Top 10 interesting facts about Moscow

The main city of Russia – Moscow – is a must-see 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 importance 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 are building plans, families and careers here, and this number is increasing every year.

We have found 10 most interesting facts about Moscow that cover both its history and modernity.

10 Two versions of the origin of the name of the capital

Historians have been occupied with the origin of the name “Moscow” for so long, because they were trying to understand which people were the first to master 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 assure that it is no coincidence that in the Old Slavonic language “mosk” means flint and root “forge” hiding matters. Allegedly, the city was considered a stone shelter and named accordingly, after which this name was transferred 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 that way, which the Slavs later evicted to the north. In this case, linguists translate the name as “bear by the water. According to another hypothesis, the Slavs themselves came up with a name for the settlement, starting from the meaning “raw” и “wet”. Be that as it may, there is an indication of proximity to water in both interpretations.

9. The walls of the Kremlin were originally white

This red brick wall is now familiar to any tourist in Russia, but until the 19th century, the fortress was dazzling white. The Kremlin was whitewashed for almost 4 centuries, not only out of respect for Dmitry Donskoy, in which the wooden structure was just rebuilt, but also to preserve and extend the life of the brick. Such an image of the Moscow Kremlin was recorded in many sources.

The fortress is still being painted – only in brick color to maintain its richness and brightness.

8. Moscow burned a huge number of times

Fires in the capital are a sore subject for its residents. During its history, the fire “devoured” the city 58 times: about 15 fires destroyed the capital by half or almost completely.

Such a mass character 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 spread further very quickly. It is curious that the city did not immediately acquire cobblestone pavements, and boardwalks led to the fact that during fires people literally burned “the ground under their feet”.

The most famous fire dates back to 1812, when more than 6 people died overnight in a fire. 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 enigmatic places in the capital. Back in the 11th century, sacrifices and rituals were performed here by the ancient Vyatichi people, who bequeathed to no one to disturb their ashes under fear of a curse.

The wife of Vasily III did not find happiness here – having heard about the miraculous power of mud springs, she decided to come here so that later she would give birth to a healthy son to her wife. But during her absence, the monarch fell in love with another and exiled his ex-wife to a monastery. The woman cursed both his new family and the place that gave her a son, but took her husband away.

6. The Moscow metro is one of the deepest and most beautiful in the world

The 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. In the country, this is the second deepest station after the “Admiralteyskaya” in St. Petersburg, and in the world it is one of the five.

In addition, one cannot fail to note the luxurious decoration of some stations, which makes the metropolitan “subway” almost a tourist attraction.

5. Kremlin “camouflage” 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 be difficult for the enemy to bomb such a prominent building. That is why with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War in 1941, the Kremlin, like many other ancient buildings, was cleverly disguised.

Externally, the fortress looked like an ordinary house, the roofs were painted over, the gilded domes were not visible because of the dark paint, and the covers hid the stars on the towers. Windows and doors were painted on the walls, and the gabled battlements were turned into an imitation of sloping roofs using plywood. In addition, the architects imitated entire highways and streets – at least that’s how it seemed from the air.

Efforts have paid off – the Kremlin was not destroyed during the war. But in case the capital was surrendered to the Germans, a whole plan was provided for mining the complex.

4. The Kremlin is now the largest active fortress in Europe.

Today, the heart of the capital is The Kremlin is 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 a mark of 80 meters.

Of course, there were more buildings in Europe, but they have not been preserved, unlike the Moscow Kremlin, which still performs its functions.

3. The Moscow Kremlin is one of the largest museums in the world

Since its foundation, the Kremlin has served as a fortress for protection. Over the years, from an obstacle in the path of the enemy, it has turned into a beautiful architectural ensemble, which they still try to keep 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 at once, which makes it one of the largest museums in the world.

Those who are interested in architecture can be found in the Patriarchal Chambers of the Kremlin, and the magnificent exhibits of the Armory 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. Sights of Moscow in the UNESCO list

The UNESCO list combines attractions that are recognized as the heritage of mankind. In this way, experts help cultural and natural objects not to suffer from the hands of people and not fall victim to new development. In Russia, 25 places are included in this list, and 4 of them are located 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 every year, the Novodevichy Convent and the Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye.

1. The most populous city in Russia

The population of Moscow is comparable to the population of some countries and amounts to 12 million people. Moreover, it is constantly growing. For comparison, no more than 9 million live in London.

Of course, the Russian city is far from the Asian megacities with their astronomical population figures, but experts say that in fact there are many times more people in Moscow. After all, 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 sources, is inexorably striving for the mark of 15 million.