Yoshkar-Ola is the capital city of Mary El Republic. Founded in 1584, the city stands on the river Malaya Kokshaga - the left inflow of Volga, in the center of Volga-Vyatka area.

The population of Yoshkar-Ola makes about 253.4 thousand persons. The total area occupied by the city exceeds 11000 hectares.

Yoshkar-Ola as translated from the Mari language is “Red city”, which means “beautiful”. The city has been recognized the greenest city of Russia. Yoshkar-Ola is the cultural center of the republic. It is a venue of various international and sports events, and one of the centers of the Finno-Ugric movement.

In general the city is constantly growing and developing.

History of Yoshkar-Ola

The city was founded in 1584 on Kokshaika River (nowadays Malaya Kokshaga) under the decree of Tsar Feodor Ioannovich after joining of Mari El lands to the Russian state as Tsarev Fortress on Kokshaika, later renamed into Tsarevokokshaisk. From 1708 it was a part of the Kazan Province, and from 1781the district city of Kazan Region.

In 1919-27 the citywas called Krasnokokshaisk. In 1927 as the center of Mari El autonomous region it was named Yoshkar-Ola. In 1936-90 it was the capital of Mari El Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, and nowadays just Mari Republic. It is registered in the list of historical cities of Russia.

Sights of Yoshkar-Ola

Many cultural heritage sites of Yoshkar-Ola basically reflect the period of the city’s formation in the mid 20th century - “the Soviet neoclassicism”. Among the cultural heritage sites of Yoshkar-Ola there are monuments reflecting various periods and memorable dates in the city’s history, and monuments of monumental art.

Speaking about architecture, there have remained 19th century stone and wooden houses with carved platbands, eaves and gates. The Voskresensky (Resurrection) Church constructed in 1756 is an architectural monument of the city.

Yoshkar-Ola City History Museum will tell you about the life of this city, about its past and present. The museum is located in the ancient house of the well-known timber merchant T.V.Chulkov.

T.Yevseyev National Museum of Mary El Republic was first opened for the visitors in March, 1920. The history of the museum is inseparably linked with the well-known regional specialist, the researcher of life and culture of the Mari people – Timofey Yevseevich Yevseyev.

The National Art Gallery is the largest exhibition centre of Yoshkar-Ola. The permanent exposition of the funds of the Fine Arts Museum includes the best samples of national Mari drawing, painting and sculpture. Along with that, exhibitions of Russian and international are regularly held in the gallery.

Georgy Konstantinov Academic Russian Drama Theater

The Russian Theater has been known in Yoshkar-Ola since 1919. Initially at Mari theater there performed a Russian troupe established thanks to the decree of the Kazan executive committee.

E.Sapaev Mari Opera and Ballet Theater was organized in 1968 as a musical drama theater. It was transformed from of Jacob Shketan Mari Drama Theater into a musical-drama theater.