Unexpected trip to the heart of Mordovia – the city of Saransk

Good day dear mates! It happened so that couple weeks ago due some life circumstances I was need to go to another region - Mordovia.

So I ordered tickets for long distance night train to Saransk. And my trip began. I departed from Kazanskiy rail way terminal at 10 p.m.

To Saransk I arrived at 7 a.m. Temperature outside the train was - 25 degrees Celsius. After short breakfast at cafe I moved to the intercity bus station from where old micro bus took me to the far village where I was need to solve some bureaucratic issues.

When all was done it was noon time. I decided not to wast my time there and went back to Saransk.

Saransk is the capital city of Mordovia, Russia, as well as it's financial and economic centre. It is located in the Volga basin at the confluence of the Saranka and Insar Rivers, about 630 kilometers east of Moscow. Saransk was one of the host cities of the official tournament of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

There I decided to walk around the city and get to know the city better. First of all I walked around Mordovia arena stadium which was built to FIFA 2018.

It has a capacity of 44,442 spectators. The total area of the facility is 122,700 sq m.
The Arena is located in the central part of the city and is within a walking distance of the city's key infrastructure. The stadium design is based on the image of the sun, the main symbol of ancient myths and legends of the Mordovain people. After the FIFA World Cup, the stadium is expected to serve as Saransk and Mordovia's largest sports and leisure center.

Then I had quick lunch and went to walk around city center. There near Soviet square was house of Republic.

And of course at this square located The House of Soviets.

The House of Soviets was built in 1938–1940 based on a design by I. A. Meerzon. Initially, it housed the regional committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Mordovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, and the Council of People's Commissars. In the 1950s, the interiors were reconstructed according to a design by architect S. O. Levkov and sculptor M. I. Nefedov, while the exterior of the building remained virtually unchanged. Currently, it houses the State Assembly of the Republic of Mordovia.

Wooden slides for children, cafe and fountain stair. Of course after strong snowfalls most part of Soviet square was covered with the snow and fountain stair didn't work.

In front of another one administrative building located monument of fox. Fox is the symbol of Mordovia and Saransk, historically representing intelligence, cunning, insight, and wealth. This image has been established since 1781, when Empress Catherine II approved the coat of arms of Saransk with a red fox, symbolizing the hunting traditions of the region and prosperity. In addition, the image of the fox is associated with the development of hunting, which was one of the main occupations of the indigenous population of Mordovia. Currently, the fox is a popular tourist brand of the republic.
Click on the photo below to see the coat of arms of Saransk.

Behind the Soviet square located Fedor Ushakov Cathedral a Russian Orthodox cathedral in the Saransk, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Saransk. It is named for Russian saint and admiral Fyodor Ushakov.

From the square where located The Cathedral of St. Fyodor Ushakov was built rotunda under which located quiet good restaurant Panorama with tasty meat meals, beer and burgers. Also from rotunda opens excellent point of view to the city park and river Saranka.

After it I went through Museum of Local History to restaurant on national cousin - Mordovskoe podvorye. About this place I'd like to tell a little bit later coz Mordovian cousin deserves separate post as I think.

Of course it's not cheap place but it's worth to taste local cousin anyway.

When my dinner was over after restaurant I went back upside to the city center where I visited main book store. There can be easily found books at native local Erzan` & Mockshanskiy languages.

After what my walk continued. At the evening time city center of Saransk is beautiful decorated with festive lights on old buildings. As example I'd like to show you this old building in which located Mordovian republic children choreographic school

Or look at this modern building where earlier was located one of the local banks.

After it my way was leading aside Mordovian State Philharmonic to the building of Opera and Ballet Theatre of Saransk.

Opera and Ballet Theatre of Saransk was inaugurated on 1 September 1935 in Saransk, capital of the Russian Republic of Mordovia with Carl Millöcker's operetta Der Bettelstudent. The theatre includes 714 spectator places, 138 crystal lamps, make-up rooms, rehearsal ballet classes, a small hall for creative meetings and chamber concerts, the whole factory with fake and property-rooms shops. The new theatre has a mini-printing house and modern sound recording studio. The light and sound equipment – from the best producers of the USA, Germany, England and Japan, a rotating scene, variable volume of the auditorium.

When I was strolling near it I saw a cityscape with full moon. When I saw the moon peeking through the city buildings, I really wished I had a better camera and suitable lenses with me to capture this view in proper quality. Here just a shots from my small camera🤷‍♂️

But time was moving faster then I so it was needed go back to the main railway terminal. My way was going near another one stadium built to FIFA 2018 - Ogarev arena.

Aside of Ogarev arena I saw a House of Union at corner of which located excellent pastry shop with tasty cakes, biscuits, etc.

And finally when temperature moved down again to - 25 degrees I reached railway terminal.

The first building Saransk Railway Station was built in the first half of the 1890s to the beginning of the movement of trains through the station Saransk. In the first half of the 1940s, the station building and station square were reconstructed: train-station area has been increased, and on the place of the original building a new passenger terminal was built. In the mid -2000s it was decided to demolish the old building of the railway station and erect a new rail terminal, which was commissioned in 2009.

So when time came train took me aboard and departed me back to my region. From Saransk I have different feelings. First of all I understood that I want to visit it once more for more long time because it's not enough to observe all city at one day. I would also like to get to know the cultural and historical sights of the city and all Mordovian land better. I would like to not only walk past the aforementioned opera and ballet theater, but also attend a performance or opera inside it. To have the opportunity to feel it's soul. In addition, considering that it was very cold when I was in the city, I want to visit it in the summer to enjoy it's fountains and stroll through the city's green squares and parks. I hope that one day I will have this opportunity and will be able to visit this city again with my family, and then I will tell you about it in much more detail!
That's all for now. Stay tuned. Yours @travoved