The embankment on the left-bank of the River Malaya Kokshaga is known as the Bruges Embankment (Naberezhnaya Bryugge) after the Belgian city as the modern buildings here have all been built in the Flemish style, even though there is no real connection between Yoshkar-Ola and Flanders!  Many of the buildings here are now used by the local government and since its construction the embankment has become the calling card of the city.

The embankment is also decorated with various monuments.  There is a statue of Empress Elizabeth which depicts the daughter of Peter the Great riding her horse.  The Newly Weds Monument comprises statues of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and his wife Grace Kelly.  In addition one of the buildings here features several statues of Russian saints.