HSE Students’ Favourite Places in Moscow
This autumn, a few School of Foreign Languages students worked as interns for the HSE English-language website team. We’ve asked them to share their favourite places to spend time in Moscow. Below, Elizaveta and Angelina talk about a newly built residential neighbourhood that is worth a visit, and the unusual museum of a painter who illustrated Russian folk tales.
Elizaveta Antonenko
Zilart Residential Neighbourhood
Moscow has many newly built residential neighbourhoods and compounds, and though they may not seem interesting to visit, some of them can be considered unique modern landmarks. The Zilart Residential Neighbourhood is an example of modern architecture with both sharp edges and smooth surfaces, a beige, brown, and peach colour palette, large (and sometimes, unconventionally shaped) glass windows, and manicured lawns. The neighbourhood houses a variety of cosy coffeeshops and cafes, a modern and sleek shopping centre, as well as an exhibition centre of the same name (the Zilart Museum and Exhibition Centre).
It is also nestled between a park and the Moskva River—both are places of interest. If you take a stroll in the park, you may find a pond, colourful flower beds, and a wooden pergola which functions as both an observation deck and a decoration piece. From the pier on Marka Shagala Embankment it’s possible to take a ride on the electric river tram (it travels up to Paveletskaya metro station). The tram is accessible in any weather, even in winter, and takes the scenic route with a view of Moscow’s lesser-known Southeastern areas.
How to get there:
Underground:
Moscow Central Circle: ZIL or Verkhniye Kotly
Moscow Metro: ZIL
Electric River Tram:
Route No. 3 (Novospassky–ZIL)
It’s a five-minute walk from both of the ZIL stations; travelling from Verkhniye Kotly, you need to cross the bridge over the Moskva River from the Novodanilovskaya Embankment to the Marka Shagala Embankment. Since the area directly in front of the neighbourhood is occasionally closed off for construction, it’s most convenient to use the river tram or get to the Verkhniye Kotly station.
Angelina Firsova
Viktor Vasnetsov Museum
If you want to visit an art gallery, but are looking for something different from the usual exhibitions, you should definitely pay attention to the Viktor Vasnetsov Museum. Viktor Vasnetsov is a Russian painter whose main themes of artworks were folk tales. Today, an art gallery has been organised in his house, allowing visitors to see how the space reflects the unusual approach and nature of a creative person and how it makes it possible to create beautiful paintings. This gallery attracts with its authenticity and special creative spirit.
Vasnetsov's house in the neo-Russian style, as well as the furniture in it, were created according to his own sketches. The design of the house is really unusual and will surprise visitors with the locations of the rooms and the size of the workshop on the second floor, which can be accessed by a spiral staircase. Of course, his famous works are also in this house gallery. The surroundings of the building itself allow you to immerse yourself even better in the atmosphere of Russian folklore.
During the cold weather, a visit to the Vasnetsov house will take you into a winter fairy tale and leave a vivid impression.
Address: 13 Pereulok Vasnetsova, Moscow
Open: Sun, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat: 10 am–5 pm (last entry at 4 pm)
Price: 400 RUB (students—250 RUB)
Photos: Elizaveta Antonenko; Tretyakov Gallery
For Part 2, please, see this page.