Man is a creator by nature. At one point in its development, humanity crossed the stage at which its activity was aimed at creating something functional, practical, and beauty, the external attractiveness of what was created, began its history. People began to make their surrounding world such that every minute it could please the eye. And for this purpose, there is art, an integral part of which is architecture. This is a great thing, because when building entire cities, you need to follow one style, one motive in its main structures, but at the same time give each of them a special feature, individuality. Russia is rich in cities, walking along the streets of which you forget to look at the road, not allowing yourself to take your eyes off the beauty of its buildings. One of these places is Saratov. The architecture and urban planning of this city originate many centuries ago, but the whole history and character of different periods of time are preserved on the facades of local buildings.
Architecture of Saratov
There are many reasons whymake tourists visit Saratov. Architecture takes pride of place among them. The entire history of urban planning of this city, all the changes in the styles and moods of its streets can be traced as a kind of time line that flows through its streets. For example, the baroque preserved the Holy Trinity Cathedral near the Volga, the first quarters of Moscow clearly reflect Russian classicism, then the eclecticism of the middle of the 19th century, the Imperial Nikolaev University as a representative of neoclassical modernism and the railway station in all the beauty of neo-Russian modernity. Unfortunately, for more than 400 years of the city's history, its architectural heritage reflects only the last two centuries. The Committee for Architecture and Urban Planning of Saratov is working on the preservation of historically valuable buildings.
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Saratov, whose architecture is full of history, can represent the oldest building in the area - the Holy Trinity Cathedral, or the Cathedral of the Life-Giving Trinity. It was erected at the end of the 17th century and still retains the sophistication of the then new style for Saratov. At the beginning of the 18th century, the main extension, the bell tower, was added to the main building. Later, the Holy Trinity Cathedral was changed many times, but in each case it remained an interesting monument of church architecture. His style can be defined as "Naryshkin" or "Moscow" baroque.
It is from this cathedral that you need to start exploring Old Saratov. Throughout history, a considerable number of architects have had a hand in creating what can be seen now. Amongamong them Suranov, Uryupin, Lyushkin, Babenkov. Each of them saw this cathedral in their own way, but at the same time everyone tried to preserve its primitive appearance and, at the same time, its value for the whole people.
Saratov Conservatory
At the beginning of the last century, the architect Jung from St. Petersburg completed his creation - a music school, which is now the Saratov State Conservatory. After ten years of its existence, this building succumbed to changes at the initiative of the architect Kallistratov, as a result of which obvious elements of the gothic style of southern Germany appeared. Since then, the history of the Saratov Conservatory has changed many times, but outwardly it has always remained the same.
Neogothic style makes this building a monument of history and artistic culture of the city. Rose windows featuring vines and owls singing chimeras make the conservatory a true eye-catcher for tourists and locals alike.
Ryazan-Ural Railway Administration
The architecture of the city of Saratov is so diverse that it is easy to get lost in time. One of the main attractions of this city is the administration of the Ryazan-Ural Railway. It was built at the beginning of the last century, in the era of eclecticism, and absorbed all the delights of that time. The office is a large five-story building with two main entrances.
It was designed by local architect Salko, who made excellent use of classicalforms. The building reveals all the beauty of its architectural appearance from an angle view. Five-part facades, three risalits, superstructures of towers and parapets, a bold color scheme (white and red) - all this was preserved with each restoration, which allows you to go back in time and look at the railway management through the ages.
City Community Bank
The unique architectural appearance of the city's Public Bank is an excellent example of the combination of architectural scale and small details of sculpture. The bank itself did not have its own separate building for a long time. Nomadism from one room to another led to a decision that became a turning point in its history. At the beginning of the 20th century, a small house was put up for sale along Teatralnaya Street. This place was immediately bought out by the Public Bank and prepared for the erection of a building, which will later be included in the architectural monuments of Saratov.
The competition for projects of the future building was held among Saratov architects, among whom the work of Zybin stood out, on which the board of the bank stopped. For three years the building was completed and appeared in all its glory to the residents of the city. It attracts not only the Art Nouveau style, but also sculptures, stucco work on the facade, on which Pozdnikov and Kazantsev worked. The appearance of the building corresponds to its purpose. General rigor and symmetry, a pair of columns, a portal loggia, side pylons - all this blends perfectly, as befits a bank.
Fedov Vasilyevich Kotenev's Mansion
One morerepresentative of Russian classicism - the mansion of Fedov Vasilyevich Kotenev - a place that Saratov is proud of. The architecture of this building stands out in the historic district of the city. Built back in 1810 by the architect Suranov, the mansion retained its individuality, but at the same time became part of the unified composition of Museum Square.
The first look at Kotenev's mansion is shocking at once by several things. These are eight columns smoothly emerging from massive arcades, and Corinthian capitals, and a large arch of the main entrance, rectangular windows and a symmetrical silhouette. Unforgettably beautiful and magically attractive, this is how Saratov appears thanks to such buildings. The architecture of this place is a secret passage into the cracks of temporary space.
