Kremlin and Red Square

The Kremlin is one of Russia’s major monuments and Europe’s largest active fortress. The Kremlin’s beauty resides in its stylish towers, but also in its architectural ensemble hidden behind the walls and open to visitors: grand cathedrals and palaces from different periods, exciting museums, the Armoury and the Russian Diamond Fund. Today, the Kremlin is Moscow’s main historical and artistic landmark and the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

Unofficially regarded as Russia’s main square, the world-famous Red Square adjoins the Kremlin’s northeastern wall and the monuments situated on it reflect Moscow’s centuries-old history. The same space encompasses churches, ramparts and towers, museums, a necropolis, a mausoleum and a huge shopping mall. Buildings of different styles and constructed between the 15th and 20th centuries create a uniform architectural ensemble, astonishingly beautiful in its variety. Both tourists and thousands of Muscovites come here in crowds every day. Red Square lives the hectic life of a modern metropolis instead of turning into a lethargic open-air museum.

In the past, this place used to be taken up by market stalls that were rearranged in an orderly manner in the late 16th century. Commonly known as St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Intercession also dates back to the same period. The Spasskaya Tower was added at a later date and the whole area near the tower and the cathedral was named Krasnaya (that is, ‘beautiful’) Square. Today it is surrounded by the GUM, the Historical Museum and the Kremlin’s sublime walls and towers.

Among the best-known and exciting museums in the Moscow Kremlin are the Armoury and the Russian Diamond Fund. Every exhibit has a long history behind it, so they are much more than just collections of antiquities. These museums contain imperial jewelry, authentic weapons of Russian grand princes and numerous rarities from imperial treasuries. Every visitor will find something to be impressed with here. Don’t restrict yourself to these museums only. You may also want to pay a visit to the Kremlin’s cathedrals and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower and have a look at ancient bells and small exhibitions dedicated to the Kremlin’s history and architecture.

On display are authentic imperial regalia (Monomakh’s Cap, the scepter and the orb), imperial clothes (including those of Emperor Peter the Great), carriages, European and Oriental old weapons, gold and silverware from the early 12th to late 20th centuries (including the world-famous Faberge Easter eggs) and so much more. The museum has nine themed halls located on two floors. All of the exhibits are presented bilingually in Russian and English. Audio-guides are also available.

This museum’s collection consists mostly of breathtakingly beautiful jewelry from different periods, the centerpiece being the Imperial Crown of Russia. Other items on display include military decorations and numerous imperial regalia, as well as large-size natural diamonds and gold and silver nuggets. The jewels from the Fund’s collection allow visitors to trace the last 300 years of Russian history. The Russian Diamond Fund is probably the most “expensive” of Russian museums in terms of the uniqueness and material value of its collection.

On the Kremlin’s main Sobornaya, or Cathedral, Square stand the Cathedrals of the Assumption, of the Archangel and of the Annunciation as well as the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. They were all built in the 15th and 16th centuries on the site of old churches. Today these cathedrals are also museums that are open to visitors. Frescos and icons are well worth a glance and you could also pay a visit to historical exhibitions and the tombs of many Russian tsars. In summertime, an observation platform on top of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower offers a breathtaking view of Moscow.

Places to eat.

The closest cafés are located on the second floor of the GUM store. During the warm season, visitors to Moscow can enjoy a great meal right on the veranda overlooking Red Square (be ready to pay, though!). Several fast food stalls are available in the Alexander Garden and in the Kremlin. Italian, Russian and Japanese restaurants, as well as McDonald’s, welcome visitors in the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Mall just outside the Alexander Garden. Restaurants and chain cafés just round the corner – on Nikolskaya and Ilyinka Streets – offer reasonably priced breakfasts and lunches.

Buying souvenirs.

You can buy souvenirs and other stuff just outside the Iberian Chapel, on the square in front of the Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 or in a small shop inside the Historical Museum. Besides, wealthy fashion and luxury lovers are welcome to the world-famous GUM, open in daytime and in the evening. Don’t forget to pay a visit to Gostiny Dvor, a large shopping mall and an exhibition space located on Ilyinka Street. All of these malls have souvenir-selling stalls. Keep in mind, though, that prices in this part of Moscow are sky-high.

No Russian?

You don’t need to speak fluent Russian to enjoy the views of the Kremlin and Red Square. In the Historical Museum and in all of the Kremlin’s museums, tourists are offered guided tours in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian, and multilingual audio-guide are available too. In short, the Kremlin and Red Square are Moscow’s best-suited landmarks for foreign visitors. This area features street signs in English and nearby metro stations are all equipped with translated maps and directions.

To the northwest of the Kremlin, the Alexander Garden has been a favourite place among both Muscovites and tourists for many years. The history of the garden is closely related to the past of Russia’s capital, as its monuments remind visitors of Russian military victories, tsars, outstanding generals and heroes. Near the garden are the beautiful buildings of the Central Manege and Pashkhov House, and the huge underground Okhotny Ryad Shopping Mall is right under the garden. The Alexander Garden is a great place to relax outside, away from the city’s blare and bustle.

This area to the east of Red Square boasts one of the oldest streets in Moscow, a multitude of architectural monuments and museums as well as an active government quarter. It is here that tourists usually start their visit to the historical part of Moscow, bordered by Okhotny Ryad Street, Teatralny Lane, Novaya (‘New’) Square, Staraya (‘Old’) Square, Kitaygorodsky Lane and Moskvoretsky Embankment. Kitai-gorod’s stone wall, whose remnants are still visible today, once passed along these streets. The Zaryadye Landscape Urban Park was opened here in Autumn 2017.