Uralsk is the only city in Kazakhstan located entirely within Europe. But its uniqueness goes far beyond geography. It was here that the uprising of Yemelyan Pugachev began, and years later, Alexander Pushkin traveled to Uralsk to study the rebellion firsthand. Russian literary giants like Leo Tolstoy and Nobel laureate Mikhail Sholokhov passed through its streets, and the powerful voice of young Fyodor Chaliapin once echoed here.

In Uralsk, history isn’t locked away in archives. It lives on in old buildings, museums, mosques, theaters, parks, and quiet side streets. In this article, we’ll take you through the city’s most compelling landmarks.

In the Footsteps of Pugachev and Pushkin

Between 1773 and 1775, the Russian Empire was shaken by a massive peasant uprising led by Yemelyan Pugachev, a Cossack who claimed to be Emperor Peter III, the deposed husband of Catherine the Great. The rebellion brought together serfs, Cossacks, and ethnic minorities united by their anger over feudal oppression, heavy taxes, and forced conscription.

The rebels seized several cities along the Volga River and attempted to capture Uralsk (then known as the Yaitsky settlement). However, the city held out against the siege until imperial troops arrived, putting an end to the revolt. In the aftermath, Catherine II ordered the settlement renamed Uralsk and the Yaik River renamed the Ural, in an effort to erase the memory of the rebellion. But history, as it turns out, is hard to silence.

Today, Uralsk is home to the world’s only Yemelyan Pugachev Museum, located in the house where Pugachev’s second wife, Ustinya Kuznetsova, once lived. The building was constructed in the mid-18th century by her father. Remarkably well-preserved, the house now offers a glimpse into the era’s atmosphere.

You can visit the museum at 35 Nursultan Nazarbayev Avenue. Its collection features many rare and fascinating artifacts. One highlight is an 18th-century wooden throne. Although, it’s not certain Pugachev ever sat on it. There’s also a replica of the iron cage used to transport Pugachev to Moscow for execution (the original is displayed in the State Historical Museum in Moscow). The museum also showcases weapons used by the rebels: pitchforks, axes, pikes, arrowheads, muskets, and sabres.

Not far from the Pugachev Museum stands another silent witness to those dramatic times – the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael (70/1 N. Nazarbayev Avenue). This is the oldest Orthodox church in Kazakhstan, founded in 1741. During the Pugachev Rebellion, a fortress was built around the cathedral, where ataman Simonov’s garrison held their ground.

Over the years, the cathedral has welcomed many notable visitors, including Emperor Alexander II, the poet Vasily Zhukovsky, and Alexander Pushkin. In 1833, Pushkin came to Uralsk to gather materials for The History of the Pugachev Rebellion and The Captain’s Daughter. He spent just two and a half days in the city, but managed to visit all the key sites linked to the uprising.

Pushkin stayed in the home of the city’s military commander. Today, that very building houses the Pushkin Museum (168a N. Nazarbayev Avenue). The museum recreates the atmosphere of the early 19th century. While it doesn’t contain any of the poet’s original belongings, it features copies of his manuscripts, period furnishings, books, and household items. One standout original piece is a silver hammer presented to Nicholas II in 1891 during the foundation ceremony of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

Strolling through Uralsk today, you can literally walk in Pushkin’s footsteps. He first visited Kureni, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, where many of the rebellion’s events took place. He saw the house of Ustinya Kuznetsova and visited the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael.

Other Museums

Uralsk knows how to honor its history. In addition to the Pugachev and Pushkin museums, the city is home to nearly 20 museums. Many of them are located along Nursultan Nazarbayev Avenue. Walking down this single street feels like journeying through the centuries.

A great place to begin is the West Kazakhstan History Museum, housed in the former Russian-Kyrgyz craft school from the late 19th century (184 N. Nazarbayev Avenue). The building itself is a masterpiece: Gothic spires, arched windows, and intricate carvings create a striking mix of austerity and fairy-tale charm. Inside, you’ll find archaeological discoveries, ethnographic displays, military artifacts, fine art, and rare historical documents.

Directly across the street from the Pushkin Museum is the Museum of Nature and Ecology (151/2 N. Nazarbayev Avenue). Here, you’ll encounter fossils, taxidermy animals, rare minerals, and exhibits showcasing the region’s flora and fauna.

At 51 Saraishyk Street, stands the Manshuk Mametova Museum, dedicated to the legendary machine gunner and Hero of the Soviet Union. In 1943, Manshuk bravely held off enemy forces alone, killing around 70 soldiers before falling in battle. The museum is located in her family’s former home and features her personal letters, photographs, diary entries, and items recovered from the battlefield.

Uralsk also commemorates Manshuk Mametova with a monument located at the intersection of M. Mametova Street and Nazarbayev Avenue. It features bronze statues of three war heroines: machine gunner Manshuk Mametova, pilot Khiuaz Dospanova, and sniper Aliya Moldagulova.

To dive even deeper into the soul of the city, make time for the Old Uralsk Museum (49 Kairat Zhumagaliev Street). It offers a glimpse into everyday life in the 19th and early 20th centuries through vintage photographs, coins, kitchenware, children's toys, newspapers, and more. The collection creates a rare sense of presence where the past feels vivid and almost touchable.

At 206/1 Nursultan Nazarbayev Avenue, you’ll find the Dombyra – Ulttyk Rukh Museum, the first museum in Kazakhstan entirely devoted to the dombyra, the Kazakh string instrument. The exhibits showcase a rich variety from simple, rustic instruments once played by peasants to beautifully inlaid ceremonial dombyras.

Tucked into a quiet courtyard off Kasym Amanzholov Street near the Pushkin Museum, is the Museum of Uralsk’s First Fire Station. Remarkably, the station (now more than 160 years old) is still operational. The original watchtower, built in 1865, still stands, and the museum features a collection of copper fire hoses, firefighter helmets from the 1940s, and even a complete uniform from the 1960s.

If you're willing to venture a little beyond the city, head about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) southwest to the village of Darinskoye, where the Mikhail Sholokhov Museum is located. It housed in the house his family lived in during the wartime evacuation of 1942-43. Sholokhov returned there several times after the war. In this house he worked on They Fought for Their Country, began his essay Across Western Kazakhstan, and, in October 1965, received word of being awarded the Nobel Prize. At Sholokhov’s own request, the museum’s exhibition focuses not only on his life and work but also on the history of the Ural region.

Theaters and Concert Halls

Uralsk has something to offer to lovers of theater and music. The city’s performing arts history begins with the Ostrovsky Drama Theater, the oldest in Kazakhstan. It’s located at 17 Dina Nurpeisova Street. Its building, erected in 1940, boasts a neoclassical façade. The theater has a diverse repertoire, from Russian literary classics to bold contemporary productions.

Right across the street stands the Khadisha Bukeyeva Kazakh Drama Theater (185 Nursultan Nazarbayev Avenue), where performances are staged in the Kazakh language.

For grand, large-scale events, head to the city’s new district and the impressive Atameken Concert Hall (5th microdistrict, 12/2). This monumental building is designed in the Stalinist empire style with neoclassical elements. Majestic columns, symmetry, and high pediments set the tone for an evening of cultural immersion even before the curtains rise.

In front of the concert hall stretches First President Square – a spacious plaza with fountains, sculptures, landscaped gardens, and monuments. Just steps away is the Kadyr Myrza Ali West Kazakhstan Center for Culture and Art, which includes an open-air amphitheater for concerts and festivals.

Rounding out the cultural complex are the House of Friendship, the Wedding Palace, and two major shopping and entertainment hubs – Asia Mall and Oral Mall.

Mosques and Churches

The Red Mosque at 29/1 8 Mart Street is not just a religious building, but a place of power. Built in 1871 from red brick, it became the city's first Muslim temple and is still considered the oldest functioning mosque in Uralsk. Believers say that the atmosphere inside the mosque is special: silence, peace and the feeling of a sacred place.

The Central Mosque at 92 Abay Avenue has a completely different spirit. This is the youngest and most modern mosque in Uralsk. Built using new technologies, it pleases parishioners not only with its architecture, but also with its convenience. City residents simply call it the "new mosque."

And if you want to touch the true heritage of the 19th century, you should go to 22 Dosmukhamedov Street, where the old stone Tajiden Batyruly Mosque stands. Its restrained architectural appearance and solid masonry carry the spirit of the time, when mosques were built for centuries.

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior (202 N. Nazarbayev Avenue) is one of the most majestic and historically significant cathedrals in the region. Construction began in 1891 and continued until 1907. The foundation stone was laid by Tsarevich Nicholas, the future Emperor Nicholas II. The cathedral captivates visitors with its harmonious proportions and solemn, awe-inspiring architecture.

Old Mansions

A stroll through Uralsk can feel like stepping back into the 19th century, especially once you find yourself on Nursultan Nazarbayev Avenue, where rows of old mansions stand as silent witnesses to the city’s past.

Begin your walk at 179 N. Nazarbayev Avenue, where the former Trade and Industrial Bank now serves as the Akimat of the West Kazakhstan Region. This neoclassical building is easily recognized by the stone lions guarding its entrance. Built at the turn of the 20th century, it still impresses with its stately, formal appearance.

Not far from there, at 47 Karev Street, stands the mansion of merchant Karev, built in 1900. Once the tallest structure in the city, it now houses the G. Kurmangaliev Philharmonic, blending history with music.

Continue to 161 N. Nazarbayev Avenue, where stands the historic Rossiya Hotel, built in 1888. It once hosted notable guests including revolutionary Dmitry Furmanov and public figure Bakhytzhan Karatayev.

A true architectural gem awaits nearby – the Mizinov House, also known as the House of Architect Delmedino. Built in 1820, it features a rare blend of classicism and baroque.

Across the street, you’ll spot a charming blue building that once housed the Illusion Cinema. Today, it’s a table tennis school (16 Gumar Karash Street), but the building’s historic charm endures.

The Salnikov House and the former Strauss Pharmacy (at 155 and 153 Nazarbayev Avenue) continue this architectural story. Their carved window frames, ornate balconies, and arched windows preserve the decorative elegance of their era.

A little farther down the avenue is the Pushkin Museum, already familiar to us. Right next to it stands a modest two-story building that once housed the Sovremennik Cinema, which opened its doors in 1893.

Continue your walk down Nursultan Nazarbayev Avenue, and you’ll come across the imposing building that once housed the Military Economic Administration. Today, it serves as a library (166/2 N. Nazarbayev Ave.).

Just across the street, at 22 Chapaev Street, stands P. Obratnev Mansion, instantly recognizable by the stone Atlanteans, lions, and other mythological figures on its façade.

At the intersection of Nazarbayev Avenue and Nekrasov Street is the elegant Vanyushin Mansion, built in the 1870s-1880s. This red-brick building now houses a children’s art school. Between 1937 and 1940, it served as an agricultural technical school, where Zhuban Moldagaliyev, future People’s Writer of Kazakhstan, once studied.

Finally, where Nazarbayev Avenue meets Pugachev Street, you enter the Kureni district – an old neighborhood of single-story houses that has preserved the atmosphere of 19th-century Uralsk. It’s here you’ll find two landmarks already familiar from earlier in our journey: the Pugachev Museum and the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael.

Parks

The Uralsk Park of Culture and Recreation is more than just a green oasis. It's an open-air stage of history. The park has witnessed visits from remarkable figures. In 1862, Leo Tolstoy spent several days there, staying in the residence of the local governor that once stood within the park grounds. In 1891, the future Tsar Nicholas II was welcomed with a grand concert featuring none other than the young Fyodor Chaliapin, who would go on to become a legend of opera.

Sadly, in 1942, a devastating flood swept away the original park buildings, including both the governor’s residence and the stage where Chaliapin’s voice once echoed. Yet the spirit of those times still lingers in the shaded alleys, towering trees, and winding paths.

Near the park is a children’s zoo, part of the Regional Ecological and Biological Center (49 Kairat Ryskulbekov Street). It’s home to about 90 species, including wolves, a puma, a bear, reptiles, and birds.

For those seeking peace and quiet, Victory Park offers a space for reflection. Located on the banks of the Ural River, not far from the Kureni district, it features an Eternal Flame, a commemorative stele, and restored WWII military equipment.

Uralsk is a city with a soul, where history is stitched into every street and facade. Here, you can feel the breath of time, hear the echoes of great literature, and let the sound of the dombyra drift between ancient parks and modern halls. Come to Uralsk because this city knows how to surprise you and win your heart at first sight.