Bolghar

Bolghar, also spelled Bulgar or Bolgari, is an ancient city in the Volga region, located on the Volga River in the area of present-day the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. It was the capital of Volga Bulgaria from the 10th century until the early 13th century and served as a major political, economic, and cultural center along the Volga trade routes.

During the medieval period, the rulers of Volga Bulgaria adopted Islam, and Bolghar became an important center of Islamic learning, administration, and commerce in the region. The city facilitated cross-cultural exchanges linking the Eurasian steppe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, and it supported crafts, markets, and caravan trade.

Archaeological remains at Bolghar include fortifications, remnants of mosques, a minaret, and the urban layout of a medieval capital. The site, known today as the Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex, preserves ruins and artifacts dating from the 9th to 13th centuries and serves as a focus for research and heritage tourism.

Bolghar declined after the Mongol invasions in the early 13th century, and the capital was eventually moved to other centers such as Bilär. The city did not recover its former prominence and was largely abandoned in subsequent centuries.

Today Bolghar remains an important archaeological and cultural site, illustrating the early history of Islam in the Volga region and the urban development of Volga Bulgaria. It attracts visitors for its ruins, accompanying museum displays, and the historic landscape along the Volga.