The main city of Russia, Moscow, is a must-see destination for foreign tourists interested in the life and culture of Russians. The city went through troubled times and even lost its status as the capital, but after the Bolshevik government moved here from St. Petersburg in 1918, the significance of Moscow as the center of the country remains unshakable to this day.
Songs and films are dedicated to her, more than 12 million people make plans, families and careers here, and this number increases every year.
We found the 10 most interesting facts about Moscow, which cover both its history and modernity.
10. Two versions of the origin of the name of the capital
Historians dealt with the origin of the name "Moscow" for so long because they tried to understand which people first mastered the banks of the river and laid the future capital of the country.
Not everyone agrees that the city got its name from the nearby river. Some experts claim that it is no coincidence in the Old Slavic language "Mosk" means flint, and root "Cove" it matters to hide. Allegedly, the city was considered a stone shelter and appropriately named, after which this name passed to the river.
Officially, there are two versions of the origin of the word "Moscow". According to the first, the Finnish tribes called the city, which the Slavs later evicted to the north. In this case, linguists translate the name as "a bear by the water. " According to another hypothesis, the Slavs themselves came up with a name for the settlement, starting from the meaning Raw and "Wet." Be that as it may, an indication of proximity to water is in both interpretations.
9. The walls of the Kremlin were originally white
This is now a red brick wall familiar to any tourist in Russia, but until the 19th century the fortress was dazzlingly white. The Kremlin was whitened for almost 4 centuries, not only out of respect for Dmitry Donskoy, in which the wooden structure was just rebuilt, but also for the preservation and extension of the life of the brick. Such an image of the Moscow Kremlin was recorded in many sources.
The fortress is still painted - only in brick color, in order to maintain its saturation and brightness.
8. Moscow burned a huge number of times
Fires in the capital are a sore subject for its residents. Over its history, fire “devoured” the city 58 times: about 15 fires destroyed the capital by half or almost completely.
This mass is explained by the fact that for a long time all the buildings in Moscow were wooden, and if one building caught fire, the flame very quickly spread further. It is curious that the city didn’t get cobblestone pavements immediately, and the boardwalks led to the fact that in fires people literally burned "the ground under their feet."
The most famous fire dates back to 1812, when more than 6 thousand people died in a fire during the night. It is believed that the city was set on fire by the French.
7. Curse in Tsaritsyno
The Tsaritsyno estate is considered one of the most mysterious and mysterious places in the capital. Back in the 11th century, sacrifices and rituals were conducted here by the ancient Vyatichs, who bequeathed to no one to disturb their ashes under pain of damnation.
Husband Vasily III didn’t find happiness here - after hearing about the miraculous power of mud springs, she decided to come here, then to give birth to a healthy son's spouse. But during her absence, the monarch fell in love with another and exiled his ex-wife to the monastery. The woman cursed his new family, and the place that gave her a son, but took her husband.
6. Moscow metro - one of the deepest and most beautiful in the world
Moscow Metro has a record on its account - it is connected with the station "Victory Park", which is located at a depth of 84 meters underground. This is the second deepest station in the country after the Admiralteyskaya station in St. Petersburg, and is among the top five in the world.
In addition, one cannot fail to note the luxurious decoration of some stations, which makes the metropolitan "subway" an almost tourist attraction.
5. “Disguise” of the Kremlin in 1941
During the Second World War, the leadership of the capital was very worried about the safety of the Kremlin, because it would not have been difficult to bomb the enemy with such a noticeable building. That's why With the beginning of World War II in 1941, the Kremlin, like many other ancient buildings, was cunningly disguised.
Outwardly, the fortress looked like an ordinary house, the roofs were painted over, the gilded domes were not visible due to dark paint, and the covers hid the stars on the towers. Windows and doors were painted on the walls, and pointed teeth were turned into imitation of sloping roofs with the help of plywood. In addition, architects imitated entire highways and streets - at least it seemed so from the air.
Efforts benefited - the Kremlin was not destroyed during the war. But in case of the surrender of the capital to the Germans, a whole plan for mining the complex was provided.
4. Now the Kremlin is the largest operating fortress in Europe
Today the heart of the capital is Kremlin - called the largest active fortress in Europe. The length of the Kremlin wall exceeds 2200 meters, and 20 towers form an irregular triangle. The highest of them is Troitskaya, which reaches 80 meters.
Of course, in Europe there were constructions and more, but they did not survive, unlike the Moscow Kremlin, which still performs its functions.
3. The Moscow Kremlin - one of the largest museums in the world
Since its founding, the Kremlin has served as a fortress for protection. Over the years, from an obstacle to the enemy’s path, he has turned into a beautiful architectural ensemble, which is still being tried to be kept in proper order.
And now the Kremlin is happy to open its doors to tourists: On its territory there are several interesting places to visit, which makes it one of the largest museums in the world.
Those interested in architecture can be found in the Patriarchal Chambers of the Kremlin, and the magnificent exhibits of the Armory Chamber do not leave anyone indifferent. The legendary Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell are also obligatory for inspection. And these are just some of the thematic excursions that are now held on the territory of the former military fortress.
2. Moscow sights on the UNESCO list
The UNESCO list combines attractions that are recognized as human heritage. Thus, experts help cultural and natural sites not to suffer at the hands of people and not to fall victim to new buildings. In Russia, 25 places are included in this list, and immediately 4 of them are in Moscow and its region.
These include the entire Red Square and the Kremlin standing on it, the legendary Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where millions of Orthodox tourists come annually, the Novodevichy Convent and the Ascension Church in Kolomenskoye.
1. The most populous city in Russia
The population of Moscow is comparable with the population of some countries and amounts to 12 and a half million people. Moreover, it is constantly growing. For comparison, no more than 9 million people live in London.
Of course, the Russian city is far from Asian megacities with their astronomical population figures, but experts say that in fact there are many more people in Moscow. Indeed, official statistics show only the number of residents registered in the city and do not take into account the real number of inhabitants of the capital, which, according to some reports, is inexorably striving for the mark of 15 million.