SHOPPING

There are several retail parks and shopping centres in Saransk. There you find famous brands, like Zara, Ostin, Snow queen and other and you can have a good time in cafes. One of the famous retail park is "Ogarev Plaza". There are 5 floors. Three floors are for different small shops. The fourth floor is for cafes. You can taste different fast-food like pizza, hamburgers, pancakes and e.t.c. There are Fox cafe and club, here, where you can have a good time all night. There are some organizations, like cosmetic medicine office, tourism office and other on the fifth floor. "Ogarev Plaza" is located in the city centre near Millennium square. 

Location on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/place/ОГАРЁВПЛАЗА,+торгово-развлекательный+комплекс

There is other retail park in the city centre. "Rio" has 4 floors with shops, cafes and cinema. Here you can shopping with you family or friends, spend good time with your kids in a gambling hall where you find redemption games. And you can see a movie шт the cinema. Location on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/place/РИО,+торгово-развлекательный+центр

Another big shopping centre in the city centre is "Planeta". There is supermarket "Evrospar" on the first floor. It is all-day shop with good choice of food and drinks. There are different small shops with clothes on other floors. Location on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/place/Планета,+Торговый+Центр

A central department store is located on Proletarskaya street. It is old shopping centre with its own history. Here you can buy food, clothes, different souvenirs. Location on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/searchунивермаг+саранск

The photo of old department store:

Well, there are other shopping centers in other city boroughs. For example, "Max" is the big shopping center with many small shops. Location on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/search/макс+саранск

You also can buy products, clothes, souvenirs and other different things in small corners shops. There are several convenience store where you can buy food and articles of daily necessity all night.

Good shopping in Saransk!

UNIVERSITIES

Saransk is the city of the students and universities. There several universities in our city like Ogarev Mordovia State University, Mordovia State Pedagogical Institute named M.E. Evseveva and other. If you walk in the city center you will see the main beautiful building of Ogarev Mordovia State University near Millennium Square. 

The photo of main building:

The university was founded in 1931 as the Agronomy Pedagogical Institute it gradually expanded and granted the University status in 1957. Its appearance was a milestone in the evolution of quality education in the Republic of Mordovia. The great majority (about 75%) of eligible Mordovian students attend Ogarev Mordovia State University. This determines its pivotal role as a centre of education, research, culture and services for Mordovia and its people.

Ogarev Mordovia State University is situated in Saransk (popul. 298,000), capital of the Republic of Mordovia, 620 kilometers south east of Moscow. With its 28 academic buildings, 12 residence halls (9 for undergraduate students and 3 for graduate students and academic staff) it is active in other Mordovian towns where it has 2 filiations.

The University has a student population composed of over 13.000 full timers, 8.000 part timers and 240 evening students. There are also over 300 international students.

All information about university you can find on official website: http://www.mrsu.ru

Near the building you find a monument of N.P. Ogarev. He was Russian poet, writer, revolutionary, a close friend of A.I. Herzen:

PARKS

If you want to rest and spend good holidays with your family or friends you can go to a park. The most famous and popular park in our city is Park of Culture and Rest. It is located in the city center near the river "Saranka". Bus stop: 8, 18, 45; trolleybus 15, 9.  

Locatiom on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/search/пушкинский+парк+саранск 

This park was founded in 1935. 

Many families spend time here with their children. You can walk on the shady alleys. There are many interesting amusement rides for different ages. You can also go boating on the river. A breath-taking view of the city will be  greet on an observation wheel. And you can enjoy tasty pancakes in a pancake house.

A lot of city festivals are organized in Park of Culture and Rest

The official website: http://parkisaranska.ru

An observation wheel:

A pancake house:

An interesting fact about an old building which is located at the western part of the park. In 1734 in the lower part of the city beyond the river was built cold building of a Uspenskaya church. The warm church of St. Nicholay was opened in 1802.The most part of the buildings was destroyed in 1930s. The building of Nicholay Church wasn't destroyed. It was burned continually, but was saved by natives . In 1987 the building was restored. There was a museum of rare books in 1988:

Near the park you find zoo. There are different animals like tigers, lions, mongolian horse, zebras, different birds and other.

There are other parks in our city in different city boroughs. Ogarevsy park is located near bus station. Formerly there were also different  amusement rides. But now this park for only walking. People like to walk, ride a bikes, hold a picnic here. Bus stop: 6, 14, 16, 18, 45, 15, 37; trolleybus: 11, 13, 12

Location: https://www.google.ru/maps/place/Парк+Культуры+и+Отдыха+Ленинского+района

There is park in Proletarsky city borough. You can also walk on the shady alleys here. There are several amusement rides among other things an observation wheel. Trolleybus: 12

Enjoy your holidays with your family and friends in Saransk!

MAIN MONUMENTS

There is a Lenin Monument  in the Soviet Square in the city center. It was opened in 1960. The authors of the monument are Moscow architect A.N. Dushkin and sculptor N.V. Tomsky. The figure of Lenin was made of bronze and dark red colored pedestal was made ​​of polished granite. The silver firs were planted in 1970 near the monument.

The photo of the monument and Soviet Square:

The photo of House of House of Republic (administration)  in Soviet Square:

A monument of Stratosphere pilots was built in 1963. It is located in Station Square. It was created by architect A.N. Dushkin and sculptor A.A. Pismenny. This monument is dedicated to the stratospere pilots-heroes P.F. Fedoseenko A.B. Vasenko I.D. Usyskin. You also can find Fedoseenko and Vasenko street in our city. In 1934 at the stratostat "Osoaviakhim-1" they rose to a record for the time height - 22,000 metres. It was a crash in the village Potizh-Ostrog in Mordovia. All stratisphere pilots died.  

Location on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/place/Саранск,+вокзал+станции+КбшЖД

A sculpture of the fortress founders was built on Fountain descent (near Soviet Square) in 1962. The author is sculptor V.P. Kozin. A composition was made ​​of artificial stone which height is 3.5 meters. It's located on the area where there was a wooden watchtower in the XVII century. 

A monument of A.S. Pushkin (The famous Russian author) on Fountain descent:

A sculpture of firemen-heroes (location on Furmanov street):

When you walk around Saransk you can find several interesting monuments. For example there is a monument of a wiper. This profession is not famous but very important, because our city is very clean and comfortable. This monument is located in the city center near the city administration building. It is a figure of an elderly man with winter fur cap on his head and broom шт his hands:

There are several interesting monuments in the Park of Culture and Rest of A.S. Pushkin. You can find the heroes from the famous Russia fairy tales. Location: https://www.google.ru/maps/search/пушкинский+парк+саранск

For example, old women and gold fish from  fairy tale about gold fish of A.S. Pushkin:

The famous cat from fairy tale of A.S. Pushkin:

This monument of Gibus and her rat Lariska from  fairy tale:

A monument of two lovers:

THEATRES OF SARANSK

The appearance in 1930 of the first  music and drama groups of Mordovia was a foundation of Drama Theatre of Mordovia. It was formed the musical drama studio in 1931. The theatre was opened four years later in 1935. The artists of Moscow Academy Maly Theater had great influence and assistance with  development of theatre in Republic of Mordovia.

Location on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/place/Государственный+Русский+Драматический+Театр+Республики+Мордовия

The Opera and Ballet Theatre of Yaushev  was founded in 1935. I.M.Yaushev  was a gifted musician and a graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. A new building of the theatre was built in 2001. The acoustic characteristics is as good as the best Russian opera houses. The scene area is 400 sq.m., the hall holds 714 spectators. All information you can find on official website: muzteatr-saransk.ru

Location on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/place/Государственный+Музыкальный+Театр+им.+И.М.+Яушева

The National Drama Theater of  Mordovia was fouded in 1932. A drama "Litova" was directed by P.Kirillov шт 1989. He was Mordovian author. The performances in the theater are in Russian and Mordovian languages ​​which is provided translation into Russian. The new building was built in 2007. The official website: mordvateatr.ru

Location on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/place/Национальный+Драматический+Театр

Cathedral Church of St. Feodor Ushakov

One of the main sights is the orthodox  Cathedral Church of St. Feodor Ushakov.

Historical fact: Feodor Ushakov was Russian naval commander, Admiral of Black Sea Fleet. He was consecrated a saint by the Orthodox Church in 2001.

The Cathidral was built in 2002-2006. It has Empire style and able to accommodate about 3000 people. The high is 62 m. Along the perimeter there are 4 bell towers with 12 bells each other which were made in Tutaev-city by old technology. The largest one weighs 6 tons, then 3 tons, 1.5 tons. Now you can hear the sounds of this bells every Sunday and holidays. Around the main "drum" of the cathedral there is an observation area and you can see a panorama of the city on high 40 m.  Indescribable beauty!

The architects: Khodnev, Kirdyashova, Brodovsky.

The official website of  Cathedral Church of St. Feodor Ushakov: http://www.sobor-ushakova.ru/
Location on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/place/Кафедральный+Собор+Св.+Воина+Феодора+Ушакова

The monument of Feodor Ushakov is located near the cathedral:

A monument of a family you also can find near the cathedral. It is a work of sculptor Nicolai Filatov. It was made in foundry of city Zhukovsky. Monument of the family is a symbol of main value ​of any society: 

There is a monument of Patriarch Nikon in the center of Saransk  near the cathedral. Nikon was born in a rural family of Mordovia in village Veldemanovo. He played an important role in the orthodox church of Mordovia. Behind the monument there is a rotunda with a beautiful view of the river embankment "Saranka".

VICTORY SQUARE

There is the monument for those who perished in the Great Patriotic War in the center of Saransk near Soviet Square. It was opened on 9 May in 1970. The composition consists of Mother-Mordovia  gives a sword for son-soldier. There is inscription: "Eternal glory to the soldiers who died for the freedom and independence of the Soviet Motherland during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. You have died to save a life . Your heroic deed is forever in the hearts of a grateful nation".  The eternal light burns before this monument. Authors: sculptor N.V. Tomsky and architect A.N. Dushkin.

In 1985 five stelae of pink granite near were installed the monument, on which  you can find the names of natives of Saransk, who did not return from the battlefield:  more than six thousand people. In 2005 on the eve of the 60th of the Victory, the ensemble was complemented by the composition of the columns with arches connecting the entire complex. Architects: V.A. Brodovsky and I.V. Solovyev. (V.A. Brodovsky is the famous architect in our city. Also he is my father-in-law).
Location on map: https://www.google.ru/maps/place/Музей+Военного+И+Трудового+Подвига

In 1985 on the west side of the Memorial Military Museum there was a memorial composition of the five -lined pink granite stelae, where there were about 5000 names of soldiers of Saransk natives who died in the Great Patriotic War. However, this composition was rapidly destroyed and after several attempts to repair was dismantled . In 2005 in this place a monument to soldiers-internationalists and soldiers who died in local wars and conflicts (Sculptor N.M. Filatov, architect V.A. Brodovsky) was built. The monument is a figure of a soldier running attack with a gun in his hand, is lodged between two gray marble pillars. It symbolizes the vice of War and debt of soldier. It is engraving the names of dead soldiers, as well as the inscription: "It is to soldiers who performed their sacred duty. 1952-1989 with courage, fortitude and honor"and "The heroic deed is forever in the hearts of your sons, Russia. 1994-2003".

Obelisk "The Escape from the Hell". On the east side of the museum there is a monument dedicated to the heroic escape from a concentration camp a group of Soviet prisoners headed by native of Mordovia M.P. Devyataev:

On the west side of Victory Square the Chapel in the name of St. Alexander Nevsky was built in 2000. The building of the chapel (the project of Babakov) is octangle, with a diameter 4.5 meters, high 6 meters. It was decorated with white and red bricks. The total height of the chapel with the cross is 20 meters:

Interesting fact: a three-floored building behind the Memorial Military Museum was a prison. It was built in the XIX century. This building was surrounded by a high wall. The famous Russian writer P.N. Gorsky was prisoner in 1860 here. Now the city administration is located in this building.