Astrakhan

Sitting at the delta of the Volga River in the Caspian Lowland is the city of Astrakhan. The city was founded in 1395 by Mongol leader Tamerlane, conquered by Tsar Ivan the Terrible in 1556, rebuilt and given industrial privileges by Catherine II in the 18th century. Present-day Astrakhan is multinational. The trinity of religious practices of Christianity, Islam and Buddhism makes this city a diverse ethnic destination. Travelers can visit its many theaters which also has a philharmonic society, the circus, the Astrakhan Kremlin, or the Catholic Church of St. Virgin Assumption.