Alzhir, Memorial Museum of Victims of Political Repressions and Totalitarianism
Alzhir, Memorial Museum of Victims of Political Repressions and Totalitarianism
Alzhir, Memorial Museum of Victims of Political Repressions and Totalitarianism
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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4.5
37 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
18
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Veronika660
Prague, Czech Republic63 contributions
Aug 2018
The Museum is about 20 km SW from Astana. I visited it with a group of students, so we had our private bus but it is my understanding that you can get there by public transport as well.
The Museum is well done. It is not large (two floors) but there is a lot of info to read or listen to. You can either make a tour with one of the guides or take audioguides and listen to the explanations provided throughout the museum. The system is very modern and the explanation is in three languages (Kazakh, English, Russian). I first did the audiotour and then joined the tour and both were interesting. I particularly appreciated that the guide (a young lady) did not merely repeat what was in the audio-explanations but added other info.
Do not forget to watch the film about Alzhir, it is interesting.
I thought Alzhir was one of the many gulags from the Soviet times. Yet, this is not the case and it is in fact a very unique place. It was the only gulag in the USSR where women (mothers, sisters, wives and daughters ot "traitors of the homeland") were detained. The camp was opened in the late 1930s and operated during the Stalinist period.
The Museum is well done. It is not large (two floors) but there is a lot of info to read or listen to. You can either make a tour with one of the guides or take audioguides and listen to the explanations provided throughout the museum. The system is very modern and the explanation is in three languages (Kazakh, English, Russian). I first did the audiotour and then joined the tour and both were interesting. I particularly appreciated that the guide (a young lady) did not merely repeat what was in the audio-explanations but added other info.
Do not forget to watch the film about Alzhir, it is interesting.
I thought Alzhir was one of the many gulags from the Soviet times. Yet, this is not the case and it is in fact a very unique place. It was the only gulag in the USSR where women (mothers, sisters, wives and daughters ot "traitors of the homeland") were detained. The camp was opened in the late 1930s and operated during the Stalinist period.
Written 8 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
harris0n6
Astana, Kazakhstan19 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
One can take the 300 or 305 bus from Asia Park (Astana) for 200 tenge. Buses run on the hour or 15 minutes past, bus costs 200 tenge each way, entrance fee to museum 300 tenge.
Written 31 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alan C
Swanley, UK10 contributions
June 2017 • Solo
I would like to review two things first ALZHIR itself and then Dana and her special, small company..
ALZHIR is not a concentration camp or a GULAG: it is unique. It was the “Akmola Prison camp for Wives of Traitors of the Motherland”. It operated from 1938 – 1953. Women whose only crime was to be married to or be the mother, sister, daughter of a man accused of treason were the inmates. Sentences ranged from 5 to 8 years. Lies and promises about visiting their men were used to persuade them to leave their homes where the NKVD took their children and placed them in orphanages. There is a wall here with 18,000 names of women who were guilty by association, whose children became strangers and whose men were dying in the Gulags. This was a prison for the innocent.
The wooden buildings are long gone but there are artefacts and recreations of the prison and the memorial building also tells the story of the colonisation of Kazakhstan by czarist Russia, the political activities of the "Alash" party and Kazakh intelligentsia in 1905-1916. It also depicts the period of the establishment of the Soviet authority, collectivization and the hunger of 1930s and "Great Terror of 1937-1938".
But in the middle of the building there is a sculpture showing pigeons escaping a cage. And here you stand witnessing what happened in the past; not a prisoner, not in fear, but in an independent country that is alive with opportunities and dreams of the future.
And that takes me to the second feature of this trip advisor: Dana Zhunusbek whose little company, InterSchool NC organised our tour and who answered question after question after question. She is the granddaughter of a Soviet General and proud of what he did and she is also a Kazakh patriot living in a country where anything is possible if you have the courage and the will. She was also running translations and guides for the World’s Fair in Astana, you tell her what you want and she will fix it; if it is not on the “menu”, no problems Dana will sort it. There is a sense of “that’s the history of my parents – I am going to build the future history”. She is superb.
And what a better way to pay your respects to women prisoners where their only crime was to be related to a brave man, than to be taken there by the granddaughter of a brave man who is now free and confident to write her own future.
ALZHIR is not a concentration camp or a GULAG: it is unique. It was the “Akmola Prison camp for Wives of Traitors of the Motherland”. It operated from 1938 – 1953. Women whose only crime was to be married to or be the mother, sister, daughter of a man accused of treason were the inmates. Sentences ranged from 5 to 8 years. Lies and promises about visiting their men were used to persuade them to leave their homes where the NKVD took their children and placed them in orphanages. There is a wall here with 18,000 names of women who were guilty by association, whose children became strangers and whose men were dying in the Gulags. This was a prison for the innocent.
The wooden buildings are long gone but there are artefacts and recreations of the prison and the memorial building also tells the story of the colonisation of Kazakhstan by czarist Russia, the political activities of the "Alash" party and Kazakh intelligentsia in 1905-1916. It also depicts the period of the establishment of the Soviet authority, collectivization and the hunger of 1930s and "Great Terror of 1937-1938".
But in the middle of the building there is a sculpture showing pigeons escaping a cage. And here you stand witnessing what happened in the past; not a prisoner, not in fear, but in an independent country that is alive with opportunities and dreams of the future.
And that takes me to the second feature of this trip advisor: Dana Zhunusbek whose little company, InterSchool NC organised our tour and who answered question after question after question. She is the granddaughter of a Soviet General and proud of what he did and she is also a Kazakh patriot living in a country where anything is possible if you have the courage and the will. She was also running translations and guides for the World’s Fair in Astana, you tell her what you want and she will fix it; if it is not on the “menu”, no problems Dana will sort it. There is a sense of “that’s the history of my parents – I am going to build the future history”. She is superb.
And what a better way to pay your respects to women prisoners where their only crime was to be related to a brave man, than to be taken there by the granddaughter of a brave man who is now free and confident to write her own future.
Written 3 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DiverScientist
Fayetteville, AR85 contributions
Sept 2014 • Solo
The main building is the only thing really to see. The tours are in Kazakh, but most everything has an english explanation posted. Covers the history of setting up the GULAG system but mostly focuses on the Wives of Traitors to the Motherland. More than 10,000 wives shipped here for 6 to 8 years internment, most did not surivive. Be VERY certain to sign up for the video. It has english subtitles. Very moving. They are not averse to saying that the GULAG system was longer and just has harsh as any Nazi death camp.
Written 5 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth S
London, UK6 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
An interesting day trip from Astana, although it is a little smaller than I had expected.
The outdoor portion is in the front garden, consisting of a model barracks and railway wagon, then there is a memorial with names stretching around the back of the building.
Inside the museum most of the exhibits are labelled in English, so although I got an audio guide, I didn't really need it. It is worth seeing the film, though.
You should leave around 1.5 hrs to see eveything.
We took the 10.00 bus there from the Saparzhai bus station next to the train station. We arrived at around 0930 and got the last two seats on the bus, so arriving earlier would be safer. We asked which ticket desk to go to at the information desk (no 3), and then asked the drivers which bus platform to go to when we got outside. Everyone was very helpful. The bus left on time and took around 45 mins.
On the way back we took a shared taxi from the car park at the end of Akmola village. Turn left out of the museum and keep walking through the main square and the market, until you reach a car park which backs onto a road running left to right in front of you. The shared taxis don't have signs, but we asked one of the guys standing around and he pointed us to the right car.
We don't speak any Russian and still managed all the transport ok, so don't be scared to give it a try!
The outdoor portion is in the front garden, consisting of a model barracks and railway wagon, then there is a memorial with names stretching around the back of the building.
Inside the museum most of the exhibits are labelled in English, so although I got an audio guide, I didn't really need it. It is worth seeing the film, though.
You should leave around 1.5 hrs to see eveything.
We took the 10.00 bus there from the Saparzhai bus station next to the train station. We arrived at around 0930 and got the last two seats on the bus, so arriving earlier would be safer. We asked which ticket desk to go to at the information desk (no 3), and then asked the drivers which bus platform to go to when we got outside. Everyone was very helpful. The bus left on time and took around 45 mins.
On the way back we took a shared taxi from the car park at the end of Akmola village. Turn left out of the museum and keep walking through the main square and the market, until you reach a car park which backs onto a road running left to right in front of you. The shared taxis don't have signs, but we asked one of the guys standing around and he pointed us to the right car.
We don't speak any Russian and still managed all the transport ok, so don't be scared to give it a try!
Written 23 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
toast
76 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
I took a taxi here at the cost of 7000TG, slightly cheaper as my driver decided to come with me so didn't have to pay for him to wait! I think there is a public bus you can get from Asia Park. It is very obvious when you drive the highway as the large Arch of Sorrow is visible.
The museum itself is well put together and informative. I paid 500TG extra for the audio guide in English. I am interested in the topic and read all of the information in English, this took around 90 minutes. I set aside a day and this was not necessary.
Would recommend a visit.
The museum itself is well put together and informative. I paid 500TG extra for the audio guide in English. I am interested in the topic and read all of the information in English, this took around 90 minutes. I set aside a day and this was not necessary.
Would recommend a visit.
Written 2 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annamária V
Zurich, Switzerland112 contributions
Feb 2019
If you do not have a car it can be a bit challenging to approach this place. Locals aren't really good with the buses and they may send you to other places or other bus stops.
Anyway, the place itself tells you a lot, it's a nicely organised museum. They have audio guide facilities and even personal guide too. We found it was a bit expensive so we had an audio guide. It tells you what you need and broaden your horizon.
Anyway, the place itself tells you a lot, it's a nicely organised museum. They have audio guide facilities and even personal guide too. We found it was a bit expensive so we had an audio guide. It tells you what you need and broaden your horizon.
Written 6 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
babsincal
Los Angeles, CA41 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
The time I spent a Alzhir was the most moving experience of my Kazakhstan adventure. We frequently talk about the Nazi prison camps and don't realize other countries also had them. This one was focused on the women's experience. These were wives, daughters, sisters, mothers of 'traitors to the the Motherland' under Stalin's reign. I was moved by the exhibits, personal histories and the beautiful and peaceful grounds.
It is not a convenient place to visit, but very much worth the effort. It is about a 40 minute ride from Astana by car. Although there are buses that travel from Astana to Alzhir, we were on a tight schedule, so we opted for a taxi to take us to Alzhir, wait and return us to Astana. Along the way, we were able to see aspects of the rural way of life in KZ. I would go again, and again.
It is not a convenient place to visit, but very much worth the effort. It is about a 40 minute ride from Astana by car. Although there are buses that travel from Astana to Alzhir, we were on a tight schedule, so we opted for a taxi to take us to Alzhir, wait and return us to Astana. Along the way, we were able to see aspects of the rural way of life in KZ. I would go again, and again.
Written 18 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ZimKiwiTraveller
Perth, Australia55 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
We took Bus 305 from Turan Avenue (near the corner with Keruen Mall). We showed the bus driver the Memorial's website and were dropped off on the side of the 'highway' (near the garage) and had to walk around to the Memorial. Fortunately, we could see the Arch of Sorrow rising above the trees/bushes and used that as a direction marker. We paid for English audio guides (the website has an option to book a guided tour but it wasn't working) and paid to watch the short film which was informative and worth watching although unfortunately the English subtitles were difficult to follow (a better translator is required, as does the Memorial's website!). The first part of the memorial focuses heavily on the political history of Kazakhstan. The next level deals with the women who were imprisoned at Alzhir. Most exhibits have English translations which seemed to match the audio guide. Afterwards we walked into the nearby village (turn left out the main gate and keep walking down the road, probably about 1/2 km) to find where we could wait for a return bus. At the end of this road is a plaza with a supermarket straight ahead (we could only tell by the people coming out and some advertising above the door). The bus stop is located behind the supermarket, walk past the car park and cross the road. We also noticed private taxis waiting in the car park. This seemed to be the only 'official' bus stop on the way out of town - any other stops were made simply where people were waiting on the side of the road. We waited an hour, and the ride back to Astana took a while as Bus 305 made many stops along the way but we were interested to see life off the main highway.
Written 6 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew M
7,589 contributions
July 2018 • Family
We visited this museum by taking the local bus from the Saparzhai bus station, which is to the right of the old train station, in the northern section of Astana. We planned an early trip, so went to the bus station and paid 400 tenge each for the tickets, for the first departure at 10am. Remember to bring your passports as they will be required to purchase tickets. We also paid for luggage storage, which is to the right of the steps leading upstairs.
The Mashrutka Bus departed on time. Note that Alzhir is along the route, and you will have to show the driver a picture or the name of your destination. If you arrive early, it would be best to sit on the left side of the bus, so that you can see the name of the village "Akmol" which is on a few blue markers just before reaching the Alzhir Memorial site. Note that the museum is totally obscured from the road by trees. It was when we exited the bus, that we noticed the Blue Alzhir sign on the left side of the road.
The museum has exterior and interior exhibits.Opening hours between 10am-6pm daily, but closed on Monday.The entrance to the museum is quite interesting, as you walk a red carpet down a narrow passage which has great murals of life in the camp on either side. You then open another door and see the ticket office. We were the only guests in the museum, and paid 300 tenge each. Photographs may be taken.
The museum exhibits are on two floors. We did a self guided tour, and a few exhibits had english translations.The first floor exhibits start with a notice of the amount of Kazakhs killed due to "political repression" between the 18th-20th century, and the lists the reasons for their deaths.Total 6.6 million. The board ends at the 1986 protests without a confirmed number of deaths. The centerpiece of the exhibit on the first floor, is a sculpture of a black rose emerging from a brown prism structure, which represents the earth.
The displays on the second floor are similar to the first. Many personal items of inmates, other items that were used daily in the camp. Our favourite displays were the sculpture of hands between the bars, birds in cages near to the skylight and the model of the camp in winter. A few models of life in the camp are also in this area.
We then walked to the rear of the museum, where the political repression monument is located, which consists of a wall with many names.To the right of the museum, is a small hut surrounded by barbed wire. It represents a typical barrack at the camp, and has good exhibits inside. There are a few sculptures near to the main memorial, memorial stones by countries that had inmates at the camp and the stalin wagon, which was typical train transport to the camp.
The nearby village of Malinovka may be visited if you turn left. Attractions include mosque,orthodox church, broken heart sculpture and war memorial. We walked back to the main road, and got a bus back to the Saparzhai bus station after a frustrating wait of 30-40 minutes. If you read the review by Elizabeth S below, she mentions a taxi option in the village,
The Mashrutka Bus departed on time. Note that Alzhir is along the route, and you will have to show the driver a picture or the name of your destination. If you arrive early, it would be best to sit on the left side of the bus, so that you can see the name of the village "Akmol" which is on a few blue markers just before reaching the Alzhir Memorial site. Note that the museum is totally obscured from the road by trees. It was when we exited the bus, that we noticed the Blue Alzhir sign on the left side of the road.
The museum has exterior and interior exhibits.Opening hours between 10am-6pm daily, but closed on Monday.The entrance to the museum is quite interesting, as you walk a red carpet down a narrow passage which has great murals of life in the camp on either side. You then open another door and see the ticket office. We were the only guests in the museum, and paid 300 tenge each. Photographs may be taken.
The museum exhibits are on two floors. We did a self guided tour, and a few exhibits had english translations.The first floor exhibits start with a notice of the amount of Kazakhs killed due to "political repression" between the 18th-20th century, and the lists the reasons for their deaths.Total 6.6 million. The board ends at the 1986 protests without a confirmed number of deaths. The centerpiece of the exhibit on the first floor, is a sculpture of a black rose emerging from a brown prism structure, which represents the earth.
The displays on the second floor are similar to the first. Many personal items of inmates, other items that were used daily in the camp. Our favourite displays were the sculpture of hands between the bars, birds in cages near to the skylight and the model of the camp in winter. A few models of life in the camp are also in this area.
We then walked to the rear of the museum, where the political repression monument is located, which consists of a wall with many names.To the right of the museum, is a small hut surrounded by barbed wire. It represents a typical barrack at the camp, and has good exhibits inside. There are a few sculptures near to the main memorial, memorial stones by countries that had inmates at the camp and the stalin wagon, which was typical train transport to the camp.
The nearby village of Malinovka may be visited if you turn left. Attractions include mosque,orthodox church, broken heart sculpture and war memorial. We walked back to the main road, and got a bus back to the Saparzhai bus station after a frustrating wait of 30-40 minutes. If you read the review by Elizabeth S below, she mentions a taxi option in the village,
Written 30 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Здравствуйте,не могли бы исправить ошибки в названии.Здесь в поисковике трип эдвайзера АЛЖИР написан как АЛХЗИР тоталитаризм как тТоталтаризм.Это просто ужасно
Written 25 October 2016
How do I get there from Astana using public transportation? How long does it take?
Written 30 December 2014
Met een taxi. Kost ongeveer 10.000 KZT retour en nog wat voor de wachttijd. Het is ongeveer een half uur rijden.
Written 10 July 2017
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