Kul Sharif Mosque, Kazan

Named after a Tatar imam who died defending Kazan from the armies of Ivan the Terrible, Kul Sharif Mosque remains most famous for its observation balcony and dome, designed to resemble a lotus flower. Completed in 2005, this lavish building stands on the remains of a 16th-century structure, once the biggest mosque in Russia. Part of the city's World Heritage-listed citadel, the mosque houses a museum dedicated to the history of Islam in Tatarstan. Keep in mind that according to Islamic tradition, only men can enter the ground-floor prayer hall, and women must keep their hair covered in all parts of the mosque. Visitors to the third-floor observation balcony do not need to remove their shoes. Make Kul Sharif Mosque a centerpiece of your Kazan vacation itinerary, and find what else is worth visiting using our Kazan trip website.