Saransk.

History

The town grew from the Atemar fortress, founded in 1641 on Russia's south-eastern frontier, and gained town status in 1780. From the early 18th century it was moved several times between governorates. In 1928 Saransk became the centre of the Mordvin National Okrug, and in 1930 of the Mordovian Autonomous Oblast. Much of the centre was rebuilt in the 1960s and 70s.

Culture & traditions

The city has the State Russian Drama Theatre (opened in 1932), the National Drama Theatre, an opera and ballet theatre (2011) and the State Puppet Theatre, which is well known across Russia. The Mordovian Museum of Fine Arts holds works by sculptor Stepan Erzia and painter Fedot Sychkov, and there is also a regional museum. The Cathedral of St Theodore Ushakov was completed in 2006. The philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin lived and taught in Saransk from 1949 to 1969, and the city is home to Mordovian State University, founded in 1957.

Sport

Together with neighbouring Chuvashia and Penza Oblast, Mordovia has produced many of today's top race walkers, and in 2012 Saransk hosted the IAAF World Race Walking Cup. In 2018 the Mordovia Arena staged four group matches of the FIFA World Cup. The city's football club is FC Mordovia, and Saransk has more than 2,100 sports facilities.

Food & drink

Mordovian cuisine belongs to the culture of the Erzya and Moksha, two peoples whose languages are related but not mutually intelligible. Saransk is the natural place to taste it as the republic's living home-cooking tradition.

Practical information

Saransk Airport was upgraded for the 2018 World Cup and is reached by a new 3.5 km road. The city has a rail link to Moscow, and trolleybuses (since 1966), buses and minibuses run around town. Saransk is on Moscow time. The climate is humid continental, with average temperatures below freezing for about five months of the year and warm summers, which are the best time to visit.

What to see

• Cathedral of St Theodore Ushakov — the city's cathedral, completed in 2006
• Museum of Fine Arts — Erzia's sculptures and Sychkov's paintings
• Mordovia Arena — a 2018 World Cup stadium
• State Puppet Theatre — a company known throughout Russia
• Opera and Ballet Theatre — a musical stage opened in 2011