Sviyazhsk

Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk

UNESCO World Heritage Site
The island
Location	Tatarstan, Russia
Criteria	Cultural: (ii)(iv)
Reference	1525
Inscription	2017 (41st Session)
Area	3.25 ha (8.0 acres)
Buffer zone	11,563.9 ha (28,575 acres)
Coordinates	55°46′13″N 48°39′10″E
Location of Sviyazhsk in Tatarstan Sviyazhsk (European Russia) Sviyazhsk (Russia)

Sviyazhsk (Russian: Свия́жск; Tatar: Зөя) is a rural locality (a selo) in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, located at the confluence of the Volga and Sviyaga Rivers. It is often referred to as an island since the 1955 construction of the Kuybyshev Reservoir downstream at Tolyatti, but it is in fact connected to the mainland by a causeway.

In 2017 the Assumption Cathedral and Monastery were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Sviyazhsk was founded in 1551 as a fortress, which was built within four weeks from parts made in Uglich and transported down the Volga. It became a military base of the Russian army during the siege of Kazan (1552).

Since the 18th century, Sviyazhsk served as a center of an uyezd. In 1920–1927, it was a center of Sviyazhsky Kanton; in 1927–1931—the administrative center of Sviyazhsky District. In 1932, it was demoted to rural status.

There is a school and a club in Sviyazhsk, as well as a monastery associated with the name of Macarius of Unzha.

Sviyazhsk railway station is located 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) west of the island and is linked with Sviyazhsk proper by a highway running along a causeway.

Another way to get there is by a boat from the port of Kazan. In summer every day at 08:30 a fast boat departs at pier 8, and at 09:00 a slow boat. Tickets can be bought on the spot near the kassa.

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  Trinity Church
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  View towards the pier
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  Horseyard of Uspensky Monastery
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  View of Uspensky Monastery

Historical population

• 1989: 747 (Russians - 66%, Tatars - 27%)
• 2000: 258