Russia: Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex

Last Monday I got three postcards: one from Russia, one from Japan and one from Indonesia.

The card from Russia shows a view of the Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex in Tatarstan. Bolgar was an early settlement of the civilization of Volga-Bolgars and later their capital. During the rule of the Golden Horde Bolgar acquired immense wealth, many imposing buildings and grew tenfold in size. The Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex is since 2014 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With a nice stamp:
Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoe (issued 05-09-2014)
with a special postmark from Moscow

Thank You very much Boris!

Russia: Assumption Cathedral of Sviyazhsk

On Thursday I got two postcards from Russia.

One of them shows the Assumption Cathedral of Sviyazhsk in Tatarstan. Sviyazhsk was founded in 1551 by Ivan the Terrible at the confluence of the Volga and Sviyaga Rivers and at the crossroads of the Silk and Volga routes. The cathedral illustrates the political and missionary programme developed by Ivan the Terrible to extend the Moscow state and from this outpost he initiated the conquest of the Kazan Khanate. The Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk are since 2017 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Lighthouses of Crimea (whole set) (issued 29-09-2016)
Flora and Fauna (from set of fifteen) (issued 29-08-2008)
Russian Kremlins (from set of twelve) (issued 01-10-2009)

Thank You very much Vera!

Russia: Kazan Kremlin in Tatarstan

On Monday I got nine postcards including my first card from Tatarstan.

The Republic of Tatarstan is a federal subject of Russia. It is located in the European part of Russia. It is considered to be particularly independent and also never signed the Federal Treaty. In 2008 the independence of Tatarstan was declared, but it was ignored by Russia and the United Nations.

The card shows the Söyembikä Tower of the Kazan Kremlin. Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan and is known as Third Capital of Russia. It is also the largest city of Tatarstan and the eight largest city of Russia. It hosted the Summer Universiade in 2013 and will be one of the host cities of the FIFA World Cup in 2018. Among others Kazan is twinned with Braunschweig, my home town. The Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin is since 2000 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With a matching stamp and another related stamp:
Summer Universiade in Kazan (issued 25-06-2013)
Headdresses of the Republic of Tatarstan (from set of four) (issued 30-07-2010)

Thank You very much Ilshat!