Разработки экскурсий по Москве.
методическая разработка по теме

Разработки экскурсий по Москве.

 A walk around the city.

Tverskaya Street.

Hello! I am your guide. I’ll show you around Moscow today. You will see the most interesting sights and learn some interesting facts about History of Moscow. Let me remind some facts about it. Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation, business, scientific, cultural and tourist center of Russia. According to chronicles, Moscow was founded by the Suzdal prince Yuri Dolgoruky in 1147. Nowadays it is one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. Its area is over the 1000 square kilometers .The best way to feel the atmosphere of the city is to take a walk around it. Let’ start our journey from Tverskaya Street, the main street of Moscow. In the 14th century it was a road from Moscow to the city of Tver. Starting from the 16th century Tverskaya had become the main trade route of Moscow. Another impact was given to its development in the 18th century when the new capital of St Petersburg was founded in the north. It had become the route for the Russian emperors entering Moscow for coronations and other important events. The street was crooked and narrow, but first to be electrified in 1896. After the October Revolution it got a new name of Maxim Gorky. The old name of the street was given back in 1991. The street was the first where large- scale reconstruction started in 1930s. In the result of the reconstruction Tverskaya was straightend up and widened up to 16-18meters. Some of its buildings were demolished, others moved to other sites. As a result the new avenue had become 40- 60meters wide.

The grey corner building on your left is National Hotel. It is a five star hotel built in the early 20th century in the Art Nouveau style and designed by architect N.I. Ivanov. After the Revolution such outstanding people as V. I. Lenin, J. Read leaved there. Nowadays its unique feature is a swimming pool with mineral drinking water.  

Next to it is a former Hotel Intourist. Now it is construction site. The new one will have 5 underground levels where a parking lot, restaurants and saunas will be situated.

On your left green and white little building is a Moscow drama theatre named after Yermolova (N.5). It was built in 1805 as a palace for princes Dolgoruki. The house was twice rebuilt. Before The October Revolution it was known as a hotel.  

The large grey building at the corner is The Central Telegraph Office which was erected   by ach. I. Rarberg in constructivism style in 1937. It was one of the first public buildings erected in the Soviet times.

Look at the houses on your left. The ground floor is faced with dark-red granite which was brought to Russia from Norway in 1941 by the orders of Hitler. He wanted to build the monument to Nazi in the center of the city the rest of Moscow was destined to be flooded. But after The Second War the granite was used for decoration.

Tverskaya Street links several squares. Ahead is the first square of the street, named Tverskaya Square. In the center is the monument to the founder of Moscow Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. The monument was erected by sculptor S. Orlov in 1954.Vis-a-vis is the Moscow City Council Office, the former residence of the Governor. During the street reconstruction in 1930s it was moved 14meters back and the two more stores were added.

To the right is a former bakery and coffee house by merchant Philippov (No.10). He supplied Moscow Governor General with bread. In the Soviet times the building housed Hotel Tsentralnaya. Now there are many offices there.

To the right is the pinkish building of Yelisseyev’s food store (No.14). It was named after its owner merchant Yelisseyev. He was the richest person of the 19th century. Before that the building belonged to Zinaida Volkonskaya. She was a talented woman, and she arranged literary parties. Among her guests was famous Alexander Pushkin.

Ahead is a square named after the greatest Russian poet, the father of Russian literary language Alexander Pushkin. The Pushkinskaya Square appeared in the 1770s in the place of a demolished fortress wall of Beliy Gorod (White Town) and theTvtrskiyeGates tower. Pushkin Square was originally called Passion Square after the convent which was founded by a tsar Aleksey Mirhailovich in 1654(the father of Peter the Great). As well as the other religious places it was demolished by the order of Stalin in 1937. Nowadays the Russia film theatre is on that place.  In the center of the square you can see the monument to Pushkin. It was made by architect A. Opekushin in 1880. In the early1950s a public garden with fountains was build on the square and the Pushkin monument was moved to the square from the Tverskoi Boulevard.

 The architectural complex of the square consists of the publishing house Izvestia, the old building of which was erected in 1927the new one-in 1975.

 The other is the church of the Nativity of Our lady in Putinki, the late 17th century. This is one of the best examples of tent-shaped churches.

 In the distance on the opposite side of the street is the classical red and white building (No.21) It is the former English Club, the building which was mentioned by Leo Tolstoy in “War and Peace», by Pushkin in “Eugene Onegin. It was the former English Club, which was built by arch. Kazakov at the end of the 18th century. It was attended by the richest persons in the18th and the 19th centuries. In the 1940s the building was the museum of Stalin’s gifts. There many interesting items there such as “the green of peace with china hieroglyphs and a huge cover with Stalin’s portrait which was made of silk by women of Oriental. Nowadays it is The Museum of Modern History.

To the opposite side of the street is the beginning of Tverskoy Boulevard.

It was the first Boulevard in Moscow which was laid out more then 200 years ago. The boulevard was described by A. Pushkin and M. Lermontov. It was mentioned by A. Griboyedov and L. Tolstoy. A lot of writers starting from Karamzin to Bulgakov and Solzhenitsyn wrote about Tverskoy.

Boulevard Ring

.

The Boulevard Ring extended from Prechistenskiye Gates Square to Yauzskiye Gates. The boulevards were laid out where fortified walls of the old White City had been which were constructed in 1586. Tsar Fyodor, son of Ivan the Terrible, started building a city of stone. Seven thousand stonemasons were guided by a wonderful master Fyodor Savelyevich”Steed”(Kon) for his strength. The territory enclosed by the wall was given the name the White City, from the colour of the fortified walls. People started to settle on the territory of the White City. The wall ran for over 10kilometers and had numbered 27 towers, 10 of which had double gates.  When the walls could not protect the city against heavy artillery they were pulled down by the order of Catherine the Great. It was decreed that trees should be planted where the walls had been, and the first Moscow boulevard- Tverskoy- appeared in 1796. The Russian word “bulvar” came into language either from the French “boulevard” or the German “bolwerk”, the latter meaning “fortified wall”. There are 10 boulevards but they do not constitute a full circle.

House No. 25 belonged to a nobleman Yakovlev, which was built in the 18th century in classical style. Alexander Gertsen was born here. There is a monument to him in a court yard. The building was mentioned as Griboedov’s house in “the Master and Margarita” by M. Bulgakov. Now the building houses the Literary Institute which was founded in 1953 for training writers.

On the same side, the Drama Theatre named after Pushkin. It is the former Chamber Theater, which was founded in 1914 and headed by Alexander Tairov. In1949 it was closed down for “aestheticism and formalism”. In 1980 the building was renovated, and spending suite of rooms of Alexander I time, its paintings and stucco décor were restored.

 On your left is one of the finest theaters in Russia. The Moscow Arts Theater (Gorky MKhAT) was opened in 1972. The theatre building replaced the house of the Kologrivovs, where Pushkin first met his wife, Natalia Goncharova, in winter 1828-1829.  

On your right is a small Church of St. Jonh the Theologue in Bronnaya. It was built in 1652. The bell-tower dates from 1710.

Further on the same side there is a building with the theatrical reminiscence which once housed the State Jewish Theater. Its director was Solomon Mickhoyels Who died in a car accident arranged by the order of Stalin.

 House No.11 is M. Yermolova museum. The pinkish building was bought by a famous lawyer Shubinsky, who settled here with his wife, who was an actress in the Maly Theatre, Maria Yermolova. She lived in this house for forty years. After her death the house was tuned into her museum. The famous portrait of Yermolova by V. Serov was painted in this house. Now it is exhibited in the Tretyakov Gallery.

To the left on the corner you can see a building of the Central News Agency, TASS. It is responsible for the information in our country.

The monument to the outstanding scientist Timiryazev (sculptor Merkulov) marks the beginning of boulevard, Tverskoy. In1941 a German bomb exploded right on the edge of the boulevard. The blast wave toppled the monument from its base. By the morning it was back in its place and only some dents on the left side of the Cambridge honorary fellow robe would remind us of that episode.

The Ascension Church is seen at the Nikitskiye Gates Square on your right where Pushkin and Natalia Goncharova were married here in 1831. I t is a yellow and white church of the early of the 19th century. The foundation of the church of “Great Ascension” was laid in 1798 at the will of prince G. A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky on the territory of his former estate.  In front of it is the fountain “Natalia and Alexander”. It was made in 1999.

In front of the  church, on your right is the most famous house built in the Art Nouveau Style. It was built for merchants Ryabushinsky. The house was built in 1902-06 by Feodor Shekhtel. The unusual asymmetry of the facades is balanced by simple in shape details. You can see a majolica freeze with large iris flowers. The interior has an unusual staircase of original design.

The Church of St. Theodore Tyron of the 18th century is seen on your left. Among its parishioners was the Great Russian military leader Alexander Suvorov Who never lost a battle. He was baptized in this church. Not far from it, on Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street, his parents’ house was situated. In Soviet time for over 40 years this boulevard was called Suvorovsky.

If we cross Nikitskiye Gates Square we will face Nikitsky Boulevard. It was named so after the gates of the White City.

Furter on down the boulevard, the corner building on your left is a small theatre, called “At Nikitskiye Gates”

House No.12 is the National Museum of Oriental Culture. It was built in 1818-1823 for General Lunin.

On the same side of the boulevard, you can see an old building of the 18th century which is a remaining wing of the Golitsyns’ house, where A. Pushkin read his new poem “Poltava”. At present the Central Journalists’ Club is situated in it.

On the other side of the boulevard is the house, where the outstanding Russian writer Nicholas Gogol spend the last days of his life, and where he burnt the second volume of his famous “Dead Souls”. There is the monument to N. Gogol (by sculptor Andreyev) in the courtyard . Ordinary in1909 the monument was erected in the boulevard.

Ahead of us is Arbatskaya Square. The word Arbat comes from the Arabic word “arbad”) meaning “Suburb” or it might be from the Slavonic root “gorbat” which at that time meant “hilly ground”.  Different buildings stand here.

To the left is unusual building, the Morozov mansion which was constructed in the “Moorish” style so-called for the rich industrialist Arseniy Morozov (architect V. Mazyrin). Touring in Portugal, he took a fancy for the medieval castle at Cintre which became a model for the Moscow mansion. Now the building is a reception house of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

You can see the art cinema. It was built at the very beginning of the 20th century. The first Soviet film was shown here in1930. Underground are two Arbat metro stations, one of which is the longest in Moscow, being 200meters.

The huge white structure on your left is the Ministry of Defense of Russian Federation.. The chapel in front was consecrated to Bysantine saints Boris and Gleb. It was built in the 1990s.

On your right hand side is New Arbat Street which was constructed according to a design by M. Posokhin. It is the center of night life in Moscow. There are many night clubs and restaurants there. The plan for the street was awarded the Grand Prix of Paris Architectural Research Center in 1966 for the modernization of architectural forms and successful contribution in town planning.

On the left-hand side of the street there are four 26-storey administrative blocks. On the opposite side of the street there are 5 double 24-storey apartment blocks which also have various shops on the ground floor. On your left is a white church of St. Simon the Stilt, the 17th century.

To the right you can have a look to pedestrian Arbat, which is only 850meters long. The Arbat is a symbol of old Moscow. It is one of the most popular Moscow streets. Up to the 15th century it remained Moscow outskirt, starting from the 18th century it was an aristocratic district. Arbat owes its unique atmosphere to its community of painters and musicians .There have never been any factories here nor any workers huts, and there were no taverns or bazaars. Muscovites used to say: for money go to Zamoskvoreshue, for career go to St. Petersburg, but for knowledge and memories go to the Arbat.

There is a famous restaurant “Prag”(19century). It was won by Peter Tararykin who was a merchant. He liked playing billiards.

We are approaching Gogolevsky Boulevard. Before 1924 it was called Prechistensky, after the name of the White City Gates. To the right was a rampart and the streem, to the left was a street. Later the streem was hidden in a tube like Neglinnaya River.  The monument which is seen at the beginning of the boulevard dates back to the early 50s. It was made by sculptor N. Tomsky.  

This Boulevard ran through the aristocratic district in Moscow. House No.14 belonged to Madam von Mekk to whom Chaikovsky devoted his 4th symphony. It was visited by Chaikovsky. Now it is a chess club. Turgenev lived in a yellow two- storey house No.10.

The row of buildings of yellow classical color dates back to the 18th-19th centuries. They are occupied by the Union of Actors and Fund of Culture now. One of them is a former mansion of the Tretyakovs and the first depositary of Tretyakov Art Collection.

We have came to Prechistenskiye Gates Square. On you right is one of the first metro stations “Kropotkinskaya” which was opened in 1935.

Now you can enjoy the beautiful sight of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.  

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

The Cathedral is the largest church in Russia. It can accommodate about 15000 believers. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was built to commemorate the victory over Napoleon. First it was commissioned by Alexander I for the Sparrow Hills, where the Moscow University stands now. After Alexander’s death, Tsar Nickolay I had it relocated on Volkhonka street, not far from the Kremlin, where from 1547 the Convent of St. Alexis the Man of God was situated.According to architect K. Thon’s design the cathedral must have been built in Russo-Byzantine style.The construction went on for 44 years. The church was built on people’s donations. Inside it was painted by famous Russian artists such as K.P.Bryullov, V.V. Vereshchagin, I.N.Kramskoi, V.I. Surikov and others.In 1883, Cathedral of Our Saviour was consecrated. The galleries encircling the cathedral bear marble plagues with the names of Russian soldiers who were killed in the 1812 war against Napoleon.

However, 48 years later, on 5 December 1931, at the order of Stalin, it was blown up. It was planned to build the Palace of Soviets (416m high) on this place and a statue of Lenin. The palace was never built, because of World War II. In1958 an open swimming- pool “Moskva” was opened there.

On the initiative of Moscow’s mayor Yu. M. Luzhkov and the Moscow Government the construction of the cathedral started at the beginning of 1995.In 2000 it was consecrated by his Holiness Alexy II, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia.  Thus the cathedral was built a new. The altar was made in the form of a chapel. It is a huge complex which includes the lower church of the Christ’s Resurrection, Museum of the History of Orthodoxy, a cathedral hall for meetings with representatives of the church, a library of religious literature, refectories decorated in old Russian style. This cathedral has become the symbol of revival of Christian Russia for millions of Russians. Besides its main function as the Patriarchal throne, it is the administrative centre of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In the distance on the opposite side of the street, named Volkhonka is the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum was built in Greek classical style in 1898-1912 by architect R. Klein. A fine arts collection founded by Ivan Tsvetayev, a professor in the University of Moscow and father of the famous poet Marina Tsvetaeva.From the end of the 1890s Tsvetaev traveled Europe, Greece and Egypt to make exact copies of statues of Roman governors, fragments of Greek temples and portals of Roman and Gothic cathedrals. In1909 the ancient Egyptian collection of Golenishchev was added. He was a well- known Egyptologist. After the revolution the museum was enriched by works of European masters from the collections of the Rumyantsev Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery and nationalized private collections.

In 1932 it become known as the State Fine Arts museum, and in 1937 on the 100th anniversary of the death of Pushkin the poet’s name was added. The museum has one of the world’s largest collections of the ancient, oriental, classical and west – European art. It is famous for its Impressionist and Postimpressionist paintings. Here you can enjoy the world famous canvases of Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Picasso, Matisse and Van Gogh .The museum has one of the world’s largest collections of ancient papyrus and other exhibits. It held the gold of ancient Troy, found by the archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in the 19th century. It belongs to our country after WWII.

Next to it is The Museum of Private collections. Between the Pushkin and Private Collections museums, at Maliy Znamensky lane The Rerikhs Museum and the International Rerikh’s Centre. Nikolay Rerikh was a mystical Russian artist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He spend a lot of time in Central Asia, India and the Altay mountains of Siberia.

On the opposite side of the street a green building is the art gallery named after I. Glazhunov and you can see the shortest street of Moscow (30meters) which is called Lenivka.

Prechistenka Street

 We are in Prechistenka Street now. It was the way from the Kremlin to the New Maiden Convent, where the Icon of our Lady of Smolensk was kept. In ancient times it was called Bolshaya Chertolskaya because of the stream. Nowadays the street is called the museum of Russian architecture of the late 18th and early 19th century.

 On your left the red chamber with white-stone ornamentation and white building next to it date back to the 17th century. They are the Boyars Houses.

On the opposite side of the street you can see one of the oldest pharmacies of Moscow.

No.5 beyond the white chamber there are buildings of the late 18th and early19th century. It is an old town estate.

Another estate, to the right(No.12) is the manor of the Khrushchevs-Seleznyovs. It houses Alexander  Pushkin memorial museum which was built in Empire style at the beginning of the 19th century. The well-known Russian sculptor Ivan Vitaly decorated the facades with the bas-reliefs. The museum opened in 1961. The interior of the writer’s times are restored. There are 200000 items: paintings, water colors, pastels, drawings, articles of applied art and so on.

Across the street is a building No.11. It is a wonderful example of Moscow Empire style which was constructed for Princess Lopukhina in 1817-1822. The building was made of wood. Now it is Leo Tolstoy Literary museum which was opened in 1911. The museum contains all manuscripts of the writer, his personal effects and portraits painted in his life-time, his voice recordings, his publications, etc. There is a monument to L. Tolstoy in the yard.

House No.13 is a huge building in art nouveau style with flats to rent. There on the 5th floor lived some relatives of Karl Faberzhe. They left the country after the revolution, and in the 70s during the reconstruction of the house the hidden treasure of the family was found in the wall.

To the right a green building with lions at the gate (House No16) is the Club of scientists, popular for its musical and literary concerts. In1910 the house was rebuilt to the taste of its last owner.

House No.20 (yellow color). General Yermolov lived here who was a hero of Russo-French War 1812. The last owner was a vodka magnate Smirnov, and an American ballet dancer Isadora Duncane opened a school of dance here after the revolution.

House No17 to the left a classical estate with the garden belonged to another hero of war with Napoleon of 1812 and a close friend of Pushkin Denis Davyidov. He was a prototype for Denisov in “War and Pease” by Leo Tolstoy.

Two building on your left (No19, 21) were constructed in the late 18th century by M. Kazakov for the noble families (Dolgorukov,Potyomkin). Now they are occupied by the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Arts and art gallery. A merchant, patron of art Morozov, had his picture gallery of the French impressionists there.

To the right is the monument to a famous Russian painter Surikov.

The yellow building to the right with white colons is the former prestigious classic school which was named after Polivanov, who arranged this school. He was the educator and writer of the 19th century. Two sons of L. Tolstoy studied here because his estate was not far from school.

Next houses were built in the late 19th –early 20th century. Some of them were constructed for rent; some belonged to Moscow bourgeoise. Further the street goes out to Zubovsky Buolevard of the Garden Ring.

It was protective rampart up to 19th century, the 3d around the Kremlin. It was erected at the end of the 16th century. The defenses included a rampart, a wooden wall with towers. The area between it and the white city was known as Earthen Town. Another name was Skorodom it meant “to build very quickly” because wooden houses were often destroyed by the fire. The rampart lost its military value and after the fire of 1812 it was removed. It was replaced with a tree-lined boulevard. The name Garden Ring dates from this period. In1930s the trees were cut down and the Garden Ring lost its 19th century charm. Now it is a very prestigious district in Moscow.

The Novodevichy Convent.

New Maiden Convent one of the most beautiful in Russia, has been a branch of the State Historical Museum since 1934. It was founded by order of Prince Vasily III in 1524, to commemorate the 1514 victory of Russia over the Polish and Lithuanian forces in the battle for the return of the town of Smolensk. It had belonged to Poland for more then a century .It stood on the road to Smolensk and Poland and protected Moscow from the south. The ancient convent cathedral was dedicated to the Smolensk icon of the Mother of the God “Hodegetria” coming from Byzantium. The word “new” was added to its name because the old Alexeyevsky Convent was in Ostozhye. There is the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on that place. It was a convent for women of noble birth, such as widows and daughters of princes and boyars. Among them were nieces of Ivan the Terrible, his daughter in-law, the daughter of Boris Godunov Ksenia, the widow of Tsar Vasily Shiusky, Peter’s first wife Yevdokia Lopukhina  and the others.

The Convent witnessed numerous historic events, for example, Boris Godunov was elected a Russian tsar here. It become a prison for Tsarina Sophia, because she arranged a revolt against her brother Peter the Great. In front of us, near a pond you can see a round corner Naprudny Tower where Princess Sophia was kept. In 1724a Russian Army hospital was opened on the grounds of the nunnery. In 1812, the French wanted to blow up the convent, but the nuns managed to save their sanctuary from destruction. After the revolution it became the museum. Now part of the convent is the Residence of the Holy Metropolitain of Krutitsy and Kolomna. Today it is an acting convent.

 The architectural ensemble was formed from the 16th to 17th centuries.

The walls and towers were built in the 16th cemtury. In the 17th century they were decorated with cokoshniks and fish tail by order Sophia. There are 12 towers, 4 of which are round.

The Transfiguration Church above the gates was erected in the 17th century in the style of what is known as the Moscow baroque.

The oldest structure is the five-domed Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, built in 1524-25. The Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin was taken as a model for the Smolensk Cathedral. It was painted by the outstanding icon-painter Simon Ushakov. There’s a huge iconostasis given by Sofia, with icons from both her time and Boris Godunov’s. The tombs of Sofia, a couple of her sisters, and Yevdokia Lopukhina are in the south nave. It was used as a summer church.

The red and white Assumption Church (Uspenskaya tserkov) and its refectory date from 1685 to 1687. It was used as a winter church.

Next to it is the 16th century St. Ambrose’s Church and Irininskie Palaty, where Godunov’s sister lived.

The tallest structure is the Belfry which was built in six octagonal tiers in the 17th century. It is 72meters high. Its gilt cupola can be seen from many parts of Moscow. The Belfry is the best example of Moscow Baroque architecture, so called Naryshkin Baroque style.

Yevdokia Lopukhina lived in the Lopukhin Building (Lopukhinsky korpus) against the north wall.

Part of the convent’s grounds is occupied by a necropolis where many famous figures in Russian history and culture were buried in the 19th century.

Sofia lived in chambers adjoining the Pond Tower. In 1689 Peter confined her to Novodevichy, and in1698 she was imprisoned here for life after being implicated in the rebellion by streltsy, the palace guard.

Behind the south wall of the convent is the New Maiden Cemetery (Novodevichy Cemetery). The outstanding Russian people were buried there. Among them are writers Gogol, Chekhov, Moyakovsky, A. Tolstoy, Ulanova, Nikulin, Shalyapin, Nadezhda Alilueva, Raisa Gorbacheva, N.Kruschev.

 Kruschev’s grave was made of a white and black slab by Ernst Neizvestny. The color contrast symbolizes the contradictions of his reign.

                                 Along the Moscow River on board a motor launch.

Going along the Moscow River you will see interesting places of the capital, famous buildings, and the bridges you pass under.

The River Moskva enters the capital from the north-west and flows in a number of huge loops in a general south-easterly direction. Within the city it is nearly 8km. long. The largest tributary of the River Moskva is The Yauza. After the building of the Moscow Canal, The Yauza like the Moskva became navigable.

Borodinsky Bridge was built in 1912 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle at Borodino. Long before there was wooden Dorogomilovsky Bridge. After the Battle at Borodino the Russian army retreated along this bridge and then Napoleon’s army entered Moscow. The architectural design of the bridge is unique. On one end you can see two semicircle colonnades with military attributes symbolizing the victory of the Russian weapon in the Patriotic War. On the other end of the bridge there are memorial obelisks bearing the names of the Russian generals and partisans, bronze bas-reliefs, depicting different episodes of the war.

Ahead of us is one of Moscow pedestrian bridges. White building to our left is Slavyanskaya Radisson hotel, the next with the spire and the clock is Kiev train station, built by Raerberg in 1907.

Not far from Borodinsky Bridge you can see the White House of Russia. It is officially called the House of the Government of the Russian Federation.

The Novodevichy Convent, one of the beautiful monastic ensembles in Russia.

The Vorobyovy Hills (Sparrow Hills) is the most picturesque and highest spot on the right bank of the Moskva River. The area is 80meters above the river and 250meters above the sea level.  It is a green area. The environment is better than in the city.

You can see the main 36 story building of the Moscow Sate University on the Vorobyevy Hills which was erected in 1949-1953. The University was founded by M. Lomonosov in 1755 on the day of St. Tatyana the Martyr. Now it is the most popular university in Russia. The competition is very high. Its Diploma is recognized in the world.

The Large sport arena was built in 1956. It can accommodate over 100000 spectators. Before that this land was not used, because of the river floods. This area was called Luzhniky from the word “puddle”.

To the right is a ski jump which is a part of sport complex “Luzhniky”.

Many new facilities were erected for the Olympic Games in 1980. On the left from the bridge is a gymnasium Hall, named Friendship. It looks like a tortoise.

The two story bridge (the Metrobridge) of almost 2km. long.

To the right is a huge building of the Academy of Sciences, at the foot of which is one of the churches of former St. Andrew’s Monastery. It was founded in 1648.

Crimean Bridge is situated near the Gorky Park, a favorite place for Muscovites on their days off. The park was opened in 1928. It stretches almost 3km. along the river. The name for the bridge was given after the settlement of the Crimean Tatars who stayed in Moscow with the ambassadorial missions.

A white building is the Central House of Artists a part of the building is a branch of the Tretyakov Art Gallery (it is not far from here) and houses the collection of art created sins the 1920s.

Now we have come to the split of drainage canal and Moskva River. Here the monument to the founder of Russian Navy is located. The statue to Tsar Peter the Great stands on the base made in the form of a ship. The monument is 93m.high and is made of bronze. The architect is Zurab Tsereteli(1997).

Behind the monument is a large red-brick building of the Red October candy factory which was founded in the 19th century.

On your left is a 4story house with the pitched roof which was built in 1909. It is an example of Moscow Art Nouveau. The façade is covered in colorful mosaics. Now the building houses the Embassy of Ethiopia.

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

On your left is a grey building. It is an apartment house (on the embankment) which was built in1920s in Constructivist style. There is a movie-house, a food store, the Variety Theatre and what not. On the façade there are memorial plaques because the building was inhabited by outstanding Russian people: statesmen, scientists, army generals. Its residents were arrested or executed during Stalin’s repressions.

Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge (The Big Stone Bridge) was built in 1930s to commemorate the first Stone Moscow Bridge of the 17th century.

If you look to the right you will see an arched hole at the foot of the Big  

Stone Bridge .This is a place where Neglinnaya River comes into Moskva River. Neglinnaya River was hidden in a tube in the 19th century, on its place where the beautiful Alexander Garden was laid up.

At the right-hand side is a beautiful mansion of the 19th century. It belonged to Kharitonenko who was a sugar magnate. Now it is the British Embassy. Great Britain was the 1st country to establish the diplomatic relations with Russia after the October Revolution of 1917. There are two buildings of the British Embassy, both situated on the banks of Moskva River. The other is not far from Russian White House.

On your right hand side, you can enjoy the beautiful sight of the Kremlin. The word Kremlin means a fortress. The 1st fortification wall was built atop Pine-Grove Hill by Yury Dolgoruky in 1156.In the 1360s under prince Dimitry Donskoi the White Stone Kremlin was built. Its area grew 7 times. At the end of the 15th century under Ivan the III the red brick wall that we can see nowadays was built by Italian architects Marco Ruffo and Pietro Antonio Solario(1485-1508). The wall is decorated with the swallow’s tale (fish tail) after medieval Italian fortresses. The wall has got 20 towers and 3 of them are entry towers. The Kremlin wall is 1,5miles long, up to 55feet high and up to 15feet thick. Today the area of the Kremlin is 28hectares or about 64acres.

Behind the wall the first building to the left is The Armory. It is one of the oldest and richest museums in Russia which was founded at the very beginning of the 19th century. It contains treasures of applied art, produced by Russian and foreign craftsmen beginning from 12th to 20th centuries. The glory of the museum is eggs of the world famous Faberge jeweler’s firm.

Next a yellow-white building is The Great Kremlin palace which was constructed by the order of Nikolas I in 1849(architect Konstantin Ton). It was used as the official Moscow residence of Russian emperors when St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia. Now it is used for receptions of heads of foreign states.

Next to it is the Annunciation Cathedral with 9 gilded domes. It was a private church of the Tsar’s family which was built in 1489.

In the distance you can see the guild cupolas of the Assumption Cathedral. It was built by Aristotle Fioravanti in 1475-1479. The Cathedral was the main church in Russian. All the Russian tsars and emperors were crowned here.

The Church with the guild cupola in the centre and 4 grey cupolas is the Archangel Michael Cathedral which was constructed in 1505-1508 by the Italian architect Aloisio Novi. It looks like a Venetian palace. It was a state necropolis. All Russian tsars, beginning from Ivan the Many Bag to Peter the second were buried there.

The last building is Ivan the Great Belfry. It was built in 1600. It took almost 100 years to build it. Until the middle of the 20th century it was the highest structure in Moscow. Its height is 240feet or 88meters.

Moskvoretsky Bridge, near Red Square, is faced with pink granite to match the color of the Kremlin walls. It was built in 1930s.

Cathedral of the Intercession (Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed).

 The former Russia Hotel is one of the largest hotels in Europe. Now it is a construction site. In the nearest future on its place (Zaryadye) another hotels for 1000 guests and a huge concert hall will be built.

At the Kitai- gorod passage end near the Moskva River stands the Church of the Conception of St. Anne of the 16th century.

In the opposite bank is a 5 star hotel Balchug of the 19th century. The word Balchug means “dirty place” from the Tatar language .In the 18th century a drainage canal was built. Thus Zamoskvorechie (Beyond the Moskva River) turned into a place of gardens and parks. In the 19th century this area was populated with merchants, traders and artisans.

 On your right is the power plant of the 19th century.

In the distance to the left we can see one of Moscow skyscrapers, the apartment house of Kotelnicheskaya Embankment. It was built in1948-1952in the style known as Stalinist classicism. The building was designed by D. Chechulin. There are 7 such building in Moscow now. They were erected in commemoration of the 800th anniversary of Moscow.

                                              The semicircle of the central squares.

We are going along the Kitai-Gorod passage. To the left are the remains of the so called Kitay-Gorod wall. It was the 1st fortification line around the Kremlin. The 1st settlement in Moscow was between this wall and the Kremlin’s wall.

On your left is the oldest street in Moscow that dates back to the 14th century. We can feel the old atmosphere of Kitai-Gorod. On side of the street was rebuilt in the 19th century and to the left is a row of interesting old buildings stretches along the northern façade on the hotel Russia.

The first on your left is the Church of the Protecting Veil of Our Lady on Pskov Mount of the 17th century. It is often called the St. George’s Church.

. In the 16th century this area was inhabited by people from Pskov.

Next to it is the Monastery of Holy Sign which was founded in the 17th century on the estate of the Romanovs. It includes the former palace of the Romanov boyars, the cathedral, monks’cells. The palace of the Romanov boyars was built by Nikita Romanov who was Ivan the Terrible’s first brother in law. Now it is Zaryadye Museum which is devoted to the lives of the Romanov family in days before they become tsars.

Next to it is Church of St. Maxim the Blessed. It dates back to 17th century.

The white house is the so-called the Old English Court. English merchants lived there in the 16th century. It was the first English Embassy. Ivan the Terrible were allowed to sell their goods duty-free in Russia. The last interesting building is the small Church of St.Barbara the Martyr. It was built in classical style in the 18th century. This street was named after it.

In the opposite site of the street is the Old Gostin (the Old Arcades) which was constructed in classical style by the architects M. Kazakov and O. Bove.

The Church of Trinity in Nikitniki (1630-1650s) in Ipatyevsky lane is one of the finest churches in Moscow. It was built on commission from Grigory Nikitnikov, a rich merchant.

Across the road lies Slavyanskaya Square where in 1992 during the day of the Slavonic Writing and Culture in Moscow a monument was opened to the great enlighteners Cyril and Methodius.

In front of it is red and white Church of All Saints, a wonderful example of Moscow Baroque Style. It was founded by Dmitry Donskoi in commemoration of those who perished in the Kulikovo Field in 1380.

The grey building on your left is the former central committee of the Communist party of the Soviet Union. Michael Gorbachev had his office there. Now it is the seat of Russian Government.

In the park on the left-hand side is the monument to the Russian soldiers why gave their lives in the war with Turks for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Turkish occupation in the late 19th century. The monument is shaped as a chapel. It was made of black-iron by Shervud.

On your right hand side is the Polytechnic Museum which was built at the end of the 19th century in pseudo- Russian style. The museum contains exhibits illustrating the development of sciense and technology in this country and abroad.

Next to it there is a public garden. There is a huge boulder there. It was brought from the Solovki Island where in Stalin’s times the Special Solovetsky Camp for political prisoners was situated.

We have come to Lyubianka Square. The word “Lub” means “bust”. In old days people from Novgorod lived there in the 15th century. They had bust-roof houses.

A yellow-grey building to the right is the central KGB office (FSS-Federal Security Service).It was constructed at the end of the 19th century for insurance company “Russia”

      In the center of the square was a monument to the founder of KGB, Felix Dzerzhinsky. During the coup of 1991 people took the monument off its base. Now the monument to him and the other Soviet Leaders is placed not far from Gorky Park.

The central department store for children is in front of us. In the 16 century on this place was Cannon’s Yard where A. Chokhov cost Tsar Cannon.

On your left hand side is the monument to Ivan Fyodorov, the first book-printer in Russia. His first book “Apostle” was printed in 1564.The monument was made in 1909 by S. Volnukhin where The Holy Trinity Church in the old Fields stood.

The White Arch to the left was built and given to the city by merchants Tretyakov who founded Art gallery.

Next to it is a 5-star hotel, Metropol which was built at the very beginning of the 20 century in Art Nouveau style by arch. Valcott. The façade is decorated with the majolica picture “Princess Dream” by M. Vrubel illustrating the work of a Franch playwright Rostan.

We have come to the Teatralnaya Square. The pinkish building to the right is Bolshoy Theatre. The present building was constructed after the fire in 1855-56(A. Kavos) according to a design by O. Bove(1821-1824). The theatre has been famous for its brilliant singers, dancers, conductors and stage-set artists. Such names as Fyodor Chaliapin, Antonina Nezhdanova, Sergey Rakhmaninov, Galina Ulanova are the pride of both Russian and world musical culture. Among the company’s best productions are operas Boris Godunov, Khovanshchina, Sadko, War and Peace, Othello, Aida, Don Carlos and ballets The Fountain of Bakhchisarai, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Spartak and many others. The Big Theatre is flanged by two more theatres- the Maly Drama Teatre on the right and Youth Drama Theatre on the left.

The 1st professional theatre appeared in Russia in the 16th century. The actors were German. Tsar Alexey Romanov had a company of Russian actors. In Peter’s reign a drama theatre was arrange. At the end of the 18th century the first building for it was erected on the site where Bolshoy is now. It was called Peter’s theatre, after Petrovskaya Street.

To the right is a monument to the great German Philosopher and founder of Marxism Karl Marx It was made by sculptor Kerbel.

Further, next to State Duma is a green and white classical building, named the Hall of columns. It was constructed by M. Kazakov at the end of the 18th century In the 19th century the club of Russian Nobility was there. Its dansing parties were attended by Pushkin, Leo Tolstoy and other out standing people. It is concert hall now.

Manezhnaya  Square and Allexander’s Gardens.

Manezhnaya square is the place where several key Moscow streets converge such as Tverskaya streat, Okhotny Ryad, Mokhovaya street. From 1961 to1990 all of them went under one name, Prospekt Marxa. In the old maps of Moscow you can see streltsy settlement (16th -18th cent.), Moiseevsky Convent (18th cent.),merchants’ mansions. The square is named so because Manege was built in1817 to mark the 5th anniversary of the victory over Napoleon.The design of the building was worked out by engineer A. Betancourt with the use of unique non-supporting wooden structures.The façade was built according to O. Bove’s design. It was used as a horse- riding school for Russian Court officers and the nobility. From 1831 it was used for exhibitions and concerts. After 1917 it housed a government garage. In 1957 Manage was transformed into the Central Exhibition Hall. It was destroyed by the fire in 2004 on the day of Russian President’s elections.

Not far from Manage are the old buildings of Moscow State University. Founded on the initiative of M. Lomonosov and later named after him. At first the University occupied the site of History Museum, and then moved to a new building on Mokhovaya designed by M. Kazakov at the end of the 18th cent. It was restored after the fire by D. Gilardi. In1922, monuments to A. Gertsen and N.Ogaryov were erected in front of the main entrance (sculptor N. Andreyev).In 1953 many departments of the University moved to a new complex of buildings on Vorobyovy

 Hills. The yellow building next to it was built by architect Zheltovsky in 1935. From 1930 up to 1950 the building housed an American Embassy.

The open space with the glass dome on a top is Manage Square where underground is Manage Shopping Mall Complex. The middle part of the square is elevated. It has a recreation zone of the complex and is connected to Alexander’s Gardens. There is the water reservoir with the bridges imitating the Neglinnaya River.

The Neglinnaya River was hidden in a tube before the construction of Alexander’s Gardens in 1821- 24. The garden above the river was laid according to a design by O. Bove in the time of Alexander the first that’s why it was called so.

On your left you can see the Tomb of Unknown Soldier (which was made by sculptor Tomsky), at the center of which burns the Eternal Flame. On the granite wall nearby are dark-red stone under wich the sacred soil from the Hero Cities is contained. The Tomb was opened in May in 1967. Further down the alley you can see an obtkisk which was erected in 1913 to mark the tercentenary of the Romanov’s dynasty. At the foot of the Intermediate Arsenal tower Bove set an ornamental grotto, which he entitled “Ruins”.

The tallest of the Kremlin Towers- the Trinity Tower-is 80m hight. It is connected with the Kutafia Tower by a bridge. It is the main entrance to the Kremlin.

In June 24, 1945 there was a victorious parade on Red Square. It was opened by a field marshal George Zhukov, whose monument is in front of the red- brick building of History Museum. The monument was designed by V. Klykov in 1995.

The State Historical Museum was built by arch. V. Shervud in1874- 1883. Its items cover a period from the Stone Age to the middle of the 19th cent. There are about 4,5 million items there.

Opposite Hotel National the grey corner building is present State Duma. which was erected in the 1930s for Gosplan. Duma is the Lower Chamber of Russian Parliament.

The former State Duma was built by D. Chichagov in1890-92.In Soviet times there was the Central Museum of V. Lenin. Now part of the building belongs to the State History Museum.

The Resurrection Gates were built between the buildings of City Duma and Historical Museum in1680. In 1781 in front of the Voskresenskiye Gates was built a chapel of the Icon of Our Lady of Iberia that’s why the gate’s second name is Iberskiye Gates.But in 1931 They were pulled down. In1994-96 the entrance into the Red Square was reconstructed under the decision of the Moscow Government.

The Red Square.

The Red Square is the main square of Moscow. It kept the memory of many events of Russian history. Here in 1547 the young Ivan the Terrible publicly confessed his misdeeds. During the Times of Troubles the body of False Dmitry was displayed in Red Square.And here Vasily Shuisky was both proclaimed tsar and deposed. The Cossak rebel Stepan Razin was dis- membered here in 1671. In 1698 Peter the Great’s 2000-strong palace guard, the Streltsy were executed here in 1698. They rebelled while he was visiting Western Europe. The Victory Parade to celebrate the defeat of Hitler Germany was held on here on June 24, 1945.

      For the first time the square was mentioned in the chronicles as a trading place in 1434. Its private names were Trinity, Great Mart, Pozhar. In the16th cent. a moat was dug out along the Kremlin walls which was filled in with water from the Neglinnaya river. In the 17th cent. people gave it a new name- Krasnaya that meant “beautiful”.Under this name it is known all over the world. In the 18th cent. and the 19th cent. Red Square lost its political importans. It was used as a market only during the weekend before Easter. After the October Revolution of 1917 the military parades held twice a year on Red Square. Nowadays it is a place for public gatherings, musical concerts and a military parade once a year on Victory Day.

The Kazansky Cathedral was built in1630-1633 with money donated by Prince D. Pozharsky in memory of the miracle- working Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. It helped Russian troops during the Polish occupation of 1611 and 1612. In1936 Stalin ordered to blow it up, because it impeded the flow of celebrating workers on May Day and Revolution parades. It was restored on the initiative of Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov in 1993.

The Lenin’s Tomb. Initially it was wooden. The present building of the mausoleum was erected in 1930 by the design of A. Schusev. From 1953 to 1961 Lenin shared the tomb with Stalin. The Soviet leaders stand atop the tomb to watch the parades. The Victory Parade to commemorate the victory over Nazy held on Red Square on June 24, 1945. To the roll of drums, soldiers threw down 2 hundred enemy standards in front of the Mausoleum.

In the Soviet times the main necropolis grew up at the Kremlin wall. All leaders of communist Party were buried there, with the exception of Nikita Khrushchev. Outstanding Russian people, such as Yuri Gagarin, Georgy Zhukov were buried there too.

A gateless square tower was built by Pietro Antonio Solari in 1491. It remained nameless until the end of the 18th century when, following the construction of the Senate, it was called the Senatskaya Tower.

The Savior tower was built by Pietro- Antonio Solari and Marko Ruffo in1491.It is one of the tallest towers in the Kremlin. It was the main gates. In old days it was forbidden to drive or walk through the gates having a hat on a head. Even the tsars had to remove their hats. In the17th cent. the tower was topped with a multi- level spire. In 1851-1852 the clock, designed by Butenop brothers,  was installed. This chime mechanism occupied 3 floors. The weight of the clock mechanism is about 25 tons. The clock has 4 faces 6.12metres in diameter. The length of the hour and the minute hands is 2.97meters and 3.28meters. The clock sends a melodic chime over the Red Square every quarter of an hour. The sound comes from the clock’s numerous bells many of which were cast back in the 17th -18th centuries.

The Intercession Cathedral on the moat, better known under the name of St. Basil’s Cathedral. The name comes from side chapel where, as legend says, Vasily the Blessed was buried. It was built by architects Barma  and Postnik in 1555-1561  on the orders of Ivan the Terrible in memory of  the victory over the Khanate of Kazan. Originally was planned to put up 8 chapels. Each of  them was dedicated to the feast of the saint. The fall of Kazan coincided with the feast of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God. That ‘s why the central chapel was dedicated to that feast. The architects built 9 chapels, for the sake of symmetry. Later on two more chapels were added- over the graves of Blessed Basil and John. The chapels are connected with a gallery and inner passageways. All this was the realization of idea of ‘city cathedral’. Now the Cathedral of St. Blessed is wonderful example of unique fairy-tale architecture and a symbol of   Old Russia across the world. It is included in the UNESCO list. The cathedral has been a branch of the State Historical Museum since 1928.

In front of St. Basil’s stands a monument to Citizen Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky. It was designed by I. Martos in 1818. It was erected in memory of the Russian victory over the Polish and Swedish invaders in 1612. It was the first monument in Moscow.

Lobnoye Mesto is the round structure. It is faced with stone slabs. Arch. M. Kazakov designed the present version of this place in 1780. It was the place for reading the state pronouncements. Executions took place on wooden scaffoldings erected nearby.

Middle trading rows of the early 20th cent. were built by R. Klein  but it was never used as shopping center

Upper trading rows (GUM) were built by arch. A. Pomerantsev in1893. It includes over 1000 shops along 3 parallel grass- roof passages.

The Nikolskaya tower was named so because Nikolskaya Street starts from it. The Nikolskaya tower with its small Gothic turrets and arrow-shaped arches was built by Pietro Antonio Solari’s design. It has been many times rebuilt and twice restored after destruction, first in 1812 by French soldiers and then in revolutionary battles in October 1917. Originally the tower had a bastion, a transit gate and a drawbridge across the deep moat on Red Square. In 1612 the civilian army led by Dmitry Pozharsky and Kozma Minin fought their way into the Kremlin and drove out the Polish invaders.

Our journey is over. If you are interested in historical places you should go to the Kremlin.

“What is to be compared with this Kremlin, which,

surrounded by castellated walls and adorned by the

golden domes of the cathedrals, sits on a high hill like a

royal crown on the head of an awesome monarch?”

M.Yu. Lermontov.

Список литературы.

Скорикова Т.П. «Moscow and its Environs». Москва-2004.

Соловова Е.Н. «Guide-interpreter». Москва-2002.

Халхатов Р.А. «Москва». Путеводитель по культурно-историческим памятникам. Смоленск – 2006г.

Николашина И.П. «Золотое кольцо Москвы». Путеводитель. Москва – 2003г.

«Tourist Routers of Moscow and Its Architectural Sights». Moscow – 2000.

T.Geidor and I.Kharitonova «Moscow». Moscow – 2005.

Борисенко И.Г. «Новодевичий монастырь», Москва 2003г.

Кabakchi V.V. «The dictionary of Russia». St. Petersburg-2002.

Миньяр-Белоручева А.П. «Русское искусство». Москва-2001.

КолодныйЛ.Е. «Москва в улицах и лицах». Москва-2003.

Рябцев Ю.С. «История русской культуры». Москва-1997.

Ольга Деркач, Владислав Быков «Книга Москвы». Москва-2004.

КошминаИ.В. «Основы русской православной культуры». Москва-2001.

Данная работа представляет собой попытку создать факультативный курс для учащихся 8-9 классов “History of Moscow”, который является пропедевтическим по отношению к профильно-ориентированному курсу « Гид-переводчик « (Е.Н. Соловова).

Актуальность выбора темы объясняется тем, что сегодня многие общеобразовательные учреждения включены в программы международного обмена.

Курс ставит своей целью подготовить учащихся к реальному диалогу культур, помочь им овладеть умением говорить на темы страноведческого характера, а также расширить их кругозор. Опыт общения с учащимися показывает, что многие из них с трудом ориентируются в своем родном городе, плохо знают достопримечательности.

Современная лингводидактика, выделяя формирование коммуникативной компетенции в качестве цели обучения иностранным языкам, подчеркивает значимость ее разновидностей, прежде всего лингвистической компетенции, а также, среди прочих, и социо - культурную компетенцию, которая является основой культурной грамотности. Ставится задача научить использовать английский язык в приложении к иноязычным (с точки зрения этого языка) культурам. В центре внимания находится англоязычное описание русской культуры. Здесь английский язык выступает как язык межкультурного общения. Следующая задача- повысить мотивацию к изучению иностранного языка в общеобразовательных классах,