History of Moscow’s Districts
Why Novy Arbat was built through the old lanes
Novy Arbat was laid out north of Stary Arbat as a broad route west out of the city centre. The older street, lined with substantial buildings, was considered difficult to widen, while traffic heading west was increasing. The route was proposed in the 1935 General Plan, but the avenue itself was built mainly in the 1960s. It cut through existing blocks and replaced some of the lanes and Sobachya Ploshchadka.
Why the German Quarter Was Not Only German
Moscow’s German Quarter brought together Western foreigners of various nationalities. In the 17th century, the word «German» was used for anyone whose speech seemed unintelligible, so people from the German lands, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Sweden, France and Italy all lived along the Yauza under this common designation. They were united by their service to Russia, their Western European origins and the settlement’s special legal status; the name should no…
Polenov’s 1878 painting ‘A Moscow Courtyard’: what remains on the Arbat
Vasily Polenov’s ‘A Moscow Courtyard’ is linked to a real property in the Arbat district, near the junction of Durnovsky and Trubnikovsky Lanes. The painting was based on a view from a window, which the artist broadened horizontally while working on the canvas in 1878. A letter by Polenov, old maps and the original version make it possible to identify with confidence the direction of the view, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour on the Sands and…
When Red Square Was a Shopping District: From the Trading Rows to GUM
The trading rows on Red Square primarily occupied its eastern side, between the Kremlin, Nikolskaya Street, Ilyinka and Varvarka. Temporary trading took place in the open square, while permanent shops gradually became concentrated in the Upper, Middle and Lower Trading Rows, with the arrangement of goods determining the layout of each block.
The Rachka River: How Its Valley Shaped Ivanovskaya Gorka
The Rachka River has vanished from the surface of Moscow, but its valley remains embedded in the fabric of the city. The changes in elevation across Ivanovskaya Gorka and the routes of Khokhlovsky, Podkopayevsky, Kolpachny and Maly Ivanovsky Lanes largely follow the terrain on either side of the former riverbed. This watercourse remains a hidden element of Moscow’s urban plan.
Preobrazhenskoye and Sokolniki: From a Royal Estate and Mock Regiments to an Urban Park
Preobrazhenskoye and Sokolniki lie side by side in eastern Moscow, yet belong to distinct historical territories. Preobrazhenskoye developed as a palatial, military and administrative centre, associated with Alexei Mikhailovich and the young Peter I. The Sokolniki grove served as a royal falconry ground before eventually becoming a public city park with avenues radiating out in a fan.