Founded in 1589 as a fortress, Volgograd (then Tsaritsyn) gradually grew into an important river-port. Stalingrad (renamed in 1925) was a fast growing urban centre when the World War II began. One of the longest and deadliest battles in the history of the warfare raged here in 1942-1943. Quickly rebuilt and revived after the war, it became vibrant again. Now Volgograd is the capital of the region with 1 million residents. It offers many visitor attractions including the famous Mamayev Kurgan.
