Bilär (Bülär) – Medieval city in Volga Bulgaria in 10th – 13th centuries. Located at left bank of Keçe Çirmeşän river in today Alekseyevski Rayon of Tatarstan. It means that city was founded by Bilär tribe of Volga Bulgar people. Bilär is also known as "Great City" from Russian chronics. The main trade center in Middle Volga. In 12th-13th centuries Bilär was a capital of Volga Bulgaria. In 1236 city was ruined by hordes of Batu khan. Then city was rebuild, but had never been so powerful and big.
In Russian chronicles it was known as Great City, because the nomber of citizens decreased 100.000.
City's ruins (nearly 8 sq. km) was explored in 18th – 20th centuries by Rychkov, Tatischev , Xalikov and Xucin.
Bilär today is a Russian village founded in 1654 as a border castle. In 1930-1963 was an administrative center of Bilär Rayon. Population (2000) - 2,270. The birthplace of famous chemist Arbuzov.
