The Kul Sharif Mosque

 
Four centuries ago the legendary many-minaret Kul Sharif Mosque decorated the capital of Kazan Khanate impressing everybody with its magnificence, grace, beauty and rich library. It was named in honor of its last Imam Seid Kul Sharif - one of Kazan defence leaders.

According to Dr.N.Khalitov's research the two-storied eight-minaret mosque was oriented towards the parts of the world.

When Ivan the Terrible captured the city the mosque was burnt down and ruined as well as other Moslem buildings of the Kazan Kremlin.

In 1995, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan signed the Decree in accordance with which work at Kul Sharif Mosque's reconstruction started. On February 21, 1996, the foundation-stone was laid on the place of the erection of the mosque's building.

The International Contest for the project of the Kul Sharif mosque was conducted in the Republic, 16 projects were submitted to the contest. As a result, the architectural decision has been found according to which the mosque's complex presents a symmetric composition with the mosque's building in the centre of the yard and two pavilions on either sides. The mosque's complex includes a building of the mosque itself, a library, a publishing centre, Imam's Administration.