The capital of Russia is a huge metropolis with more than 12 million inhabitants, which sets the rhythm of life for the entire state. Moscow has long been one of the most popular tourist destinations. This beautiful and tradition-rich city is attractive both for foreign tourists and for Russians themselves. People come here to see the treasures of museum collections and famous art galleries, architectural monuments and beautiful parks.
Content:
sights
- Moscow estates
- Moscow monasteries
- Moscow museums
- Cathedrals, temples of Moscow
- Stalin's skyscrapers
- Moscow Kremlin
- Red Square
- Lenin's mausoleum
- GUM
- Alexander Garden
- Luzhniki stadium
- Necropolis near the Kremlin
A brief history of Moscow
People began to settle on these lands in the Stone Age - more than 30 thousand years ago. And the Slavic settlements of the Vyatichi and Krivichi appeared on the site of the future Moscow in the 1st century. AD When archaeologists were excavating in the Kremlin, they discovered that in the 11th century, on the banks of the Moscow River, an urban settlement already existed, surrounded by a rampart and a moat. But the birth of the city is still considered 1147, when it was first mentioned in the Russian chronicle.
Cathedral of Christ the Savior
The history of Moscow is full of drama and instructive lessons. This city has suffered several times from enemy raids. Moscow was completely destroyed during the Tatar-Mongols in 1237-1238, it endured the siege of the troops of False Dmitry II at the beginning of the 17th century and was almost completely burned before the arrival of Napoleon's army in 1812. However, each time the city rose from the ashes and rebuilt again.
In 2011, the metropolis expanded greatly, annexing part of the territories of the Moscow region. Today the capital is divided into 12 administrative districts. Population growth is mainly provided by the migration of residents from other regions of the country. It has always been that way. Moscow grew at the expense of Russia and gave the country all the best that was born in this huge human "melting pot".
Moscow records
Any big city in the world has its own records, and Moscow is no exception. Several giants have been built here for Muscovites and guests of the city.
Donskoy monastery
- Ostankino Tower is the tallest building in Europe (540 m).
- The Aviapark shopping center on Khodynskoye Pole is also considered the largest in Europe and has an area of 400 thousand square meters. m. Its highlight was the 23 m cylindrical aquarium, which is home to 3.5 thousand fish.
- The world's largest skating rink with artificial turf (20.5 thousand meters) is open at VDNKh. The ice complex is divided into several thematic zones and is very picturesquely illuminated in the evening.
- In the park named after Gorky built the world's largest snowboard springboard with an area of 2 thousand square meters.
- The graffiti, which is considered the largest in the world in size, adorns the walls of the former assembly plant of the Moskvich automobile plant. The drawings cover an area of more than 6 thousand square meters.
- The Moscow Planetarium has the largest dome in Europe, 25 m in diameter.
How to plan an independent trip to Moscow
A trip to the capital is always the anticipation of a holiday. However, navigating a huge and noisy metropolis is not always easy. In order for a trip to the capital to bring maximum pleasure and benefit, you need to prepare for it in advance.
Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fili
First you need to determine the purpose of the trip. What are we planning to see? What impressions do we want to get? A clear travel plan is one of the main successes of the "Moscow" tour. Real life, of course, will make its own adjustments. But a pre-planned trip will allow you to avoid unnecessary fuss, fatigue, disappointment, and reduce costs.
Having decided on the goals, it is worth collecting as much information as possible about the work schedule of those places that you want to visit, and about the ways to approach them. It is very good to plan specific travel routes in Moscow in advance. After all, some of the capital's sights are close to each other, and it is convenient to see them in one trip.
To travel around Moscow, you need a good map and layout of the Moscow metro lines. It doesn't matter - on paper or electronically. And in the city itself, there are many clues. At any metro station and near the exits from the lobbies, there are informative maps of the surrounding areas of the city.
big theater
And - the main thing: while traveling through the streets of the capital, you should not be ashamed to ask. It is quite possible that every second passer-by will also be a visitor. But Muscovites will be happy to show the way and give a lot of useful advice on how to get to the desired metro station, museum or monument.
How to save money while traveling around Moscow
Moscow is an expensive city. It's right. But it is no less true that the capital is a city of price contrasts. There are enough places in the metropolis where you can have a great time without taking your wallet out of your pocket. It is not difficult to find out about such places, entertainment and promotions on the Internet. There are many sites that contain information about exhibitions, festivals, film screenings, museum and club promotions, concert programs, performances, excursions and much more that Moscow shares with its guests for free.
Almost no trip to the capital is complete without visiting museums. It is curious that on certain days you can visit them without paying for entrance tickets. These events take place on the third Sunday of every month and on International Museum Day, which falls on May 18th. However, these days there may be a queue to the most popular museums in the capital.
Lenin's mausoleum
On any day in the capital, you can visit several free exhibitions at once, which exhibit the works of young artists, photographers, antique furniture, designer items and handicrafts. Such exhibitions are organized all year round by Moscow galleries, parks, libraries, cultural, design and shopping centers.
Moscow is a city that is constantly learning. And this property of the capital is the key to many of its successes. In the city, you can visit free lessons and lectures, see the work of masters, feel the taste of a new profession or an exciting hobby. Such free classes are held by dance studios, language centers and schools, sports clubs, beauty salons, cultural centers, museums, craft centers and psychological clubs.
And what about city festivals? There is no day when the capital does not celebrate some bright holiday, long-awaited sporting event or colorful celebration. Free entertainment is available for Muscovites and guests of the city on state and religious holidays, as well as thematic festivals. And you need to look for them at concert and festival venues, parks, cultural centers and stadiums in Moscow.
Petrovsky traveling palace
Lovers of geography and those who are interested in the culture and traditions of different countries of the world, having arrived in the capital, can always attend meetings with famous travelers for free, listen to their stories and get advice on organizing independent tours. Such meetings are held in the form of public lectures, seminars and master classes, where like-minded people gather. Free excursions and guided walking tours are organized in Moscow and Moscow region parks and estates on weekends.
Besides, it is not difficult to save on housing in Moscow. If there is no problem to be sure to stay in expensive hotels, in the capital you can find quite budget options for accommodation. For a two-three-day or a week-long tourist trip to the capital, many rent apartments for rent from the owners, bypassing intermediaries. There is a very large selection of such apartments and rooms on the network - with photos, reviews and recommendations.And youth groups often stay in inexpensive metropolitan hostels.
When planning a Moscow trip, you should also think about buying single tickets for travel on the metro and ground transport, which allow you to save on city trips. There are several types of such passes - unlimited and with a limited number of trips. You can also purchase tickets "90 minutes", which entitle you to make one or more trips on the metro and an unlimited number of changes on ground transport in one and a half hours.
Tsaritsyno palace and park ensemble
What to show children in Moscow
Article: Moscow for children - fireworks of entertainment and pleasure
Many people go to Moscow for the sake of their children - to show them the capital. But we must not forget that any travel with children has its own characteristics. When organizing such a tour, it is imperative to include in the plan visits to places that are interesting to the child and desired for him.
A trip to the capital can be a real adventure for a child and a dream come true. And it is easy to compose a travel program to Moscow sights for children of any age. There are a lot of places here designed especially for children. These are theme parks, attractions, water parks, children's theaters, circuses and a zoo. By the way, all children can visit the Moscow "kingdom of animals" free of charge.
The most popular for children's excursions are: the Museum of Optical Illusions, the Interactive Center "Know Yourself - Know the World", the estate of Santa Claus in the park "Kuzminki", the House of Family Traditions on Tverskaya, the Museum "Living History", the Museum of Children's Cinema, the station "Mars" in the Moscow Planetarium, the city of masters "Masterslavl", InnoPark, the Panopticon of scientific entertainment and the Museum "Moscow Lights". And at the All-Russian Exhibition Center, the Ice Age museum-theater, the animation museum, the Christmas tree decorations factory and the house of fairy tales “Once upon a time” are open for children. There are no boring excursions here, and staying in the museum halls turns into a real fun exploration.
Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery
If the family is tired of the bustle of Moscow and noisy streets, it is worth looking into children's or family cafes, of which there are many in the city. In addition, you can go for a walk in any of the Moscow parks - TsPKiO im. Gorky, Botanical Garden, Sokolniki, Kuzminki, Bitsevsky Forest, Losiny Island ... Each of them has playgrounds equipped for children's recreation and entertainment.
Everyone at least once in his life tries to get to Moscow in order to see this large and beautiful city, to be surprised at the scale of new buildings, to rejoice at its growth, prosperity and prosperity. And this craving is not unfounded. The capital does not belong only to Muscovites, and every resident of Russia has the right to consider Moscow as his city.
The most famous sights of Moscow
The Russian capital is rich in unique architectural monuments, majestic monuments and museums. Most of Moscow's attractions are located in the city center and are easily accessible by metro. Many interesting places are located on the outskirts. To see as much as possible and not spend extra money on the road, buy a travel card. For trips around Moscow on weekends, a single travel pass for 3 days is convenient.
Moscow estates
Kolomenskoye Estate
Beautiful noble and merchant estates are real pearls of Moscow architecture. Some of them were built in the capital itself, others appeared as country estates, but gradually entered the city limits. Today the most beautiful and well-restored manor complexes have been turned into museums. Tourists come here to admire the graceful buildings, sumptuous sculptures, fountains and shady parks.
In Kuskovo you can get acquainted with a rich collection of porcelain, Izmailovo and Kolomenskoye - with the traditions of wooden and stone architecture in Russia. The picturesque Lyublino estate tells about its owner N. A. Durasov, and the huge park complex Kuzminki presents the creations of the best architects of their time - Dominico Gilardi, Ivan Egotov, Andrey Voronikhin and Ivan Zherebtsov.
Moscow monasteries
Novodevichy Convent
Orthodox monasteries are recognized spiritual centers of the capital. The city has preserved about one and a half dozen women's and men's monasteries. Believers strive to get to monastery churches to pray at the famous icons and touch the relics of Christian saints. Architecture lovers love the intricate churches and chapels.
In the ever-hurrying city, monasteries act as quiet parks. Here it is pleasant to take a break from the noise of cars and the hectic crowd, spend time with children and walk along the paths. The main milestones in the history of Russia are reflected in the Moscow monasteries. In some monasteries there are necropolises of famous Russians, and museums are open.
Moscow museums
Tretyakov Gallery
Even the native inhabitants of the city cannot say exactly how many museums there are in Moscow. It is believed that about four hundred. The most famous ones contain the oldest collections in Russia. The Tretyakov Gallery and the State Museum of A.S. Pushkin exhibit canvases by Russian and foreign painters. In the Historical Museum you can learn the facts of Russian history, and in literary museums - about the fates and works of A. Pushkin, S. Yesenin and L. N. Tolstoy.
Children's museums in Moscow are among the best in the world. For young guests, entertaining interactive programs, entertaining excursions and original experiences are held. Families with children enjoy visiting the Darwin Museum, the Experimentarium, the Museum of Optical Illusions, the Moscow Planetarium and the Paleontological Museum.
Cathedrals, temples of Moscow
St. Basil's Cathedral
The main city of Russia cannot be imagined without gilded domes and crosses. Churches and cathedrals are an integral part of the capital's architecture. Many of them were destroyed during the years of the state's struggle with religion.
Today there are over 800 churches in Moscow. Some are on the territory of Moscow monasteries, while others are hiding in the intricacies of the capital's streets and lanes.
The oldest stone building in Moscow - the majestic Assumption Cathedral rises in the very center of the Moscow Kremlin. The multicolored domes of St. Basil's Cathedral and the restored Kazan Cathedral adorn Red Square, and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior reminds of the Russian soldiers who died during the war with Napoleon.
Stalin's skyscrapers
MSU building
Moscow is recognized by the Kremlin's jagged towers, the modern skyscrapers of the Moscow City business center and the peaked buildings that were erected in the city after the Great Patriotic War. Seven Stalinist skyscrapers make up the architectural dominant of Moscow's buildings.
The original high-rise buildings are similar to each other, but each has its own unique look. The style in which they were built was called "Soviet Art Deco".
The most famous skyscraper stands on Vorobyovy Gory and is the main building of Moscow State University. Two high-rise buildings are occupied by hotels, a building on Smolensko-Sennaya Square is occupied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a high-rise near the Krasnye Vorota metro station is occupied by the Transstroy corporation. Skyscrapers on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment and on Kudrinskaya Square serve as apartment buildings.
Moscow Kremlin
Moscow Kremlin
The historical heart of the capital has the shape of an irregular triangle and is located on the left bank of the Moscow River. Even those who have never been to Moscow imagine what the Kremlin looks like. Images of brick walls, towers, the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell are in all school textbooks and on many calendars.
Although the Kremlin houses the country's main government, the area is accessible to tourists. Guests of the capital and Muscovites come here to see the changing of the guard at the Eternal Flame, visit the ancient Cathedral Square and admire the architecture of the Kremlin from the high bell tower of Ivan the Great.
Red Square
View of Red Square
The main square of the capital of Russia is located near the walls of the Moscow Kremlin. It is covered with stone paving stones and since the mid-1960s has been turned into a pedestrian zone. There is no transport on Red Square. Only on the days of parades and special celebrations do military vehicles pass here and columns of soldiers pass by.
From the north, the open space is closed by the Historical Museum, from the south - by the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed. The western border runs at the foot of the Kremlin wall, while the Kazan Cathedral and the facade of the State Department Store are located to the east. Red Square and buildings around it are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Lenin's mausoleum
Lenin's mausoleum
The tomb near the Kremlin wall appeared after the death of the leader of the Soviet communists, Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov. The embalmed body lies inside a stepped pyramid, which was built by the architect Alexei Viktorovich Shchusev.
When parades and processions were held on Red Square, the leaders of the Soviet state stood in the stands of the mausoleum. This practice was discontinued in 1996. Tourists are allowed into the tomb for a limited time - from 10:00 to 13:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Waiting in line takes 30-40 minutes.
GUM
GUM in the night illumination
The luxurious shopping center is located near Red Square and has long been considered one of the main symbols of the Russian capital. GUM is a whole shopping district with various shops, cinemas, bank branches, cafes and restaurants.
The shopping complex is built like a passage. It consists of 16 spacious buildings. Visitors can walk along three lines along GUM and three across the building. The ceilings are completed with glass ceilings, so there is always a lot of light inside. The facade facing the Moscow Kremlin has the status of an architectural monument.
Alexander Garden
Alexander Garden
The park area to the northwest of the Kremlin wall is a favorite place for walking and meeting with friends. A long green park was built on the site where the Neglinnaya River used to flow. People come to the Alexander Garden to see historical memorials and walk under shady trees.
In the Upper Park there are the "Spanish Grotto", "Ruins", the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and an obelisk erected in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. In the middle part of the park there are the Kremlin ticket offices and the bronze monument to Alexander I. There are no pedestrian alleys in the southern garden, so tourists are not allowed there.
Luzhniki stadium
Luzhniki stadium
The Luzhniki sports complex looks quite modern, but few people know that the famous stadium was built more than 60 years ago - in 1956. Luzhniki includes a main football arena, a large swimming pool, a golf complex, a sports town, tennis courts and a jogging track.
The old stadium is the main arena of the Moscow club "Spartak". Here you can enroll in the section for children and adults. Tourists come to Luzhniki to watch sports competitions and visit the halls of the Museum of Soviet and Russian Sports.
Necropolis at the Kremlin wall
Necropolis at the Kremlin wall
The most famous memorial cemetery is located between Red Square with the battlements of the Moscow Kremlin. In tsarist times, there were 15 small graveyards on this place. The necropolis in its present form appeared after the October armed uprising, in the late autumn of 1917. Since 1974, an unusual cemetery in the center of Moscow has the status of a cultural monument.
On it you can see the burial places of prominent figures of the Soviet state, military leaders and foreign revolutionaries. Participants of revolutionary uprisings and people who died in an air car accident in 1921 lie in the mass graves. Politicians, marshals, cosmonauts and scientists are buried in the walled up urns of the columbarium in the Kremlin wall.
