Things to see and do Bichkek

The statue of Lenin (Kyrgyzstan has preserved several) now stands on the "Old Square", behind the Historical Museum. It remains one of the largest still standing in the world. Before the construction of Ala-Too Square, the heart of the city beat here. Nearby, note the large building with its six-column entrance: it housed the Government Palace until 1954, when it moved to the "White House".

The most attractive market in Bishkek. Fruit and vegetable market, meat and dairy products, spices, you can find everything... In one of the big buildings, fabrics from Turkey, China, the Emirates... and, if you look carefully, khan atlas fabrics from the Ferghana Valley. Go there early in the morning to enjoy the entertainment at the beginning of the day and take advantage of the opportunity to make up your lunch as you pass through the stands, tasting salads sold in plastic bags and hot bread just out of the ovens on the right and left.

It's the heart of the city, always bustling with activity, especially since the fountains and lights were refurbished just before the 2009 presidential elections. In the center of the square, until 1999 and since 1948, stood a statue of Lenin, which was moved behind the museum, to the "old square", where you can still see it, and replaced by a statue representing freedom for the Kyrgyz people, soberly named the "Freedom Monument". To the north of the square you'll find the Historical Museum, while the east and west sides are lined with arcades under which you'll find a number of restaurants and stands selling succulent cheese samsas, Bishkek's specialty. To the south, staircases lead up to the monumental architectural ensemble, inspired by Soviet credo. The Historical Museum, originally named the Lenin Museum, is an integral part of the square's design, as is the Presidential Palace, nicknamed the "White House", a little further west. White marble dominates the whole complex. In front of the historical museum, the flag of Kyrgyzstan is permanently guarded by a guard of honor, whose changeover inevitably attracts a crowd of locals and tourists amused by the soldiers' marching step: you have to raise your toes to eye level with every step! Ala-Too Square is where all the major national events are celebrated, and where the people gather for every special occasion.

This 8-hectare park is a lively place, attracting many locals for an evening stroll. Young and old come to enjoy open-air music, ice cream and merry-go-rounds until late in the evening. Several open-air restaurants offer plov and kebabs, or simply a drink, all to the constant sound of impromptu karaoke and the clatter of pellet guns on the shooting ranges. A place to recommend for a relaxing evening in the open air, in a very local atmosphere.

Erkindik Avenue is certainly the greenest of the city's avenues. It was laid out in 1902 and divided into two small alleys lined with oak trees. It quickly became a privileged place for walking and remains so to this day. At the railway station there is an equestrian statue of General Frounze, whose legend has it that he was born in a small house in Bishkek, where the museum dedicated to him has been set up. There follows a monument more evocative of Asia and dedicated to Kurmanjan Datka, the only Kyrgyz woman to reach the rank of general in the 19th century.

The restoration of this museum lost some of its panache, with the disappearance of the murals and painted ceilings in the purest Soviet realist style. After five years of renovation, the form has become less fascinating, but the collection remains interesting, with a vast collection dedicated to nomadic traditions and customs on the^1st floor (costumes, war equipment and harness, crafts, reproduction of a yurt...), and a second floor that takes a long look back at the Russian conquest and the Soviet period, with a wealth of weapons and period photographs.

This gigantic, prestigious white marble building houses the Kyrgyz parliament and, on the 7th floor, the offices of the President of the Republic. The White House has been the scene of many changes of power since the Tulip Revolution; in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan remains the country with the most leaders since independence, with 5 elected presidents and 4 acting presidents.

One of the most prestigious squares in the city. The building housing the Philharmonic Orchestra was completed in 1980 and once again bears witness to a very Soviet vision of urban planning. In front of the entrance, a high statue of Manas fighting a dragon has been enthroned since independence, which the fountains rising in the sky seem to carry over the waters. On the right side of the square is the bust of Toktogul Satilganov, one of the most famous Kyrgyz Akyn.

The statue shows two soldiers in uniform in tribute to the fighters who died in Batken, in the south of the country, during an attempt to seize power in the city by militants of the Uzbek Islamist Movement. It reminds us of the dangers of radical Islamism, which is on the increase in Kyrgyzstan and especially in the Ferghana Valley, which is historically more traditionalist. The presence around Batken of Uzbek and Tajik enclaves facilitates the clandestine movements of radical fighters.

The Oak Park was laid out at the end of the 19th century by a Russian botanist. It is best known for its amazing statuary, which began in 1984 and has continued to grow in value ever since. Several sculptors collaborated on this work to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Kyrgyz SSR. The spaces between each oak tree now seem to abound with sculptures in wood, stone or metal, among which one can recognize Kyrgyz heroes (including Jakov Logvinenko) or Russian personalities (such as Marx and Engels chatting peacefully).

Like the Musée d'Histoire, the Musée des Beaux-Arts underwent a famous facelift after the pandemic. Numerous works of painting and sculpture, once kept in reserve or displayed in dark corners, are now showcased in bright, pleasant spaces. There are no exceptional pieces in the collection, but there are some fine collections of handicrafts, as well as the usual litany of Russian and Kyrgyz painters from the Soviet period. The first floor hosts interesting temporary exhibitions.

In its original state, this museum is housed in the supposed home of the prestigious Soviet general Mikhail Frunze, born in Bishkek in 1885. Numerous photographs from the 1920s and propaganda posters are on display. The second floor is devoted to more contemporary military history. Press clippings even tell of the "Tulip Revolution" that put an end to the Akaev government. The first floor features a reconstruction of Frounze's house, oddly presented with a thatched roof.

The Museum of Zoology presents stuffed versions of all the flora and fauna of Kyrgyzstan. The stars, of course, are the Marco Polo sheep and the snow leopard (don't dream of seeing real ones in the country, so take advantage of this consolation prize), but enthusiasts will be able to spend time in front of the showcase of insects and butterflies brought back from Africa, the Himalayas or the Tian-Shan by Russian and Kyrgyz expeditions.

Inaugurated in December 1991, this gigantic bazaar consists of thousands of freight containers bought from Kazakhstan and Russia, stacked and organized around 18 main aisles cutting through five distinct districts. On the ground floor the shop, upstairs the stocks. It is mainly wholesalers who come to Dordoy, a gigantic brewery of goods from China, Turkey or Central Asia, supplying the bazaars of India, Russia and the whole of the former USSR. Costumes, fabrics, leather, carpets, ceramics, traditional clothing and even modern DIY and electronic products: everything can be bought and sold in Dordoy. This tin town has grown steadily over the last 25 years to now house more than 35,000 people. Each district (Turkish, Chinese, Kyrgyz, European...) has its specialities and the quantities sold are such that a bus station and hotels had to be built to accommodate the traders who came from far away. You won't find a lot of handcrafted souvenirs, but take a walk around to taste the unique atmosphere and entertainment! For food and drink, you will find a few vendors selling drinks and snacks at the bazaar's main entrance, around the bus station, or simply in the bazaar's aisles, near the street vendors. For a little more comfort (and a real meal), go near the administration offices in the centre of the bazaar where the Café Lissi is located. Kyrgyz and Uyghur specialties.

This vast, cold granite esplanade was built just over 30 years ago to commemorate the ^40th anniversary of the victory over the Nazis. The monument evokes the silhouette of a yurt, housing an eternal flame under four pillars, and contrasts furiously with the architectural style of the neighboring circus, erected in 1976 and very similar in style to that of Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The names of the Kyrgyz who died in the Great Patriotic War are engraved in granite on either side of the pillars.