Chistye Prudy in Moscow... The mention of them evokes positive emotions associated with some memories and bright feelings. For some it is a walk along Chistoprudny Boulevard or the name of a metro station, for others it is a song by David Tukhmanov performed by Igor Talkov. In any case, this is one of the few places in the capital that has a unique atmosphere.
Chistye Prudy in Moscow - history
Previously, in the area of Chistoprudny Boulevard there was a slaughterhouse - “Zhivotinny Dvor”, the waste from which was dumped into a pond (there is only one here), called Pogany. In Peter's times, Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov bought land in this area. The corner building at the Myasnitsky Gate began to belong to him in 1699. The prince built a church in the depths of the courtyard, which was nicknamed the Menshikov Tower, cleaned the ponds and forbade them to be polluted. Since then they have been called Pure. The meat trade at this place was curtailed. When A. Menshikov was sent into exile, his house passed to Prince Kurakin, then to the Armenian Lazarev. In 1783, the Moscow Post Office opened in this building. The fire of 1812 did not spare the area of Chistoprudny Boulevard. During its restoration, the remains of the White House wall were demolished and the pond was cleared. Two hotel buildings were built. One of them, at the Myasnitskiye Gate, stood until the construction of the Kirovskaya metro station, which in 1990 was renamed the Chistye Prudy station. And the hotel at the Pokrovsky Gate has survived to this day.
Chistye Prudy in Moscow – attractions
In 1918, on Chistoprudny Boulevard there was a monument to the ideologist of Russian anarchism Mikhail Bakunin, designed by the sculptor M. Kovalev in an abstract futuristic manner. It is believed that the monument was unsuccessful. At the request of the anarchists and workers, the “scarecrow” was removed. In 1959, a monument to the author of the poem “Woe from Wit” A.S. was erected on this site. Griboyedov, made by sculptor A.A. Manuilov. A great playwright lived in this area, on Myasnitskaya Street. In 2006, a monument to Abai Kunanbayev, a Kazakh poet and thinker, was erected. (Work of sculptor M. Ainekov and architect V. Romanenko). Abai Kunanbayev was not only the creator of the Kazakh literary language, he discovered Russian culture for the Kazakhs and translated about 50 works of great Russian writers into the Kazakh language.
From Chistoprudny Boulevard you can clearly see the Church of the Archangel Gabriel - Menshikov Tower, located in Arkhangelsky Lane. It was built in 1705-1707. architect I. Zarudny. But there is a version that the author of the construction was the Italian master Trezzini, who built the Cathedral of the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg. The Archangel Gabriel was depicted above the southern entrance, the Archangel Michael was depicted above the northern entrance, and the composition “The Ascension of Christ” was depicted above the main western entrance. The original church was much taller than the one we see now. Menshikov wanted the church to be higher than the bell tower of Ivan the Great. Therefore, a high wooden tent topped with a cross was built over its stone top. The church became more than three meters taller than Ivan the Great. It began to be called the Menshikov Tower. In 1708, a striking clock brought from London was installed on the tower, playing bell music at noon, and 50 bells were hung.
Soon A. Menshikov was appointed to the post of governor of St. Petersburg. Therefore, the internal work in the temple was not completed and the church was not consecrated. Only in 1787 the church was restored by the famous Moscow freemason Gavriil Izmailov, but now without a wooden top. They installed a dome with a spire. Nearby they built the Church of Fyodor Stratilates - a warm temple “with bells ringing”. After repairs in 1838-1840. the church became a parish. In 1923 the temple was closed. After restoration in
In 1947, the church became a metochion of the Antiochian Patriarchate. The church became active. The iconostasis was moved to the Church of the Archangel Gabriel from what was dismantled in the 1960s. Church of Peter and Paul in Preobrazhenskaya Sloboda.
Chistye Prudy in Moscow and modern times
In recent years, the Chistoprudny Boulevard area has become a gathering place for rockers and punks, metalheads and various other informal groups. Usually, their meeting place is the site near the monument to A. Griboyedov. Unfortunately, there have been cases when gatherings of drunken people ended in fights. The area also hosts political rallies and celebrates victories in football matches.
Chistye Prudy in Moscow – information for tourists
In addition to visiting the monuments and the Church of the Archangel Gabriel, walking along Chistoprudny Boulevard you can see ancient buildings built in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. This is the house of the merchant Gusyatnikov and a residential building with the chambers of P.V. Makulov - M.Z. Shamzarov, apartment buildings and other interesting historical buildings.
IN Lately There were people saying that it was time to rename the ponds dirty, that the water in them was not so clean. Yuri Nagibin wrote about fishing in these places: “... we continued to fish, we drank handfuls of cold, teeth-aching water, and people on the shore spat and predicted illness for us. But we were sure that our reservoir was clean, that the fish in it lived freely and satisfyingly...”
Despite these conversations, both Muscovites and guests of the capital like to walk along the green island in the center of the capital, where the surface of the water, a public garden and the ancient architecture of houses are perfectly combined. In winter, Chistye Prudy in Moscow is used as a spontaneous ice skating rink.
Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov is known throughout the world as a brilliant writer. His most famous play is now included in the compulsory program of all secondary schools Russia. In many major cities Monuments to Alexander Sergeevich were erected. And yet the most famous and expressive monument to Griboedov is on “ Chistye Prudy" in Moscow.
History of the creation of the monument
Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov died tragically at the age of 34. In the memoirs of his contemporaries, he is a highly educated and erudite man, pleasant to talk to and incredibly talented. We all know Alexander Sergeevich as an outstanding writer. But in fact, literature for Griboyedov was always just a hobby, and his main occupation was working in the civil service. This amazing man was killed by religious fanatics by an absurd accident during the destruction of the Russian embassy in Persia. The monument to Griboyedov at Chistye Prudy in Moscow was erected and inaugurated in 1959, on the 130th anniversary of the death of the outstanding figure. The authors of the sculpture: A. A. Zavardin and A. A. Manuilov. The location for the monument was not chosen by chance. For some time, Alexander Sergeevich lived in a house not far from the site where this landmark was installed. Interesting fact: not even all indigenous residents of the capital know that once instead of the sculpture of A. S. Griboedov, there was a statue of M. Bakunin on Chistoprudny Boulevard. However, the original monument did not last long and was soon replaced by a new monument.
Description of the monument to A. S. Griboyedov at Chistye Prudy
If you exit onto Chistoprudny Boulevard from the Chistye Prudy metro station, it will be simply impossible not to notice the monument to Griboedov. writer is installed on a high pedestal-column. The figure of Alexander Sergeevich is made in full height, he is dressed in the fashion of the early 19th century. The writer is wearing a classic suit and a stylish raincoat. The writer's facial expression is thoughtful and quite serious. The pedestal on which the monument to Griboedov stands at Chistye Prudy also deserves attention. Its lower part is stylized as a stage on which the figures of the main characters of the play “Woe from Wit” stand. Today, around the monument there is a landscaped recreation area with flower beds and benches. With the onset of darkness, the evening lighting is turned on here.
Monument to Griboyedov at Chistye Prudy: how to get there by public transport?
Due to its height, this monument is perfectly visible from a great distance. The easiest way to get to the monument on your own is by metro. Very often in modern guidebooks this attraction can be found designated as: “Chistye Prudy”, monument to Griboedov.” The metro exit closest to the monument is on Chistoprudny Boulevard. The exact address attractions: Chistoprudny Boulevard, 6.
Reviews of tourists and Moscow residents about the attraction
Many guests of the capital come to see the majestic sculpture of A. S. Griboedov on Chistoprudny Boulevard. The monument attracts all connoisseurs of the writer’s work; it is also interesting from an artistic point of view. Muscovites often use it as a reference point and make appointments “at Griboyedov’s.” It is especially popular among lovers. It is difficult to say exactly where the tradition of making dates in this came from. Probably the reason for this is the very atmosphere of the Chistye Prudy area, conducive to walks and conversations. The image of Alexander Sergeevich itself can hardly be called romantic. Married to his wife Nina Griboedova-Chavchavadze, he lived happily for only a short time. At the same time, the widow of an outstanding figure was known for the fact that she mourned her tragically deceased husband all her life and never met a new life partner. Tourists from other cities and countries who visited the monument to Griboyedov at Chistye Prudy note the beauty and originality of this sculpture. The pedestal itself, decorated with images of the heroes of the writer’s brilliant work, deserves special attention. This monument is definitely worth seeing with your own eyes. What’s especially nice is that, thanks to the location of the monument, a visit to it can be easily combined with excursions to other attractions or an entertaining walk around Moscow.
Chistoprudny Boulevard 14 - apartment building of the Trinity Church on Gryazekh, 1908-1909 - a monument of late, national modernism.
House designed by architect. L. L. Kravetsky and P. K. Mikini is decorated with fabulous animals by S. I. Vashkov.
Vashkov’s works are extremely interesting - and above all this is the church in Klyazma (see river architecture parts 11, 12 and 14 and 18)
The highlight of the house is, of course, the figured pattern that carpets the third and fourth floors. The drawings in the form of animals, birds and plants are made of terracotta (fired clay) according to the sketches of the artist Sergei Vashkov, who was involved in this work by the Murava artel.
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To a person far from architecture, the bas-reliefs of fairy-tale creatures most likely will not mean anything, but a sophisticated eye will immediately notice the similarity with the decoration of the Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir (12th century). The outside walls of the cathedral are decorated with more than 600 reliefs with images of birds and animals, mythical and real, as well as sculpted faces of saints and seraphim.
Vasnetsov's student, S.I. Vashkov interpreted the ancient images in his own way (enlarged them, which was typical of the Art Nouveau style) and moved them to Moscow on Chistye Prudy.
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Even without knowing anything about the history of the creation of these drawings, you can simply admire them, or even kill time, trying to count how many lions are on the facade, how many griffins, owls, deer and unprecedented animals that are difficult to recognize...
Fortunately, Vashkov’s works have been preserved almost completely over time (by the way, the artist himself settled in this house), but the architectural project (authors - L. Kravetsky and P. Mikini) has undergone changes.
Many - almost all - apartment buildings were built on top, the same thing happened with this house in 1944-45. Initially 4-storey, the house lost the upper side hipped square towers and grew by two more, and from the corners - by three floors (this superstructure looks alien to the Art Nouveau style, which sought to get away from right angles - from the lower part of the building you can still see that the corners “smoothed out” and decorated).
Information taken in part from
Only our own photographs were used - shooting date: 05/19/2013
Address: Moscow, Chistoprudny Boulevard, metro station Chistye Prudy, Sretensky Boulevard.
The area occupied by the boulevard has been known since the 16th century, when slaughterhouses settled here - “Animal Dvor”, later “Sovereign Battle Dvor”. The meat trade gave the name to the adjacent Myasnitskaya Street, and its waste, dumped into the nearby swamp, gave the name to the “Filthy Pond”. The Rachka stream flowed out of the swamp, flowed south and flowed into the Moscow River at the Orphanage.
Since 1699, the corner property at the Myasnitsky Gate belonged to A.D. Menshikov, who built the Menshikov Tower in the depths of the courtyard. Meat trade on Myasnitskaya was curtailed in 1710, and in 1723 the slaughterhouses were moved away from the house of His Serene Highness.
After the fire of 1812, the remains of the White City wall were demolished, the pond was cleared, and two hotel buildings were built at the ends of the resulting boulevard.
The hotel at the Pokrovsky Gate has survived to this day, but at the Myasnitsky Gate it was demolished in the 1930s. In its place is the lobby of the Chistye Prudy metro station and a monument to A.S. Griboyedov.
During the 19th century. The development of the boulevard was clearly divided - the inner side was built up with two-story houses of the nobility and government institutions, the outer side with one-story houses of poorer people. At the end of the century, the boulevard was built up with three-four-story apartment buildings; in 1945-1952 Most of these houses were built up to six or seven floors while maintaining the general architectural appearance.
"House with Animals" (Chistoprudny Boulevard, 14) - apartment building of the Church of St. Trinity of the Life-Giving, which is on Gryazekh
(photo from the family archive of the Dmitrevsky family taken between 1908-1917)
 The building of the Stasovsky hotels (the very beginning of the 19th century) |
 Chistoprudny Boulevard, 23 - apartment building of N.D. Teleshov, 1900, architect S.V. Barkov. Initially four-story, in 1947 it was expanded to 7 floors. The library named after F.M. Dostoevsky has been operating on the ground floor of the building since 1907. In apartment 2 in 1920-1934. lived S.M. Eisenstein. |
 Chistoprudny Boulevard, 14 - apartment building of the Trinity Church on Gryazekh (1908-1909) - a monument of the late “national” Art Nouveau. The house, designed by architect L.L. Kravetsky and P.K. Mikini, is decorated with fabulous animals by S.I. Vashkov. Initially, the house was four floors, and in the post-war years it was built up to its current 7 floors. The animals, for the most part, have been preserved. |
 Chistye Prudy |
 Chistoprudny Boulevard, 19a - Moscow Sovremennik Theater. Built in 1914 by R.I. Klein as the Colosseum cinema; worked under this name until 1970; the theater opened in 1974 |
Chistye Prudy. Multifunctional complex on Chistye Prudy "White Swan". |
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Chistye Prudy |
 Fountain "Singing Crane" |
 One of the first Moscow apartment buildings built in the Art Nouveau style, 1898-1899. buildings, owner grain merchant Rakhmanov. |
 Monument to Abai Kunanbayev (1845-1904) - Kazakh poet, writer, public figure, founder of modern Kazakh written literature. Opened in 2006, sculptor M. Ainekov, architect V. Romanenko. |
Chistoprudny Boulevard, 10 building 1 - Estate of E.P. Kashkin - A.A. Durasova (1876, architect A.E. Weber) |
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