It’s easy enough to find Astrakhan today. But it looks like somebody has moved it!

The old name for Astrakhan was Tatar Citrahan, a flourishing trading city on the right bank of the Volga.

The city was “captured” in 1556 by Russian troops and annexed to Moscow.

 

 

 

So. The bell tower was built, rebuilt, rebuilt all on the same spot. (?)

Seems a bit senseless to me.

My guess is that it was built just the once – probably 1809, but I could be wrong. I also guess that the dates given for the so-called rescue of the city are 100 years out. It more likely happened in the 17th century. About the same time that the Cathar strongholds across Europe were being wiped out.

As for Tatar Citrahan, which was located 9 miles north and on the other bank of the Volga, it seems to have completely disappeared.