Where on the sparrows. Walk. Sparrow Hills. Walking to the Observation Deck

Sparrow Hills is one of the key attractions of Moscow. By their nature, they represent a hill on the banks of the Moscow River and are the main observation deck of the capital of Russia. From the top of the hill a picturesque panorama of dense forest and parkland opens up, architectural buildings, structures and temples are visible. On the observation deck, the soul of Moscow, its strength, grace and greatness are revealed to residents and guests of the city. A lot of ceremonial and cultural events are held at this unique place. Muscovites and tourists come here to relax, take photographs, play sports, and also seek inspiration and peace.

A nice bonus only for our readers - a discount coupon when paying for tours on the website until June 30:

• AF500guruturizma - promotional code for 500 rubles for tours from 40,000 rubles
• AF2000TGuruturizma - promotional code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Tunisia from 100,000 rubles.

You will also find many profitable offers from all tour operators on the website tours.guruturizma.ru. Compare, choose and book tours at the best prices!

In the 14th century, the village of Vorobyovo was located on the modern territory of the Vorobyovy Gory. It belonged to the boyars Vorobyov. In 1453, the wife of Moscow Prince Vasily I, Princess Sofya Vitovna, bought the village from noble owners, where an estate was built. This is how the Vorobyovsky Palace was erected. Later it was the summer residence of the Grand Dukes of Moscow and All Rus' Ivan III, Vasily III, Ivan IV the Terrible, as well as the Tsar of All Rus' Alexei Romanov. Young Peter I loved to come to the village of Vorobyovo. Here he repeatedly conducted military exercises with his “amusing army.” The territory of the Sparrow Hills has long been famous for its beautiful white sand. Thanks to this, Peter I initiated the construction of the first mirror and glass factory in Moscow on this site.

During the reign of Catherine II, architect Matvey Kazakov began rebuilding residential and public buildings in Moscow. A palace was built on Prechistenskaya Street especially for the empress, who came to the celebrations in honor of the victory of Russian troops over the Ottomans. However, the location of the structure turned out to be inconvenient for the royal person. At the end of the festive events, by decree of Ekaterina Alekseevna, it was decided to move the Prechistensky Palace from the center of Moscow to the village of Vorobyovo. Under the supervision of M. Kazakov, the building structures were delivered on barges along the Moscow River. Thus, on the site of the old estate, which had fallen into disrepair, a new palace appeared. But none of the Romanovs ever lived there. In 1812, the residence burned down. Nothing was built on this site for a long time.

In honor of Russia's victory over Napoleon in the Patriotic War, Emperor Alexander I issued a decree on the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The sovereign approved the project of the architect Alexander Vitberg. According to the plan, construction of the structure was supposed to begin on Vorobyovy Gory. According to the architect's plan, the temple should be built of marble limestone. The raw materials were mined a few kilometers from the Sparrow Hills, so the marble was delivered by barge along the river. The building was built slowly due to the unstable soil foundation and soon stopped altogether. In addition, fraudulent theft schemes of local officials were revealed. All this became the reason for the termination of the construction of the temple on Vorobyovy Gory.

Before the revolution, there was a restaurant on Vorobyovy Gory. The establishment was very popular among Muscovites and guests. The spacious terrace was located at the top of the slope, offering stunning views of Moscow. The famous singer Fyodor Chaliapin often visited here and delighted the audience with his talent. During the Soviet era, the Sparrow Hills began to flourish. The territory began to be transformed into park and sports and entertainment areas. A ski slope, a springboard and a funicular were built here. There is an observation deck. In the mid-50s of the 20th century, the Moscow State University building and the Luzhniki stadium were built. Since then, Vorobyovy Gory has become a truly iconic and favorite vacation spot for Soviet youth.

Observation deck today

It is difficult to find a more suitable and publicly accessible place for admiring the central part of Moscow than the observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory. The large-scale panorama is impressive and breathtaking. A large number of unique historical attractions are covered with a single glance. If you arm yourself with binoculars, you can see in detail the appearance of the Russian capital. Behind the terrace rises the Moscow State University building, surrounded by a large garden.

The observation deck offers views of the dense forest and the embankment of the Moscow River. In the center of the panorama is the grandiose Luzhniki stadium. Behind the arena bowl you can see the domes of St. Basil's Cathedral and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. To the left, modern skyscrapers of the business center of the capital rise, and the Ostankino Tower, the House of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Foreign Ministry building are also visible. On the right side there is a two-level arched Luzhnetsky metro bridge, designed for cars and the subway. Behind the bridge you can see the twenty-two-story building of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the famous Shabolovskaya Tower.

How to get there

Moscow has an excellently developed transport infrastructure. You can get from the city center to Vorobyovy Gory by different means of transport. The easiest way to get to the place is to use the metro. The exit from the Vorobyovy Gory metro station is 80 meters from the observation terrace. A well-maintained asphalt path runs up the slope through a large park area. In the summer there is silence here, interrupted by the singing of birds. A green oasis dampens the city noise of the capital. In winter you can see many people skiing down the snowy slope.

You can get to Vorobyovy Gory by water tram along the Moscow River. Swim to the pier at the foot of the slope, and then take the cable car up to the viewing point. It will not be difficult to get to Vorobyovy Gory by bus routes No. 57, No. 111, No. 113, No. 119, No. 661 to the MGU stop, which is located next to the observation terrace. Vorobyovy Gory is the calling card of Moscow. The observation deck offers a beautiful view of the city. You can start getting acquainted with Moscow from Sparrow Hills. During the day there is a wide view of the capital, and the evening view from the hill captivates with the bright colors of the city lights. A visit to the Sparrow Hills will leave an unforgettable memory.

Metro station: Vorobyovy Gory

Vorobyovy Gory is an area located on the high right bank of the Moscow River. In 1935 it was renamed and became known as the Lenin Mountains. However, the historical name did not leave the lexicon; the people more often used the phrase Vorobyovy Gory. In 1999, the previous name was returned. This hill is one of the seven hills of Moscow. This analogy with Rome appeared back in the 16th century, when Moscow was actively being rebuilt. Now on the Sparrow Hills there is a park of the same name. Very popular among tourists and Moscow residents Observation deck. Its height relative to the river level is 80 m. From the observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory, perhaps one of the most picturesque views of the capital opens.

History of Sparrow Hills

As shown by archaeological excavations carried out on the Sparrow Hills in the 19th century, ancient settlements existed on this site already in the 1st millennium BC. e. The name Vorobyovy Gory comes from the village of Vorobyovo, which was located here back in the 14th century. The village is named after the famous boyar family - the Vorobievs - who were its original owners. In 1453, the village was bought by Princess Sofia Vitovtovna, the wife of Prince Vasily I. A wooden palace was built here. Thus, Vorobyovo becomes a popular residence of Moscow princes, and subsequently Russian tsars and emperors. The palace was rebuilt several times. In 1812 it was destroyed by fire. Since the 19th century Vorobyovy Gory is a popular summer cottage and holiday destination.

In 1949, construction of a new building for Moscow State University began in the village of Vorobyovo. As a result, only the Trinity Church remained from the village. The history of this ancient temple is interesting. It is known that already at the time of the purchase of the village of Vorobyovo by Princess Sophia, there was an ancient wooden church here. Subsequently, it was rebuilt several times. Construction of the stone Trinity Church that has survived to this day began in 1811. Construction was interrupted by the Patriotic War and completed in 1813. It is known that in 1812 M.I. Kutuzov prayed there. It is noteworthy that Trinity Church did not close in the 20th century.

Vorobyovy Gory and modernity

In 1953, a ski jump was built on Vorobyovy Gory, which is still in use today. The ski slope is also popular, and there are chairlifts. Various competitions are held on Vorobyovy Gory, for example mountain biking.

In 1958, a metro bridge was built with the Vorobyovy Gory station (at the time of opening the station was called Leninsky Gory).

At the end of the 20th century, the State Nature Reserve “Sparrow Hills” was created. Its main goal is to protect the nature of Moscow. Now the park is a protected natural area. Ecological trails have been created. Excursions are available.

Now Vorobyovy Gory is a popular tourist destination. Both Muscovites and guests of the capital love to come here. The observation deck offers a beautiful panorama of Moscow. And the park stretching along the embankment is perfect for walks and active recreation. On the Sparrow Hills there is an interesting architectural landmark of Soviet times - the main building of Moscow State University. Lomonosov (about him will be written in more detail below). Also among the architectural attractions of the Sparrow Hills are the Trinity Church, the St. Andrew's Monastery located at the foot, and the ancient estate Mamonova Dacha.

Moscow State University building on Vorobyovy Gory

The main architectural landmark of Sparrow Hills is the main building of Moscow State University. Its spire towers over the entire surrounding area and is visible from afar. The height of the building is 182 m, and the height with the spire is 240 m. The number of floors of the central building is 36. The Moscow State University building on Vorobyovy Gory is one of the famous “Stalinist high-rise buildings”. In 1947, at the suggestion of I.V. Stalin, the Council of Ministers decided to build eight high-rise buildings - they were supposed to symbolize the 800th anniversary of Moscow, which was celebrated in 1947. However, the construction of one of the buildings was stopped after Stalin's death. As conceived by the authors, the high-rise buildings were supposed to surround the Palace of the Soviets - a grandiose project that was never brought to life. The style of the seven high-rise buildings built was called Stalinist Empire.

The best specialists of that time were involved in the construction of the Moscow State University building on Vorobyovy Gory. The work began in 1948, and was supervised by Beria himself. B. M. Iofan was appointed chief architect. He developed the general composition of the building. However, he subsequently disagreed with foundation specialists about the location of the building. Soon B. M. Iofan was removed. Further work was carried out under the leadership of the architect L.V. Rudnev. It is noteworthy that the topic of his diploma work was called “University of a large city.” The laying of the first stone took place in 1948. The work (construction, interior decoration, landscaping of the adjacent territory) was completed in 1953. On September 1 of this year, the first training sessions were held in the new building. For 37 years, the main building of Moscow State University on Vorobyovy Gory was the tallest building in Europe (in 1990, the championship passed to Frankfurt).

Luzhniki

On the opposite bank of the Moscow River is the Luzhniki Olympic Complex. It is clearly visible from the observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory.

Particularly noteworthy is the main sports facility of Luzhniki - the stadium of the same name. Its construction began in 1955, and already in 1956 the grand opening took place. Since then, the stadium has been rebuilt many times.

Many sporting events were held at the Luzhniki Stadium. In 1980 it became the central location of the Moscow Olympics. It is also a popular concert venue. For example, in 1990 the last concert of the Kino group took place here. It was attended by 72 thousand residents. During the concert, the Olympic flame was lit for the 4th and last time at the stadium. Other major concerts were also held: Michael Jackson (1993), Madonna (2006), Metallica (2007), Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gogol Bordello (2012), etc. In 2008, the UEFA Champions League final Chelsea took place at the Luzhniki Stadium " - "Manchester United".

In 2018, Luzhniki will host the FIFA World Cup. It is planned to host the opening match, one of the semi-finals and the final. The stadium is currently closed for reconstruction. This is the largest stadium in Russia and one of the largest in the world. The size of the field is 105x68 m. By 2018, it is planned to accommodate 81,000 seats in the stands. The option of demolishing the stadium and building a new one in its place was considered, but in the end it was decided to reconstruct the existing one.

Vorobyovy Gory is a large park on a slope, in a bend along the bank of the Moscow River. Its territory is 137.5 hectares. In 1987, Vorobyovy Gory became a natural monument; since 1998, it has been a state nature reserve created with the aim of preserving the historical, cultural and natural environment, deciduous forest, located in close proximity to the city center. In 2013, the Vorobyovy Gory reserve was included in the reserve.

In the east, the territory of the Sparrow Hills begins from the Novoandreevsky railway and road bridges across the Moscow River. From the south and west, the territory of the Sparrow Hills is limited by the area adjacent to Kosygina Street. In the north, the border of the Sparrow Hills is the mouth of the Setun River.

Vorobyovy Gory is a spur of the Teplostanskaya Upland, rising 80 meters above the level of the Moscow River. On the slope to the river grow large oaks, ash trees, maples, lindens, birches, alders, willows, and herbaceous plants of broad-leaved forests. Small animals and birds, rare for Moscow, live here.

The territory of the park is crossed by the Luzhnetsky (Luzhnikovsky) metro bridge with the Vorobyovy Gory metro station (until 1999 - Leninsky Gory) on it. Luzhnetsky Bridge was opened on January 12, 1959. Due to errors in the design and construction of the bridge, it had to be completely rebuilt. Work on rebuilding the bridge was completed in 2002.

The Vorobyovy Gory received its name from the village of Vorobyovo, first mentioned in 1453 in the will of Grand Duchess Sofia Vitovtovna. Since 1473, the village was owned by Ivan III. From that time on, it did not leave the Grand Duke's hands. The ill Vasily III was returning to Moscow through Vorobyovo on the eve of his death. He spent several days in the village, entered the city, and the next day, December 3, 1533, died. Ivan the Terrible waited in the Vorobyovsky Palace for the great June fire of 1547. Then about a third of the city burned down.

At the end of the 17th century, during the reign of Princess Sophia, a new Vorobyovsky Palace was built, about 80 fathoms (about 160 meters) long, wooden on stone foundations. It was replaced by the palace of the architect I. Michurin, built in 1732-1735. There were about 250 large and small halls on two floors of the palace.

In 1776, the wooden Prechistensky Palace of Matvey Kazakov was moved to Vorobyovo. It was built as a temporary one on Prechistenka in 1774-1776. The palace burned down in 1812. After him, palace construction in Vorobyovo was not resumed. By the beginning of the twentieth century, it was a typical village for the middle zone with the Trinity Church, built in 1811-1813. The village survived until 1956, when it was dismantled. There was no place for him near the new University building. Today, only the name and the edge above the river remind us of Vorobyov.

On October 12, 1817, the ceremonial laying of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in memory of the Patriotic War of 1812 took place on Vorobyovy Gory. It was assumed that a temple about 170 meters high would be built with a staircase to the river, with an underground temple - a crypt. But due to changes in the view of the construction program and due to the complexity of the soil in the chosen location, work was stopped in 1826.

Few people know that on the Vorobyovy Gory there is the Vorobyovy reservoir of the Moscow water supply system. This large structure with a capacity of 170,000 cubic meters of water was built in 1902 by architect M.K. Geppener. A beautiful pavilion with an observation deck and a park was erected above the reservoir. During the commissioning and filling of the reservoir with water, water supply engineers poured a bottle of champagne bought at Krynkin’s nearby restaurant into it so that all Muscovites could celebrate this event. Today the reservoir is located on the territory of Mosvodokanal, there is no access to its pavilion.

Vorobyovy Gory has always been used as a vacation spot. In the summer people came here for the whole day, with families, large groups, with their own samovars, food, and drinks. In winter we went skiing here. The continuation of this pre-revolutionary tradition was the construction of a ski jump in 1953. Near the ski jump there is a ski slope and a chair lift.

In 1948, construction work began on a site located 850 meters from the edge of the Sparrow Hills, on reliable ground. The building, 182 meters high and with a spire - 240 meters, was built according to the design of a group of architects led by L.V. Rudnev. On September 1, 1953, the University, the temple of science, was opened. From the University to the edge of the hill, on which the observation deck is located, there is a wide boulevard with flower beds, fountains, cast-iron lanterns and busts of outstanding scientists.

At the end of 2014, the Vorobyovy Gory observation deck was reconstructed. It contains an interactive granite map of Moscow. It is expected that in 2015 a monument to the baptist of Rus', Prince Vladimir, will be erected on the Sparrow Hills.

Almost all works where the story is about Moscow mention the Sparrow Hills. Woland Bulgakova observed the ancient city from this wonderful observation point. You can see this place in films, but it’s better to see it yourself. Vorobyovy Gory is filled with history and the spirit of ancient times. They changed the name several times. In fact, these are not mountains, even on old maps these are Vorobyovy Kruchi, in Soviet times they became Lenin Kruchi, and now they are the Vorobyovy Gory park.

Not a single excursion around Moscow is complete without visiting them; there is an observation deck here, and from it you can enjoy an excellent view of the capital.

Historical reference

There is no doubt that the Sparrow Hills have been inhabited since ancient times. Since about the 2nd millennium, these lands have been developed by humans. This is evidenced by numerous archaeological finds, for example, stone tools were found under the building of Moscow State University. Also, at different times, arrowheads, various decorations, and traces of settlements were found.

The name Vorobyovy Gory was given by one of the first owners of local villages, Kirill Voroby. Sparrow is a nickname that may have come from a tool, a board, walking around on a nail. The villages changed owners many times; at one time there were royal estates here, and kings of different eras rested here, hid and made their plans.

Vorobyovy Gory in the 20th century and in our time

The village of Vorobyovo survived for quite a long time. Summer residents lived here, raised and kept tea houses for tourists. In 1924, the village had 180 households and more than a thousand inhabitants.

Since 1917, local festivities with rides, carousels, fairs, ice cream and waffle stalls have been held on Sparrow Hills. After his death, they began to call them Leninsky, and even the nearest metro station was named that way. It is located on the lower tier of the bridge. The station, like the bridge itself, was rebuilt and remodeled and was closed for use for many years. Now the park on Vorobyovy Gory bears its usual name.

The birth of a green zone

For several centuries, the capital's university asked for the territory of the Sparrow Hills for its buildings and was invariably refused. Only under the rule of the Soviets in 1948 was permission obtained and construction of the Moscow State University building began. The summer residents' houses were demolished, and a botanical garden was grown near the university, the slopes were strengthened, the rugged bank of the Moscow River was straightened, and, in general, the area was beautified. This is how the park appeared.

Why you should visit the park

If you find yourself in Moscow, be sure to add Sparrow Hills Park to your list of places worth visiting. How to get there? This is a question with multiple correct answers. You can do this by metro; there is a station with the same name, not far from Frunzenskaya. If you prefer to drive, there are plenty of parking spaces opposite the Moscow State University building on Kosygina Street.

The Sparrow Hills Park is a protected area as a green area. There are no cars driving here, only cyclists and pedestrians walking. The green zone has a total length of 10 km and stretches along the embankment. There is a forest area and shady ponds; in good weather you can see local animals, especially squirrels. Here you can disconnect from the non-stop traffic of the capital, relax, breathe fresh air, listen to birdsong, and enjoy the aroma of lilacs, the bushes of which are planted along the embankment.

Near the observation deck there is a cafe where you can have a delicious meal, and for lovers of active recreation, bicycle rentals are available in the warm season.

In addition to the observation deck and nature, there is a chairlift or funicular that you can take down to the pier. A 72-meter long ski jump is open all year round. Near the observation deck there is the Trinity Church, famous for the fact that it was here that Kutuzov prayed before the Battle of Borodino. After enjoying the Sparrow Hills, you can board a pleasure boat at the pier and explore Moscow from the river. And at the next opportunity, be sure to visit Vorobyovy Gory again.

Gorky Park

The famous natural reserve in Moscow is a desirable place for any developer, but local residents are doing their best to counteract this. But not so long ago the rights to it were transferred to the Park of Culture. M. Gorky. This greatly worried everyone, since the first actions on the part of the park management were the construction of a fence around the perimeter of the natural reserve, and they also limited access for park regulars, athletes, coaches and others. They built a buffet, closed one of the jumps and destroyed the informal parking lot that they had been using for a long time and were used to. And after rumors about increasing the height of the building and the construction of an underground parking lot under the observation deck, residents began to write letters and complaints to the city administration.

People don't want changes because they are not often for the better. Many are in favor of preserving a piece of nature, and not covering everything with artificial turf, installing communications, and making large-scale lighting. How this story will end and whether the Vorobyovy Gory park will become another shopping and entertainment complex is still unknown. Let us hope for the best.

Topics of the material

The place is unique and not only because of its glorious past. Vorobyovy Gory is known for its natural uniqueness: there are rare slopes, springs, and an atmosphere that acts on a person like a placebo.

Rising eighty meters above the Moscow River, they are the highest of the seven hills on which the capital is located. Therefore, millions of people strive to get to the famous observation deck, from which the majestic city lies in full view. Capturing a panoramic view from this point is not only a dream for photographers. This site has been included in several feature films.

Here Bulgakov’s heroes said goodbye to Moscow and from here they set off on their final journey. The delightful view of the capital has been preserved in the paintings of artists and in ancient engravings. And on the map of Moscow, the sights of the village of Vorobyov came to us at an even earlier time.

Today this part of the park capital is decorated with ancient temples, monasteries, estates and the most majestic building of the seven Stalinist skyscrapers, erected by several thousand prisoners. The Moscow State University building, including its spire, is 240 meters high, and its architect Lev Rudnev was awarded the Stalin Prize in the amount of 100 thousand rubles for this project even before construction began.

In 2016, a renovated cable car was added, the ski jump was extended, and by 2018 a new sports complex will open its doors. And this object will surprise you with its records! They will create everything to host the World Cup.

How to get there?

• Address: Russia, Moscow, Sokolnicheskaya line, Vorobyovy Gory metro station;
• Map and diagram:

Palace village

The widow of the Grand Duke of Moscow took a fancy to this steep slope and bought it from the owners in order to place a palace residence here in the summer for her son. Vasily the Dark loved to watch the sunset and walk along the slopes.

The village of Vorobyovo appears in her papers as a priest's village. No one knows for certain whether it received its name after the name of the boyars, or the priest who served in the local church, nicknamed Sparrow.

The new owner breathed life into it. In a short time it was transformed: they rebuilt the church, erected a palace, cut down many buildings, elegant gates and laid out a garden with a pond where sturgeon and other noble fish were bred.

Surviving documents indicate that the wooden palace at that time was luxurious, with rich interior decoration, glass and sometimes mica windows inserted into carved frames. Since then, the place was called a palace village; it was inherited by all subsequent rulers, many of whom visited here more than once. Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, and Alexei Mikhailovich loved to come here. Although not as often as, for example, in Kolomenskoye.

Vorobyovo was repeatedly subjected to Tatar raids. The palace suffered from them; it was devastated, but not set on fire.

Wooden and tiled, it sheltered Ivan the Terrible during the Moscow fire, when a third of the city burned down, including churches and buildings right up to the Kremlin.

During the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, factories for the production of glass and mirrors were built, since the sand in this area was amazingly snow-white. At her request, a birch grove was planted; rare specimens of trees can still be found.

And two centuries later, Fyodor Alekseevich ordered the wooden mansions with 57 rooms to be raised onto a stone pedestal - this is how the ground floor appeared. A hundred years later the logs fell into disrepair, the frame was dismantled and given to the monks of the Donskoy Monastery. The wooden palace of Catherine II from Volkhonka, which served the royal people for another hundred years, was moved to the pedestal, after which it was liquidated.

Village with four temples

There were four churches in the palace department, but local residents and royalty have used the snow-white one, Trinity, since time immemorial.

The building, built in 1811, is an Empire style, traditional for the architecture of churches. It is small, with portals decorated with columns, single-dome, with a two-tier bell tower. It appears in photographs as an invariable element of the Sparrow Hills panorama.

By the way, historians claim that on the eve of the council in Fili, commanders Kutuzov and Bagration inspected positions here. And in the church, the great commander who defeated the French prayed for a victorious end to the war.

Not far from the church in 1827, young friends Herzen and Ogarev took an oath to fight for freedom until the end of their lives. Whether this is true or not, there is no documentary evidence, but in the Soviet years a monument in the form of a stele was erected to freedom lovers.

In 1717, the Kremlin was shelled by white detachments from heavy artillery. Endless wars and conflicts did not harm the church; it did not close itself off from changing political regimes, and its bells were almost the only ones in the capital that did not stop ringing even after the Bolshevik ban on bell ringing.

At the foot of the hill, St. Andrew's Monastery spread its “white robes”. The monastery was known as a center of science, book teachings and free thought. Rumor has it that it was with her that the academic system began in the capital in the 17th century. For more than a century, he served education until he became impoverished. The monks were forced to set up an almshouse within its walls. But the library there remains gorgeous. Now it belongs to the Moscow Patriarchate.

In the name of victory over Napoleon, another temple was founded - Christ the Savior, for which the whole world collected money. By the way, they say that when Bonaparte fled from Moscow, his path ran through the observation deck of the Sparrow Hills, where he last looked at the capital he had not conquered.

But the temple could not be built due to the sliding slope of the mountain. After ten years of futile work to strengthen the embankment, all attempts were abandoned and construction was stopped.

He opened a list of unrealized grandiose projects, to which the Palace of the Soviets and the monument to Prince Vladimir were later added.

At one time, the place was occupied by workers' barracks for construction workers and abandoned brick factories, which at the beginning of the century before last were used as temporary prison walls. The transit prison became famous thanks to the activities of the philanthropist, Dr. Haas, who did many good deeds for local residents.

After the demolition of the barracks, the place was freed up for public festivities. Muscovites got here by highway or by boat along the Moscow River from the Novodevichy Convent. In those days, tables were popular among residents and were placed everywhere for relaxation and picnics. For a small fee they brought a samovar.

Here, in a picturesque place where tea was especially tasty, Krynkin’s restaurant appeared. We should tell you more about it.

A spyglass was offered with the menu

Contemporaries with great pleasure would sit today on the terrace of Krynkin’s restaurant, taste an excellent chop with lightly salted cucumber, cold vodka, fresh strawberries with whipped cream. The owner offered a telescope to the menu for an additional fee. It was the most fashionable place at the end of the 19th century, with an opening view of the capital.

It was visible from many kilometers away, had the shape of a palace and several levels. You could get to it by road by car for 3 rubles; going back was more expensive: 50 kopecks per mile. This was the most popular route. In the summer, boats traveled along the Moscow River to the restaurant. The romance of these places attracted many clients at any time of the year. And now it remains popular for newlyweds. Although the restaurant is long gone, in its place is a diving board. But his memory lives on in old photographs of the outskirts of Moscow.

The restaurant was destroyed by the revolution of the 17th year. The drinking establishment was turned into a reading room, and three years later the picture palace burned down. They wanted to build the Red Stadium on the ashes - another unrealized project of the nascent Soviet government.

The owner of this land, Stepan Vasilyevich Krynkin, did not see the sad end of his beloved brainchild; he died before the revolutionary events, leaving his sons a rich inheritance. According to rumors, one of the dispossessed sons himself burned the building so that no one would get it. Krynkin's descendants were evicted in 1951, when the village was finally demolished. Their family line still continues.

Manor Island

Vorobyovy Gory adorns private estates with a magnificent estate stretching over several thousand hectares. The oldest Mamonov dacha, where the buildings of the Russian Academy of Sciences are located. It was built in 1761, and it belonged to noble Moscow princes, but it went down in history thanks to Count Mamonov.

The territory is adjacent to St. Andrew's Monastery. The mansion was rebuilt several times: it received its majestic appearance in 1820, when it added a third floor, built for balls and receptions, and on the side - turrets for an open view. The estate area included orchards, melon and vegetable gardens, and greenhouses where delicious exotics were grown.

Among its owners was the Moscow governor. Ivan Fonvizin allowed a psychiatric hospital to be located within its walls.

During the Silver Age, the city duma bought the property, but revolutionary events made their own adjustments. The new government placed a museum of folk studies here, and after the war, only universities housed the halls. Therefore, today the estate houses the museum apartments of Nikolai Semenov and Pyotr Kapitsa, who were directors of universities: chemical physics and physical problems.

In another wing, a place was reserved for the Soviet nomenklatura: Alexei Kosygin and Mikhail Gorbachev came here. And the building itself is surrounded by a beautiful park, with rare surviving trees from tsarist times.

Lenin's mountains

In the 30s, with the light hand of Ilyich’s comrade-in-arms, People’s Commissar Krasin, a new name, a design for a monument and the Palace of Soviets were approved - all named after the leader. Posthumous architecture filled the cities and villages of the Soviet country. What came to fruition was only the Lenin Mountains, which regained their original name only in 1999.

And two years before Lenin’s death, the Sparrow Hills entered the capital’s borders, and the authorities immediately began to improve the park, build an observation deck and an avenue across the river, and after the war, in 1949, a magnificent university building, the design of which was personally approved by Stalin.

MSU took three years to build with the help of many thousands of prisoners. In the year of Stalin's death it became the highest in Europe and remained so for four decades. The building has fifty rooms, kilometers of corridors, it has 36 floors, on the 32nd there is an observation deck. Two thousand students live and study there and there is everything to receive all the services without leaving the building: shops, hairdressers, a clinic, etc.

The colorful decoration of the spire and star is the color: many people think it is gilded, but these are just plates of yellow glass coated with aluminum.

There are many legends surrounding this building. For example, about the tunnel that goes straight to Stalin’s dacha. What is this - either a secret metro line or a bunker? There are also horror stories about builders buried in the walls, who died in large numbers at a construction site, and it was easier to wall up their bodies than to give them a Christian burial. Student suicides are also associated with this terrible story from the past: they say that there are many of them among nonresidents. Diggers have repeatedly explored the underground passages under the university building and found many stalactites and empty bottles there.

But those who come here not to study, but on an excursion, see a very friendly place with a park, a rose garden and a monument to the founder of Moscow State University, Lomonosov.

Nature reserve

During perestroika and glasnost, the Lenin Mountains received the status of a specially protected natural area. Everything is located on the right bank of the Moscow River - a steep slope on which nothing can be built due to landslides and 1300 km around - remained untouched. Therefore, a natural landscape with oaks, lindens, maples, birches and unique flora and fauna was left there. This reserve is the only one closest to the center of the metropolis.

Lilies of the valley and bluebells are often found on the paths of walking excursion groups, who flock in abundance to the Vorobyovy Gory. The administration of the reserve offers you to walk along ecological trails where you can meet birds and small animals listed in the capital’s Red Book. In 2013, the reserve entered the territory of its neighbors - Gorky Park and Neskuchny Garden.

Karamzin, Lermontov, Gorky, Blok, Tchaikovsky, Kustodiev and other famous people walked here.

Leo Tolstoy mentions this place in his epic novel. Alexander Blok wrote that the view of the capital from the Sparrow Hills is much better than the view of Paris from Montmartre.

The only building located on the territory of the reserve is the former residence of Khrushchev. With the entire surrounding area of ​​2.5 hectares, it was sold to private individuals.

Sports past and present

Since the 50s, the construction of sports facilities began on Vorobyovy Gory. A ski jump and a 340-meter lift appeared.

Ski competitions were held here back in the 20s - the terrain allows it. Many Soviet jumpers trained here - champions of Europe, the world, and the Olympics.

The glorious sporting past will continue in the present. The complex is designed as an all-season facility and will help host the World Cup next year. Everything is subject to reconstruction: the cable car, the ski slope, jumps and other structures.

The cable car will double in size and stretch to Luzhniki. Its capacity will reach more than one and a half thousand people per hour.

According to the plan of the Moscow authorities, the best athletes of various sports will train at the Vorobyovy Gory Sports Complex. However, the doors will also be open for beginner skiers, snowboarders, jumpers and speed skiers.

After the completion of construction and reconstruction of a number of facilities, the place will become the main sports center in Moscow.

Around the Vorobyovy Gory there is an embankment, a highway and two entire passages with the same names - Vorobievsky. The Vorobyovy Gory metro station is unique and, like many things in this wonderful place in the capital, it breaks the record for the length of the platform - 280 meters.

It’s worth coming here and taking Chekhov’s advice - look at Moscow from here to get to know Russia.