For centuries of its existence the Moscow Kremlin has been witness of
many famous and tragic events of our history. Enemy guns rattled at its
walls, celebrations and revolts took place. Now the Moscow Kremlin is
one of the biggest museums of the world. State regalia of Russia, invaluable
icons, treasures of Russian tsars are stored in the Kremlin chambers and
Spasskaya Tower is considered to be the most beautiful and most harmonious
tower of the Kremlin. It was constructed by architect Pietro Antonio Solari
in 1491. From time immemorial the Spasskaya gate was the main smart entrance
to the Kremlin. It was especially esteemed among people and was considered
to be sacred. It was forbidden to pass astride through the Spasskaya gate.
For 400 years of its existence the Emperor Cannon changed its location
for several times. In 1960, following the construction of the Kremlin
Palace of Congresses, the Emperor Cannon have been solemnly moved to the
Ivanovskaya Square to the Cathedral of Twelve Apostles, where it stands
As ancient chronicles assert, the Red Square appeared at the
end of 15th century, when Ivan III ordered to ruin all wooden buildings,
surrounding the Kremlin and threatening with the fire, and to allot this
area for a market. That's how the first name of the square - Trade Square
("Torgovaya") appeared. However, in 16th century the Square
was renamed into "Troitskaya (Trinity) Square" after the Church
of Saint Trinity. Later the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed was erected
at the place of St. Trinity Church.
In Russia the same object might have several names. Thus, The Red Square
was officially given its modern name in 19th century, though the name
was mentioned in the documents of 17th century. Different centuries left
their traces:15th century gave the Kremlin's Wall with Spasskaya, Senatskaya
and Nikolskaya towers; 16th - Place of execution. (Lobnoe mesto), and
the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed; 19th century - the monument to Minin
and Pozharsky, the building of Historical museum and Upper Trade Rows
(GUM), 20th century - Lenin's Mausoleum.
A visiting 19th-century French aristocrat, the Marquis de Custine, described
the exterior of St Basil's Cathedral as 'a sort of irregular fruit bristling
with excrescences, a cantaloupe melon with embroidered edges'. The exterior
is so magical that the interior is a bit of an anticlimax. Nearby, you
can still pay your respects at Lenin's tomb. Bordering Red Square, the
magnificent GUM (State Department Store) was built in the 19th century
to house 1000 shops. The hefty building north of Red Square is the stuff
of nightmares and airport novels. It housed the KGB and the notorious
Stretching almost 3km (1.8mi) along the river, Gorky Park is full of that
sometimes rare species, the happy Russian. Officially the 'Park of Culture',
named after Maxim Gorky, it's the original Soviet park - part ornamental
and educational, part funfair and amusement park, and a good place to
escape the hubbub of the city.
Poklonnaja mountain is the most significant monument constructed in honour
of victory in the Great Patriotic War. Solemn opening of the Victory Memorial
in Moscow was held in May, 9, 1995. In February, 23, 1958 on Poklonnaya
mountain a memorable granite sign was established with the inscription:
" Here there will be a monument to the Victory of Soviet people in
Great Patriotic War". Trees were planted around the place, park was
layed named the Victory Park. In 70-80s 194 million roubles were collected.
For the whole complex a site of 135 hectares was allocated. A great work
on designing, discussion and choosing the best project of the main monument
to freedom began. At that time, however, the question remained unsolved
as none of the projects submitted was accepted. Everything remained without
changes until the general management of the construction of the Memorial
was undertaken by the mayor of Moscow J.M.Luzhkov. And the construction,
threatened to be broken, was completed for three years.
St. Basil's Cathedral
In 16th century a stone church of the Trinity with a small cemetery was
situated on this place. The Blessed Vasily, who has dyed in August 2,
1555, considered to be foolish, was buried near this stone church. In
October 2, 1552, Russian troops took Kazan - the capital of the Kazan
khanate. In commemoration of this event tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered
to construct 7 wooden temples on the Red Square, where in 1555-1561 a
stone temple, named after the Feast of the Protective veil, was erected
(the assault on Kazan began the day of the holiday of the Protective veil,
after two months siege). The church, situated in the central tower, was
devoted to this holiday. Four towers-churches are located on different
sides of the world. The northern - in the name of St. Kiprian and Ustina;
that was the day of the complete capture of Kazan. In 1786 under petition
of rich investor Natalia Hruscheva the church was consecrated in the name
of St. Adrian and Natalia. The southern church is consecrated in the name
of Nicola Velikoretsky, that is also connected with the Kazan campaign.
The western church is consecrated in the name of the Input to Jerusalem,
it is connected with solemn returning of the army to Moscow. Eastern church
is consecrated in the name of Trinity, that is, the church, which was
before situated at the cathedral place, was transferred into it.
The Cathedral of Christ the Savoir
The temple was constructed on a vow given by sovereign Alexander I in
gratitude for saving fatherland "from the Gauls invasion". The
temple was supposed to be built on Vorobyovy mountains under the project
of architect Vitberg. Subsequently "on intrigues against the builder"
the project of a temple and a place of construction were changed. The
new place was chosen not so close to the Kremlin, so that the temple was
dissonant to its ensemble, but at the same time so that connection of
the temple with ancient constructions of the Kremlin and the Red Square
September, 10, 1839 the solemn laying of the present temple in Russian-Byzantian
style took place. It was constructed under the project of architect K.A.Ton,
at the expense of treasury with attraction of people's donations. Two
cemeteries and mammoth remnants were found during digging a foundation
ditch. The temple was consecrated in April, 10, 1883 during the days of
crowning of the emperor Nikolay I. Side - chapels were consecrated later:
in June, 12 - the side-chapel of St.Nikolay Chudotvorets and in July,
8 - of St. Alexander Nevsky. K.A.Ton has created the project of a five-domed
temple with big central and four angular turrets with 14 bells.
One of the most beautiful Moscow convents, founded at the beginning of
16th century, for 400 years the Novodevichy Convent was the witness and
the participant of important historical events, connected with the names
of Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, Sofia and Peter I. The architectural
ensemble of the convent was formed by the end of 17th century and till
now remains one of the best in Russia. In the main, Smolensk Cathedral,
there is a valuable wall fresco of 16th century and a magnificent carved
iconostasis with icons of famous imperial masters of that time. Representatives
of noble families and tsar relatives, the hero of the Patriotic war of
1812 D.V.Davydov, the writer I.I.Lazhechnikov, the historian S.M. Solovyev
and others are buried on the convent territory.
The construction of the convent was a result of a large military and
diplomatic victory of Russia. The founder of the convent, grand duke Vasily
III, his son Ivan the Terrible, other tsars and boyars showed a great
interest in the Novodevichy convent, rendering it all possible financial
and legal support.
The composite centre of the Red Square - the Mausoleum - is a monument-tomb,
in a Mourning hall of which there is a crystal sarcophagus with V.I.Lenin's
body. When it became known about his death it was decided to build a Mausoleum
by the Kremlin wall. The project was carried out by architect A. Shchusev.
By January 27, 1924 a temporary Mausoleum was erected. It was a cube,
crowned with three-level pyramid. In spring of the same year it was replaced
by another temporary Mausoleum, also wooden.
The modern stone Mausoleum was constructed in 1930, also designed by
A. Shchusev. It is a grand scale building tiled with dark-red granite,
porphyry and black labradorite. Red and black shades give the Mausoleum
distinct and sad austerity. Over the entrance, on black labradorite the
name "Lenin" is inscribed in red porphyry. At the same time
at both sides of the building along the Kremlin wall guest tribunes for
10 thousand people were constructed.
The foundation of Bolshoi Theatre traditionally dates back to the 6th
of January of 1825, when a fine classical building with 8-columned portico
crowned by the carriage of Apollon appeared in the Theatre's Square. The
new theatre is considered to be the second largest of Europe after the
famous "La Scala" Theatre of Milan. However, the theatrical
company had already existed for a half of century. And in honor of the
inauguration of the theatre this company performed "The triumph of
The company was created by a province public prosecutor Petr Vasilievich
Ursov in 1772. Later the company was headed by his partner energetic and
enterprising Englishman Michael Medox. Thanks to him on the abandoned
ground regularly flooded by Neglinka river the new theatre was built.
The second half of the 19th century is a period of national originality
of Russian Art and Moscow Theatre. The creative activity of such composers
and directors as Alexis Verstovsky and Alexander Varlamov contributed
to the unusual raising of the theatre. They formed Russian Opera repertoire.
The most favorite operas of that time were works by Michael Glinka "The
Life for the Czar" and "Ruslan and Lioudmila", which could
survive and win the italianomania tendency of that time. And till now
traditionally every Theatre season begins one of the operas of Glinka.
State Tretyakov Gallery
State Tretyakov Gallery is the national museum of Russian fine arts of
X -XX centuries. It is situated in Moscow and bears name of its founder
- Moscow merchant and textile manufacturer Pavel Tretyakov.
It is situated on two territories, separated from each other by several
city districts. It gives the opportunity to represent the whole history
of Russian art from the ancient period to our contemporaries. Besides,
the structure of the Tretyakov Gallery includes memorial museums: A. Vasnetsov's
flat, V. Vasnetsov's
The Pushkin State Fine Arts Museum, in the southwest of the inner city,
boasts a broad selection of European works from the Renaissance onward
- mostly confiscated from private collections after the revolution. The
Tretayakov Gallery, near Gorky Park, has the world's best collection of
Russian icons and a fine collection of pre-revolutionary Russian art.
The Central Artists' House, next to the new Tretyakov Gallery building,
is one of the places you're most likely to find good contemporary art.
Past shows have ranged from 19th-century sacred art to the works of Gilbert
& George. There are also numerous literary museums, usually situated
in the houses of famous writers, such as Tolstoy, Pushkin, Dostoevsky,
Gogol and Lermontov.
Panorama "Borodino Battle"
The museum building was constructed at the historic place. Here had once
been the village of Fili (suburb of Moscow) where on September 13, 1812,
in a wooden log hut belonging to a peasant (Frolov by name), the council
of war was held, and the fate not only of Moscow but also of entire Russia
was at stake.
Since then this house which was named "Kutuzov's hut" by people
became the historical relic. In front of it one can see a bronze bust
of M.I.Kutuzov. Nearby there is a building of the former museum-chapel
of Kutuzov that was built in commemoration of the Centennial of the Patriotic
War, as well as an obelisk marking the common grave of 300 Russian warriors.
Not far from our museum, on the Kutuzov Avenue, there is the Arc of Triumph
erected in 1834. It was restored next to the Poklonnaya Gora (Hill of
Respectful Salutation) where Napoleon had vainly expected to be met by
a deputation of the city elders, bearing the municipal keys. In 1973 a
huge monument heroes of the War of 1812 was erected in front of the museum,
topped with an equestrian statue of Kutuzov. So, the above mentioned monuments
composed single historical-memorial complex dedicated to the glory of
Rusia in battles.
Kuskovo Estate or Palace was created in full conformity with tastes and
rules of Russian nobiliary life and art of 18 th century. It is the composite
centre of the "Kuskovo" ensemble, one of the earliest samples
of summer country residences of Russia.
According to a plan of the owner count Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev, "Kuskovo"
should be larger and more beautiful than manors of other grandees and
must compare well with imperial residences. Construction of a manor was
carried out in 30-90ss of 18th century, its territory covers an area of
more than 300 hectares, including three parks - French regular, English
landscape and Zaprudny, system of ponds and channels, small and big architectural
- park ensembles.
The Arbat, once the quarter of court artisans, is also a good place for
a stroll, passing elegant buildings, Stalinist eyesores and a pedestrian
precinct complete with buskers and souvenir-sellers.