Sights of Naberezhnye Chelny

In addition to its official districts, Naberezhnye Chelny is also divided into several other sections which in turn are then divided into complexes.  The number of the complex is used more often than the name of the streets and we therefore list both after each sight.

The area west of the River Melekeska is known as GES village (посёлок ГЭС). GES is the Russian abbreviation for a hydroelectric station and the Nizhekamsk Hydroelectric Station (НКГЭС) is located nearby. The main road in the GES section of Naberezhnye Chelny is Prospekt Musy Dzhalilya which runs from the railway and bus station to the River Melekeska. The GES section is subdivided into 10 complexes.

After River Melekeska Prospekt Musy Dzhalilya turns into Naberezhnochelninsky Prospekt which then runs north. The part of the city around this prospect, in between the Meleksa and the Chelna rivers, is known as the ZYaB village (посёлок ЗЯБ). ZYaB stands for the Russian for cellular concrete factory (завод ячеистых бетонов), which is located close to this area.   Further along Naberezhnochelninsky Prospekt just before it turns into Prospekt Mira is the area known as Orlovka Village (село Орловка) which runs along the right-bank of the Chelna River.

The area of in the north of Naberezhnye Chelny on the right-bank of the Kama is known as Novy Gorod (Новый город) which means 'new city' as, you've guessed it, this is a newer part of the city. The main road here is Prospekt Mira which is a continuation of Naberezhnochelninsky Prospekt. Novy Gorod is divided into quite a few complexes. The numbering system here seems to have slightly broken down in places, for example you can walk in a row from the 31st complex then to the 40th complex then the 13th complex and then the 42nd complex.

GES Section

City History Museum

  • 16 Ulitsa Gidrostroiteley (GES, 4th complex, 2A)

For such a young city, Naberezhnye Chelny's City History Museum is very good and has lots of modern displays and exhibits. Its first hall is dedicated to the nature and wildlife found in the region and to the development of the city in the late 19th and early 20th century as a merchant town, which features recreations of shop interiors with many models. After this there is a hall with many examples of old electrical equipment including the winner of a competition to find the oldest… Read more »

Mother Russia Memorial Complex

  • intersection of Ulitsa Batenchuka and Prospekt Musy Dzhalilya (GES, 9th complex)

The most striking and unusual monument in Naberezhnye Chelny is without a doubt the Mother Russian Monument with is part of a Second World War memorial complex. It was unveiled in 1975 on the 30th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and is the work of the Tatar sculptor Ildar Khanov, who was also the architect behind Kazan's famous Temple of All Religions. Mother Russia is depicted defiantly flying through the air with a sword in one hand and with Soviet soldiers on both… Read more »

Musa Cälil Monument

  • Musa Cälil Park (GES, 9th complex)

Further up Prospekt Musy Dzhalilya (Musa Cälil Prospect) is Musa Cälil Park and, as you would expect, in the centre of the small park is a monument to Musa Cälil himself. Cälil (also transliterated as Dzhalil) is one of the most celebrated Tatar poets who is the only person to have been awarded both the Lenin Prize for Literature and be named a Hero of the Soviet Union for his valour during the Second World War. Cälil was sentenced to death and guillotined by the Nazis at the… Read more »

Tauba Mosque

  • Ulitsa Tsentralnaya (GES, 9th complex)

On the left-bank of the River Melekeska where it flows into the River Kama is the Tauba Mosque. It was built between 1989 and 1992 and has a modern and angular look with a minaret rising from its northern side. Its facades are covered with grey limestone tiles and it has green roofing. Tauba, or At-Tawba, translates as Repentance and is the name of the 9th chapter, or sura, of the Koran. Read more »

Vladimir Vysotsky Monument

  • intersection of 16 Ulitsa Gidrostroiteley and Komsomolskaya Naberezhnaya (GES, 1st complex)

In 2003 a monument was unveiled in the small square close to Hotel Kama dedicated to Vladimir Vysotsky. This location was especially selected as the celebrated Russian bard stayed at the nearby hotel for several nights whilst on tour in 1974. It is the tallest Vysotsky monument in Russia at 9 metres tall, but does not depict the man himself. Instead it takes the form of part of a bell with guitar strings. Read more »

Novy Gorod Section

Ascension Cathedral

  • Prospekt Chulman (Borovetskoe)

Just to the north-east of the Novy Gorod section is the former village of Borovetskoe which was incorporated into the city. The Ascension Cathedral which still stands here was built between 1872 and 1889 using the funds of Dmitri Stakheev, another member of the successful merchant dynasty from Yelabuga. The red-brick cathedral has a golden dome on its main part and another on its bell tower over its entrance. During the Soviet years the cathedral was closed. In 1989 it underwent… Read more »

Bulvar Entuziastov

  • Bulvar Entuziastov (Novy Gorod, 2nd complex)

The pedestrian area around Bulvar Entuziastov (Enthusiast Boulvard) is probably the most pleasant area in the city. It is a smoke and alcohol free area and there is also free Wi-Fi here. Running all along the boulevard are several large avant-garde monuments which were created by the sculpture Ildar Khanov and installed between 1982 and 1991. In total there are six sculptures each being an abstract shape made out of concrete and decorated with colourful tiles. The six pieces are… Read more »

Ğabdulla Tuqay Monument

  • 39 Propekt Mira (Novy Gorod, 16th complex)

One of the newest monuments in Naberezhnye Chelny is the statue on Prospekt Mira of Ğabdulla Tuqay (sometimes also transliterated as Gabdulla Tukai). Tuqay is one of the most famous Tatar poets and is credited with being the founder of modern Tatar literature. The monument was unveiled in 2011 and includes a statue of the poet surrounded by characters from his stories such as Şüräle, the horned wood goblin who kills people by tickling them to death. Read more »

Ikhlas Mosque

  • 108/5 Prospekt Chulman (Novy Gorod, 48th complex, 9)

Currently the biggest mosque in Naberezhnye Chelny is the Ikhlas Mosque which is located in the north-east of the city on Prospekt Chulman. We say currently as there are plans to build a massive new mosque in the centre of the city. Ikhlas mosque was built in the 1990s and features a dome and a tall minaret on its northern side. Ikhlas, or Al-Ikhlas, translates as Fidelity and is the name of the 112th chapter, or sura, of the Koran. Read more »

ZYaB and Orlovka Sections

Ss Cosmas and Damian's church

  • 37A Naberezhnochelninsky Prospekt (Orlovka)
  • http://kamblago.ru/

In what was once the village of Orlovka, which has since been incorporated into Naberezhnye Chelny, is Ss Cosmas and Damian's Church which is not only the oldest building in the city but arguably the most beautiful. The church was built between 1854 and 1859 using the funds of Ivan Stakheev, a successful merchant from nearby Yelabuga. It was built in the Byzantine Revival style, with a single large squat dome and a small bell tower, according to a plan by the famous architect… Read more »

St Seraphim of Sarov's Church

  • 34 Naberezhnochelninsky Prospekt (ZYaB, 17th complex)

On the right-bank of the River Melekeska where it flows into the River Kama, in the north-western corner of the ZYaB district, is St Seraphim of Sarov's Church. The church was built between 1996 and 2006 on the site where previously Mysovye Chelny's St Elijah the Prophet's Church stood which was demolished in the 1970s. The church is unmistakably modern in style and also features a bell tower and a small chapel. Read more »