Moskva: Kremlin, Museums and City History

The Moscow Kremlin lies in the center of the Russian capital, on a high hill above the Moskva River. The grounds of the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve cover 256 hectares. Severnoye Tushino Park and Zakharkovsky Bay stretch along the Khimki Reservoir. VDNKh opened on August 1, 1939.

The Moskovsky Kreml State Museum-Reserve includes the Armoury Chamber and the architectural ensemble of Sobornaya ploshchad. The Moscow Kremlin is one of the world’s largest architectural and urban ensembles. Here, a significant ensemble and the Armoury Chamber are both in the spotlight; the choice of what to visit depends on your interest in architecture or collections.

Kolomenskoye offers a different historical focus: from the 16th century, it was a favored residence of the Russian tsars, and since 1923 it has been a museum-reserve. The grounds include an ethnographic complex and a museum of wooden architecture. Its 256-hectare size helps put the scale of the site into perspective; the facilities mentioned add ethnographic and architectural themes to the history of the royal residence.

The Istoriya Moskvy exhibition at the Museum of Moscow explores the lives and daily routines of Muscovites in different eras, as well as architecture, culture and urban development. Its timeline stretches from the first Dyakovo settlements on the banks of the Moskva River in the 1st millennium BCE to the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. This makes it possible to explore the city’s history not only through individual buildings, but also through everyday life and change.

In Severnoye Tushino Park, the waterfront promenade offers views of the Northern River Terminal port. Together with the park’s location and the bay along the Khimki Reservoir, this creates a clear connection to the water, distinct from the city’s architectural and exhibition themes.

The park’s Naval Museum presents the history of the navy. Visitors can explore the interior of the B-396 Novosibirsky komsomolets submarine and see the Orlyonok ekranoplan. Check the park operator’s current visitor information before planning your visit.

VDNKh has been renamed several times over the course of its history: its former names include VSKhV, VDNKh SSSR and VVTs. Facilities that opened on the grounds in 2015 include the Rossiya — moya istoriya historical park and the Gorodskaya ferma leisure and educational center. These opening dates help place the site’s development in context.

The Kosmos center, described as the largest space museum complex in modern Russia, opened in 2018 in VDNKh’s restored Kosmos pavilion. The Moskvarium Center for Oceanography and Marine Biology is also on the grounds; check current access information directly with the venue.

In Zaryadye Park, a self-guided audio guide takes you on a tour of the park’s main attractions. You can start the tour anywhere in the park or follow the route on the map. Check the official website for the audio guide’s current availability before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Moscow, Pushkinsky Rayon, Mytishchinsky Rayon, Ramensky Rayon, Odintsovsky Rayon, Dmitrovsky Rayon, Kolomensky Rayon, Zaraysky Rayon, Domodedovo Rayon, Troitsky Rayon, Balashikhinskiy Rayon, Serpukhov, Elektrostal, Zvenigorod, Dubna, Chekhovsky Rayon, Zheleznodorozhny, Voskresensky District, Khimki, Fryazino, Klinsky rayon, Moscow, Kashirsky Rayon, Lyuberetsky Rayon, Yubileiny, Stupinsky District, Bronnitsy, Dzerzhinsky, Taldomskiy rayon, Pavlovo-Posadsky rayon, Leninskiy rayon, Naro-Fominsky rayon, Sergiyevo-Posadskiy rayon, Serpukhovskiy rayon, Krasnogorskiy rayon, Solnechnogorskiy rayon, Shchelkovskiy rayon, Volokolamskiy rayon, Mozhayskiy rayon, Ruzsky District, Orekhovo-Zuyevsky rayon, Istrinsky rayon, Noginsky rayon, Shakhovskoy rayon, Lukhovitsky rayon, Podolsky rayon, Dolgoprudny, Ivanteyevka, Kolomna, Korolev, Lobnya, Lotoshinsky rayon, Lytkarino, Zvenigorod, Protvino, Zheleznodorozhny, Shaturskiy rayon, Zhukovsky, Shcherbinka, Ozyorsky rayon, Volokolamsk, Strekovo, Ganusovo, Perepechino, Batyushkovo, Nudol', Napolskoye, Makhra, Tarychevo, Zyuzino, Vorokhobino, Podmoklovo, Kurovskoye, Kraskovo, Donoshovo, Vasilevo, Chasovnya, Bolshevik, Bityagovo, Dorokhovo, Amerevo, Potapovo, Marfino, Krasnoznamensk, Pravdinskiy, Klimovsk, Voronino, Lvovskiy, Nikolina Gora, Dunino, Nazaryevo, Fedino, Ostrovtsy, Trasna, Syryevo, Lyubyatino, Alabushevo, Aborino, Sokolovo, Reshetnikovo, Pavlovsky Posad, Belyaninovo, Gromkovo, Ulyankovo, Karinskoye, Grigorchikovo, Leninskiy, Sverdlovskiy, Nikonovskoye, Matveykovo, Kushelovo, Kratovo, Chigasovo, Shakhovskaya, Tolstyakovo, Rozhdestvenno, Selyatino, Ryzhevo, Nosovo, Kukishevo, Penino, gorod Pushchino.

What does the Moskovsky Kreml State Museum-Reserve include?

The museum-reserve includes the Armoury Chamber and the architectural ensemble of Sobornaya ploshchad.

What themes does the Istoriya Moskvy exhibition cover?

It presents the lives and daily routines of Muscovites in different eras, as well as architecture, culture and urban development. Its timeline stretches from the first Dyakovo settlements in the 1st millennium BCE to the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.

What is the route like in Zaryadye Park?

The self-guided audio guide takes you to the park’s main attractions. You can start anywhere in the park or follow the route on the map; check the official website for current availability before your visit.

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