Moscow history

Learn about the events that marked the beginning of the end of Napoleon Bonaparte and glorified the prowess shown by Russian soldiers. In the Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812, opened to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the expulsion of the French invaders, you will see a unique exhibition that includes more than 2,000 items, such as medals and orders, bonafide weapons, archival documents, and works of art. State-of-the-art multimedia tools will make your immersion in these historical events even more captivating, and, at times, very realistic!

Come with your child and have them embark on an edifying journey full of exciting historical scavenger hunts. Children will be able to feel like true scholars and experience the zeitgeist of the early 19th century!

Here you will learn about how the recent history of a huge country has taken shape. The museum’s collections include nearly one and a half million exhibits, including absolutely unique items, such as audio recordings of those who witnessed the Great October Revolution!

Like most museums in Moscow, the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia affords you the opportunity to study the exhibits using the latest multimedia technology, thereby bringing history to life!

You will certainly like the museum complex itself, too. The festively bright building of the museum is a late-18th-century architectural masterpiece of late classicism, and the mighty lions at its gates adorn thousands of photographs that guests of the capital relish taking.

This mausoleum on Red Square serves as the tomb of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, whose preserved body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924. It is free to enter, and provides you with a unique, quiet, and somewhat solemn experience. We recommend visiting with a guide who can enrich your visit.

The mausoleum structure itself incorporates some architectural elements from ancient mausoleums such as the great pyramids of Egypt, Iran’s Tomb of Cyrus the Great and, to some extent, Mexico’s Temple of the Inscriptions.

The largest (literally) achievement of Russian bell-founders and a monument to Empress Anna of Russia’s extravagant ambitions. The two-hundred-ton Tsar Bell was cast from bronze per her orders in 1735, but it was damaged in a fire shortly thereafter, and, without ever projecting its mighty voice, lay in the ground for 103 years. Eventually, it was erected on a pedestal near the Ivan the Great Bell Tower along with a broken fragment weighing 11.5 tons.

Soon the Tsar Bell became one of the Moscow Kremlin’s main points of attraction. Stand at its base to marvel at its gigantic size (over six meters high), take a traditional photo, and try to imagine what its ringing would sound like. Spoiler alert! Due to its titanic size, infrasound, which causes great anxiety among all living things, would predominate. So, it’s probably for the best that the mute giant now stands on the ground. Nonetheless, from a close distance, you can see its bas-reliefs and ancient inscriptions.

This is one of the most recognizable elements of the world-famous Red Square. It is dedicated to national heroes Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, commanders of the people's militia that drove the Polish invaders out of Moscow in 1612, thereby putting an end to The Time of Troubles. This monument is depicted on the 10-ruble bill.

The 18-ton monument was made in the classical style based on the design of the great Russian architect Ivan Martos in 1818. This is the first large sculpture in Moscow symbolizing heroism and unity of the Russian people. Moreover, it basically became the first large memorial structure in the capital.

When looking at the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, you will see more than just an architectural masterpiece. It is a tribute to national heroes and a recognizable symbol of victory.

Now, let’s meet one of the tallest monuments in all of Russia! The 98-meter figure of Peter the Great, visible from afar, and up close, from the Vodootvodny Canal, will stupefy you. While you’re at it, take a closer look and check out the author's idea–the platforms at the base of the statue make it seem as though the great Russian emperor is moving on his bronze boat, slicing through the waves.

Come to the island and check out this unique structure, both technically complex and meticulously crafted. Beautiful views of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Krymsky Bridge, and the Moskva River are an added bonus!

For many years, it was one of the most recognizable symbols of the USSR, and today, it continues to adorn the center of VDNKh and is directly associated with Moscow. Does the outline of the sculpture look familiar? Well, you have probably seen Worker and Kolkhoz Woman in one of the many masterpieces of Soviet cinema. After all, this sculpture used to be featured on the Mosfilm film studio logo, as well as on coins and stamps.

The majestic 25-meter steel sculpture, erected in 1937, is considered one of the three colossi of Soviet art, along with The Motherland Calls and The Soviet War Memorial in Berlin. Worker and Kolkhoz Woman is worth seeing, if only for feeling the spirit of the time that it symbolizes. The architect Vera Mukhina described the nature of the sculpture as "an unceasing impulse" glorifying labor and the ability to achieve a feat for the sake of a grand common goal.

This majestic monument to the founder of Moscow, the first prince of Suzdal and the Grand Prince of Kiev, was erected in 1954. No authentic images of Yuri Dolgorukiy have survived, so the creators of the monument went for the collective image of a Russian bogatyr, a warrior from medieval Slavic legends, on horseback, richly adorning the composition with various details. Make sure to take a look at St. George the Victorious, the ancient heraldic symbol of Moscow, on the battle shield and examine the carving on the pedestal, which contains many references to Slavic folklore, Byzantine art, and ancient Russian architecture.