Red Square. Red Square Chapel of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

A Christmas market on Red Square, hockey in Gorky Park, snow slides and tasting perhaps the best chocolate in the world: winter entertainment in Moscow.

When winter comes to Moscow, the capital is transformed. City panoramas are buried in “snow-white caps”, skating rinks are opening, and armies of snowmen are growing in the parks. Dress warmly and don't forget about warm and waterproof shoes.

Start your acquaintance with winter Moscow with Red Square, which in the winter months looks more like the scenery of a Christmas fairy tale. In the center of the square there is a free GUM skating rink, surrounded by historical sights – St. Basil's Cathedral, Spasskaya Tower And Historical Museum. Over the past ten years, the skating rink on Red Square has definitely become a symbol of the winter capital. In addition to excellent ice, which is treated after each session, the skating rink delights with events: ice shows, figure skating master classes and competitions are regularly held here. The GUM skating rink can accommodate up to 500 people in one session.

In addition, every year from December 1 to January 15, a large Christmas Fair. An area of ​​more than two thousand square meters is occupied by dozens of colorful houses, where you can buy designer toys as gifts for loved ones or simply enjoy the festive atmosphere. Check out the food stalls: here you can snack on pancakes with caviar or baked potatoes with mushrooms and cucumbers. As a drink - incomparable mulled wine. A nice addition to winter treats are roasted chestnuts and Viennese waffles. Pay attention to two scenes installed on Red Square. From Thursday to Sunday, musicians, magicians and clowns perform here. For children, there is also a two-tier carousel and an ice slide on the square.

Look at the facades GUM, which in winter turns into a magical palace with countless colored garlands and lights. Take a stroll through Moscow's main department store. In the 17th century, retail and wholesale trade took place in its place. In 1815, the shopping arcade moved to a separate building, which then looked different. The reconstruction of GUM was undertaken in 1893 by architect Alexander Pomerantsev and engineer Vladimir Shukhov.

In winter, the interior of GUM turns into a Christmas carnival. On the eve of the New Year, each supermarket boutique displays its decorated Christmas tree. Decorations on Christmas trees are never repeated: each store thinks through the “outfit” of its Christmas tree, turning it into a real work of art.

In winter, nothing feels better than a mug of hot cocoa with a bar of delicious chocolate. Therefore, the next stop on the winter route is Museum of the History of Russian Chocolate. Those with a sweet tooth will not remain indifferent: the museum tells the history of the delicacy from ancient times to the present day. More than 15 thousand exhibits are presented on the museum shelves. A visit to the museum includes tasting chocolate made according to recipes from different eras. The pride of the museum is 19th century chocolate in historical packaging. A special place in the exhibition is occupied by the history of the “Alenka”, “Belochka” and “Gullivera” candies known from childhood. The museum organizes master classes for children on making small chocolate figurines.

Take the metro (the nearest station is Mayakovskaya) and go to Gorky Park(Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya station). You can simply take a walk through the winter park or immediately try out the ice at one of the most favorite skating rinks of Moscow residents.

Gorky Park has a long history, which can be found in museum. In addition to many photographs, videos and documents, the exhibition includes interactive elements. For example, the museum has a model of a parachute tower that appeared in the park in 1930. Using augmented reality glasses, you can jump from a tower with a parachute. There is an observation deck on the roof of the museum, from where the park’s alleys, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Crimean Bridge and Stalin’s skyscrapers are clearly visible.

Ice skating rink in Gorky Park- one of the largest in Europe. Its area is about 18 thousand meters. Up to four thousand people can cut the ice on it at the same time. The ice paths winding through the park are illuminated with multi-colored LEDs, immersing you in the festive atmosphere. By the way, the ice covering is made using a special technology - in such a way that weather changes do not affect the quality of the ice. There are five equipment rental points at the skating rink. For sports fans there is a hockey rink. When rolling it works Figure skating school. For those who have never skated before, there is a paid service “First time on ice”. A separate “children’s skating rink” has been organized for younger visitors.

Have a snack at a cafe Pelman(Krymsky Val, 9/2). Dumplings reign on the menu: from the most common to exotic ones like Japanese gyoza and Chinese dim sum. Fillings include pork, lamb, salmon, buckwheat, squid, cherries, and cottage cheese. In total - 15 types of international dumplings. Prices in the establishment are average.

While strolling through the park, look into Garage Museum of Contemporary Art» . The three-story building in which it is located is a building from the 60s, restored in a modern way. Previously, the Soviet restaurant “Vremena Goda” was located on this site. The author of the modern project was the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. Externally, the building is a parallelepiped raised above the ground, covered with modern translucent material, with a slight reflection effect. The museum has a café where you can drink coffee or have a snack.

Next, head to Boring Garden. The oldest park in Moscow: Neskuchny Garden was formed in 1834 as a result of the merger of the gardens of three 17th-century estates. In winter, the park turns into a place where the largest number of snow slides in Moscow are collected. The main place for skiing is located on the right hand from the entrance to the park. The park delights with gentle slopes that are perfect for sledding, almost vertical extreme slides and slopes that are most suitable for snowmobiling.

Friends, everyone who has been and has not been to Moscow, I strongly recommend visiting the capital, or rather its center, on the pre-New Year, New Year and post-New Year days! Red Square!

Every year I visit it during the New Year holidays, but I have never seen such beauty!
So, even on weekdays you can now see a lot of interesting things! Make sure you have a strong battery charge and a clean memory card, because my phone is dead from the number of photos I take!

For beginners who don’t know where Red Square is, I’ll tell you... Take the metro to the Ploshchad Revolyutsii station, go out onto Manezhnaya Square and immediately you will be greeted with music, lights, a skating rink, illumination, mad hares, giant gnomes! The entire arena is strewn with souvenir houses hung with lights! Christmas tree, Christmas tree! Don't count! All different! Eyes run wild...

As soon as you get out of the subway, your mouth just opens at what you see! I want to take a photo near every tree!

My daughter and I were there on a weekday, and there was so much to do that you’re amazed! There is a performance on every corner. Hares with a soft hammer run around the square and hit people on the head) It doesn’t hurt at all) The gnomes drag the children to the ice slide. They give out cheesecakes and even have a presenter with a microphone who shoots the heroes down a huge slide!

We came across an arena skating rink! Not many people ride. I don’t know how much the rental costs, since we are just learning to ride with our daughter in our yard box and we are still far from those who ride in the center of Moscow.

The smell of barbecue is everywhere! Just go crazy on a frosty day! Therefore, if you come with an empty pocket, then eat a hearty meal at home. Well, tea in the bistro house costs 50 rubles. Every person can afford it. I didn't notice the magnetic security gate. But there are still law enforcement officers.

Well, a lot of arches and lights! Even an adult gets a childish delight from this! There is also a small ice town, a beautiful manege tree, near which Santa Clauses work. Their fee is 200 rubles. What a great grandfather! So powerful, 2 meters! There are also simpler ones, the baldest one cost 50 rubles, which asked for food for his deer) But we chose a richer, fatter grandpa) You can take as many photos with him for 200 rubles as you want on your camera!

Also, galloping polar bears earn extra money here) In reality, they and the hares had a blast there)

The city administration tried its best to make it a real holiday.

Everything is lit up so much that it dazzles your eyes! Music, the aromas of fried meat, the screams of children riding on carousels! Everything is crazy! A lot of Christmas trees, glowing deer, snowmen, an ice skating rink (already on Red Square), a fair, illumination of Channel One! Each tree is decorated with a garland. Near GUM there are benches covered with white fur, baskets with spruce branches and pine cones! (I’ll tell you about GUM separately)

Red Square (Moscow, Russia) - description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.

• Last minute tours in Russia

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Red Square is the main and most famous square of Moscow and Russia, the arena of many important events in Russian history and the history of the Soviet state, the site of mass demonstrations of the capital's workers and parades of the Russian Armed Forces. Muscovites generally don’t come to Red Square often - returning at night from clubs and on New Year’s Eve.

Even in ancient times, a square appeared near the eastern wall of the Kremlin, where lively trade was noisy. In the 16th century it was called Trinity from the name of the Church of St. Trinity, which stood on the site of St. Basil's Cathedral. In the Middle Ages, fires often blazed here, so the square had another name - “Fire”. From the middle of the 17th century they began to call her “Red”, which in the ancient Russian language meant “beautiful”.

Modern Red Square is solid stone, but it acquired this appearance only in the 19th century, and before that it was predominantly wooden. The square was completely paved with cobblestones in 1804.

After the revolution, Red Square retained its significance, becoming the main square of the new state. The Lenin Mausoleum was built near the Kremlin wall, making the square the ideological center of Moscow. According to the plan for the socialist reconstruction of Moscow, the Kazan Cathedral was demolished, and even earlier the Iveron Chapel with the Resurrection Gate was destroyed. This freed up space for festive parades and demonstrations. In November 1941, in the besieged capital on Red Square, the famous parade of Soviet troops took place, from where they went straight to the front. And in June 1945, the columns of the Victory Parade passed here, and 200 Nazi banners were thrown at the foot of the Mausoleum. Currently, Red Square has regained its historical appearance - through the efforts of the Moscow authorities, national shrines have recently been restored.

Since 1993, photography using professional photographic equipment and a tripod on Red Square and other areas adjacent to the Kremlin has been prohibited. The ban includes all cameras with a body height of more than 140 mm and a removable lens diameter of more than 70 mm. To obtain permission, you must contact the Commandant's Office of the Moscow Kremlin. The application for filming must be submitted in person and wait for permission for several days - applications by fax and e-mail are not accepted.

What to see

On the northern side, Red Square is blocked Historical Museum(architect Vladimir Osipovich Sherwood, engineer A. A. Semenov, 1875-1883) with a restaurant of traditional Russian cuisine. From the south - the most beautiful Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat (St. Basil's Cathedral, 1555-1560). St. Basil's is a popular name, unofficial - on behalf of the Moscow holy fool, who was buried at the north-eastern corner of the temple.

Almost the entire side opposite the Kremlin is occupied by the Upper Trading Rows - now GUM. Near St. Basil's there now stands the very first monument in Moscow, a monument to “Citizen Minin and Prince Pozharsky.” Here, near St. Basil's, is the Place of Execution (literal translation of the Jewish Golgotha). Near the Kremlin wall is the mausoleum of V.I. Lenin.

Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God

Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God ( St. Basil's Cathedral) built by decree of Ivan the Terrible in honor of the capture of the Kazan Khanate, part of the former Golden Horde. The temple was erected by Russian architects Barma and Postnik Yakovlev. There is a legend that, having seen the temple, Ivan the Terrible ordered the craftsmen to be blinded so that they could not build such a miracle anywhere else. The throne of the central tent was consecrated in the name of the Intercession of the Mother of God, and the cathedral completely began to be called the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God, which is on the Moat. The small Church of St. Basil, later built on the grave of the holy fool revered in Moscow, later gave the whole temple another, more common name - St. Basil's Cathedral.

Red Square at night

Execution place

On the left of St. Basil's Cathedral Lobnoye Mesto is located - a high platform of white stone behind a cast-iron fence. It appeared here in the first half of the 16th century and served as a platform from which royal decrees were announced and sentences were announced to criminals.

The place of execution is located on a steep hill - “vzboye”. In Orthodox Moscow, it symbolized Mount Golgotha ​​in Jerusalem, on which Jesus Christ was crucified.

On the Execution Place, holy relics were exhibited for public honoring, from here Ivan the Terrible addressed the people, and the boyars Boris Godunov and Vasily Shuisky were proclaimed kings from here. According to custom, when the heirs to the throne reached 14 years of age, they were carried in their arms to the Place of Execution so that the people could see their future legitimate king with their own eyes and would not allow impostors to ascend the Russian throne. Contrary to popular belief, executions were never carried out at Lobnoye Place itself. Scaffolds were placed near it, and more often - on Vasilyevsky Spusk behind St. Basil's Cathedral.

Monument to Minin and Pozharsky

The monument to the leaders of the people's militia of 1612, Minin and Pozharsky, was built on Red Square in 1818 according to the design of the sculptor I. Martos. Until 1936, the monument stood in the center of Red Square, and Minin symbolically pointed Pozharsky to the Moscow Kremlin occupied by the Poles, calling for its liberation. After the construction of the mausoleum, the monument was located directly opposite it, and Minin’s inviting and militant gesture became very ambiguous, and the monument began to interfere with demonstrations. At that time there were calls to destroy it, but then the monument was moved to St. Basil's Cathedral.

Lenin Mausoleum

The mausoleum was built on Red Square in January 1924 by the architect A. Shchusev to preserve Lenin’s body. The name comes from the tomb of the Carian king Mausolus, built in Halicarnassus (Asia Minor) in the 4th century BC. e. In the spring of 1924, Shchusev received the task of building a new mausoleum - monumental and majestic, and the mausoleum in the form of a stepped pyramid, symbolizing eternity, was erected in two months. It was very similar to the modern one, granite, but it was made of wood - then it was still unknown whether Lenin’s embalmed body would be preserved for a long time. Later, a decree was issued to replace the wooden mausoleum with a stone one, without changing its usual appearance. Shchusev proposed a project for a granite mausoleum, which was erected on the square in 1930. In March 1953, a sarcophagus with Stalin’s body was installed in the mausoleum, but during Khrushchev’s “thaw” it was decided to bury it in the necropolis near the Kremlin wall, where the graves of major figures are located Soviet state.

Kazan Cathedral

The Kazan Cathedral is the first of the churches restored in post-Soviet times in Moscow. It was built in the second quarter of the 17th century in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in gratitude for the deliverance of Russia from the Polish-Lithuanian invaders in 1612 and in memory of the fallen Russian soldiers. After the revolution, the Kazan Cathedral shared the sad fate of most Moscow churches, however, in the 20s, the architect P. D. Baranovsky managed to restore it and take down the drawings. In the summer of 1936, the cathedral was demolished, and later a summer cafe was opened here. By decision of the Moscow government, the Kazan Cathedral on Red Square was restored according to the design of Baranovsky’s student Oleg Zhurin. On November 4, 1990, Patriarch Alexy II laid the foundation stone for the cathedral, and three years later he consecrated the newly built temple.

Chapel of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

The Chapel of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God at the Resurrection Gate has always been one of the most revered Moscow shrines. An exact copy (as a copy of the icons was called) from the Iveron Icon was brought to Moscow in the 17th century, and it was placed on the Neglinenskaya (Neglinnaya) tower. To protect the Iveron Icon and praying people from wind and rain, a small canopy was erected over it. This is how the Iverskaya Chapel appeared in Moscow. The place for it was not chosen by chance: the Neglinensky Gate was the main gate of Kitai-Gorod, and through them, according to tradition, the ceremonial entries of the Russian Tsars to Red Square were made. Therefore, the gate had another name - Triumphal.

In 1680, the dilapidated gates were rebuilt, and then two high tents topped with double-headed eagles appeared above them. An icon of the Resurrection of Christ was placed above the gate, and from then on it began to be called Resurrection Gate. The Iverskaya Chapel received its modern appearance at the end of the 18th century. After the revolution, the Iverskaya Chapel was demolished, and in 1931 the Resurrection Gate was also demolished to make way for demonstrations and automobile traffic. Recently, on Mount Athos, a copy of the original Iveron icon was again made. In November 1994, Patriarch Alexy II consecrated the foundation stone of the Iverskaya Chapel and the Resurrection Gate. In less than a year they were restored according to the design of the architect Oleg Zhurin. In 1995 the chapel was reopened.

How to get there: on foot from the station. "Revolution Square" and "Okhotny Ryad" metro stations.