Cheboksary
Cheboksary is not by any means the first place you would think to visit while in Russia, but like many provincial cities it has a lot to offer those who want to see the real Russia. Cheboksary lies north of Chuvashia and has had a long and varied history. It was first mentioned in written sources in 1469, but was occupied as far back as the first millennium. Chuvashia was never a Muslim region, but leapt straight from paganism to Russian Orthodox Christianity in the 16th century. Russian is its official language, but many people use Chuvash for everyday communication. The city is clean and modern with broad tree-lined boulevards that sweep down to the bay, where you can find all kinds of entertainment along the Volga. You can visit the theatre, the museum, or wander around the many stalls on the boardwalk. Cheboksary is Russia’s beer brewing capital, home to Russia's only beer museum, and the small cafes along the river offer a nice blend of beers to sample.
The one thing you must do while in Cheboksary is cross the Volga and climb to the Vvedensky Cathedral. From the outside it looks like any other grand Orthodox church, but inside it is breathtaking. There is work underway to repair damage to the structure after many years of neglect, but fortunately the majority of the original decoration has been preserved. Every square inch of space has been covered by murals dating from the 17th century. Their beauty is only enhanced by the patina of age caused by 300 years of candles and incense, leaving you struck by the aura of greatness around you. Particularly apt is the image of St. George slaying the dragon, a symbol of Christianity triumphing over paganism.
See our Russian Cruises that dock in Cheboksary.
MS Tolstoi
MS Volga Dream
