The main pedestrian and transport street of the right bank and the center -
Republic Avenue is a unique cultural and urban site in the city of Astana. The street, which has a rich history, impresses with its beauty and majesty: its classical monumental style of the Soviet era with elements of modern high-tech attracts the attention of every passerby at the crossroads of the old and new center.
Along a straight highway axis, from here you can reach the iconic Esil (Ishim) River Embankment, Astana Arbat and the Monument to Khan Kenesary, which act as the closest architectural landmarks on this urban planning line.
Moving further along this long highway, pedestrians can reach the Makhambet Utemisov Schoolchildren's Palace and the City Square, which are the closest major public hubs of the country to the avenue.
The bright facades of the renovated houses perfectly complement the modern look of the district. Nearby are also located the Maxim Gorky State Academic Russian Drama Theatre and the Merchant Matvey Kubrin's House, which perfectly complement the architectural ensemble.
The sculptural composition of the street in the form of cozy squares and art objects occupies a central place in the cultural landscape. From the avenue, wide streets lead in the direction of the spacious Central Park, the distance to which on foot may be difficult to overcome due to remoteness for guests unaccustomed to long walks. The park can be reached via the Atyrau Pedestrian Bridge.
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How to get there and visit -
Republic Avenue is located in the right-bank part of the city, Saryarka district, Astana city, Republic of Kazakhstan.
The avenue has a length of about five kilometers (more precisely - 4159 meters), originates from the road interchange on Tashenov Street and stretches to the intersection with Goethe Street.
GPS coordinates: 51°10'17"N 71°25'32"E
Transport accessibility of the site is ideal. A large amount of public transport runs along the avenue. You can reach the historical and most interesting pedestrian part of the street by regular capital buses numbered: 32, 23, 10, 45, 2, 37, 25, 52, 1, 31, 3, 20.
For motorists, convenient parking pockets are provided along the entire street, as well as parking zones near major shopping centers, shops and restaurants. It is worth considering that during peak hours traffic jams often occur on the avenue. To get to your destination, you can also use taxi services through a special mobile application.
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History
The history of the creation of Republic Avenue is inextricably linked with the development and change in the status of the city itself. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this street was called Bolnichnaya, later it was renamed in honor of Pushkin. In Soviet times, when the city of Akmolinsk turned into Tselinograd and was actively built up as a main agricultural center, the highway received the name Tselinnikov Avenue in 1979. At one time it was also mentioned as Mira Avenue. In independent Kazakhstan, starting from 1997, the street finally secured its current name - Republic Avenue.
The past names of the street clearly reflected large buildings and important milestones in the life of the country. Almost the entire right-bank part of the city was built with all the characteristic features of Soviet architecture, and this avenue became a clear example of this. Here, in 1975, the "Zhastar" Palace was built - one of six such unique palaces in the entire Soviet Union. Nearby grew the famous "Tourist" Hotel, the building of which stood out strongly with its architecture unusual for its time, high height and the presence of modern elevators.
When the city gained the status of the capital, the old part required a large-scale update. The curtain facades of standard Soviet houses, which locals call ordinary khrushchevkas, were completely reconstructed. They were decorated with bright national ornaments in the style of residential buildings once built in Alma-Ata according to individual designs, which cardinally changed the aesthetic perception of the district.
Information
Republic Avenue is a modern multifunctional space combining the features of a historical center and a business quarter. Over the past decades, the appearance of the main artery of the right bank changed regularly in order to create comfortable conditions for pedestrians and drivers. In the evenings and on holidays, bright festive illumination lights up here.
The entire territory of the avenue is conditionally divided into several zones with different atmospheres. The section from the beginning of the street to the intersection with Seifullin Street is considered the busiest. A huge number of shops, coffee shops, business centers and squares with fountains are concentrated here. Life here does not stop for a minute, it is a favorite place for tourists to walk.
After the intersection with Seifullin Street and Bogenbai Batyr Avenue, the character of movement changes.
Safety along the entire length of the street is provided by city utilities and video surveillance systems. The avenue is fully adapted to the needs of people with limited mobility, equipped with convenient pedestrian crossings and stop complexes.
Detailed description of the site
The infrastructural and cultural content of the avenue includes many iconic sites distributed by thematic sectors:
• Historical and museum sector – includes an old wooden building of the nineteenth century, where the Saken Seifullin Museum now operates with a recreated study of the poet, as well as the National Military-Patriotic Center, in whose funds more than 6000 unique exhibits and personal belongings of historical figures are stored.
• Spiritual and public centers – the oldest Constantine and Helen Church, founded in 1900, as well as the "Zhastar" Palace with the Monument to the Friendship of Peoples by architect Saken Narynov located opposite it. The eight-meter monument in the form of a bowl with three bronze figures symbolizes peace and harmony.
• Walking and cultural hub – the famous city embankment of the Esil River and the capital Arbat. This is a place of attraction for creative youth, street musicians and artists. Original art installations, a monument to the legendary Beatles band and the Iron Throne from the popular TV series Game of Thrones are installed here.
• Educational and leisure sites – the Schoolchildren's Palace, built in the 80s according to an unusual project. The building of an original shape accommodates sports halls, swimming pools, a gallery and clubs for children. For native inhabitants, this place is firmly associated with the point where the most delicious ice cream in the city was sold.
• Commercial contour – a popular area for shopping lovers. Here, within walking distance from each other, major and well-known shops Esil, Sunkar, Meloman, French House, Talisman and Diona operate, where you can buy clothes, shoes, books, cosmetics and jewelry.
• Gastronomic sector – a place of high concentration of popular catering establishments. The famous coffee shops Espresso Bar, Marrone Rosso, Costa Coffee, popular restaurants Del Papa, Darezhani, Lanzhou and the Sweet Fairy Tale confectionery operate on the avenue. A special historical place is occupied by the legendary Meruert restaurant, which was the center of the main celebrations of the city in the 2000s.
Architecture
The architectural appearance of Republic Avenue clearly demonstrates the continuity of urban planning eras of Kazakhstan. Here, old buildings of the century before last neighbor with large-scale Soviet administrative buildings and modern glass facades of business centers in the high-tech style. The main feature of the renovation of the avenue was the transformation of the old housing stock: ordinary khrushchevkas received new ventilated facades decorated with complex national ornaments.
When designing pedestrian zones, modern urban solutions were used. The street is equipped with high-quality street lighting, decorative lighting of buildings and green spaces that perform the role of natural noise protection screens, protecting sidewalks from the busy roadway.
The engineering networks of the avenue include a developed system of storm sewage and automatic lawn watering. Smart public transport stops are installed at intersections, providing a comfortable wait in any weather conditions.
Legend
Among the native inhabitants of the right bank, tour guides and street musicians on the Arbat, a modern legend about the "Golden Hour" lives: they say that at the moment of renaming the street into Republic Avenue, an invisible spark of inspiration lit up over it, pointing the way to the old square.
There is a belief that if a traveler sincerely makes a cherished wish while looking at the sunset from the embankment side, the city roads will definitely help him achieve his goal.
Another legend is connected with the old clock at one of the busy intersections of the avenue. Citizens believe that if you arrange a meeting under it with a loved one or a future business partner and look together towards the historical center, it will bring luck in business, give entrepreneurs a strong voice in their field and help win victories in the most difficult life contests.
Conclusion
Republic Avenue is a bridge between the rich history of Tselinograd and the innovative future of the capital of Kazakhstan. A visit to this logistical center of urban life allows you to feel the spirit of continuity and care that surround the residents and guests of the capital.
The specifics of the location of the avenue imply walking in the warm season, however, it remains a key starting point for all travelers. Tourist routes invite everyone to come here to be inspired by the energy of historical design, and then continue their acquaintance with the capital.
Interesting sights nearby:
• Atyrau Pedestrian Bridge;
• Ataturk Park;
• Zher-Ana (Mother Earth) Monument;
• Amphitheater on the Esil River;
• Military History Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
