NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Inaugurated in 2013 as Independence, this gigantic museum faces the tetrahedron of the Palace of peace and universal reconciliation, in harmony with the Great Mosque, the University of Applied Arts and the Independence palace. As an architectural side, shapes swear a bit with each other, but here we see Nazarbaev's goal to the architects of his city: " that the eye does not bother "… the museum itself is the most recent, but also the largest in the country.

In the lobby, dominated by a giant bird, you will need to pass through the souvenir shop to access the large hall dedicated to Astana. We will quickly go on the gifts received during official visits to move towards the only point of interest in this great dark piece: the interactive screens featuring the main architectural projects such as the autonomous building, clean energy, the 2017 World exposition or the one delayed from the Abu Dhabi Plaza.

The ethnographic lobby is arranged around a large, reproduisant and illustrant yurt. Again, interactive screens are arranged at different points in the room. You'll find plenty of information about yurts architecture, lifestyle and nomadic traditions, musical instruments, history, religion… screens rely on diagrams, photos and historical documents, and everything is doubled in English. Above, a screen where to walk through the day and night, stars… As if you were really in the steppe!

The historic halls review the regional prehistoric flora and fauna and then dwell on the great hours of Kazakhstan: Silk Route, the Horde of Gold, the Soviet conquest… Arms, models, tables, reconstructions… Much of this collection is devoted to nomadic polythéistes religions and traces that have been found in the landscape.

The Hall devoted to Independence focuses on highlighting the great Kazakh achievements. The oil, the Baikonur launch site, the architectural achievements, but also, for example, the major sporting adventures such as those of runner Denis Vinokourov and the Astana team. Finally, there is the president's collection of portraits on his travels and official visits.

On the top floor you can see the facilities of the section devoted to contemporary art. Temporary exhibitions enrich permanent facilities.