Address: Russia, Kasimov, pl. Victory
Coordinates: 54 ° 55'59.6 "N 41 ° 23'52.3" E
Content:
At the highest point of Kasimov there is a snow-white minaret and an old mosque. They have been standing here since the times of the Kasimov Khanate. Tourists who travel to the cities of the "Golden Ring" of Russia and certainly climb the roof of a high minaret to admire the picturesque Oka valley and the historical buildings of the city.
General view of the Khan mosque against the background of the Kasimov buildings
History of the mosque
Some historians believe that the first Kasimov mosque was built in the 15th century by the princes Yakub and Kasim. Others are sure that the Muslim temple appeared later - during the reign of Shah Ali Khan. It is noteworthy that in the middle of the 16th century it was the only stone mosque in the territory of Russia.
According to legend, in 1702 the Russian Tsar Peter I sailed to Kasimov along the Oka. Seeing a tall building on the hill, the emperor thought it was an Orthodox church and made the sign of the sign of the cross. When the king learned that the Horde mosque was in front of him, he ordered to destroy it. The minaret was left and used as a watchtower for a long time.
Empress Catherine II issued a special decree, according to which a new mosque was built next to the minaret. At the request of the autocrat, a centurion of the city Tatar settlement was assigned to supervise the construction, and in 1768 the Kasimov Tatars received a new temple for prayer. Until 1835 it was one-story, but then another brick floor was added.
Bird's eye view of the Khan Mosque
Soon after the revolution, the Muslim temple was closed to believers, and since 1938, the Kasimov Museum of Local Lore was housed inside the buildings. In the 2000s, the main exposition of the museum was moved to the Alyanchikov house on Cathedral Square, and materials related to the history of the Kasimov Tatars were left in the Muslim buildings.
Until 2013, the mosque was not used for its intended purpose, and there were no prayers in it. Then the situation changed - the old building was given to the believers, and today it is used by the Tatar community of the city. True, there are very few Muslims in Kasimov. The population of the city is just over 30 thousand people. More than 97% are Russians, and only 0.92% are Tatars. In addition to them, Belarusians, Ukrainians and representatives of other nationalities live in Kasimov.
An ancient mosque today
Travelers specially come to Kasimov to enjoy the Islamic flavor of the local architecture and learn more about the history of the Kasimov Khanate. The Khan's mosque has the status of a historical and architectural monument and is protected by the state.
View of the main entrance of the mosque
The architectural complex of the Muslim temple includes a two-story building of the mosque itself, a high minaret and the tekie or mausoleum of Shah Ali Khan. On the wall of the mosque, above the door, there is a stone with a text written in the Old Tatar language. It lists the names and surnames of the respected Tatars of the city who took part in the construction of the mosque in the second half of the 18th century.
The museum tells about the history of the Kasimov Khanate and the life of the Kasimov Tatars. Among its exhibits, you can see old books and newspapers, Tatar openwork jewelry, religious paraphernalia, items of national clothing, rare photographs and documents. A visit to the museum in the mosque costs 50 rubles. For the opportunity to climb the minaret from adults they take 100 rubles, and from schoolchildren - 50 rubles. Preschoolers can visit the top for free (2018).
The roof of the stone minaret is allowed from May to September from 9.00 to 17.00. To the top, tourists climb a steep twisted staircase, consisting of 70 steps. The view from here is impressive! From the minaret you can see the floodplain and the opposite bank of the Oka, the road bridge that connects the two banks of the river, Kasimov streets, old wooden buildings and Orthodox churches.
View of the mosque from the north
How to get there
The Khan Mosque is located on Victory Square, 9, in the historical part of the city. It takes 6 hours to get from Moscow to Kasimov by private car or regular buses. It is easy to walk from the city bus station to the mosque.
