Ufa.

History

A fortress was built here in 1574 on the orders of Ivan the Terrible, and Ufa received town status in 1586. During the uprising of 1773–1775 it held out under a siege of about four months. From 1865 it was the seat of a governorate, and in 1922 it became the capital of Bashkiria. In the Second World War many factories were evacuated to the city.

Culture & traditions

Ufa has six state theatres, including an opera and ballet house, and more than fifty museums. The city has a monument to Salavat Yulaev, the Bashkir national hero. The Pink Panther jazz festival has run since 2003, and there is an organ festival too. The city is home to the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia, and rock musicians Yuri Shevchuk and Zemfira come from here.

Sport

The city's great sporting passion is the ice hockey club Salavat Yulaev, which plays at Ufa Arena. FC Ufa plays football at the Neftyanik Stadium, and there are also the volleyball club Ural and a handball team. Ice speedway is a special source of pride: Ufa hosts world championships, and local riders have won gold many times.

Food & drink

Ufa is a good place to try Bashkir food: beshbarmak with boiled meat and broad noodles, kazy horse sausage and koumiss made from mare's milk. Bashkirs take special pride in their honey, above all the Burzyan variety, served with tea and sour cream. Festive tables feature chak-chak, belish and gubadia.

Practical information

Ufa International Airport has flights from many Russian cities. The city is a major rail hub on the route from western Russia to the Urals and Siberia, and the M5 and M7 federal highways link it to Moscow. The climate is moderately continental, averaging about −15 °C in January and around +20 °C in July. May to September is the most comfortable time to come.

What to see

• Salavat Yulaev Monument — a tribute to the Bashkir national hero
• Demidov House — Ufa's oldest surviving building, from 1757
• Bashkir Opera and Ballet Theatre — the republic's leading music stage
• Parks and fountains — more than twenty fountains and plenty of green space
• Pink Panther festival — jazz in Ufa since 2003