Bauman Street is Kazan's main pedestrian artery, a local Arbat connecting Kazan Kremlin with Tukay Square. All the city's tourist life is concentrated here: shops, restaurants, street musicians, monuments, and fountains. If you only have a few hours in Kazan, spend them here.

History

The street emerged in the 16th century as Kazan's main trading thoroughfare, then called Prolomnaya. In Soviet times, it was renamed after revolutionary Nikolai Bauman, a Kazan native. It became pedestrian in 1986 - one of the first in the USSR.

What to See

Catherine II's Carriage - a replica of the carriage the empress entered Kazan in 1767. Kazan Cat Monument - bronze cat, symbol of legendary Kazan cats. Epiphany Cathedral Bell Tower (74 meters) - observation deck with views of the street and Kremlin.

Where to Eat

Try Tatar food: echpochmak (triangular pastry), kystyby (flatbread with puree), chak-chak (honey pastry). Best chak-chak at Chak-Chak Museum.

What's Nearby

North end: Kazan Kremlin with Kul Sharif Mosque. South end: Tukay Square. You can walk to Old Tatar Sloboda from the middle.

Practical Tips

Lively all day, especially evenings. Walk without stops: 20-30 minutes. With cafes and museums: 2-3 hours. Metro: Kremlevskaya or Ploshchad Tukaya.