The Saransk fortress built in 1641 at the confluence of the rivers Insar and Saranka, was almost square-shaped. The Saranka River flowed directly through the territory of the fortress, whereas the fortress was surrounded by an earthen rampart from the outside. The deep moats that stretched around the entire fortress served as an insurmountable obstacle for enemies.

The city experienced peasants’ wars twice. In 1670 the Saransk fortress was besieged and conquered by the troops of Stepan Razin, and a hundred years later, in 1774, Emelyan Pugachev entered the city with his army greeted by the population with great honors.

The coat of arms of Saransk depicts a running red fox under the three arrows directed vertically downwards, which symbolizes the hunting industry that has involved local citizens since olden days. The building of the Executive Committee of the Saransk City Council of People’s Deputies located in the centre of the city contains a walled-in message to our descendants.

A letter to the residents of Saransk-2017 is placed in a metal ball and immured near the north-eastern wall. It was laid more than forty years ago, in 1967, on the day of the 50th anniversary of Soviet Power.