Yaroslavsky Railway Station in Moscow: History and Architecture
Yaroslavsky Railway Station stands on the east side of Komsomolskaya Square. Its history began in 1862 with a small station building. The first section of the railway ran from Moscow to Sergiyev Posad. When the line reached Yaroslavl in 1870, the station became the starting point for a route into northeastern Russia. The longer line and growing demand made repeated expansions necessary. The station’s present-day appearance took shape over several phases of construction.
Fassade des Jaroslawer Bahnhofs in Moskau mit Turm und Eingangsbereich unter blauem Himmel.
Photo: Mike1979 Russia; Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Key facts: Yaroslavsky Railway Station
- The first station building was constructed in 1862.
- The railway connection reached Yaroslavl in 1870.
- Fyodor Shekhtel designed the new façade and waiting room in 1902–1904.
- The station is at 5 Komsomolskaya Square and is a cultural heritage site of federal significance.
Renovations and architects
In the 1890s, the older building was modified under the architect Lev Kekushev. Among other things, he redesigned the east wing and the platform area. At the beginning of the 20th century, the station received a new, more unified façade. Between 1902 and 1904, Fyodor Shekhtel designed the new façade section and waiting room. The construction work expanded the older station. In 1965 and 1966, the platform side was renovated again. A section with a continuous glass wall was added there, and the interiors were also altered.
Neo-Russian style
Shekhtel’s design connects the station with the northern regions toward which the trains departed. The Neo-Russian design draws on forms from northern Russian wooden architecture and combines them with elements of Art Nouveau. The asymmetrical building, tall entrance arch, and towers define its dynamic silhouette. Metal roof ridges recall traditional roof ornamentation; colorful ceramic panels depict motifs such as walruses, polar bears, and seagulls. They were made at the ceramic workshop associated with entrepreneur and patron Savva Mamontov. Alongside Shekhtel, the station’s design was shaped by Kekushev, who had worked on the east wing and platform, as well as by artists Konstantin Korovin and Mikhail Vrubel.
The station is at 5 Komsomolskaya Square and is protected as a cultural heritage site of federal significance. The entrance hall echoes the shape of the gates of the Spassky Monastery in Yaroslavl. Also on the square are Kazansky Railway Station and Leningradsky Railway Station; the square is therefore home to several Moscow railway stations.
If you’re staying in Moscow, you can compare the station’s location and your other daily routes with your accommodation options. For navigation, you can save maps and addresses offline.
Frequently asked questions about Yaroslavsky Railway Station
How did the building’s volume change during the renovation?
The reconstructed building had three times the volume of its predecessor.
