Saratov is an old merchant city situated on the right bank of the Volga River. It is a renowned cultural and scientific centre of the region. Saratov has a lot to be proud of: the year 1803 saw the opening of the first city theatre, in 1831 the first public library welcomed its first visitors, in 1885 Radischev museum, the first art museum in the region, opened its doors to public. Saratov is a motherland of Russian stationary circus. In 1909 Saratov Imperial University (Saratov State University at present) was founded followed by the first conservatory in the region (the third in Russia after Saint-Petersburg and Moscow) in 1912. The foundation of the conservatory pushed the development of musical and concert life in the city and its gothic style building has become the symbol of the city. In 1918 the first Russian theatre for children (Theatre for Young Spectators at present) was opened.
Saratov can boast long musical and theatrical traditions. Today a lot of theatres are available to public. These theatres include Theatre for Young Spectators, Saratov Drama Theatre, Puppet Theatre, Saratov Opera and Ballet Theatre, etc.
There are over 1000 public libraries and more than 20 museums in the city: Radischev Art Museum, Local History Museum, Fame hall and others.
Saratov Victory Park is famous for its Village consisting of 15 national houses of peoples living in Saratov Region.
Every year Saratov hosts International Film Festival of documentary melodrama “Saratov Sorrows”, Sobinov’s Music Festival, All-Russia contest of folk music singers, Circus Arts Festival and other cultural events.
Saratov is a great place for the youth: the city has a lot of night clubs, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, hotels, resort centres, beaches, karting-centres, shooting galleries, etc.
