The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is the main Orthodox church in Russia. And even if you are far from religion, we still recommend you to have a walk to this monument of architecture. This huge, monumental building makes a very strong impression when you see it live. Your walking route from our hotel to the temple will lie through the pedestrian Patriarchal Bridge (Patriarshiy most), which in itself is also a Moscow landmark. It stretches from the Yakimanskaya embankment, (Yakimanskaya Naberezhnaja), through the Vodootvodny Canal, then through the entire Bolotny Island (Bolotny Ostrov) and the Moskva River and goes straight to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

From this bridge there are beautiful views. The temple building is an equilateral cross about 80 meters wide. The height of the building at the highest point is 103 meters!

At an altitude of about 40 meters there are four viewing points, from where the whole Moscow is an open book. At the Cathedral of Christ the Savior there is a museum in which you can find out an interesting story of the long suffering Cathedral of Christ the Savior and see the rare surviving fragments of the original temple building built in the XIX century. There are also exhibitions devoted to religious traditions in all kinds of art, as well as concerts of sacred music, lectures on religion. Regular worship services and divine liturgies are held regularly in the church. Many relicts and objects of worship are kept here, for example, a piece of the Lord’s Robe, the Holly Robe, the Nail of the Lord’s Cross, the relicts of Alexander Nevsky and the St. Andrew the Apostle (Apostle Andrey Pervozvanniy).

At the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church meets, which is the executive body of the Russian Orthodox Church. The church holds social and liturgical events of national importance, funeral services for famous personalities. For example, here last respects were paid to Boris Yeltsin, Lyudmila Zykina, Sergei Mikhalkov. 

In our hotel, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, will be seen on the photo walls in three of the five rooms — «Patriarshiy Bridge», «Khamovniki» and «Peter the Great».

Temples near the hotel

Hotel «Yakimanka 38» is located in the historical district of the capital —
Zamoskvorechye. Here you can meet the sights almost at every step! In this article I'll tell you a little about nine temples that are next to our hotel.

1. The Church of St. John the Warrior (Khram muchenika Ioana Voina) is located at 46 Bolshaya Yakimanka. This very beautiful building Baroque style in Moscow was erected in the early 18th century by the order of Peter I, perfectly preserved to the present day.

2. Opposite our hotel, at 32 Bolshaya Yakimanka, you will see the Temple of Reverend Hermit Maron of Syria (Khram Prepodobnogo Marona Pustynnica Sirijskogo). Here the first parish church in Moscow was opened. The temple was also famous for its bells, which Moscow musicians came to listen.

3. The Cathedral of the Theotokos icon of Kazan (Chasovnya Kazanskoy ikony Bozhjey materi) is near Oktyabrskaya metro station on 18 Zhitnaya Street. This is a modern building in the Russian-Byzantine style, built at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries on the site of the Kazan temple demolished in the Soviet years. It stood here since the middle of the 17th century and has seen much for his life, in particular, the ruin of Napoleon's troops.

4. At the 1st Golutvinsky Lane (Golutvinsky Pereulok), 14 you will find the Church of St. Nicholas in Golutvino (Khram svyatitelya Nikolaya v Golutvino). It is an architectural monument of the late 17th century with elements of Baroque and Empire styles. Since 2011, the temple has been Chinese Patriarchal Metochion.

5. Another very beautiful Temple of Gregory Neoecasary (Khram Grigoriya Neokesariyskogo) — is located on 29A Bolshaya Polyanka. It is famous for the wedding of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich with Natalia Naryshkina in 1671. Also, they baptized Peter the Great in infancy. That very font stands in the temple now.

6. At the State Tretyakov Gallery in Lavrushinsky Pereulok there is a Church of Saint Nicholas in Tolmachy (Khram-musey Svyatitelya Nikolaya v Tolmachah). Here you can see the great shrine of Russia — the miraculous icon of the Mother of God «Vladimirskaya».

7. Between Ostozhenka Street and the Moskva River is the current Zachatievsky Convent (zhenskiy monastyr Zachatievsky), the first mention of which dates back to the 14th century. In 1927, the monastery was closed, and there was a prison and a children's colony on its territory. At the moment the monastery is restored and has five temples.

8. The temple of the Prophet Elijah (Khram proroka Bozhjego Ilii)(2nd Obydensky lane, 6) was built in the early 18th century, its architecture belongs to the style of the Petrine Baroque. The temple is interesting because it worked even in Soviet times. But in the Great Patriotic War he suffered badly, but was soon restored. In 1973, Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Natalia Svetlova were married here. Today, the church has a lecture hall, a Sunday school and a library.

9. Another interesting place is the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent of Mercy (Marpho-Mariinskaya obitel Miloserdia) 34 Bolshaya Ordynka. It was founded in the early 20th century on the initiative of Elizabeth Fedorovna. Here a large center for helping the needy was located — with a hospital, a pharmacy, a shelter, a dining room, a temple. In 2012, the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy was transformed into a stauropegic nunnery with the preservation of the founder Elizabeth’s idea. Today, there is a shelter for girls-orphans, charitable canteen, visiting nurse care, medical center «Mercy». 

You can always ask our administrators about more detailed information on the location of these churches, as well as not included in the article.

Creative cluster Krasniy Oktyabr

Recently, the buildings of former factories and plants in Moscow began to be used as sites for art galleries, designer shops, fashion clubs and bars. Spacious rooms with high ceilings are excellent for the implementation of creative ideas and invariably attract the bohemian Moscow audience. One of the first places of attraction for fashionable youth has become the territory of the famous confectionery factory «Krasniy Oktyabr» on the Bolotniy Island (Bolotniy ostrov). Now here are the offices of creative agencies, galleries, showrooms, hotels, there are even two institutes, both on creative specialties.

On the territory of the institute of media, architecture and design «Strelka» interesting lectures and sometimes — theatrical performances are held. And in the bar «Strelka» there is a terrace where in the warm season it is very pleasant to spend time enjoying the view of the Moscow River and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. In general, nowadays on Krasniy Oktyabr you will find a lot of restaurants, bars and cafes for every taste and purse in which Mediterranean, Georgian, Italian, European, Chinese, author's kitchen.

If you wanted to make sure that Moscow never sleeps and see the club life of the capital with your own eyes, welcome to Krasniy Oktyabr after one o'clock in the morning. There are several fasinable nightclubs, in particular, Rolling Stone, Gypsy and ICON. Also there are beauty salons and spas, design studios, casting agencies. There is an anti-cinema, where in a cozy atmosphere you can watch a film by your company, without outsiders. Certainly it is necessary to note the photo center bearing a name of Lumière brothers (Bolotnaya embankment 3/1). Here you can see interesting exhibitions that introduce the creativity of talented photographers from all over the world.

It may take 10 minutes on foot to get to Krasniy Oktyabr from the «Yakimanka 38» hotel. You can always ask the hotel staff to explain you the best way of getting tnere.

Alexander Gardens

Alexander Gardens

Alexander Gardens (Aleksandrovskiy sad) is a beautiful green park for pleasant walks in the heart of Moscow. It is located along the Kremlin wall from the north-west side of the Kremlin and covers an area of ​​about 10 hectares.

The gardens was named after the emperor Alexander the First, who ordered it to be founded. There are several places of interest here. This is, first of all, the famous Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Mogila Neizvestnogo Soldata) with the Eternal Flame (Vechniy Ogon). Every hour in the day time you can see the changing of the Guard ceremony. 

Nearby is the Italian grotto, the walls of which are lined with fragments of Moscow buildings destroyed by the army of Napoleon. Then you will see an obelisk in honor of the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanovs and monuments to the cities of military glory.

It takes about half an hour to walk along the beautiful historic streets of Moscow from our hotel. You can contact the hotel staff about the way.

Gorky Park

Gorky Park

We sencerely recommend the guestss of our hotel to have the time and not to miss this really Moscow Park. Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure is a huge territory in the central part of Moscow, which daily attracts thousands of Muscovites and guests of the capital. The park consists of four parts: Parterre (the main entertainment part of the park), Neskuchny Garden, Vorobyovy Gory and the Muzeon Art Park. About Muzeon we have a separate article. It is absolutely impossible to tell everything about Gorky Park. After all, even if you come here during daily the whole year each time there will be new routes and occupations.

One can surely say that there are entertainments, calculated for absolutely everybody’s taste: There are quiet places where you can calmly relax, admiring the beauty of nature (a river, a forest, shady avenues, cozy lawns, flower beds, benches, chaise lounges, squirrels, boats and ponds).

Those who like outdoor activities here will find a million different ways to spend a good time. In the park there are several sports grounds: volleyball, tennis, for extreme sports. The Park is equipped with zones for table tennis, checkers and chess. Smooth tracks are laid out for cyclists, roller skaters, skaters.

In different parts of the park there are rental stores for sports equipment-both — for adults and for children. In summer, dance classes, yoga classes, outdoor fitness classes are constantly held. In winter, the park opens one of the largest in Europe skating rink.

For those who prefere intellectual rest there is a Lecture Hall in the park, where meetings of literary persons, travelers, lessons of photography and foreign languages are held. In the Museum of Contemporary Art «Garage»- one of the most fashionable and advanced exhibition venues in Moscow, interesting exhibitions, lectures, master classes for adults and children take place regularly. There is a library of modern art and a bookstore in the «Garage» either.

In the Observatory, you can see Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Mercury in the telescope and listen to a lecture on the solar system.
In summer you can visit an open-air cinema Pioneer in Gorky Park. On the territory of Parterre there is always a huge number of different exhibitions, installations of contemporary artists, music festivals, sport events and all kinds of meetings for all sorts of interests.

By the way, even in the columns of the main entrance there is a museum! It is the Museum of Gorky Park, on the roof of which (at an altitude of 18 meters) there is an observation deck. From here one can see a wonderful view: on the one hand, of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, a monument to Peter the Great, the Central House of Artists and the Muzeon Park. On the other hand, on Vorobyovy Gory, the building of Moscow State University and skyscrapers of the Moscow International Business Center (Moscow City).

In the park there are many food outlets for every taste-from stalls with ice cream or roasted chestnuts to cozy cafes where you can eat and rest.

The amusement-filled Parterre passes smoothly into the Neskuchny Garden — it is a calm forest zone with quiet alleys and paths, with monuments scattered here and there, architectural monuments-an ideal place for romantic walks.

When Neskuchny Garden comes to an end, Vorobyovy Gory begin, where the famous observation deck is located, from which opens a beautiful Moscow view.

The entire territory of the park is covered by a free wi-fi network.

So you can spend the whole day in the park.

The Central House of Artists

The Central House of Artists

Central house of Art is over 10,000 square meters of exhibition space. And most of them today are the branch of the State Tretyakov Gallery, dedicated to Russian art after 1917. In particular, it is here that the original of the famous «Black Square» by Malevich is exhibited.

They say that every person sees in this picture his meaning, so the number of its interpretations is infinite. The work is frequently invoked by critics, historians, curators, and artists as the “zero point of painting", referring to the painting's historical significance and paraphrasing Malevich. Malevich had made some remarks about his painting.

  • «It is from zero, in zero, that the true movement of being begins.»
  • «I transformed myself in the zero of form and emerged from nothing to creation, that is, to Suprematism, to the new realism in painting to non-objective creation»
  • [Black Square is meant to evoke]« the experience of pure non-objectivity in the white emptiness of a liberated nothing»

I wonder what meaning of the «Black Square» will open to you?

Central House of Art is a unique complex in which creativity of not only artists but also scientists, art historians, writers, architects, musicians, photographers, cinematographers, designers is concentrated. There are always interesting exhibitions, festivals and various projects dedicated to contemporary art and culture. In the Central House of Art, you will certainly learn new ideas for creativity and get acquainted with the extraordinary points of view on the structure of the world.

The Central House of Art is located within walking distance of the Yakimanka Hotel 38. You can always contect our staff about the actual schedule of exhibitions and the shortest way to the museum.

The Tretyakov Gallery

The Tretyakov Gallery

Just within walking distance of our hotel is one of the main Moscow attractions-the Tretyakov Gallery in Lavrushinsky Pereulok (Lavrushinsky Lane). The gallery contains the largest in the world collection of Russian fine art.

You can find the whole Russian classics in the original — famouse art works of Andrey Rublev, Viktor Vasnetsov, Ivan Aivasovsky, Alexey Savrasov, Ilya Repin, Ivan Kramskoy.

Everyone has seen these pictures in books or magazines. But to see the original works of the masters is a completely amazing experience. Considering each element of the picture, you seem to be transported in those epochs and touch the talent of great artists. It fascinates! You can dream up what the master was thinking about when he was painting a particular picture, what he was trying to say, what mood he was in.

The facade itself is also interesting. It was desined in a peculiar Russian fairy-tale style by the architect Vasily Bashkirov on the bases of Viktor Vasnetsov’s sketches. It all started with private house of the merchant Tretyakov. As his collection of paintings grew, new rooms adjoined the house. Today the complex of the Tretyakov Gallery also includes the building of the closed St. Nicholas church in Tolmachi and occupies the entire even side of Lavrushinsky Pereulok.

Muzeon Park of Arts

Muzeon Park of Arts (Fallen Monument Park) is situated not far from our hotel. It is an excellent place for unusual walks. This open-air museum contains more than 1000 sculptures, each with its own history. Most of them were dismentled in different parts of Moscow from the political points of view and moved here, some of them were presented to the Park by the authors. Here you can see clasics, avanе-gardу and public – art. In such variety of scenes and personalities it is possible to make a creatively different photo shoot session. Modern Art festivals as well as music ones and different master classes take place in Muzeon regularly. Educational pavilion — School and children's centre are working here as a going concern.

In summer one can visit an open-air cinema movie, where rare films of producers from different countries are demonstrated. Also you can get to open theatrical productions. On a pedestrian zone of the Krimskaja Naberezhnaya (The Crimea Embankment) one can admire fountains and have a snak in the café. Here yoga and dancing classes are held and there are also bicycle routs.

By the way you can contact the hotel staff about the current program in the park, as well as which way to go there.

Moscow Kremlin

Moscow Kremlin is the heart of the capital, the main symbol not only of Moscow, but of the whole Russia. This is the main item on the map of any tourist!

A walk from our hotel to the Kremlin will take you about half an hour. You can also use public transport or a taxi. Ask the hotel staff to help you choose the best way.

The entrance to the Kremlin is charged. You can buy just an entrance ticket, but it's much better to take an excursion, because the history of the Kremlin, its historical monuments is incredibly interesting!

The territory of the Kremlin occupies more than 27 hectares, there are dozens of historical buildings on it. In the walls of the Moscow Kremlin there are 20 towers, 1045 bettlements, the length of the wall is about 2.5 km.

Thousands of unique exhibits are collected in the museums of the Kremlin. The Armory Chamber (Oruzheinaya Palata) is a real treasury of Russian history. State treasures, thrones, sceptres, the famous Monomakh's Cap (Shapka Monomakha), precious gifts presented to the kings by foreign ambassadors, dresses and weapons are stored here.

The Assumption Cathedral (Uspenskiy Sobor) is the oldest building in Moscow, which has been completely preserved to the present day. Here the Grand Dukes were honored and kings and emperors were crowned. There are the tombs of Moscow Patriarchs and Metropolitans along the walls of the temple. To make a long story short a picture is worth a thousand words!

It is recommended to buy tickets and excursions on the Kremlin's website or at the ticket offices in the Alexander Gardens (Aleksandrovsky Sad). All other sources should not be trusted. The Kremlin Museums are open from 10:00 to 18:00 in the summer and to 17:00 — in the winter. The day off is Thursday.

The admission in the V.I. Lenin Mausoleum (Mavzoley V.I. Lenina) is free of charge. It is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 13:00.

If you want to go shopping after the tour, the shopping centers nearest to the Kremlin are the Okhotny Ryad on Maneznaya Square (democratic brands are represented here) and GUM on Red Square (luxury shopping).