Engelhardt Observatories of Kazan Federal University (KFU) have been approved for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This decision was reached during an extended session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Saudi Arabia.
"A new addition to the UNESCO World Heritage List: the Astronomical Observatories of Kazan Federal University, Russian Federation. Bravo!" - a brief message posted on the organization's social network page, X (formerly Twitter), reads.
The Kazan Federal University Astronomical Observatories were added to UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in 2020. The V. P. Engelhardt Observatory was established in 1901 when the renowned astronomer and public figure Vasily Engelhardt ceased his practical observations due to old age and illness. He generously donated his unique astronomical equipment from his private observatory in Dresden to Kazan Imperial University.
On June 23, 2013, the grand opening of the Kazan Federal University Planetarium took place, constructed based on Engelhardt Astronomical Observatory. Currently, seven of its facilities are listed in the state protection registry of immovable monuments of urban planning and architecture. These include the main and administrative buildings, the Heliometer telescope pavilion, and the Southern World shrine, among others.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Winer/Creative Commons 3.0
Based on materials from TASS