moscow's most extraordinary museums and monuments

Guidebook

Moscow’s Most Extraordinary Museums and Monuments

Route 1

Love and Art

Route 2

Music and Literature

Route 3

Cinema, Theater, Circus

Route 4

International

Route 5

Back in the USSR! Extraordinary Museums and Monuments

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Route 1

Love and Art

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Our initial acquaintance with new and lesser-known monuments of Moscow begins at the Novokuznetskaya metro station. Not so long ago, in April of 2008, a new feature was added here: a fountain with 1 the sculpture of Adam and Eve. Its name dictates the theme: two figures, a male and a female one, a serpent, a tree, and an apple; however, you shall be the judge of whether the valiant attempt to create a miniature Garden of Eden complete with fountain, little square and several ben-ches in the middle of Moscow succeeded or failed. The authors of this sculpture are a mother and a daughter, Marina and Maria Lewinsky. The next point of our route is another unusual fountain located in a square not far away from Tretyakov Gallery. Most frequently, it is called 2 the Fountain of Arts, because of several heavy frames

with wrought-iron pictures inside them. Remarkably, its authors are closely related: they are a father and a son, Alexander and Philip Rukavishnikov.Next, you will be going by 3 the Tretyakov Gallery, which, by the way, becomes, from time to time, a focal point of some unusual exhibitions as well, for instance, of peace peddlers or of Easter eggs painted by well-known contemporary artists. Lavrushinsky side street will lead you to the Vodootvodny canal where you will meet several wed-ding processions, guaranteed. Oh, those wedding processions! Oh, those kinds of happy nonsense the newlyweds create to guarantee themsel-ves to live happily ever after! Oh, those traditions and superstitions! In the last century, it was considered “good form” to inconspicuously carry the bride over the bridge, and in the current one, to put

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a lock with both names of the newlyweds on the railing and toss the key into the river. Moscow is, without doubt, full of bridges, but the newlyweds overpowered them all. Each and every one of those bridges became adorned with locks of all colors and sizes, from tiny to really giant ones. City representatives were putting up a good fight against this craze, but to no avail. Finally, a compromise was somehow achieved: the pedestrian 4 Luzhkov bridge across the Vodootvodny canal was destined to become the Bridge of Love. A special metal tree was erected there, with its metal lock-leaves growing very fast. Presently, a whole forest of those trees has grown; granted, they are not exceedingly pleasing from the aesthetical point of view, but at least it saves the other bridges. However, in case the lock would not suc-ceed in preventing an occasional lover’s tiff, a special reconciliation bench is also provided on this bridge. It is shaped like a bowl; so, even if two people would intend to sit as far from each other as possible, gravity would pull them to the middle, and you must agree that it

would be simply impossible to escape the mutual forgiveness!The love topic is logically succeeded by the children’s topic. Crossing the bridge, you will arrive at the Bolotnaya plaza where 5 the sculpture “Children are Victims of Adult Vices” by M.M. Shemy-akin is located. In his work, the artist calls upon the grown-ups to feel their responsibility for the fate of children, to move away from abstract philosophy about the impor-tance of caring for children, and to fight against specific vices which may harm them. The author names those vices , underscoring their ugly nature while preserving their outward human form, stressing the fact that all these vices are carried by people.Remarkably, among all vices, the artist underscores not just the ones which are definitely crimes, but, for instance, in-difference and ignorance. The focal point of the composition consists of a boy and a girl engrossed in play, with the future of those kids depending on whether their family and society as a whole shall succeed in protecting them.

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Next, you would have to go across the Bolshoy Moskvoretskiy bridge (do not forget to enjoy viewing the magnifi-cent Kremlin panorama from there), walk along the Moskvoretskaja em-bankment, and arrive at the Kitaigo-rodskiy side street. Another unique monument is located here, namely, a piece of 6 the Kitaigorodskaya city wall, a well-preserved part of an ancient defense structure.

Lastly, you shall walk to the crossing of several streets, turn onto the Solyansky drive which shall lead you to a crossing. To your left will lay the Bolshoy Spaso-golenishevsky side street. There you shall find something many people may have spent their entire life chasing after:

7 the bird of luck. The idea behind the sculpture by I.A. Burganov is trans-parent to everyone; it is a hand letting a turtledove fly. The monument is located

across the Moscow Choral Synagogue which explains a symbolic Wailing Wall being put up there. By the way, Moscow has yet another bird of luck; it lives in Tainitsky Garden of the Kremlin. The next point is very close, too, in the backyard of the house belonging to the Moscow artist alliance, 8 Starosadsky side street, house 5. Here, you will discover several very different sculptures and compositions. If you love riddles, this is just the place for you.

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Music and LiteratureRoute 2

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While our previous route was dedicated to love and art, this path shall lead you to literary and musical places of the capital. All of us have long been used to the idea of monuments being erected to commemorate some extraordinary poets and writers, but all of those monuments look somewhat alike: the grand person in question is standing or sitting, surveying the area with an inspired stare. But a writer rowing across the boulevard in a boat while being surrounded by horses at the same time, is an unheard-of story. But this is indeed true, there is such

1 a monument to the writer M.M. Sholokhov, a Nobel Prize laureate. The creator of this sculpture located at the beginning of Gogolevsky boulevard is A.I. Rukavishnikov. From Gogolevsky boulevard, you will need to turn onto the Sivtsev Vrazhek side street, and from there, arrive at Bolshoy Afanasyevsky side street 15, building 9, where

2 the Moscow State Museum “House of Burganov” is located. A part of its exhibition, by the way, is clearly visible from the outside. Now you can choose to observe it from a distance or

to visit this museum. Coincidentally, you will see more works of this artist travel-ling along this route. Next, you will need to be going along the Sivtsev Vrazhek all the way to Denezhny side street, and from there, you shall arrive at the Arbat. In the recent times, several new monuments have been erected here. First, you will be greeted by

3 A.S. Pushkin and his wife Natalie standing in front of the house number 53 where they once lived. The author of this sculpture is A. N. Burganov. And from the Plotnikov side street, 4 Bulat Okudzhava, a famous song writer and singer, walks sure-footed to meet you. The sculptor G. V. Frangulyan did his best to recreate around this composition the spirit of the legendary Arbat so adored by the bard.

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To your right, there will be the Krivoar-batsky side street and 5 the „Victor Tsoi Wall“, a one-of-a-kind tribute to the beloved musician. To your left, the Vakhtangov Theater and 6 a small fountain with golden figure of Princess Turandot, the title character of Carlo Gozzi play, and the most celebrated production of this theater. Turning onto the Maly Nikolaevsky side street, you will get to a staircase bet-ween houses which will lead you to the Novy Arbat. Crossing it at an underpass, you shall bypass the Moscow house of books and arrive at the Bolshaya Molcha-novka street. There, in the backyard of the house number 10, where 7 the art studio of the sculptor A.I. Rukavishnikov is located, you can admire some of his artwork dedicated to the “Master and Margarita”, the famous novel of M.A. Bulgakov. Next, walking further along the Bolshaya Molchanovka, you shall arrive at the little square with 8 the bust

of the renowned poet M.J. Lermontov, created – again – by A.N. Burganov. The monument location is no coincidence: the memorial house of the poet is very close, at Malaya Molchanovka street, 2. Continuing to move along, you shall come to the intersection with Borisog-lebsky side street. For all connoseurs of Russian poetry, this name is inextri-cably intertwined with the name of M.I. Tsvetaeva. Here, in the house number 6 where Marina Tsvetaeva once lived, a memorial exhibition dedicated to her life has been opened, with 9 a monument to this extraordinary poet

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in front of it. Granted, the sculpture by N.A. Matveeva may hardly be defined as unusual, but since it is relatively new, being opened in 2007, we have added it to the route as well. The Borisoglebsky side street shall lead you to the Povarskaya street, 23, home to the Gnessin Russian academy of music. In 2004, 10 a monument commemorating E. F. Gnessina, a pianist, educator and founder of this musical school, was opened in front of the Con-cert Hall. The sculptor, A.N. Burganov, allegorically transformed the wing of the concert grand into bird wings.

Next, you shall be returning to Po-varskaya street and walk to 11 the monument of a poet, writer and Nobel Prize laureate, J.A. Brodsky, created by G.V. Frangulyan, and erected in 2009 opposite the U.S. Embassy. At the other side of the Novinsky boule-vard, another relatively new monument is to be seen, namely, the one dedicated to 12 the grand opera bass,

F.I. Shalyapin, created by V. Tserkovni-kov. By now, only one object remains unseen on our route; it is 13 a monument of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Wat-son, from the incredibly famous stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. Images created by A. Orlov hint to the actors V. Livanov and V. Solomin playing the famous heroes in the Soviet version of the movie.

This monument is very enticing as a picture spot – next to the protagonists, there is just enough room on their bench for you.

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Cinema, Theater, Circus

Route 3

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Our trip begins at the backyard of 1 the Museum of Contemporary

Arts which is located on Petrovka street, house 25. Many works of Z.K. Tsereteli are exhibited here, so be forewarned: oodles of unusual monument lovers are always gathering here. This unique exhibition, however, features at least one sculpture related to our route theme, namely, 1a the group of characters from the movie “Mimino” by G. Danelia, one of the funniest and most popular comedies of the Soviet period. A stone throw from here, at the junction of two boulevards, Petrovsky and Strastnoy, there is a monument to the poet and actor V.S. Vyssotsky. The author of the sculpture, G. Raspopov, depicted the poet with outstretched arms and face turned toward the sky.

Next, along the Karetny Ryad, you shall walk to the Sadovaya-Samo-technaja street where, in the house number 3, 2 the legendary S.V. Obraztsov Puppet Theater is lo-cated. Mysterious clock on its fasade has been keeping score of the time for many, many years. How many little children are still excited about it, dre-aming about that wonderful day when

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they shall go to that theater with their parents for the first time. Not far from the theater, there is

3 a monument dedicated to its founder, an outstanding theater performer, actor and director S.V. Obraztsov (by A. Belashov). Inte-restingly, the monument was based on a porcelain figurine whose author, sculptor I.L. Slonim, has created a remarkable gallery of his famous contemporaries.

The next point of our route is yet another place beloved by children of all ages, the Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. In front of the main ent-ry, you will see 4 the monument dedicated to the most well-known and popular clown and actor, J.V. Nikulin (by A.I. Rukavishnikov). Before the show begins, little ones love to climb into his car and have their picture taken. Very near to it, in the square of Ts-

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vetnoy Boulevard, the circus theme is continued. Here, you will see a

5 sculpture composition including a fountain, several clowns, and a full set of circus props, including a suit-case, a clown hat, and a unicycle. The monument is authored by Z.K.Tsereteli. Continuing the children theme shall be the meeting with 6 the legendary Animal Theater, known to many little ones as „Grandpa Durov’s

Animal Playcorner“. The fasade of the theatre is decorated with several extraordinary sculpture groups. The last, but not least, point on the route is tribute to 7 the hero of several children’s poems by S.V.Mikhalkov, the Uncle Stepan. This unusual sculpture is located at the house number 1 on Slesarny side street coming from the Orlovo-Davy-dov side street, across the Moscow District Office of Street Patrol.

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InternationalRoute 4

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Everybody knows that the metro of Moscow is full of various monuments and sculptures. Many of them need no introduction, but there are some which are simply not known by everyone. And definitely there is only one, very unique, sculpture composition includ-ing a fountain. It is located at 1 the Rimskaya metro station. The name of the station sets its theme as well as its execution. Here, you may see Romulus and Remus, the legendary babies who later founded Rome as a city, and four medallions commemorat-ing various attractions of Rome. It is a joint project of Italian architects G-P Imbrighi and A. Quattrocchi with the sculptor L.L. Berlin. From here, you shall go to 2 the

Kievskaya station. The exit from the metro is dedicated to the friendship bond between Russia and France, and is a precise replica of the Paris Père Lachaise metro station. Next, you have to arrive at the Europe Plaza, where one more point of our routethe 3 “Rape of Europe” sculpture, is located, a gift to the city of Moscow by the city authorities of Brussels.Further, you shall move along the Berezhkovskaya embankment, cross over and continue going toward the Novodevichy convent. Not yet reaching it, on the opposite side of the pond, you shall see a funny and heartwarm-ing sculpture: 4 a mother duck leading her chicks across the street.

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Those are not just some ordinary ducklings, mind you; they are from the book of Robert McCloskey’s “Make Way for Ducklings”. A set of identical fluffy babies, under watchful eye of their Mommy, is bravely waddling across the Central Park in Boston. The next monument is located in front of the Russian Union of Circus

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Performers, and dedicated to 5 the legendary clown Karandash (M.N. Rumyantsev), and his Scottish terrier Klyaksa. The very last point of our journey is also the most unusual. It is the monu-ment dedicated to… 6 the band of Moebius! It is located near the “Gori-zont” movie theater, on Komsomolsky Prospekt, in house 21/10.

It is quite difficult to list here all of Moscow’s most extraordinary monu-ments, especially since new and in-teresting objects keep adding up here constantly. Here are just some more of them: Perhaps the most hotly debated monument of Moscow is 7 the giant Peter the Great, or the monu-ment dedicated to the “300th anni-

versary of Russian Navy” by sculptor Z.K.Zereteli, is located on the artificial island separating Moskva river and the Vodootvodny channel. With its 98 me-ters, it is Russia’s highest monument.

8 The sculpture composition dedicated to the characters of Venedict Erofeev’s novel, “Moscow – Petushki” (by S. Mantserev and V. Kusnetsov) is located at a square on Borba plaza.

9 Monument to the research assistant is located in the town of Troitsk, on Sirenevy boulivard. He came here to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the title assignment Troitsk Science City. Authors S.Miheev, G.Bulatova N.Martovitskaya and in-cluded in its composition recognizable images - granite Science and round glasses.

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Back in the USSR! Route 5

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Our last route gives you the possibi-lity to move not only in space, but also in time! Here, we have gathered information about the most interesting places telling about the recent past of our country. For those who spent their youth in the Soviet Union, this is a wonderful opportunity to take a trip down memory lane, and for everyone else, here is your chance to face some real hisrory. We shall start our walk at the museum talking about events preceding the Oc-tober Revolution. 1 „Underground Print Shop of 1905-1906“, working since 1924, is a branch of the State Central Museum of Contemporary Rus-sian History. This is a real historical object, a visit to which will offer you many unforgettable impressions.

Address: Lesnaya str., house 55.Phone: +7 (499) 251-69-43.Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, from 10.00 to 17.30, Sunday, from 10.00 to 16.30, closed on Monday.www.sovr.ru

The next object is also a secret one it is the so-called 2 Stalin‘s Bunker, officially called the public branch of the Central Museum of Armed Forces History Museum Complex „Emergency Command Post of the Supreme Com-mander of the Red Army, Joseph Sta-lin, during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945“ in Izmailovo. You can visit the museum by appointment only, and in groups of 10 people (if you have less than ten visitors, you may pay as if for a visit of a minimal-size group). Since this unusual exhibit is very high

in demand, it would be wise to make your appointment far in advance.

Address: Sovetskaya Str. 80, building 1.Tel.: +7 (499) 166-55-96.By appointment only.www.cmaf.ru/branchs/bun

The theme of the underground exhibits is continued at 3 the Museum of the cold war “Bunker-42“ on Taganka

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street, located 63 meters deep. This unique facility is fully autonomous and capable of withstanding a powerful nuclear strike. At the present time, it has lost its defensive function, but re-mains a priceless historical monument.

Address: 5th Kotelnichesky side street, 11.Phone: +7 (495) 500-05-54.By appointment only.www.bunker42.com

If by now you are tired of the dark dungeons, the time has come to visit

some leisure facilities. One of them, 4 the Museum of Soviet Arcade

Games, talks about the games Soviet schoolchildren were passing time with. Some people will recall their child-hood here, while others would see an exhibition of amazing functioning me-chanisms. The ticket price includes the exhibition itself as well as 15 games.

If you have kept the old „pyatnashki” – the 15-kopeck-coins - bring then in and use them as tokens.

Address: Baumanskaya Str., 11.Phone: +7 (916) 167-19-25, +7 (926) 576-62-08.Hours: Monday to Thursday, from 14.00 to 21.00, Friday to Sunday, from 13.00 to 20.00.www.15kop.ru

5 The Museon Park of Arts takes a vast territory behind the Central House of Artists (and the exhibition of the StateTretyakov Gallery (Krymsky Val, 10). This combination attracts to the park several art lovers desiring not just a refreshing walk but also a “cultural highlight”.The fill of the Park of Arts exhibition is quite unusual. During the nineties of last century, several monuments of the Soviet era arrived here upon their removal from the streets and squares of the city. However, this collection features some completely “non-politi-cal” sculptures, in a variety of styles, created with the full range of all available materials. Where else can you see that funny sculpture of Grandpa Mazay saving bunnies from a spring forest flood, in peaceful coexistence with the row of sculpted portraits depicting the most outstanding factory workers? “Museon” has several small restau-rants; various temporary exhibitions and special events as well as guided tours for different groups of visitors are hosted here. This is the place

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where you can look at art in new ways, take a lot of unique snapshots, or simply relax at the cozy park.

Hours: daily, from 9:00 to 22:00 (in summer), from 10.00 to 21.00 (in autumn-winter period).Phone: +7 (499) 238-33-96, +7 (499) 238-59-01.www.muzeon.ru

5 VDNKh-ARECAnd, of course, returning to the Soviet past, it would be impossible not to mention VDNKh-AREC. Here, you shall find pavilions preserving the symbols of the bygone era, as well as the famous Fountain „Friendship of Peoples of the USSR.“ However, the modern All-Russia Exhibition Centre also plays host to a lot of unusual museums.

Interactive Exhibition Centre of Moscow Museum of AnimationTours are conducted every hour, visitors learn about the exhibition showing the development of animation, and about creating cartoons at different times in history. Additionally, there are demonst-ration videos and participation in master classes where you can create your own cartoon.

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, from 11.00 to 18.00, Saturday and Sunday, from 11.00 to 19.00.

Children‘s Museum „The House of Fairy Tales“ does not look like a museum where everything is laid out on shelves and nothing can be touched by hands. Instead of strict wardens, there are fairy tale characters, and museum visitors are not mere spectators, but real partici-pants, or even main characters, of a fairy tale.

Hours: daily, from 10:00 to 19:00.

„Ice Age“ MuseumThe main part of this paleontological museum exhibition are objects extracted from the permafrost. The exhibition is full of interesting information accompa-nied by sound and light effects.

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, from 10.00 to 18.00, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 10.00 to 19.00 (in the autumn and winter), Tuesday-Friday, from 10.00 to 19.00, Satur-days, Sundays and public holidays, from 10.00 to 20.00 (in summer).Closed on Monday.

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Extraordinary Museums and Monuments

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Izmailovo Kremlin

1 Izmailovo Kremlin is not just an assortment of interesting museums but a large cultural and entertainment complex, with its appearance in line with Russian architecture of the XVII century. You can see this miniature fairytale town with your own eyes, visit some unusual museums, partici-pate in master classes, and buy some souvenirs and handicrafts at „Vernis-sage in Izmailovo“.Here are some museums that you can visit.

Toy MuseumWednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 10.00 to 15.00, Saturday and Sunday, from 10.00 to 18.00, Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Vodka History Museum daily, from 10.00 to 20.00, seven days a week.

Bread Museum daily, from 10.00 to 18.00, as soon as a group becomes full.

Russian Navy History Museum by appointment.

Kremlin in IzmailovoIzmailovskoye road, 73 „g“ („Partizanskaya” metro station).Tel: + 7 (499) 166-50-48, + 7 (499) 166-50-57.Daily, from 9.00 to 21.00.

2 A Lomakovsky Museum Vintage CarKrasnodarskaya str., 58.Tel.: +7 (499) 356-79-95.Daily, from 11.00 to 19.00.www.lomakovka.ru / Excursions.html

3 EksperimentaniumButyrskaya str., 46/2.Tel.: +7 (495) 789-36-58.Weekdays from 9.30 to 19.00,weekends and holidays, from 10.00 to 20.00.www.experimentanium.ru

4 Museum trips and pilgrimageKrutitskaya str., 13. Krutitskoe patriarshee podvorye.Tel.: +7 (495) 390-06-40.Saturday and Sunday from 12.00to 17.00.www.plmusey.narod.ru


5 Museum of the Moscow MetroKhamovnichesky Val 36.Tel.: +7 (495) 622-73-09.Monday from 10.00 to 16.30,Tuesday – Thursday from 9.00 to 16.30,Friday from 9.00 to 15.00.Weekend – Saturday and Sunday.Last Monday of each month - day.www.mosmetro.ru / about / history / museum

6 Museum of dollsLeontiefsky per., 7/1.Tel.: +7 (495) 691-96-47, +7 (495) 691-75-56.Monday – Thursday from 10.00 to 16.00Friday from 10.00 to 15.00.Weekend – Saturday and Sunday.

7 Lights of MoscowArmyansky per., 3-5, page 1.Tel.: +7 (495) 624-73-74.Daily:for individual visitors –from 11.00 to 17.00,

for a tour group – from 9.00 to 19.00.Visiting is conducted by appointment only.www.moscowlights.ru

8 Museum of GeosciencesLomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, floors 24-31.Tel.: +7 (495) 939-29-76Daily from 10 to 17 hours.Weekend – Saturday, SundayTour reservations by phone from 10 up to 15 hourswww.museum.msu.ru

9 Museum of forest5th Monetchikovsky lane., 4.Tel.: +7 (495) 959-15-17.During the summer period (01.06-31.08):daily from 10.00 to 18.00.Weekend – Saturday and Sunday.The rest of the time:Wednesday, Thursday from 11.00 to 19.00,Friday – Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00.www.museum.forest.ru

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moscow's most extraordinary museums and monuments

Documents

extraordinary museums

bridge of love

unusual fountain

love topic

fountain of arts

luzhkov bridge

middle of moscow

focal point