Kolomenskoye

About this place

Kolomenskoye is a former royal estate in southeast Moscow, spreading over 390 hectares above the steep banks of the Moskva River. It lies about 9.5 km in a straight line from the Kremlin and became part of the city in the 1960s. The village was first mentioned in 1339 and became a favourite country estate of the grand princes of Moscow. Its oldest building is the white Church of the Ascension, built in 1532 to celebrate the birth of an heir to the throne; the first stone church with a tent-shaped roof, it marked a break from Byzantine tradition in Russian architecture. The slender white Ascension church rises to a sharp tented spire above green meadows, ringed by arcades and open galleries. The estate also has a gateway with green towers, churches and wooden buildings moved here, an apothecary garden, and paths through orchards above the river. The grounds are large, so wear comfortable shoes and allow at least two hours. The park is open through the day, while the museums inside keep set hours. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Russia, and non-Russian bank cards may not work, so read the current advice before you plan.