Samara

Samara (Kuybyshev in 1935-1991) is one of the largest cities in the Volga region. It stands on the left bank of the Volga River and has the population of more than 1 million people on the area of 541 square kilometers.

The city was officially founded in 1586 when a fortress with the same name was made at the confluence of the Volga and Samara rivers. The climate here is temperate continental. All the four seasons of the year are obvious. In summer it is hot and sunny. In winter you will find here snow mountains and it is freezing cold.

People of different nationalities and religions live here. You will see Orthodox churches, monasteries, old believers’ churches, mosques, a synagogue, Catholic and Protestant churches.

Samara is a major center of mechanical engineering and metalworking, food processing, as well as space and aviation industry producing outer space vehicles and machinery, aircraft, power stations, equipment for oil refineries, cranes, etc. It is among top ten Russian cities by industry volume. Samara food industry is known for its chocolate, vodka “Rodnik”, and “Zhiguli” beer.

There are over 150 large and medium industrial plants in the city. About 25% of all bearings and 70% of all cables produced in Russia are made in Samara.

Samara is one of the biggest transport hubs in Russia, crossed by the shortest ways from Central and Western Europe to Siberia, Central Asia, and Kazakhstan.

Samara Embankment, the longest in Russia (about 5 km), is one of the main sights of the city. Kuibyshev Square is the largest square in Europe.

The building of Samara railway station is the highest railway station in Europe (its height with a spire is 101 meters). You can climb to the observation deck of the station, a large balcony around the dome, to look at Samara from above.
You will enjoy walking through the historic center of Samara, where the buildings of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th centuries keep the atmosphere of an old Russian merchant city.

The tourist infrastructure in the region is represented widely enough: more than 100 hotels, 50 health centers, 122 recreation centers, and 74 children’s health camps.

If you really want to know how real Russia looks like and lives, come to Samara and enjoy its unforgettable atmosphere!