Cathedral of Christ the Savior
#4 in Best Things To Do in Moscow
Price & Hours
Details
scorecard
- 5.0Value
- 0.0Food Scene
- 4.5Atmosphere
The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is located along the bank of the Moscow River and only a few blocks away from the Kremlin. Tourists come to the cathedral for its impressive architecture and design, as well as for its equally impressive (and strange) history.
The cathedral was originally built to commemorate the Russian victory over Napoleon in 1812 and to honor the soldiers who gave their lives fighting him. Then in 1931, Stalin had the structure dynamited to make room for his Palace of the Soviets project -- an ambitious skyscraper (it would have been the tallest structure in the world) that never materialized. Instead, the site was transformed in 1958 into the Moscow Pool, one of the largest public swimming pools in the world. The pool closed in 1994 and the cathedral was rebuilt in its place in 1997.
The new and improved cathedral features a lavish interior and well-manicured grounds. One TripAdvisor user says, "After the hustle and bustle of the Kremlin, it was great to arrive at the gardens around this cathedral. The grounds are very well maintained and on a sunny and warm day an excellent place to go for a bit of a rest."
You can visit anytime from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. -- it's easily accessible from the Kropotkinskaya metro station. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is an active church, so take care to be respectful of worshipers.
- A chronicle of Russian military victories is engraved on the marble panels leading to the main hall. Set aside about an hour to see the cathedral." -- Frommer's
More Best Things To Do in Moscow
#1 Red Square
One of the world's most famous public squares, the Red Square sits at the physical center of Moscow and is considered the symbolic center of all of Russia. Bluntly speaking, Red Square is a must-see in the city. Allot a decent amount of time to take in the views, capture them on your camera and to just soak in the atmosphere of the place.
You'll find the Red Square is bordered by the massive GUM shopping mall on the east, St. Basil's Cathedral on the south, the State Historical Museum on the north and Lenin's Mausoleum on the west.
One of the world's most famous public squares, the Red Square sits at the physical center of Moscow and is considered the symbolic center of all of Russia. Bluntly speaking, Red Square is a must-see in the city. Allot a decent amount of time to take in the views, capture them on your camera and to just soak in the atmosphere of the place.
You'll find the Red Square is bordered by the massive GUM shopping mall on the east, St. Basil's Cathedral on the south, the State Historical Museum on the north and Lenin's Mausoleum on the west.
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