I’ve at all times been intrigued by communist structure. The Moscow Metro is a nice instance which I needed to go to for a very long time. I visited Moscow already a number of occasions however by no means discovered the time for it. This yr I visited Moscow for the 5th time and eventually I had time throughout a wet afternoon to see the gorgeous stations of the Moscow Metro.
These stations are all positioned on the interior ring line (Koltsevaya Line) with two exceptions that are positioned inside this circle. My Russian enterprise associate picked me up on the Marriott Resort Novy Arbat the place I stayed and he confirmed me across the Moscow Metro. I’ll take you to the next stations (see photograph) however first I’ll give a brief historical past lesson on the Moscow Metro.
Moscow Metro Historical past
The plans for a Moscow Metro system date again over a century however have been solely realized in 1935 with one line and 13 stations. When the metro opened in 1935 this was a victory for socialism and extensively celebrated. I have to say after having visited the Pyongyang Metro in North Korea there are some similarities as they each date from communist occasions. It’s constructed through the years right into a system of radiating traces from the middle to the suburbs with circle traces connecting these. There at the moment are 15 traces in case you depend the brand new opened heart line too and 244 stations. All these new stations are simply new boring stations however the previous stations of the middle line are these which are stuffed with paintings.
Probably the most lovely stations are constructed previous to 1950 after which most stations look extra the identical and inbuilt a extra easy model. All stations are constructed with columns on either side with within the heart an open space. In current expansions, there are stations with out columns however these of the primary levels of growth all have columns or pylons. The primary constructing supplies for the Moscow Metro at the moment have been concrete for the fundamental construction or typically metal. They have been completed with plaster, tiles, marbles and naturally the artwork work. See the gallery for the stations!
Roundtrip Moscow Metro
I began the journey on the Novoslobodskaya, a part of the Koltsevaya Line (ring line), my favourite station as you’ll be able to see beneath. The following station is Prospekt Mira which has lovely marbles and ceramic reliefs with subjects from the agricultural growth within the Soviet Union. Subsequent station: Komsomolskaya with its yellow ceiling and mosaics depicting historic pictures of the battle in Russia for freedom and independence. Subsequent up is Kurskaya which is a station from 1950 and is, as stated earlier than, very merely and primarily adorned with marbles.
The next station known as Taganskaya has lovely blue majolica panels adorned with conventional Russian ornaments. Paveletskaya station is subsequent and is once more easy in design however adorned with extra totally different coloured marbles as Kurskaya. Dobryninskaya can also be of later date and impressed on the colours of the Russian orthodox church buildings; I preferred right here the zig-zag ceiling lighting. Oktyabrskaya additionally opened in 1950 and is made up of various colours of marbles however between the pylons are reliefs of medallions of Russian troopers. Park Kultury is the following station on the ring highway and can also be a part of the fourth growth just like the three stations earlier than however based mostly on historical Greek designs. Between the pylons are lovely reliefs of sport and leisure themes.
Kiyevskaya station is positioned beneath the Kiyevsky Rail Terminal and is inbuilt an Artwork Nouveau model and has between the pylons mosaics depicting the unity of Russia and Ukraine. Subsequent station: Krasnopresnenskaya which is a station adorned with granite and marbles with bas-reliefs of the Russian Revolutions of 1905 and 1917. Belorusskaya comes subsequent and is, because the title says associated to Belarus. You will notice lovely mosaics of the each day lifetime of Belarusians. The ceiling is outstanding with lovely plaster work. Lets go to the following station. Guess the place we find yourself? Sure, again at Novoslobodskay!
My favourite station of the Moscow Metro
My favourite station is Novoslobodskaya as a result of I simply love the stained-glass paintings at this station. In whole the station has 36 stained-glass home windows that are lid up from throughout the pillars. The station is constructed to resemble a crypt. You’ll be able to see three of the home windows within the photograph beneath and within the image on the prime of this web page you’ll be able to see the mosaic on the finish of the station. This mosaic is known as “Peace All through the World”. What’s your favourite station in Moscow? Let me know within the feedback beneath.
I loved travelling the Moscow Metro for a number of hours. Many of the ring circle stations are a chunk of artwork value trying out. The Moscow Metro was one of many final issues I needed to discover in Moscow as I already explored most different locations of curiosity. For instance: Kolomenskoye, Novodevichy, Pink Sq. & Kremlin, I did some city exploring within the Hovrinskaya Hospital and a day journey to Sergiev Posad. I’ll return to Moscow once more and I’m positive I discover new issues to discover!
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Did you go to the Moscow Metro too or do you’ve got questions? Please go away a remark on the backside of the web page. Love to listen to from you!
Gallery Moscow Metro
Click on a picture for a full display screen gallery of extra pictures taken throughout this journey. In the event you like to make use of any photograph for industrial, non-public or editorial use please contact first for permission and/or pricing.