Vorobyovy Gory is big 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.
IN late XVII century, during the reign of Princess Sophia, a new Vorobyovsky Palace was built, about 80 fathoms long (about 160 meters), 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.
October 12, 1817 on Sparrow Hills The ceremonial laying of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior took place in memory of Patriotic War 1812. 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 springboard there is ski slope and there is 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.
Sparrow Hills (formerly Lenin Hills) is a green area on the river bank, a magnificent park with alleys where you can walk and roller skate. This is an excellent observation deck in front of the Moscow State University building with the best panoramic view of Moscow in the city, a pedestrian embankment, a river station, many sports facilities, restaurants and souvenir selling points.
We leave the metro station. m. Vorobyovy Gory.
If you arrive by car, then the difficulties with parking in places where it should not be difficult will surprise you - there are numerous signs everywhere prohibiting parking in the area observation deck Sparrow Hills. You will have to either break the rules, risking that your car will be taken away by a tow truck, or stop far enough from the observation deck - the center of the route. In addition, in any case, you will park the car only where you are lucky, so in any case we will be guided to start our route from the metro.
So, we leave the subway. The exit from the metro is one of the most original in the city. The metro platform is located right inside the bridge over the Moscow River. This is both a metro bridge and pedestrian bridge, and a road bridge connecting Komsomolsky Avenue coming from the center with its continuation - Vernadsky Avenue.
The exit from the metro is located directly in the bridge body, covered with glass. Therefore, already from the metro - great view on both sides of the bridge (by the way, from passing metro trains as well). On the one hand we see the Sparrow Hills, Moscow State University and Luzhniki itself, on the other hand - the building of the Academy of Sciences, St. Andrew's Monastery and the end of the Sparrow Hills (both the park and the embankment).
We leave the bridge onto Vorobyovskaya embankment. When moving from the center, this is the direction of the first car (the beginning of the train). When looking at the Luzhniki Stadium, it's to the left.
The embankment running along the Moscow River and the park located above the embankment on both sides of the bridge - perfect place for romantic walks, for sunbathing in summer, for roller skating.
On the slope of a hill in a green area there is a monument to Herzen and Ogarev.
Down near the embankment there is a roller rink for specialized roller skating.
A high springboard with a lift reminds that Vorobyovy Gory is a sports facility, especially in winter. The springboard is also an identification mark. You can use it to navigate to the location of the observation deck. The site is located near the top of the springboard. In fact, this is the main site, but there are other sites in the park that also offer good views.
However, you will not confuse the main site with anything else. There are large numbers of people here at any time of the year. With photo and film cameras, with easels. Lots of tourists, lots of weddings. Whole rows of souvenir sellers.
We rise to the platform, crossing the springboard line. By the way, you can go up and down the mountain on the ski lift by paying for a ticket at the ticket office. Floating above the park, you can photograph the views and surroundings from the chairlift no worse than from the observation deck.
On the way from the top point of the lift to the observation deck there is a restaurant with a terrace open in the summer overlooking Moscow.
Nearby you can eat at more budget option- fast food points are located right next to the observation deck.
On the main observation deck of the Sparrow Hills we look at the panorama. Fabulous!
Directly in front of us is Moscow - the river and the huge bowl of the Luzhniki Stadium, behind it a little to the right is the Novodevichy Convent.
On the right we see the bridge where we left the metro. Immediately behind it on the shore, even further to the right, is St. Andrew's Monastery. And behind it is the tall building of the Academy of Sciences with solar panels on the roof, a little to the left of it is the Shukhov Tower.
If we turn and pay attention to the objects located on the far left, we see the skyscrapers of Moscow City, the pseudo-Stalinist high-rise Triumph Palace on Sokol, Tower 200 visible quite far away. Kutuzovsky Prospekt and high-rise buildings in the area, see Begovaya metro station.
To the right we see the Stalinist skyscraper of the Ukraine Hotel, between the nondescript factory chimneys we look very far away Ostankino TV tower. We see two more high-rise buildings - the building on Kudrinskaya Square, and even further to the right - the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Between them we can consider The White house(House of the Government of the Russian Federation), the Beijing Hotel building, book houses on Novy Arbat and other objects.
Now let's turn our attention to central part panorama located behind the stadium and the Novodevichy Convent.
It is impossible not to notice the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. To the right of it, from most points of the site (but not from all!) you can see the heart of Moscow and Russia - the Moscow Kremlin. White Kremlin cathedrals and dark red fortress towers are visible. The Bell Tower of Ivan the Great cannot be confused with anything else. Looking at the small bell tower against the backdrop of huge high-rises and skyscrapers located much further away, it is worth remembering that the Kremlin bell tower for a long time was the most tall building in Moscow.
A little to the left of the Kremlin, the dark silhouette of Peter the Great with a ship's mast is a monument to the 300th anniversary of the Russian fleet.
To the left of the Kremlin is the powerful building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - a Stalinist high-rise building. You can also look for other Stalinist skyscrapers. The third building is easy to find, to the right of the Kremlin on the bank of the Moscow River, which, of course, is not visible near the building - a high-rise building on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment.
But the other two most distant high-rise buildings - the Leningradskaya Hotel and the building at the Red Gate - are not visible very well and not from all points. They can be seen in the center of the panorama behind the Kremlin line.
Despite the fact that Stalin's buildings are much larger than ancient bell towers, they are also much inferior to modern skyscrapers. And the modern high-rise building is made in the Stalinist style; located much further away (on Sokol - North of Moscow), it is visible much better. However, this building is still not one of the six famous high-rise buildings.
The sixth building is best visible from the observation deck. However, it is not in the panorama, and in order to look at it you just need to look back. And you will see the excellent knowledge of Moscow State University in all its glory. We'll go to him.
Another modern building - a tower with a plate on the roof, the building of the Swissotel Red Hills hotel on Paveletskaya also attracts attention.
A powerful bayonet - the central monument of Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill at the far left point of view is not visible from every point and can be obscured by trees. Even from this angle, where the panorama goes far to the left, it is not visible.
In the panorama you can see many more interesting buildings, but this is the subject of more detailed study.
Let's go to the church, located next to the Vorobyovy Gory observation deck. Church of the Holy Trinity. It is believed that it was here that Kutuzov prayed before deciding to leave Moscow. And now in front of it is a gathering place for bikers and a regular free exhibition of the most expensive and varied motorcycles.
A little down the hill from the church is a memorial stone that speaks of the merits of the Moscow City Hall.
Let’s also look back at the slope of the Sparrow Hills. Tsar Alexander originally wanted to build the Cathedral of Christ the Savior here after his victory over Napoleon and his ceremonial entry into Paris on a white horse. However, the hillside is dangerous because... slides down into the river and large construction is undesirable here. Even the almighty Stalin had to change plans for the construction of the massive Moscow State University and move it away from the slope. But initially they also wanted to build it here.
After all, there is simply no more majestic hill in Moscow.
It was from here that the Master and Margarita took off on their farewell flight in Bulgakov’s novel; on the slope of the Sparrow Hills the Master said goodbye to Moscow.
The observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory is perhaps the most famous observation deck from where you can look at the panorama of the capital. This is what many guests of the city do and the residents of Moscow do not lag behind - the views from here are truly worthy of attention. Especially when you know where and what to look at, all the most iconic points of the city emerge into a whole exciting story.
The site is part sightseeing tour around the city, a favorite place for wedding photographers, a walking alley for students of Moscow University (whose main building is very close), mothers with strollers, romantic couples and even a long-standing meeting place for bikers.
The Sparrow Hills (in Soviet times they were called Lenin Hills for a long time, and only in 1999 the historical name returned) is considered to be the right side of the Moscow River in the southwest of the city. Geographically, this area is located quite high (it is considered one of the seven hills on which, as you know, Moscow stands). winding river washes away the high hilly bank, nourishes the beautiful forest around, which makes this place one of the most picturesque areas of the city.
The observation deck was designed during the construction of the university complex and was built together with it from 1949 to 1953. The project was led by Vitaly Ivanovich Dolganov, a famous Soviet architect who took an active part in the landscaping of Moscow and the creation of the city's landscape and park culture.
Muscovites love this place on major holidays, when fireworks roar over the city. On the Sparrow Hills there is a “mission control center” - the main headquarters, from where all fireworks in the city are commanded. Here you can clearly see not only the “local” fireworks, but also a multidimensional picture when you simultaneously watch fireworks throughout the city. Photographers and videographers come here for this opportunity.
In recent years, the observation deck has become even more comfortable than before. Coffee shops on wheels and snack machines appeared. The site is beautifully lit at night. The territory is patrolled by police, but do not turn off your vigilance - the multimillion-dollar city attracts a variety of “characters”.
Attractions
It makes sense to go to Vorobyovy Gory for at least two reasons: to see the sights of Moscow from a flying height and to relax in nature.
Cable car on Vorobyovy Gory
From the observation deck you can clearly see several embankments - Novodevichy and Berezhkovskaya, Vorobyovskaya and Luzhnetskaya, and the bridges connecting them.
Directly behind the stadium, the multi-colored domes of St. Basil's Cathedral stand out, part of the bell towers of the Kremlin, and the power of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior are visible. Here you can also see another landmark of modern Moscow - the huge figure of Peter I, installed on the Red October Spit, a very odious work by Zurab Tsereteli. Right there in the gap is the third “Stalinist skyscraper” - near the Red Gate, and the famous medical University named after Sechenov.
If you move from the central part of the panorama to the right, you can immediately see the fourth “high-rise” - the house on Kotelnicheskaya, the oldest residential complex on the embankment, living in which in the middle of the last century was a sign of special elitism. The house is familiar to many - it played an important role in the popular Soviet film “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears.”
If you move your gaze further, it is difficult to miss the Shukhov TV Tower - an engineering project of incredible courage and implementation, created in the 20s of the last century. At the moment, the tower is practically not used for its intended purpose and is left as a historical monument.
Even further to the right you can find in the panorama the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences - a 22-story high-rise building built in the 1990s.
In a word, it’s difficult to even name another place other than the observation deck on Sparrow Hills, from where you can see so many of the capital’s attractions at once and understand how they relate to each other.
Panoramic view of Moscow from the observation deck on Sparrow Hills - Google Maps
Sights of Sparrow Hills
If you get to the observation deck, be sure to take a look interesting places around. First of all, of course, the territory of the Moscow state university- is still the main stronghold of science and classical education in Russia. The main building of Moscow State University (it’s hard to miss, it dominates the entire space around) has its own observation deck. The site is located at an altitude of 200 meters (24th floor). True, you won’t be able to get there for free - access is only allowed as part of an excursion group.
For nature lovers, the territory of the Sparrow Hills is almost ideal: there is a botanical garden of Moscow University, the Moscow River embankment, Andreevsky Pond, many pleasant paths and routes: no matter which direction you go, there is great walking everywhere.
How to get to the observation deck
The landmark for getting to the Vorobyovy Gory observation deck can be considered Kosygina Street. Entrance to the site is absolutely free from anywhere on the street - free of charge and around the clock. Even binoculars here that provide 15x magnification are available completely free of charge, which is a rarity these days.
View of the observation deck from Kosygina Street - panorama Yandex Maps
How to get there
The main landmark for the observation deck is the main building of Moscow State University (this is University Square). There is very little walking directly around the University. public transport. A trolleybus (route No. T7), which runs along Kosygina Street, can take you directly to the place. You can get off at the “Observation Deck” or “University Square” stops. Bus number 111 also stops on the square near the main building of Moscow State University. From here you will need to walk about 500 meters to the observation deck. For more details, see the Mosgortrans company website.
A funicular will soon open on Vorobyovy Gory, which will take you up from the embankment. It will start from the Luzhniki Arena and include 3 stations (one on the left bank, one on the right, and one at the top).
Trolleybus stop near the observation deck - Yandex Maps panorama
Metro to Vorobyovy Gory
The most guaranteed way to travel around Moscow (from the point of view of calculating travel time) is the metro. The Vorobyovy Gory observation deck is located near the Sokolnicheskaya Line metro station of the same name. When leaving the metro, follow the signs - you need to exit towards the embankment.
From the metro to the observation deck it is about 1.5 kilometers - you can easily walk there. It is more convenient to do this not along the main road, but to take a “shortcut” by walking along an eco-trail. It's difficult to get lost here - there are signs along the road.
Coordinates of the observation deck for the navigator: 55.709315, 37.542163.
You can also get to the observation deck on Sparrow Hills by taxi. There are plenty of opportunities for this in the capital. There are mobile applications for calling a taxi, such as Yandex. Taxi, Uber, Gett, Maxim, Rutaxi. Also, if you drive, you can use the car sharing system (car rental service) - Delimobil, Anytime, YouDrive and others.
Video: Sparrow Hills from above (drone filming), review
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. Capture panoramic view from this point it is not only a photographers dream. 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 Stalin's 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 from 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, 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 the reigning persons 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 observation deck 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.
The menu included a spyglass
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. Along with the menu, the owner offered those who wanted a telescope 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 are located Russian Academy Sci. 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 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. Her throughput will reach more than one and a half thousand people in an hour.
According to the plan of the Moscow authorities, the best athletes of the most different types sports However, the doors will also be open for beginner skiers, snowboarders, jumpers and speed ski enthusiasts.
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.
From time immemorial, Vorobyovy Gory has been a favorite vacation spot for Muscovites - both ordinary citizens of the Soviet era and the princes and tsars of pre-revolutionary Moscow. Current times are no exception. A favorite vacation spot for city residents and guests of the Russian capital is Vorobyovy Gory, the address of which is not necessary to know exactly. The Moscow River and Moscow State University will serve as landmarks.
From the village of Vorobyovo
On the banks of the Moscow River back in the 14th century there was the village of Vorobyovo, which was owned by the Vorobyovo boyars. Then Princess Sofya Vitovtovna bought it and gave it to her grandson Yuri Vasilyevich, Prince Dmitrovsky, from whom it passed to Prince Ivan the Third of Moscow.
In 1949, construction of a new building of Moscow State University began here. It was completed in 1953. The village did not fit into the new environment of the Sparrow Hills, and it was soon demolished. Only the Trinity Church, built in the 14th century, has survived. True, then it was wooden. In 1811, a stone temple was erected in its place, which has survived to this day. By the way, in Soviet times the Sparrow Hills were called Lenin Hills.
On a high steep bank
It’s difficult to even call Vorobyovy Gory mountains. Their maximum height is 220 meters. Rather, it is a high, washed-out river bank. It would be more accurate to consider them one of the seven hills on which Moscow is located.
From the mouth of the Setun, the Vorobyovy Gory stretches to the St. Andrew's Bridge. They are covered with forest and cut by ravines. The forest zone of the Sparrow Hills wonderfully combines natural nature and amenities for the recreation of city residents.
When the construction of Moscow State University was completed, an observation deck was built on the steep bank of the river, from where a wonderful view of the city opens.
Vorobyovy Gory: how to get there by metro
There is nothing complicated about this, if only because Vorobyovy Gory is located relatively close to the center of the capital.
The most convenient way is to use the services of the Moscow Metro, or rather its red line. In the center of Moscow you can take any of the stations: “Lenin Library” (not far from the Kremlin) or “ Okhotny Ryad"(next to Red Square). From the latter, in 13 minutes the train will arrive at the Vorobyovy Gory station. How to get there by metro, the question is now clear. It remains to add that the station is located inside the bridge over the Moscow River. You need to go to Kosygina Street. Already at the exit, a panorama of the Sparrow Hills will open in front of you. The walk will take another twenty minutes.
Subway alternative
The metro is not the only way to visit Vorobyovy Gory. How to get there by other routes? Of course, the easiest way is to go by car, and even use a navigator. You can take the Church of the Holy Trinity as your destination, which will lead to the Sparrow Hills. Address: st. Kosygina, 30.
You can also go by trolleybus. Route No. 7 will take you directly to the observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory. You can board the trolleybus at Kievsky railway station, but in general it goes to the Sparrow Hills from Victory Park. The final stop is Kaluzhskaya Square. However, the journey will take a long time given the traffic intensity in Moscow, and there is no separate lane for public transport on Kutuzovsky Prospekt.
So there is no better way to see Sparrow Hills than by metro!
Walking route
You can start your walk from the Moscow State University building. Heading along the Alley of Scientists, you can walk straight to the observation deck. From here you can enjoy a picturesque view of the river, Luzhniki Stadium and the domes and skyscrapers of the Russian capital.
A walk along the river will also be a pleasure - there is a good pedestrian area. However, you can go rollerblading and cycling.
If you go deeper into the park area, you can come across decorative ponds, lawns and even natural swamps. The trees are dominated by birch, linden, and alder; there are many different plants and birds sing.
To return back to the observation deck, you can use the cable car. It works all year round. After all, Vorobyovy Gory is popular even in winter. The address, how to get there, fans of winter sports are well aware of this information. After all, there is ski slope, springboard, you can go skiing and sledding.
Temple on Sparrow Hills
This is one of the oldest and has a rich history. And the main thing is that this story has been preserved for posterity.
At first the temple was wooden. It is known that when the village of Vorobyovo was bought by Sofya Vitovtovna in the 15th century, it already existed.
When the temple became completely dilapidated, it was dismantled. A stone temple was built according to the design of the architect Vitberg. In 1811, a monument topped with a cross was erected on the site of the old one.
There is information that Kutuzov prayed in this church in 1812, before the famous council in Fili.
It is also noteworthy that during the years of Soviet power, the Trinity Church not only was not destroyed, but even services continued in it and the bells rang.
Now a temple Life-Giving Trinity It has three chapels and services are constantly held there.
St. Andrew's Monastery
The buildings are best seen from the observation deck of the Sparrow Hills, because it is located at their foot.
There are disagreements about the time of foundation of the monastery, which was then called the Preobrazhenskaya Hermitage. However, this is still an old establishment, be it the 13th or 14th century.
During the Soviet years, the monastery buildings were used as a research institute. In 1992 they were finally returned to the church. True, they were never used for their original purpose.
On its territory, three churches are of interest: the Resurrection of Christ, the Apostle and Martyr Andrew Stratilates. Since 1991, they have formed the Patriarchal Metochion, since 2013 - this is the St. Andrew's Monastery.
Pier "Sparrow Hills"
After walking around the park, you can go down to the embankment and take a boat ride on the Moscow River. The Vorobyovy Gory pier is located on the embankment. How to get there from the city center? Just like the Sparrow Hills themselves. Best by metro. From the station of the same name, the walk to the cable car will take no more than 10 minutes.
In the warm season, river buses run from the Vorobyovy Gory pier, and a walk on them is a great pleasure. The route passes through the center of Moscow with a turn at Kotelnicheskaya embankment and a return arrival at Vorobyovy Gory.
The routes of boat trips are very diverse. They provide a good opportunity to see Moscow from a different perspective and take wonderful photographs of the Kremlin, Novodevichy and Novospassky monasteries and other sights of Moscow.
To the Neskuchny Garden
Several years ago, the Vorobyovy Gory reserve was annexed to culture and recreation named after. Gorky and Neskuchny Garden. The latter is the one that has been preserved from several noble estates that belonged to the Golitsyns, Orlovs and Trubetskoys. Together, all the parks form a single complex.
Neskuchny Garden has preserved many architectural monuments. Interesting are the house of Count Orlov (1796), the Stone Gazebo, a house with a rotunda near the Elizabeth Pond, as well as various bridges over ravines, for example, a stone arched bridge of three spans.
You can get to Neskuchny Garden by first visiting Vorobyovy Gory. How to get there directly by metro? The nearest station is Oktyabrskaya-Koltsevaya. You can walk from it or take a trolleybus.
A walk through the Neskuchny Garden, as well as through the Sparrow Hills, will bring real pleasure and bring indelible impressions.
So, the destination of the trip is Moscow, Vorobyovy Gory. How to get there? The landmark is the southwestern part of the center of the Russian capital. Enjoy your trip everyone!
