Temple of All Religions

The Temple of All Religions, in the Aksay suburb on the western edge of Kazan, is one of the country's most peculiar buildings — an unfinished architectural mash-up combining a mosque dome, a Russian Orthodox cupola, a Catholic bell tower, a Buddhist pagoda, a synagogue, and several other religious motifs into a single structure. The intent was to symbolise the equality of all faiths under one roof.

Inside, the upper floors host paintings and sculptures by the founder; the building is not a functioning place of worship. It is a 20-minute drive west from the centre or accessible on a city bus from Kazan station. Open daily; modest entry fee. Worth visiting more for the strange spectacle than for any conventional sightseeing reason.

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A story
Ildar Khanov, a local sculptor and folk-healer, began building the Temple of All Religions on his own family plot in 1992 as a tribute to religious unity. He died in 2013 with the project still unfinished, and his family and volunteers continue construction; it has never opened to worship but is open to visitors as a curiosity.