BAITEREK

This 97-metre high monument, built in 1997, vaguely resembles a giant football World Cup trophy. In fact, the yellow ball is supposed to pay tribute to the legendary Samruk, a bird that would only exist in Kazakhstan and lay golden eggs. It has become the symbol of Astana and Kazakhstan. "This monument, offered by the President to the city, is a perfect example of Astana's new architecture," reads the explanatory panel at the entrance to the monument... The monument itself is not of dazzling interest (sorry for the symbol of Astana's architecture!), but it does offer an impressive view of the new business district being built in the capital. Indeed, at the bottom of the perspective, we can admire the new presidential palace, identifiable by its white monumentality topped by a blue dome. Closer to the monument, the kind of concrete shells located in the square are intended to house the city's archives. Finally, we must climb to the top of Baiterek, if only to observe the spectacle of the Kazakhs, who take pictures of each other and spend their time on the phone telling anyone who wants to hear it that they are overlooking Astana... The President's hand, moulded in a metal block, is the highlight of the visit, all the Kazakhs playing elbows to place their hands in the footprint of the new Father of the people!