Saratov city was founded in 1590 as a fortress to protect the trade route along the Volga. Linked to Moscow by railroad in the 1870s, Saratov became a major commercial centre. Its road bridge across the Volga (opened 1965) is the largest in Europe. It is now a major industrial centre, which produces electric and petrochemical equipment and machine tools. It is also known as the centre of German autonomous province therefore high percentage of the population of Saratov is German national minority. The city’s special sights are the University, founded in 1919 and named after the writer Chernishevsky, and the famous Music Conservatorium built in Gothic style.