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The Russia hotel

The Russia hotel, Moscow, 1980
The Russia hotel, Moscow, 1980
Varvarka street, Moscow, 2010
Varvarka street, Moscow, 2010
Both pictures were taken in the historical center of Moscow. This is Varvarka street, the ancient road leading to Red Square. In front of us is the 17th century church of St George with its bell tower, constructed in the 18th century.  But what is the grey gigantic building behind?

In the old picture we see the building of the former biggest hotel in Europe – the hotel "Russia". It was built in 1964 -1969 by the architect Dmitry Chechulin.

During the 1930—1940s this old district of Moscow was reconstructed several times. The old churches, streets and synagogues (this area used to be the hub of Moscow Jewish community) was completely demolished. The Soviet government was initially planning to construct the House of Industry but later in 1947 Moscow the architect D. Chechulin started the construction of an Administrative Building, which would have been the eighth of what is now known as the Seven Sisters. In 1953 Stalin died and the building construction was frozen. A few years later the same architect suggested to raise a hotel on the same site.

The Russia hotel boasted 3182 rooms and could accommodate 5300 guests.  In the 70s the Russia Hotel was registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest hotel in the world (in 1993 it was surpassed by MGM Grand in Las Vegas). It remained the largest hotel in Europe until its 2006 closure.

During the Soviet times Russia Hotel was extremely popular. The interiors of the hotel were shot in many movies. For all years of work Russia Hotel accommodated more than ten millions people. It even had some famous guests - Mikhail Gorbachev, George Bush senior, Mike Tyson.

The building seemed very modern in the time of its construction, but unfortunately it didn't fit into the surrounding architectural ensemble. More over it blocked the view on the Red Square and the Kremlin. With time it received was more and more criticism. In 2006 Russia Hotel was closed, in March of the same year the dismantling of the building started.

During the demolition of the building an unusual discovery was made. The diggers bumped into an undegroud  system of tunnels and  halls that could accomodate a large number of people. This secret bunker most probably was connected to the Kremlin and was built in the middle of the 20th century. But the officials prefer not to talk about it.

There were ambitious plans to construct a multifunctional complex of hotels, shops, entertainment facilities. But due to economic crises the project was frosen. At the moment there's a vast sandlot on this site. We invite you to come to Varvarka street during your Moscow tours and have a look at this unusual scenery.

 

Bridge The Time Gap

The construction of Moscow State University. Moscow, 1951-52. source: www.oldmos.ru
The construction of Moscow State University. Moscow, 1951-52. source: www.oldmos.ru
Moscow state University.  Moscow, 2009
Moscow state University. Moscow, 2009
Red Square Moscow, 1987
Red Square Moscow, 1987
Red Square Moscow, 2009
Red Square Moscow, 2009
Fedor Alexeev. Red Square. Moscow, 19th century
Fedor Alexeev. Red Square. Moscow, 19th century
Red Square Moscow, 21st century
Red Square Moscow, 21st century
Christ the Savior Catherdal, Moscow, the end of the 19th century
Christ the Savior Catherdal, Moscow, the end of the 19th century
Christ the Svior Cathedral, Moscow, 2009
Christ the Svior Cathedral, Moscow, 2009
The church of the iceon of  Mother of God of Kazan. Moscow 1900s.
The church of the iceon of Mother of God of Kazan. Moscow 1900s.
Kaluzhskaya square.  Moscow 2009
Kaluzhskaya square. Moscow 2009
Rumantsev museum (former Pashkov house). Moscow traffic, 1902
Rumantsev museum (former Pashkov house). Moscow traffic, 1902
Pashkov house. Moscow traffic, 2009
Pashkov house. Moscow traffic, 2009
Red Square, Moscow, 1937. sourse: www.oldmos.ru
Red Square, Moscow, 1937. sourse: www.oldmos.ru
Red Square, Moscow, 2009
Red Square, Moscow, 2009
F.Alexeev. The view on the Resurrection Gates. Moscow, 1811.
F.Alexeev. The view on the Resurrection Gates. Moscow, 1811.
The Resurrection gates and  the History museum. Moscow, 2009
The Resurrection gates and the History museum. Moscow, 2009
Moscva swimming pool. Moscow, 1960-s
Moscva swimming pool. Moscow, 1960-s
Christ the Savior Cathedral. Moscow, 2009
Christ the Savior Cathedral. Moscow, 2009
Gogol's sculpture by Andreev on Preshistensky bulvar. Moscow, 1909
Gogol's sculpture by Andreev on Preshistensky bulvar. Moscow, 1909
Gogol's sculpture by Tomsky on Gogolevsky bulvar. Moscow, 2009
Gogol's sculpture by Tomsky on Gogolevsky bulvar. Moscow, 2009
Market on Red Square, Moscow, 1910 source: www.oldmos.ru
Market on Red Square, Moscow, 1910 source: www.oldmos.ru
Gift market near Red Square, Moscow, 2009
Gift market near Red Square, Moscow, 2009
Red Square, Moscow, 1900
Red Square, Moscow, 1900
Red Square, Moscow, 2010
Red Square, Moscow, 2010
National hotel, Moscow, 1895
National hotel, Moscow, 1895
National hotel, Moscow, 2009
National hotel, Moscow, 2009
Church of St. John the Warrior, Moscow, 1888   source:oldmos.ru
Church of St. John the Warrior, Moscow, 1888 source:oldmos.ru
Church of St. John the Warrior, Moscow, 2010
Church of St. John the Warrior, Moscow, 2010
The church of Saint Nicholas, Moscow, 1974
The church of Saint Nicholas, Moscow, 1974
The church of Saint Nicholas, Moscow, 2010
The church of Saint Nicholas, Moscow, 2010
Kitay-gorod wall, Varvarka gates, Moscow, 1920
Kitay-gorod wall, Varvarka gates, Moscow, 1920
Beginning of Varvarka street, Moscow, 2010
Beginning of Varvarka street, Moscow, 2010
The Trinity Church in Nikitniki, Moscow, 1881
The Trinity Church in Nikitniki, Moscow, 1881
The Trinity Church in Nikitniki, Moscow, 2010
The Trinity Church in Nikitniki, Moscow, 2010
Malaya Dmitrovka street, Moscow, 1910
Malaya Dmitrovka street, Moscow, 1910
Malaya Dmitrovka street, Moscow, 2010
Malaya Dmitrovka street, Moscow, 2010
Eliseevsky grocery story, photo early XX century
Eliseevsky grocery story, photo early XX century
Eliseevsky grocery nowadays
Eliseevsky grocery nowadays
The house of governor-general, Moscow, beginning of the 20th century
The house of governor-general, Moscow, beginning of the 20th century
Moscow Mayor's office, Moscow, 2010
Moscow Mayor's office, Moscow, 2010
The synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya, Moscow, 1888
The synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya, Moscow, 1888
The synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya, Moscow, 2010
The synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya, Moscow, 2010
Arbatskaya square, Moscow, 1925
Arbatskaya square, Moscow, 1925
Arbatskaya square, Moscow, 2010
Arbatskaya square, Moscow, 2010
The view on the Kremlin, Moscow, 1890s
The view on the Kremlin, Moscow, 1890s
The view on the Kremlin, Moscow, 2010
The view on the Kremlin, Moscow, 2010
Kuznetsky most street, Moscow, 1900
Kuznetsky most street, Moscow, 1900
Kuznetsky most street, Moscow, 2010
Kuznetsky most street, Moscow, 2010
Tretyakov drive, Moscow, 1900
Tretyakov drive, Moscow, 1900
Tretyakov Drive, Moscow, 2010
Tretyakov Drive, Moscow, 2010
Lubanskaya squre, Moscow, 1928
Lubanskaya squre, Moscow, 1928
Lubanskaya squre, Moscow, 2010
Lubanskaya squre, Moscow, 2010
Dzerzhinsky monument, Moscow, 1971
Dzerzhinsky monument, Moscow, 1971
Lubanskaya squre, Moscow, 2010
Lubanskaya squre, Moscow, 2010
Moscow University and Church of St Tatyana, Moscow, 1906
Moscow University and Church of St Tatyana, Moscow, 1906
Moscow University and Church of St Tatyana, Moscow, 2010
Moscow University and Church of St Tatyana, Moscow, 2010
General Post offfice, Moscow, early 20th century
General Post offfice, Moscow, early 20th century
General Post offfice, Moscow, 2010
General Post offfice, Moscow, 2010
Perlov Tea House, photographed in the 1960th
Perlov Tea House, photographed in the 1960th
Perlov tea house, photographed in 2010
Perlov tea house, photographed in 2010
Sukhareva Tower
Sukhareva Tower
Sretenka Street
Sretenka Street
The Sofia Embankment, Moscow, 1957    source: oldmos.ru
The Sofia Embankment, Moscow, 1957 source: oldmos.ru
The Sofia Embankment, Moscow, 2010
The Sofia Embankment, Moscow, 2010
Moscow Zoo, Moscow, 1934
Moscow Zoo, Moscow, 1934
Moscow Zoo, Moscow, 2010
Moscow Zoo, Moscow, 2010
Moscow tram, Moscow, 1933. source: oldmos.ru
Moscow tram, Moscow, 1933. source: oldmos.ru
Moscow tram, Moscow, 2010
Moscow tram, Moscow, 2010
Limonade machines, Moscow 1989
Limonade machines, Moscow 1989
Coca cola kiosk, Moscow, 2010
Coca cola kiosk, Moscow, 2010
M. Vorobjov. The view of Manege, Kutafia tower and the church of St. Nickolas, Moscow, 1917
M. Vorobjov. The view of Manege, Kutafia tower and the church of St. Nickolas, Moscow, 1917
Manege, Kutafia and Trinity towers, Moscow, 2010
Manege, Kutafia and Trinity towers, Moscow, 2010
Red Square, Moscow, 1872
Red Square, Moscow, 1872
Red Square, Moscow, 2010
Red Square, Moscow, 2010
Nikolaevsky train station,
Nikolaevsky train station,
Leningradsky train station
Leningradsky train station
Yaroslavsky train station, postcard
Yaroslavsky train station, postcard
Yaroslavsky train station, photograph, 2010
Yaroslavsky train station, photograph, 2010
Yaroslavsky train station before 1902
Yaroslavsky train station before 1902
Yaroslavsky train station,2010
Yaroslavsky train station,2010
Tsaritsino, The Grand Palace, Moscow, 1990s
Tsaritsino, The Grand Palace, Moscow, 1990s
Tsaritsino, The Grand Palace, Moscow, 2008
Tsaritsino, The Grand Palace, Moscow, 2008
Alexey Mikhailovich palace, engraving
Alexey Mikhailovich palace, engraving
Alexey Mikhailovich palace, photo 2010
Alexey Mikhailovich palace, photo 2010
Petrovsky palace, Moscow, 1910
Petrovsky palace, Moscow, 1910
Petrovsky palace, Moscow, 2010
Petrovsky palace, Moscow, 2010
Wine and Salt Court, photographed in early 1900
Wine and Salt Court, photographed in early 1900
House on the embankment, 2000
House on the embankment, 2000
Nobility's Assembly Rooms, Moscow, 1895-1903
Nobility's Assembly Rooms, Moscow, 1895-1903
House of the Unions, Moscow, 2008
House of the Unions, Moscow, 2008
Ascention convent, Moscow 1890-1900
Ascention convent, Moscow 1890-1900
Administration of the president, 2000
Administration of the president, 2000
Red Gates, Moscow, 1920s
Red Gates, Moscow, 1920s
Garden ring, Moscow, 2010
Garden ring, Moscow, 2010
Salmanovsky circus, Moscow 1900
Salmanovsky circus, Moscow 1900
Moscow Nkulin circus, Moscow, 2010
Moscow Nkulin circus, Moscow, 2010
'The Thought' by Mercurov on Tsvetnoy bulvar, Moscow, 1926
'The Thought' by Mercurov on Tsvetnoy bulvar, Moscow, 1926
'St George' obelisk onTsvetnoy bulvar, Moscow, 2010
'St George' obelisk onTsvetnoy bulvar, Moscow, 2010
Moscow city hall, Moscow, early 20th century
Moscow city hall, Moscow, early 20th century
Moscow History museum, Moscow, 2010
Moscow History museum, Moscow, 2010
The Moskva Hotel, photographed in 1970-80s
The Moskva Hotel, photographed in 1970-80s
The Moskva Hotel, photographed in 2010
The Moskva Hotel, photographed in 2010
Ilinka gates, Moscow 1910s
Ilinka gates, Moscow 1910s
Ilinka gates square, Moscow, 2009
Ilinka gates square, Moscow, 2009
Okhotny Ryad, Moscow, 1931
Okhotny Ryad, Moscow, 1931
Okhotny Ryad, Moscow, 2009
Okhotny Ryad, Moscow, 2009
The National and Inturist hotels, Moscow, 1980s
The National and Inturist hotels, Moscow, 1980s
The National and Rits Carlton hotels, Moscow, 2010
The National and Rits Carlton hotels, Moscow, 2010
The house of boyars Romanovs, Moscow, 1905, source: www.oldmos.ru
The house of boyars Romanovs, Moscow, 1905, source: www.oldmos.ru
The house of boyars Romanovs, Moscow, 2010
The house of boyars Romanovs, Moscow, 2010
Skating rink on Chistye Prudy, 1910
Skating rink on Chistye Prudy, 1910
Skating rink on Chistye Prudy, 2005
Skating rink on Chistye Prudy, 2005
Detsky Mir, 2006
Detsky Mir, 2006
Lubyanka square, 1900-1910
Lubyanka square, 1900-1910
Tsar Bell, Moscow, late 19th century
Tsar Bell, Moscow, late 19th century
Tsar Bell, Moscow, 2010
Tsar Bell, Moscow, 2010
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