This museum is dedicated to the 19th-century humanist poet Abay Kunanbaev, whose forward-looking vision of Kazakhstan is not necessarily shared by his followers. Along with displays about Abay’s life and work, the museum has many 19th-century artefacts, and sections on the Kazakh nomadic tradition and Abay’s literary successors, including Mukhtar Auezov (1897–1961), author of the epic novel Abay Zholy (The Path of Abay). Displays are in Kazakh only and guided tours in Russian are grudgingly provided.
Abay Museum
Kazakhstan
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.5 MILES
A curious collection of 15 communist busts and statues, mostly Lenins – including Kazakhstan's tallest Lenin! – stands in a small park behind Hotel Semey…
0.39 MILES
This well laid-out museum incorporates the wooden house where the exiled writer lived from 1857 to 1859 with his wife and baby. The displays range over…
History & Local Studies Museum
0.49 MILES
Displays at this regional museum run the gamut from prehistoric finds to some rare archaeological pieces, a collection of traditional Kazakh artefacts,…
0.56 MILES
The collection here, one of the country's best, covers Kazakh, Russian and Western European art from the 16th century onwards, including a not-to-be…
0.61 MILES
In an unmarked building that's part of Semey Medical University, this one-room museum exhibits the usual pickled organs you might expect medical students…
1.24 MILES
On the left, 600m past the end of the bridge that takes you south of the centre, across River Irtysh, is the sombre and impressive Stronger than Death…
1.32 MILES
This museum, dedicated to the victims of the Polygon, is due to open in 2018, to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Semey's founding. It will be…
Nearby Kazakhstan attractions
0.39 MILES
This well laid-out museum incorporates the wooden house where the exiled writer lived from 1857 to 1859 with his wife and baby. The displays range over…
2. History & Local Studies Museum
0.49 MILES
Displays at this regional museum run the gamut from prehistoric finds to some rare archaeological pieces, a collection of traditional Kazakh artefacts,…
0.5 MILES
A curious collection of 15 communist busts and statues, mostly Lenins – including Kazakhstan's tallest Lenin! – stands in a small park behind Hotel Semey…
0.56 MILES
The collection here, one of the country's best, covers Kazakh, Russian and Western European art from the 16th century onwards, including a not-to-be…
0.61 MILES
In an unmarked building that's part of Semey Medical University, this one-room museum exhibits the usual pickled organs you might expect medical students…
6. Stronger than Death Memorial
1.24 MILES
On the left, 600m past the end of the bridge that takes you south of the centre, across River Irtysh, is the sombre and impressive Stronger than Death…
1.32 MILES
This museum, dedicated to the victims of the Polygon, is due to open in 2018, to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Semey's founding. It will be…