Basmanny District on a cool day: the grotto, the Red Gate, and the Kurakin House
We organized a weekend excursion for SFT Group, a company the agency has been working with for several years. SFT Group commissions this series of itineraries from us year after year, and the 2025 excursion plan also included a number of excursions: Patriki, Zamoskvorechye, Presnya, Khamovniki, and Preobrazhenka. This program included Basmannye and Vorobyovy Gory, led by tour guide Maria. The group also has "Sweet Spots" planned for December 13th.
On Basmannaya excursion Some of the participants had been to the area before, but they knew little about Basmanny in general—so the guide's story was a major revelation for many. Along the route, the guests saw how many places and interesting buildings are hidden between Novaya and Staraya Basmannaya. A special topic of conversation was Bauman Garden: a green space in the very center of Moscow where, despite its relatively small size, many activities are concentrated, as well as historical sites that remain attractive today.
Bauman Garden and the Stakheev Estate Grotto
In the Bauman Garden, participants were shown a grotto that was once part of the Stakheyev estate. The guide emphasized that it is an example of late 19th-century historicist architecture, reminiscent of the romantic grottoes found in gardens of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The grotto clearly intrigued the participants, and a separate theme was the fact that it housed many different establishments during the Soviet era: a beer hall, a buffet, and other establishments.
The place proved both picturesque and photogenic: the group took photos there. The guide noted that from the observation point above, the grotto offers a beautiful view of the entire garden—a true observation deck that allows one to see the space in its entirety.
The Red Gate and a discussion of the square's baroque appearance
The route then led the group to Krasnye Vorota Square. There, much discussion centered on the square's baroque appearance and how it changed during Soviet times. The talk included interesting and amusing facts about the construction of Stalin's skyscraper on Krasnye Vorota—this part of the walk held the participants' attention just as much as the "green" points along the route.
Kurakins, an almshouse and the story of Fyodor Tolstoy
The fate of the Kurakin family also made a strong impression on the tour participants. The guide recalled that the Kurakins ran an almshouse and owned numerous properties between two Basmannaya Streets. Against this backdrop, the story of Fyodor Tolstoy, an American, was particularly vivid: according to several sources, he may have been the person who introduced Alexander Pushkin to his future wife. The guide linked this episode to a specific point on the route—the Kurakin house near the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul on Novaya Basmannaya.
It was precisely these precise references to the location—the Kurakin house near the Peter and Paul Cathedral, Red Gate Square, the grotto in Bauman Garden—that made the walk through the Basmanny District a true discovery for the group.
Weather, pace, and conversations along the way
The tour took place in fairly cool weather: there was a breeze, and the participants were a bit chilled. Nevertheless, the group steadfastly completed the entire route on foot, without complaint or slackening their pace. According to the guide, the guests were engaged in the stories at every stop: the route's points were varied, and the transitions between them were logical and rich.
Along the way, the participants discussed the transformation of historic estates into modern residential complexes and even contemporary private homes. The guide noted that this led to an engaging dialogue: the conversation didn't wander into abstractions, but focused on concrete examples encountered along the way on the streets and alleys of the Basmanny District.
The final point: the Bauman monument
The tour concluded at the traditional Bauman monument. Here, the guide suggested a broader look at the monument: not only to recall the revolutionary's story but also to appreciate its artistic qualities. Participants agreed that the form and texture were masterfully executed, and that the sculptor's work was clearly visible in the details.
After this walk, the guests expressed a desire to meet the guide again—and indeed, they did meet on December 6th during a tour of Vorobyovy Gory. The bureau plans to continue this report with a separate story about the next route, maintaining the format of personalized, signature walks around Moscow.