Sarayshyk State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve

History: Sarayshyk was one of the prominent cities of civilization along the Great Silk Road that connected East and West between the 13th and 16th centuries. It was a thriving centre of education, craftsmanship, and trade. Located on the right bank of the Ural River, the city became known as a crossroads where many routes converged. During the Golden Horde era, Sarayshyk stood as one of the major cities, an Islamic religious centre and the spiritual capital of the empire. Today, the ancient city of Sarayshyk is recognised as one of the important historical landmarks of the Atyrau region. It lies on the bank of the Ural River, about fifty kilometres from the city of Atyrau.

Mission: The archaeological site of medieval Sarayshyk is listed among the state-protected monuments of history and culture of national significance. Its preservation, protection, research, and promotion  along with the development of the site as a tourist destination and the organisation of archaeological, restoration, and conservation works are carried out by the Republican State Enterprise «Sarayshyk State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve» under the Committee of Culture of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Collection: The museum exhibits artefacts discovered at the site of medieval Sarayshyk, including ceramic vessels made by local craftsmen, iron household tools, fragments of clay pipes, well-preserved bricks, and ceramic figurines of animals, birds, and fish. The collection also features coins minted during the reign of the Golden Horde Khan Möngke Temür, as well as in Khwarezm, Crimea, Iran, and India along with other valuable historical relics that reflect the city’s rich cultural heritage.