Sights of Moscow

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Originally erected to commemorate the victory over Napoleon in the War of 1812. In 1931 it was blown up on Stalin's order as a symbol of tsars' power. In 1991 the Moscow Government desided to rebuild the cathedral. Scince August 2000 it became the major cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Address: 15, Volkhonka Str.

The Red Square

The word "red" in old Russian originally meant "beautiful". The Red Square is always crowded and this is the first place where a tourist takes a picture at the background of St. Basil and Lenin's Mausoleum to show it afterwards to his dearest & nearest as a proof of that you have visited Russia.

The Kremlin

The Kremlin is the center of Moscow , the greatest monument to the Russian history, and simply one of the most beautiful places of the city. That is the place from where the city started to grow. Behind the redbrick walls of the Kremlin one will find the most prominent and famous architectural monuments, among which are the Assumption Cathedral (1475-1479), the Annunciation Cathedral (1484-1489), the Archangel Cathedral (1505-1508), Ivan the Great Bell Tower (1505-1508), Hall of Facets (1487-1491), Terem Palace (1635-1636) and many more.
Don't forget to take your photo near the Tsar Cannon (16th century) and the Tsar Bell (18th century).
The Armoury & Diamond Fund are the outstanding collection of Russian jewellers and medieval treasures.

Open: 10.00-18.00,
Closed: THU

Armory Chamber

Formerly it was a warehouse for the Tzar's treasures. The State Armory Chamber is an architectural monument of the mid XIX century, it is decorated with 58 marble bas-relieves and portraits of Russian tzars and grand dukes. The collections of the State Armory Chamber include pieces of arts and crafts of Russia , Western Europe and countries of the East.

The Tretyakov Gallery
( www.tretyakov.ru )

The biggest and world famous museum in Russia. Pavel Tretyakov, a prominent Moscow merchant and patron of the arts, began collecting the finest works of Russian artists in 1856 and 36 years later donated the collection to the city. The current exposition consists of the ancient

Russian icons of the 12 th -17th centuries as well as paintings, drawings & sculptures of the 18th to 19th centuries.

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

The second largest Fine Arts museum after the world famous Hermitage in St. Petersburg, possesses the finest collection of Western European artworks from the ancient times till present day. The most spectacular collection of the French Impressionists and post-Impressionists.

Address: 3/5, Maly Znamensky Pr.
Open: 11.00-19.00
Closed: MON, TUE

Arbat Street

Arbat is Moscow's most charming and lively pedestrian street. Once a bohemian quarter of the city, littered with cafes crammed full of the capital's intellectual elite, the Arbat still retains a vibrant and artistic air today, with souvenir stalls selling traditional Russian gifts, artists offering original canvases and street performers entertaining the shoppers.

The Arbat is a symbol of old Moscow and its name is mentioned in the city chronicles as far back as 1493.

Novodevichy Convent
www.museum.ru

The Novodevichy Convent, in south-western Moscow, built in the 16th and 17th centuries, was part of a chain of monastic ensembles that were integrated into the defence system of the city. The Convent was directly associated with the political, cultural and religious history of Russia, and closely linked to the Moscow Kremlin. It was used by women of the Tsar's family and of the aristocracy. Members of the Tsar's family and entourage were also buried in its cemetery. The Convent provides an example of the highest accomplishments of Russian architecture with rich interiors and an important collection of paintings and artefacts.

Kuskovo Estate

The Kuskovo Estate, nicknamed the Moscow Versailles due to its formal French gardens, is a perfect example of an 18th century Muscovite country residence. The history of the estate dates back to 1715, when Peter the Great awarded the village of Kuskovo to Boris Sheremetev, a Russian general who excelled at the battle of Poltava and who decided to build a summer residence there. The Sheremetyevs were one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Russia and the estate was used by several generations of the family.

Address: 2, Yunosti Str.
Open: 10.00-18.00,
Closed: MON., TUE.

Kolomenskoe Estate

The architectural, historical and landscape museum Kolomenskoye is situated in outer Moscow on the high bank of Moskva River. It is the former estate of Russian tzars which became a museum of Russian wooden architecture, including Peter the Great's wooden cabin. On the territory of the museum folk shows and performances are held.

Address: 39, Andropova Pr.
Open: 10.00-17.00
Closed: MON

Sergiev Posad

Zagorsk - the town 70 km away from Moscow. Has had many name including Posad (from 1782), Sergiev (from 1919), Zagorsk (from 1930), Sergiev Posad (since 1992).

Troitsko-Sergiev Lavra (monastery), founded in the 14th century by Sergei Kadonezhski is the historical centre of Sergiev Posad. For centuries it has been the largest religious and cultural centre of Russia. Such great masters of icons as Adnrey Rublev and Daniil Nickon to paint the most sacred place of the monastery - thhe Trinity Cathedral (1422)..

The history of the city is closely connected with the history of Lavra. Sergiev Posad is famous for its architectural monuments, such as the historico-architectural set of Troitsko-Sergiev Lavra. The Trinity Church (1422), the Dukhovskaya church (1635), the Assumption Cathedral (1559-1585), the Hospital Chambers with its church of Zosima and Savvaty (1635-1637), the refectory with its church of Sergy (1686-92), the Tsar's Mansion built at end of the 17th century and Smolenskaya church (1746-1748). There are also some other churches in Zagorsk: Vvedenskaya (1547), Voznesenskaya (of the Ascension Day) built in 1766-1779. There are is the Moscow Theological Academy and the Theological college in Sergiev Posad.