Rustam Minnikhanov visits the Chak-chak Museum and the Mardjani Museum

On January 15, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov visited several sites in the historical centre of Kazan. A cultural heritage site of regional significance “Drugstore , 19th century”, which is under restoration, located in Bauman Street, became the first site of visit.

The drugstore, currently owened by Tatkhimfarmpreparaty Pharmaceuticals Manufacturer, and information stands about the history of old drugstore in the former Bolshaya Prolomnaya street are located here.

The next place of visit became construction site in Parizhskaya Kommuna Street, 16, where the owner intends to reconstruct the building. Minnikhanov got familiar with the construction project and approved it.

Minnikhanov and his party visited the Chak-chak museum (the museum is private, opened in September, 2014). The building is in ownership of the Republic of Tatarstan and is a cultural heritage site (Bigaev merchant’s house).

Life of merchant’s house of the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries is re-established  on the basis of genuine photos of interiors of Tatar houses  in the museum.

Director General of Tatinterrestorants Company Zufar Gayazov introduced the project of “House of national cuisine” to Minnikhanov. It is supposed to be the complex of buildings: the first building is a reconstructed site of cultural heritage (lost historical and cultural monument “Bikmukhametov house, 1883" in Mardjani street), the second is a new building. “The house of national cuisine” will include a restaurant and a coffee house, where the part of dishes will be cooked in a wood-fired oven. It is also supposed to open a farmer’s shop with the national cuisine delights here.

The Mardjani  House-Museum located in Kayuma Nasyru Street became the next site of visit. The house was built for the Tatar scientist and educator Shigabutdin Mardzhani in 1858. It was restored in 1863 after the fire according to a project of an architect Romanov. Minnikhanov had a tour of the Mardjani House-Museum, where handmade shamails, namazlyk of unique Tatar embroidery, collection of Tatar photos are represented.

The President noted that the Mardjani House-Museum is kind of face of Kazan and of Tatar nation, as the life of enlightened educated elite of 19th century is represented here.

The last for this day site of visit was a newly opened museum of Old Tatar Settlement “Tatar Bistese” on Kayuma Nasyri Street, 38.

Then, the Prefecture of Old Tatar Settlement and students of Kazan State University of Architecture and Building Construction introduced the draft offer of development of the street with increased tourist navigation and introduction of small architectural forms in Kayuma Nasyri Street. Minnikhanov supported this proposal.