Walking around the squares of Almaty -
History of Almaty and its attractions -
Akhmet Baitursynov City Square is not just a place for walking. It is a living chronicle of Almaty, a place where time seems to stand still to allow everyone to touch the cultural heritage. The square was solemnly opened in 1997 in honor of the 125th anniversary of the birth of Akhmet Baitursynov - the great Kazakh educator, reformer, outstanding public figure who stood at the origins of the Kazakh written language. He not only reformed the alphabet, introducing adapted Arabic script for the Kazakh language, but was also one of the founders of the Alash movement, which fought for national identity and independence. Akhmet Baitursynov left an indelible mark on history, laying the foundations of Kazakh literature, science and education, and his contribution is forever imprinted in the heart of the nation.
The southern part of the Akhmet Baitursynov Square is crowned by a hill, on top of which rises the house-museum of Akhmet Baitursynov - an old building built at the beginning of the 20th century by the merchant Zubov. The northern slope of the hill is framed by the square itself, which earlier, in pre-revolutionary and Soviet times, was called Zubovsky, in honor of the merchant and his buildings. The merchant Zubov once planted trees here despite the fact that the land was poor and hostile to growth - not all the seedlings survived, but it was then that the first sprout of the future square was sown.
How to find see and see -
The Akhmet Baitursynov Square is located at the address Dzhambula Street corner of Baitursynov Street, 72 meters from the choreographic school, a 10-minute walk from the Baikonur metro station, next to the Nikolsky Cathedral, Almalinsky District, Almaty City, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°14'50"N 76°55'38"E
Information -
Around the Akhmet Baitursynov Square there is an architectural ensemble, once called Kuchegury. In the second half of the 19th century, it was the outskirts of the city of Verny (the old name was Alma-Ata), where Uyghurs and Dungans lived compactly, having moved here in 1881 after the conclusion of the St. Petersburg Treaty between the Russian Empire and China. The northern border of the square is washed by the shadows of the Nikolsky Cathedral, and even lower there is the ancient Nikolsky Bazaar (on the site of which there is now a parking lot), founded by the same merchant Zubov. In the mid-30s of the last century, at the height of socialist reforms, the bazaar was renamed Proletarsky to reflect the spirit of the new time. In front of the market there was a small square – Kirovskaya, apparently named in honor of Sergei Mironovich Kirov’s visit to Ust-Kamenogorsk in 1934 – a year that became tragic for the revolutionary, who died in the same December.
The history of the area around the square is like a layer cake – each decade left its mark, its names, its events. In the early 1950s, the market became Nikolsky again, returning to its origins. In the southwestern corner of the square, where Baitursynov Street intersects with Zhambyla, there is a monument to Shafik Chokin – the founder of Kazakhstan’s energy science, whose work left an indelible mark on the development of the country’s industrial potential. The central place of the square is occupied by a majestic bronze monument to Akhmet Baitursynov, five meters high, erected on November 16, 1922. In front of the monument there is a granite plaque with brief but profound information about the great son of the Kazakh people, reminding every visitor of his contribution to culture, science and education. Those who fought for the lives of others are not forgotten here either: in April 2016, an obelisk was erected in the park in honor of the Kazakh soldiers who liquidated the Chernobyl accident – a monument to courage and selflessness. The Park lives its own life: it has a children's play area, exercise machines and a basketball court, making it an ideal place for family recreation and active walks. Cozy benches in the shade of trees invite you to leisurely conversations and solitude among the greenery. The proximity to the Baikonur metro station and good transport accessibility makes the park easily accessible for both city residents and its guests.
The Akhmet Baitursynov Park is more than just a green area. This is a place where history meets modernity, where every stone and tree tell of the past, inspiring the future. Here the memory of great personalities is honored, here the spirit of the city lives, here everyone can feel that they are part of something bigger.
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