Coat of arms

Yelabuga

Yelabuga

If Yelabuga was located closer to Moscow or St Petersburg, it would probably became a major tourist destination, rivalling cities on the Golden Ring route. As it is, Yelabuga is still one of the highlights of Tatarstan, despite its rather remote location. Much of the city’s historical centre has been completely preserved and it has many museums detailing the development of the city through various ages. In addition it has links with three interesting historical figures: the poet Marina Tsvetaeva, the artist Ivan Shishkin and officer of the Russian army Nadezhda Durova, who disguised herself as a man. There are special house-museums dedicated to all three of them. If that wasn’t enough, the city is also located in picturesque surroundings on the River Kama, with the ruins of a fortress dating from the time of Volga Bulgaria overlooking it.


Basic facts
Russian Name
Елабуга
Tatar Name
Алабуга (Alabuğa)
Status
City and administrative centre of the Yelabuga District of the Republic of Tatarstan
Location
On the confluence of the River Toyma and the River Kama
Distance
35km west of Naberezhnye Chelny, 225km east of Kazan, 1,030km east of Moscow
Time Zone
Moscow Time
Population
71,991 people (2014)
Founded
10th century
First mentioned
920
Titles/Awards
Historical City of Russia
Festivals
Bell-Ringing Festival held annually in August at the same time as the Spasskaya Market
Official Website
http://www.elabugacity.ru/ (district); http://www.yelabuga.ru/ (city)