Museum of the President's Cultural Centre of Kazakhstan, Astana

(the former) Museum of the President's Cultural Centre of Kazakhstan ( ) - darkometer rating : 3 - [UPDATE 2022: since Nazabayev stepped down as president, and has by now also been stripped of his former privileges, this cultural centre has been turned into something altogether different, namely a national military museum. Hence the text and photos below are OUTDATED, and at some point soon I should move this chapter into the lost places section. For now I'll let it stand, but be aware that it's history, no longer in existence!] A large exhibition in Astana celebrating the ancient as well as modern history of Kazakhstan and the achievements of its president. The latter involves a good measure of cult of personality, while the 20th century history sections include parts that were sinister enough to be of interest to dark tourists of any ilk. > What there is to see > Location > Access and costs > Time required > Combinations with other dark destinations > Combinations with non-dark destinations > Photos What there is to see: as you enter the centre you first get to the bottom of the huge circular hall under the central dome. The floor consists of elaborate tiling, and the columns around it are adorned with blue panels with gold writing, all in Kazakh, so I could only make out the figures – namely the years 1990 to 1997, with 1994 and 1996 missing. Possibly these recall important events in the genesis of the independent state of Kazakhstan ? This statehood and its "architect", the country's first (and so far only) president Nazarbayev, are duly celebrated: through national symbols in glass cases such as the flag, the constitution and the text of the national anthem, as well as the country's currency, the Tenge.