay attention to Vetluga, Ilet, Irovka, Lazh, Lunda, Nemdu, Rutka, Yuronga and Yushut. The picturesque Mari lakes are very attractive - Yurinskoye, Bolshoye Stepankino, Irir-Er, Kar-Yar, Mary-Er, Bryukhan, Kichier and others.
Near the village of Shariboxad, in the Volzhsky region, there is a real natural pearl - the Sea Eye karst lake. It lies on a mountain elephant and reaches a depth of 38.5 m.The water in an unusual reservoir has a bright turquoise color, and its transparency reaches 5.5 m.In the summer heat, the lake water heats up to + 20 ° C at the surface, and at a depth its temperature does not exceed + 4 ° С.
Mount Alamner
Fans of speleotourism visit the beautiful Nolka Caves. Many years ago, there were adits at this place, where building stone and crushed stone were mined. Even in summer it is cool inside the Mari caves. Stalactites, stalagmites and sleeping bats can be seen on the walls and vaults. Nearby are ancient millstones, the size of a man's height. Previously, such devices for grinding grain were used in Mari mills and sold in other provinces of Russia.
Tourists love traveling to the picturesque Mari Chodra National Park. On the territory of the Middle Volga region, the purest lakes, rivers and mighty mixed forests have been preserved. The natural park is inhabited by bears, lynxes, moose, foxes, hares and squirrels. Among the birds, wood grouses, vendace, green woodpeckers, osprey and orioles nest here - a total of 188 species of birds, 11 of which are listed in the Red Book of Russia.
Lake Sea Eye
What to see in different parts of the republic
People come to the old town of Kozmodemyansk to visit a wonderful ethnographic museum, where samples of peasant buildings, wells, barns and a mill are exhibited in the open air. Lovers of antiquity must visit the majestic Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God and the old Streletskaya chapel.
In the Volga region of the republic there is a huge Pugachev oak covered with legends. It rises on Maple Mountain - one of the places of pilgrimage for tourists. According to legend, it was near this tree that one of Pugachev's detachments stopped, and the rebels buried their treasures near a noticeable oak. Today the tree rises from the ground by 26 m, and the diameter of its trunk exceeds 1.6 m. According to the latest researchers of biologists, the age of the Mari oak is more than 400 years.
Sheremetev Castle in Yurino from a bird's eye view
Connoisseurs of Russian architecture make routes through the old Mari estates. One of the most noticeable is the Sheremetev Castle in the village of Yurino. The former count's estate in the late neo-Gothic style was built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Fishing
It is very good to come to Mari El for fishing! Fish are caught here on rivers and lakes, and fishermen are never left without a catch. True, the amount of trophies depends on luck, experience and skill.
Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God in Kozmodemyansk (1698)
Most often they fish on the Volga and Vetluga. These rivers are rich in pike, walleye, perch, carp and bream, and are especially popular with those who want to catch a big catch. Fishing areas are considered to be the coast near the town of Zvenigovo, near the village of Dubovsky and near the town of Volzhsk. In the Mari river Ilet, you can catch pike, perch, crucian carp and roach, and on the lakes, pike, crucian carp, tench, catfish and chub take well.
Mari souvenirs
Nobody leaves Mari El without gifts. What kind of souvenirs do tourists buy most often? Many people like to take home pictures of Yoshka's cat. One of the main symbols of Yoshkar-Ola can be seen on souvenir mugs, magnets, key chains, T-shirts and even bottles of vodka.
Chapel of the Savior Image Not Made by Hands (Streletskaya Chapel) in Kozmodemyansk
Vodka is willingly brought from the Mari capital. Local shops sell different varieties, including bottles labeled "Yoshkin Cat". Such vodka is not supplied outside the republic, therefore it can become an original souvenir from Mari El.
Those who like strong alcohol do not disregard the “Mari El Lights” balm, infused with local herbs. It is sold in bottles and clay containers with national ornaments.
Church of Michael the Archangel in the village of Yurino
Excellent cheeses are produced in the republic. Today, Mari cheeses are considered one of the most delicious in our country. Sernur cheese factory produces excellent cheeses, cottage cheese and bio-yoghurts from goat and sheep milk. In addition, pickled mushrooms and sausages from the Zvenigovsky meat-packing plant can be recommended as tasty souvenirs.
Those with a sweet tooth do not leave without the products of the Povolzhya Sweets confectionery company. A 2 kg box with delicious waffles, cookies, marmalade, marshmallows, sherbet and sweets can be an excellent souvenir to remember a trip to Mari El. Want even more? You are welcome! In Mari El, boxes of sweets weighing 4.4 kg are sold.
Ethnographic open-air museum in Kozmodemyansk
From folk crafts, tourists willingly buy embroidered towels, tablecloths, dresses and bed linen, fine birch bark products and funny wood crafts. Items of national clothing and traditional Mari jewelry are very interesting.
Quality souvenirs can be found in shops and fairs in Yoshkar-Ola. They are also sold in small shops at the Mari museums.
