How many stories are connected at VDNKh! Both we and our mothers and fathers, grandparents spent their time here, made first dates, visited interesting expositions, met friends. VDNH has gone through entire eras, a real rebirth in 1954, the decline of the 90s. Today, the Exhibition is being revived and once again becomes a favorite place for Russians and tourists.


Exhibition of achievements National economy- the largest exposition, museum and recreational complex in the world, one of the most popular public spaces in the capital of Russia.
It is visited by about 25 million guests a year.

The exhibition was opened on August 1, 1939. Its name has changed several times
(VSHV, VPV, VDNKh of the USSR, VVTs).

In the spring of 2014, the Moscow Government launched a large-scale project to revive VDNKh, timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the country's Main Exhibition. At the initiative of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and based on the results of an electronic vote by city residents, the complex was given back its legendary historical name - the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy.

VDNKh is merged with the Ostankino park, their total area is more than 317 hectares (235.5 hectares - the area of ​​\u200b\u200bVDNKh and 81.5 hectares - the Ostankino area). On the territory of VDNKh there are many masterpieces of architecture, large and small park structures, including unique fountains. 49 objects of the Exhibition are recognized as monuments cultural heritage.

More than 100 international business exhibitions and congresses are held annually at VDNKh, dozens of festivals and holidays are held, and new expositions are being created. And with the revival of the Green Theater, opened on August 1, 2014, the Exhibition has also acquired the status of a popular summer concert venue, where the best musicians, stand-up comedians and performers of Russian and world scale perform.

In 2016, a new stage in the history of VDNKh began - a large-scale reconstruction of the territory and development of the Exhibition. The main stage of work will be carried out in a short time and will be completed in 2018.
After the implementation of this program, VDNH will not only become the main showcase of the country, a collection of the most interesting things in Russia, but will also turn into the main educational, entertainment, cultural, museum and recreational complex. This will increase the attendance of VDNKh up to 40 million people a year.

According to the VDNKh development plan, its territory will be divided into 7 park zones, each of which has its own theme, image and meaning (Central Alley, thematic Amusement Park, Landscape Park, Crafts Park, Knowledge Park, EXPO zone, Ostankino Park).

VDNKh, like any object with such a long history, has many secrets and mysteries.
For example, few people know that there is a real bunker on the territory of VDNKh. And about the fact that during the war there was a school of scouts?

There was a time when Russia was in a state cold war, and bunkers were built throughout Russia in case of attacks. VDNKh was no exception.
The bunker is located right in the building of the House of Peoples' Friendship. This building was created for Stalin, but no one ever used it. An interesting fact is also what leads from the bunker underground passage, which ends under the sculpture of Lenin, installed in front of the Pavilion. That is why the sculpture has not yet been removed.

The capacity of the bunker is 300 people. There are rest rooms, a storage room for provisions, an air filtration room, and an office for the General Secretary. The equipment allowed to stay underground for 2 days. Until 1971, provisions and water were regularly replenished in the bunker. Now this facility is operating, is under the protection of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Main entrance to VDNKh

The majestic 32-meter arch, through which visitors enter VDNKh, is a monument of history and culture of national importance. The arch, like the famous Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, opens the Central Alley - the main axis of the exhibition city, which embodied the triumph of the Great Victory and the first successes in the post-war revival of the country.


The huge exhibition park required a monumental entrance, and this task was performed admirably. Take a closer look: there are large bas-reliefs on the columns, the main theme of which is the labor of people. The solemn composition is crowned by the sculptural group “Tractor Driver and Collective Farm Girl”. The symbol of VDNKh - the sculpture "Worker and Collective Farm Woman", has endured a lot in its lifetime. Even in the process of its creation, a denunciation was written against the sculptor that supposedly Trotsky's profile was visible in the skirt of the worker.
But the case was not given a move, and the figure was finished.

Pavilion "House of the Peoples of Russia"

The pavilion "House of the Peoples of Russia" at VDNH - The main building of the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy was built in 1954 during the reconstruction of the dilapidated buildings of the complex. Initially, the exposition of the pavilion reflected the stages and successes in building a socialist state in the Soviet Union as a whole. Pavilion No. 1 houses the permanent exhibition "Secrets of the Underwater World". The meter-long herbivorous piranhas literally jump out of the aquarium when they are fed bananas and apples.

A four-meter tiger python is dozing in a special enclosure. He eats infrequently - once a month he swallows a rabbit. An anaconda swims nearby. Her favorite food is rats. Visitors to the exposition can see a real Nile crocodile and a caiman tortoise, snake-headed turtles, as well as live sharks, which have already had offspring here in captivity.

Fountain "Friendship of the Peoples of the USSR" - a striking monument of architecture of the Soviet era

One of the most famous fountain complexes in the capital appeared in the Stalin era on the territory of the modern VDNKh: its central element is the sparkling gilded fountain "Friendship of the Peoples of the USSR" (1953), which is symbolized by 16 girls around a colossal sheaf of wheat and sunflowers.


Sculpture "Russia"

The Russian girl looks at the Main Pavilion and holds a sheaf of wheat in her hands, next to her are the Slavic sisters - Ukraine (a girl in a wreath) and Belarus (a girl in a scarf, holding a branch with an apple in her hand).







The arrangement of sixteen figures is not accidental, since they stand in pairs, which corresponds to the order of the ribbons in the coat of arms of the USSR - from the bordering motto "Proletarians of all countries, unite!" Ukraine, Russia and so on.


sculpture "Georgia"

The artistic and engineering value of the fountain is beyond doubt: here is an epic scale, and a monumental idea that combines many sculptural elements into a single whole, and a careful study of all the details, both aesthetic and technical point vision. The fountain project was designed by K. Topuridze and engineer V. Klyavin. Five leading sculptors of the country worked on it.


sculpture "Latvia"

Initially, the fountain was supposed to be called the "Golden Sheaf", but before the opening it was still renamed. In the center of the sculptural composition is indeed a giant sheaf of ears of corn, sunflowers and (no need to laugh) hemp. Around are the figures of sixteen girls in the national costumes of the fraternal republics, who hold various samples of agricultural products in their hands. You ask why 16, because there were only 15 union republics? It's simple: until 1956, the Karelian-Finnish Republic was also part of the USSR, and it is it that is "superfluous" at this celebration of life.


sculpture "Turkmenistan"

Only three heroines are known who posed for the sculptors of the fountain. These are the Estonian ballerina and actress Virve Kiple-Parsadanyan, the Turkmen pianist Gozel Annamamedova, who was a student at the Moscow Conservatory in those early years, and the wife of poet Mikhail Svetlov, Georgian Rodam Amirejibi. There are opinions that Stepan Pimenov's Guryev Service of 1809-1816 served as a prototype for the fountain - his porcelain sculptures resembled ancient goddesses with national features in clothes and attributes, like the characters of Alexei Venetsianov, who worked in the same years.


sculpture "Azerbaijan"


sculpture "Moldova"


sculpture "Ukraine"


sculpture "Belarus"


sculpture "Uzbekistan"


sculpture "Lithuania"


sculpture "Estonia"


sculpture "Kazakhstan"


sculpture "Armenia"


sculpture "Kyrgyzstan"


sculptures "Turkmenistan" and "Tajikistan"


The Friendship of the Peoples of the USSR fountain is one of the main symbols of the VSHV-VDNKh-VVTs. It embodied the ideals of friendship and peace, which were the main strategy and the central line of the policy of the USSR in the 1950s.

Worker and Kolkhoz Woman - "the ideal and symbol of the Soviet era"

Worker and Kolkhoz Woman, created by the architect Vera Mukhina, have long been a symbol not just of Moscow, but of the whole country - the USSR. Created in 1937, the monument embodied the social achievements of the Land of Soviets and said that the main worker in the USSR was the creator. The monument itself is made of stainless steel and weighs about 200 tons together with the pedestal.

Worker and Kolkhoz Woman were created for the USSR pavilion at the World Exhibition in Paris. The idea was to show not only the power of the country, but also its achievements in social sphere. It must be said that the goal was achieved. The monument really impresses with its power and purposefulness for the future. This is the anthem of labor in steel.

Northern Entrance Arch

The Northern Entrance Arch has always been a symbol of VDNKh and once served as the main gate of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. It is the only building of 1939 today that has come down to us without late alterations. To this day, only a solid relief decoration has survived: garlands of fruits, ears of corn and vines, cast from white cement, and on the vaults of the side volumes you can see stucco molding with a geometric pattern. The arch became the object of filming more than once and was known throughout the USSR thanks to such films that were included in the golden fund of Russian cinema, such as Foundling (1939), Bright Path (1940), Pig and Shepherd (1941). d.) and "The House I Live in" (1957). The oldest building of VDNKh - the Arch of the Northern Entrance - is planned to be restored by mid-2017.

Pavilion No. 8 "Young Naturalists"

Built in 1954 as "Young Naturalists" by architects N.A. Grishina, D.S. Vitukhina, A.S. Goldin. Monument of history and culture of national importance. At Soviet power in this pavilion with a glass dome there were halls young technicians, livestock breeders, plant breeders, a greenhouse and an exhibit site. Now the Exhibition of Exotic Birds and the museum of fairy tales "Once upon a time" are working here. Exotic birds flutter in the greenhouse among tropical plants. Guests can observe the life and behavior of birds from Africa, Asia, Australia, America and Oceania. Video cameras are installed in the nests so that anyone can admire the birth of the chicks. In 2011, the Dolphinarium was officially opened behind Pavilion No. 8.

Pavilion No. 9 "Young Technicians"

If most of the VDNKh pavilions were built in 1954, then the building on the site of the ninth pavilion, which then bore the name "Peat", appeared even before the war - in 1939. Today, the Panopticon of Scientific Entertainment, opened in 2012, operates here.

Pavilion No. 10 "Standards" ("Moldavian SSR")

The first project of pavilion No. 10, located opposite the Friendship of Peoples fountain, was implemented by the opening of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition in 1954. In the architecture of the facades of the building, the authors combined the motifs of the classics and the national architecture of Moldova. The main façade of the pavilion, facing Druzhby Narodiv Square, was designed as a portico with a deep loggia brightly painted with folk ornaments.

Pavilion №18 "Republic of Belarus"

The pavilion has been on this site since 1939! Today, the Belarusian Trade and Exhibition and Information and Marketing Center operates here. The building acquired its current appearance during the post-war reconstruction of the Exhibition. The pavilion, designed by G.A. Zakharov and 3.S. Chernysheva, is an expressive architectural structure. It is crowned by the sculpture "Motherland" by A.O. Bembel. This sculpture embodies the concept of Motherland. The classical character of the architecture of the pavilion with a powerful portico and a light rotunda crowning it harmonizes with the majestic solemnity of the golden statue dominating the surrounding space. There is some movement in her peace. This statue opens unexpectedly when you approach the pavilion, gives a new impression.

Industry area

At the very beginning of the design of VDNKh, a giant skyscraper pavilion "Mechanization and electrification" was built on the square. Agriculture THE USSR". Then the grandiose 25-meter monument-repetition of "Stalin" by Merkurov became the dominant feature, which was dismantled immediately after the death of the leader. Instead, a large round pond was created, and the Mechanization pavilion completely changed its appearance and became very similar to a domed basilica.

Later, the place in the center of the pond, where there was a statue of Stalin, was replaced by a model of the Vostok rocket, on which Yuri Gagarin took off into space on April 12, 1961. Three aircraft also appeared on the square, of which only the Yak-42 has survived to this day.

Museum complex "Buran"

The interactive museum complex "Buran" at VDNKh was created in record time - in 3 months. The exposition is located inside the model of the Buran BTS-001 orbital ship and is dedicated to the victories of Russian scientists, engineers and space explorers. Here you can not only learn about the history of the Soviet space shuttle, but also try yourself as its pilot. The simulator program completely imitates the real landing of Buran after the first and only flight in 1988.

Monument to the Conquerors of Space

The first manned flight into space is one of the most important stages in the development of science in the Soviet Union and one of the most important world achievements. Of course, this theme could not but be reflected in the image of VDNKh. In 1964, a monument to the Conquerors of Space appeared at VDNKh. In April 1981, at the base of the monument, a Space Museum. Museum visitors could see here things one way or another related to space and astronauts: space equipment, the first spacesuits and artificial satellites Earth - everything that helped to study the Moon and other planets of the solar system.

Pavilion №35 "Tobacco"

"Glavtabak", created in the image of a pre-war building located on the site of the domed hall of pavilion No. 32/34, combined the motives of the architecture of the East, Gothic and Russian national architecture. Even today, guests of the Exhibition are delighted with the faceted rounded volume, surrounded by a gallery and resembling a gazebo. The decoration of the pavilion's whimsical façade is made of colorful tiles with expressive plant motifs.





Various outlines of real and false windows, kokoshniks, thin columns and other interesting elements give the pavilion an exquisite decorative effect and emphasized oriental flavor. The spire crowning the dome was previously completed by a medallion with the Glavtabak emblem.

Pavilion No. 38 Exhibition and Aquarium Complex ("Fishing")

The building replaced the small pavilions "Pond Farm" and "Fish Farm", built for the opening of the Exhibition-1939 and reconstructed in 1954 in the style of Stalin's eclecticism. The new pavilion, lined with glass and aluminum, was created in the spirit of brutal modernism.

Pavilion №58 Agriculture (Ukrainian SSR)

In 1937, on the territory of the Exhibition under construction, a temporary wooden pavilion of Ukraine was erected according to the project of A.A. Tatsia with the participation of N.K. Ivanchenko. Later, the author had to make changes to the project several times, and the most significant - just 4 months before the opening of the Exhibition.

At the end of March 1939, during the 18th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, N.S. Khrushchev, visited the newly completed pavilion of the republic and was extremely dissatisfied. "Ukraine is a granary Soviet Union, and the pavilion is worse than the Moscow pavilion!” - he was indignant. The construction of the building that we can admire today began in 1950.

Pavilion No. 59 "GRAIN" (Moscow, Ryazan and Tula regions)

The pavilion is built of stone, concrete and plate glass. Its decoration was a ruby ​​star and bas-reliefs framing the facade with figures of vegetable growers, milkmaids, gardeners, tractor drivers. The silhouette of the building resembled both the USSR pavilion at an exhibition in Paris in 1937, and the Kremlin tower with symbolic battlements. The author of the project used a set of decorations and symbols that were close and understandable to the generation of that time. By the opening of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition in 1954, the pavilion was reconstructed: the building acquired a more austere appearance, and the 52-meter tower, topped with a star, directed to the sky, gave it lightness and loftiness.

Pavilion No. 60 "Consumer cooperation"
("Central Chernozem Regions")

According to original plans, pavilion No. 60 was built in the 1950s to represent the Kursk, Tambov, Penza, Voronezh and Oryol regions. Its architecture is designed in neoclassical forms, harmoniously complemented by Russian-style ornaments. The semi-circular colonnade of the entrance group and the belvedere, decorated with a gold wreath with an openwork decorative composition, give the pavilion a special solemnity. Despite the rather modest interior for the most part, the central hall is distinguished by a superbly decorated dome of light with images of sheaves, sickles, five-pointed stars, wreaths and other details referring to the decorative motifs in the Empire style.

Pavilion No. 61 ("Tsentrosoyuz")

The Tsentrosoyuz pavilion as part of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition was intended to demonstrate the importance consumer cooperation, the purpose of which was the implementation and development of commodity relations between the city and the countryside. Its snow-white volume ends in the central part with a tent with many kokoshniks, which is crowned with a gilded spire. The sculptures, located to the right and left of the tent, symbolize the inextricable link between the working class and the collective farm peasantry.

Pavilion No. 62 ("Nature Protection", "Building Materials") International Ballet Center

On the linden alley next to the former Collective Farm Club, today we can see pavilion No. 62. In 1954, it was built to familiarize agricultural workers with the variety of building materials produced by industry, and their efficient use. On June 5, 2017, the International Ballet Center was opened in the pavilion. The center is focused not only on teaching classical ballet, but also folk dance and jazz modern, it also hosts lectures, performances and master classes by famous choreographers from Russia and other countries.

Pavilion No. 66 "Culture" ("Uzbek SSR")

In 1937, a pavilion designed by S.N. Polupanov, intended for the Tajik, Turkmen and Uzbek SSR. However, in 1938 it was completely occupied by the exposition of the Uzbek SSR.



"Culture" is one of the most favorite pavilions of Muscovites and guests of the city at VDNKh. Aerial gazebo in front of the pavilion, tiles on the walls, exquisite oriental architecture. Many wedding photo shoots take place here on weekends. So, earlier it was the pavilion of Uzbekistan, behind it there was a real Chaihona. The pavilion was built in the spirit of an Uzbek house by the best craftsmen from Uzbekistan: there are no windows, but all the walls are beautifully decorated.

Many legends are associated with the gazebo. VDNH rangers say that sometimes the gazebo makes moaning sounds at night. The forty columns of the air pavilion symbolize the 40 wives of the Padishah, who lived several centuries ago. After the death of their master, the columns (that is, the wives) began to moan in grief. You can check this only at night, making your way past the guards. The roof of the gazebo is painted bright blue - this is also not accidental. They say that the sky in Uzbekistan differs in color from Moscow, so the builders showed the difference. Like, envy! You must visit the pavilion. It has preserved a carved ceiling, chandeliers, and the pattern of the inner wall completely repeats the pattern on the outside.

Pavilion №68 "Armenia"
(former "Coal industry", "Siberia")

The hexagonal pavilion with decorative turrets on Druzhby Narodov Square was built in the early 1950s for the exposition of Siberia. Its side facades acquaint the guests of the Exhibition with the flora and fauna of this region. The epic picture of the Siberian Territory is also created by cornices and bas-reliefs rich in stucco ornaments, in which we easily recognize a hunter, a combine machine operator, a collective farmer, a sheep breeder, an agronomist and a miner.


Pavilion No. 68 resembles a small fortress. Since 2003, the Exhibition and Commercial Center of the Republic of Armenia has been operating in the pavilion, as well as the Ararat restaurant.

Ferris wheel

The Ferris wheel installed at VDNH allows you to admire the landscapes of the capital from a height of 73 meters, the diameter of the wheel is 70 m. It was built in 1995 for the 850th anniversary of Moscow and became the highest attraction in Moscow and Eastern Europe.
The period of one rotation of the attraction is seven minutes. There are forty passenger cabins on the wheel. Eight of them are open. The capacity of each cabin is 8 people. It is worth saying that the design of the wheel is resistant to wind gusts reaching forty meters per second. He is not afraid of earthquakes up to nine points.

Yakubov's Castle at VDNKh

The castle at VDNKh belongs to American citizen Yakov Yakubov. At the farthest and deserted end of the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy - in the state conservation area - a three-story castle rises. True, it has nothing to do with the exhibition: it is the private property of multimillionaire Yakov Yakubov. This building is not indicated on the VDNKh scheme. No house number, no address. There is a pavilion “Rabbit Breeding” standing next to it, but there is no castle. Everyone who saw it speaks about this castle with delight. They say, one might say, with a breath. But for some reason, they keep quiet about who it belongs to.


The former cafe is a reception house. Office now

Deli №1

At VDNKh, a little to the right of the Industry Square, the main grocery store of the exhibition, grocery store No. 1, was repainted and put in order. Over its half-century history, the building of grocery store No. 1 has changed a number of names: from Glavkonserv and Konservy to simply Gastronome. At the same time, he lived to this day, retaining his original appearance and historical function: like 20 years ago, a grocery store operates here. Fortunately, the owners of the pavilion decided not to change anything, the sellers are still working behind the same showcases and counters that were inherited from Soviet times.

Fountain "Stone Flower"

Fountain "Stone Flower" - the second most important fountain of VDNKh, after the fountain "Friendship of Peoples", was created in 1954 according to the project of Topuridze. The main idea invested in the artistic appearance of the fountain is abundance, expressed in a rich sculptural design.



The central composition of the fountain is designed in the form of a blooming flower made of large concrete slabs lined with multicolored smalt. The remaining parts were lined with fine red granite. With its stepped composition and play of jets, the fountain definitely resembles the Versailles Latona, created in 1670.


Inspired by the works of art of the Ural masters and the 1946 film "Stone Flower" released in 1946 based on the works of P.P. Bazhov, the "Stone Flower" fountain is an outstanding example of Soviet mosaic art. Along the perimeter, the pool is decorated with figures of birds, stucco fruits and gifts from the fields. They also shoot out jets of water. All this creates a beautiful joyful scene. "Stone Flower" became the world's first light and music fountain. Especially for him, the great Soviet composer Shostakovich wrote the "Festive Overture".


The chief architect of VDNH A.F. Zhukov noted: “Its “a fantastic flower growing from crystals and gems harmoniously combines with the magnificent pavilions surrounding it. The fountain scatters a lot of water jets; bronze and cast-iron fish and birds “splash” in the pool. the scenario of "fountains is enchanting".




Anyone who one day approaches the fountain can turn their attention to the preserved bronze geese, as if crouching on small banks. The bronze sculptures were made by sculptors Z. V. Ryleeva and Alexandrova-Roslavleva. The best masters of the Academy of Arts of the USSR, actively involved in the design of a number of other pavilions of the exhibition, worked on the mosaic lining.

South entrance of the exhibition

Built in 1954 by architects V. Voskresensky, G. Lebedev, D. Oltarzhevsky. Modeler P. Gribkov. Monument of history and culture of national importance. This expressive building is stylistically close to the traditions of Palladianism. The monumental portico is combined with an arch facing the Exhibition grounds. Embodying the idea of ​​the triumph of collective farming, the arch of the Southern Entrance is crowned by the sculptural composition "Abundance" with the coat of arms of the USSR raised high. The frieze of the arch is still decorated with medallions depicting the awards of the participants of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition-VDNKh.

Fountain "Golden Ear"

In the center of pond No. 3 in the middle of the vast dam zone of the Exhibition, there is the third largest fountain, the Golden Ear, with two powerful pumps that allowed 66 jets to rise simultaneously, 30 of which reached 25 meters! The nozzles are located in the golden grains of the ear in the form of its antennae. The symbolism of the fountain is obvious, because since ancient times, ears of corn have meant rebirth, life, harvest and fertility.

The new "Spike", in a large-scale reconstruction of the 1950-1954s. was a justified decision, due to the changed scale of the exhibition facilities and the technical condition of the former fountain. The new fountain in the form of a giant ear rose to a height of 16 meters like a "triumphal column" of socialist agriculture.


Interesting fact: During the celebration of Midsummer Night's Dream 2015, the Golden Ear fountain towering on the pond - in Soviet times a symbol of fertility - on the night of July 18-19, 2015 became the object of a light show.

The sculpture of the Golden Ear, like a portal to another dimension, shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow, and when a ball of water filled with rainbows, glow, northern lights, clouds and stardust rose from the pond next to the Ear, all the guests finally went to a parallel world.

Temple-chapel of St. Basil the Great

The temple-chapel bears the name of St. Basil the Great, who lived in the 4th century AD. e. He began to bear the name Great during his lifetime, as he was "a scientist in the twelve sciences." Patriarch Alexy II, during the consecration of the chapel, explained that VDNKh has always glorified everything new, advanced, both in science and in the national economy, so St. Basil the Great will help the Exhibition team to continue this path. The temple was built in 2001, renovated in 2011. Its construction was made possible thanks to donations from employees and guests of the Exhibition. Regular services are held in the chapel, everyone can confess, be baptized, get married.

Green theater

The building of the Green Theater - the same age as VDNKh - over the years of its existence has been overgrown with a thick ivy of mystical stories: a mysterious white Cerberus dog, ghosts of fortune-tellers and lost manuscripts - which only fantasy did not give birth to Soviet man, looking at the luxurious building buried in greenery. Indeed, the semicircular amphitheater reproduces the shape of a French chateau, thanks to which the Green Theater was dubbed the Soviet Versailles. Once upon a time, the Pyatnitsky Choir, the jazz band of Leonid Utesov, the then aspiring singer Iosif Kobzon and other masters of the Soviet stage, the TsDZh Ensemble under the direction of I.O. Dunayevsky, the Igor Moiseyev Folk Dance Ensemble, the Moscow Operetta Theatre, opera and ballet dancers of the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR, the State Symphony Orchestra of the USSR, the Alexandrov Red Banner Ensemble... The open-air auditorium accommodated up to 5,000 people. Years passed, and the Green Theater was undeservedly forgotten, it was dilapidated and destroyed, causing indignation among Muscovites who kept it in their memory best years.

Now the theater is undergoing work on its careful restoration. It is planned to restore the historical three-dimensional structure of the building as much as possible and preserve its original elements. After restoration work, the Green Theater will become very convenient for both artists and spectators.

Moskvarium at VDNKh

Officially, this institution is called the Center for Oceanography and Marine Biology. The Oceanarium, the opening of which aroused great interest among the residents of the Russian capital and its guests, was placed in a giant unique building.


Church of the Life-Giving Trinity


Television technical center "Ostankino"


View of the Ostankino tower from the park

New life VDNKh

There are 50 cultural heritage sites on the territory of VDNKh, most of which will be restored in the coming years. Large-scale restoration work began in 2014, when the country's main exhibition was transferred to the Moscow Government. Prior to this, historical pavilions were rented out for retail outlets and warehouses for a long time.

Restoration work turned into unexpected finds. In the central hall of pavilion No. 1 "Central", for example, decorative arches were hidden under a layer of plaster, and in the adjacent hall - paintings forgotten for several decades. In this building, a high relief of Yevgeny Vuchetich "Glory to the standard-bearer of the world, to the Soviet people" was discovered! (1954) and a painting by Alexander Gerasimov, 1953.

Last year, work began on the restoration of the green parterres of the central alley of VDNKh. They are being restored in the form in which they were created in 1954-1958. This year, the restoration of 29 objects and monuments will begin, including the largest objects of the exhibition. Work will start at 17 VDNKh fountains, including Friendship of Peoples, Stone Flower and Golden Ear. Their architectural elements and engineering infrastructure, which has fallen into disrepair over more than sixty years, will be restored.

This summer, restoration work will cover the entire central part of VDNKh. They are scheduled to be completed by early summer 2018. By the same time, the arches of two more entrances to the territory - the Central and the South - will be restored.

All projects for the restoration of architectural monuments undergo an independent examination. The historical appearance of pavilions, arches and fountains is carefully restored by leading experts in the field of restoration of cultural heritage sites. After the work is completed, modern museums and exhibitions will be opened in the restored pavilions.

At the moment, I am simply amazed at the scope with which this exhibition was built. Thousands of the best masters from various countries tried to show their best skills, which still delight many today. I really hope that the reconstruction planned by the management of VDNKh in the near future will preserve all this beauty for our future children and grandchildren.

Photos are not mine. My great gratitude for the material for this post GALINA, SiteVDNKh, vladislaw.leonenkov, smileplanet.ru

VDNH is the ideological platform of the Soviet Union, where for decades all the significant achievements of the union republics that are part of the USSR have been demonstrated. Currently, VDNH is a cultural and exhibition complex where you can visit many exhibitions and expositions, or you can take a leisurely walk along the alleys along the most beautiful fountains, visit the city farm and the landscape park.

VDNH — how to get there by metro

VDNH is a very large territory and there are more than 10 entrances here, they are located around the entire perimeter of the exhibition. But the most interesting and convenient way to start the tour is from the main alley, the symmetry of the buildings on which makes one admire the scope. Therefore, it is best to enter VDNKh through the main entrance, located next to the VDNKh metro station. The VDNKh station is located on the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya line of the Moscow metro, the line is shown in orange on the diagrams. The station, like the entire exhibition of achievements of the national economy, is located strictly in the northern part of the capital. But after leaving the metro, you should not rush to VDNKh. First, we will pass through a park dedicated to Soviet achievements in cosmonautics.

Cosmopark at VDNKh

The park in its present form was opened in 2008, although the main attractions of the space park have been adorn here for more than 50 years. The obelisk "To the Conquerors of Space" in the form of a launching rocket with a trail was opened in 1964. with VDNH, only slightly reduced, installed in the Saratov region, at the landing site of the first cosmonaut Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin.

The updated alley of cosmonauts appeared to the eyes of Muscovites and guests of the capital in 2008, when solar system and a monument to the Queen. Also on the panorama you can clearly see the famous Cosmos Hotel, located to the right of the space park.





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Most recently, after reconstruction, the Museum of Cosmonautics was opened, located on the ground floor under the stele.

Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy

VDNH is a unique exhibition that opened in 1954 as a symbol of all the achievements of the people's republics that are part of the USSR. Inside the complex, thematic pavilions were organized for each of the Union republics, where they presented their most outstanding achievements. The exhibition functions to this day. All exhibitions and events can be found on the official website of VDNKh. From the central entrance to VDNKh, an alley of fountains begins.

A beautiful alley, on both sides of which there are small fountains, leads us to the main pavilion of VDNKh, it is called Pavilion No. 1 "Central". Once upon a time, the main achievements of building a socialist state were demonstrated in this pavilion.



Fountain "Friendship of Peoples" at VDNKh

Immediately behind Pavilion No. 1 is the main fountain of the Soviet Union. This is the Friendship of Peoples fountain. The sculptural composition of the fountain depicts all the union republics of the USSR in the form of girls dressed in national costumes, with paraphernalia reflecting the uniqueness of each republic in one way or another.



And around the fountain at some distance are the main pavilions of the exhibition of achievements of the national economy.



The Friendship of Peoples fountain was opened in 1954 and one curious fact is connected with it. There are 16 sculptures of girls around the fountain, which corresponds to the number of republics before 1956. But in 1956, the Karelian-Finnish SSR was abolished and renamed the Autonomous Republic of Karelia. Thus, there is an extra girl on the fountain. But they did not remove the statue, so as not to disturb the compositional component of the fountain. Knowing this fact, it will be more interesting for you to explore the sculptures around the fountain.

But it will be difficult to determine the mysterious girl on your own. So here is the search plan. Three girls are looking at the central entrance and at the main pavilion of VDNKh: Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. A Russian girl can be recognized by a huge pile of ears of corn in her hand.





The desired Karelian-Finnish woman is installed on the reverse side of the fountain, she looks exactly in the opposite direction. You can recognize a girl by a small Christmas tree located at her feet.

Fountain "Stone Flower" at VDNKh

Behind the Friendship of Peoples fountain, on Collective Farm Square, a unique fountain with the beautiful name "Stone Flower" is installed. The fountain owes its name to the writer Bazhov, from whose light pen many beautiful fairy tales flew, including the fairy tale about the stone flower.



But not only the name limits the influence of the "Ural Tales" on the fountain. The central fountain, depicted in the form of a flower, is decorated with mosaics and many details.

Along the perimeter, the fountain is decorated with bronze dishes, and swans shoot jets of water.





Noteworthy is the fact, and this is what makes the fountain unique, that the “Stone Flower” was the first light and music fountain in the USSR and all over the world. Behind the fountain is pavilion No. 58 "Agriculture", formerly pavilion "Ukraine". And on the right is pavilion No. 59 "Grain".

Attractions VDNKh

To the left of the fountain is pavilion No. 18 "Republic of Belarus".

If we continue to move straight ahead, then we go to the Industry Square, where the Yak-42 aircraft, the Mi-8T helicopter and the Su-27 fighter are installed, and the main attraction of the square is, of course, the Vostok missile

The day was really sultry and we went to Deli №1 to hide from the sun and replenish fresh water. Having come here, we experienced real nostalgia for Soviet childhood.



Further along the Architectural Avenue, turning to the Okruzhnaya Alley to the left, we reached the city farm. The farm has an official website where you can find the schedule of events and prices. In fact, the city farm is a petting zoo, where you and your children can get acquainted with domesticated animals and understand the principles of farming, as well as various master classes and excursions.

Opposite the city farm, we see one of the four ponds in the system of ponds of the Main Botanical Garden and VDNKh.

The main botanical garden to them. N.V. Tsitsina is located on the right hand side of the ponds. You can ride a bike rented here in the garden, as well as on the territory of the entire VDNKh.



We reached the next pond, where the Golden Ear fountain flaunts. Like many things at VDNKh, the fountain was opened back in 1954, so due to wear and tear, its utilities have lost their functionality. Reconstruction work, during which the fountain could operate at full capacity, has not yet begun.

From the ponds we returned to the main pavilions of the exhibition, pavilion No. 34 “Engineering” is already visible from here, behind it is the Industry Square. From here we went towards the landscape park and the Moscow Moskvarium.







And this is the same oceanarium that, with its size, overtook, once leading in this indicator,. Now Moskvarium is the largest oceanarium in Russia. On the official website of the Moskvarium you can get acquainted with the prices and activities of the oceanarium.

You can walk at VDNKh all day, and it will still be difficult to get around all the pavilions and exhibitions. Especially if you stop everywhere and visit everything. If you visit the city farm and the Moskvarium, then you definitely won’t have time to see the rest of the sights, but next to the VDNKh there is also a cosmonautics museum and the Ostankino TV tower. Therefore, if you are going to spend only one light day visiting VDNKh, you will have to sweat a lot when deciding which sights to visit. We only had time to rush like a hurricane along the alleys and avenues of the exhibition of achievements of the national economy. Therefore, without a doubt, we will come back here and visit the Moskvarium and the city farm and the Ostankino Tower. And we will take a picture of the Worker and Collective Farm Woman monument, which we did not notice, which is installed to the right of the central entrance to VDNKh.

  • VDNH- a unique architectural complex, built in the style of "Stalin's empire", keeping the memory of its era.
  • The territory of VDNKh is united with the Botanical Garden and Ostankino Park - now it is a huge recreation area.
  • Under the roofs of the VDNKh pavilions and on outdoors festivals, exhibitions and big holidays are held all year round.
  • Undisputed symbol of VDNKh are two main fountains:"Friendship of Peoples" and "Stone Flower" by architect K. Topuridze.
  • Noteworthy architecture individual pavilions, for example, " public education”, “Young naturalists”, pavilion “Tobacco”.
  • Organized convenient bike rental points, bike paths, playgrounds, allocated places for sports.

VDNH (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy) is a unique architectural complex, a favorite place of rest for Muscovites and guests of the capital. Its territory is well planned, supplemented with green areas and all the necessary infrastructure. The exhibition was combined with the Botanical Garden and Ostankino Park - now these objects have turned into a huge recreation area. The Moskvarium is also built here - an indoor aquarium, one of the largest in terms of area and number of aquatic inhabitants in Europe. Decoration of VDNKh are grandiose fountains with memorable sculptural compositions. All kinds of festivals, exhibitions and big holidays are held all year round under the roofs of the VDNKh pavilions and in the open air. In winter, the largest skating rink in the country operates here.

Most of the exhibition pavilions at VDNKh were built in the style and keep the memory of their era - the period of intensive industrial development of the Soviet Union, the time of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and post-war reconstruction. The history of the complex began in the 30s of the twentieth century, and the first "All-Union Agricultural Exhibition" opened on this site in 1939. Demonstration of the best achievements of the people was to become a universal holiday, a reason for pride. At the entrance to the exhibition was installed the famous sculpture by V. Mukhina "Worker and Collective Farm Woman", made of stainless steel. In a single impulse, two young people rush forward, lifting up the tools of their labor - a sickle and a hammer. The monument received world recognition at the international exhibition in Paris in 1937.

Architectural monuments of the 30s.

G the general plan of the complex was prepared by the architect V. Oltarzhevsky. Artistic aspects were combined in it with ideological ones. The exhibition was divided into seven sections: "Socialist reconstruction of agriculture and the victory of the collective farm system", "Socialist agriculture of the republics, territories, regions", "State farms", "Mechanization and electrification of agriculture", "Grain and industrial crops", "Socialist animal husbandry” and “Display of folk art and mass amateur performances”.

Several buildings, created during the years of the first exhibition, have been preserved.. Modern North Entrance, which used to be the main one, architect V. Oltarzhevsky. A very simple, laconic composition, consisting of several white arches, devoid of decor, still looks stylish and modern. Harmony prop portions, forms and surrounding space in the complete absence of any order elements - this is one of the best embodiments of constructivist research.

Another building - the pavilion " Transport t "architect S. Polupanov. Its façade is decorated with graceful columns of abstract order, which make the building very light and at the same time solemn.

The Pavilion "Physical Culture and Sports" is very expressive.(architects M. Kraevsky, F. Belostotskaya). Its slightly squat volume is adorned with a massive composition of banners and a five-pointed star. Once there was a sculptural group depicting young athletes with flags. Unfortunately, only the pedestal has been preserved.

global overhaul

During the Great Patriotic War the exhibition has been closed. But already in 1948 it was resumed, and at the same time a radical restructuring of its space and design began. The process was led by the architect A. Zhukov and the sculptor E. Vuchetich (the author of the grandiose monument "Motherland" on Mamaev Kurgan on the ste Battle of Stalingrad). The architectural style has changed radically: new buildings were erected in the spirit of the "Stalinist Empire". The abundance of classical elements, heroic scale, splendor - luxurious buildings were supposed to create a solemn ensemble glorifying the victorious country.

According to the project of I. Melchakov, new entrance gates-propylaea were created. This is a kind of triumphal arch - a huge, solemn, setting the tone for the entire ensemble. Passing under it, the visitor finds himself on the main alley. Directly along the axis, he sees the Central Pavilion (author Yu. Schuko), which is the high-altitude dominant of the ensemble: its basis is made up of volumes decreasing upwards, crowned with a shining spire. The facades are decorated with colonnades, giving the building steam hellishness and solemnity.

Further along the alley are two main fountains of VDNKh: "Friendship of Peoples" and "Stone Flower" by architect K. Topuridze. The first is a bunch of golden ears, around which, as if in a big round dance, are representatives of all the republics of the USSR. The "Stone Flower" is built according to a different principle: its reservoir is larger, the sculptural forms depict a huge opening flower.

On the sides of the main alley are various pavilions, each of which deserves special attention. For example, the pavilion "People's Education" by architect S. Polupanov. The slender colonnades are in harmony with the laconic arcades of the side risalits. No less impressive is the pavilion "Young Naturalists" (architects N. Grishin, G. Vitukhin) - with a dome, large glazed semi-rotundas and three weightless arches on thin columns. The pavilions "Fodder" and "Horse breeding" were designed almost in the Palladian style (architect M. Titov). And in combination with them, the Tobacco Pavilion (V. Kondratiev) looks very interesting, made in a bright, oriental style - with many decorative elements, which are additionally decorated with bright colors.

A special place belongs to the pavilions of the Union republics and Russian regions. « Armenia"with its powerful white columns (architects V. Taushkanov, R. Kliks) or" Karelia”, decorated with wooden carvings in the national spirit (F. Rekhmukhov). Unfortunately, most of the national pavilions were destroyed during Khrushchev's "fight against excesses."

60s of the XX century. brought to the VDNKh ensemble new topic. The former Mechanical Engineering pavilion was rebuilt and renamed Cosmos. The huge building with a parabolic arch and a large dome is notable for its expressive interior space. The theme of flights continues on Industrial Square, where there are models of the Vostok launch vehicle and the Yak-42 aircraft. Recently, a model of the Buran spacecraft also appeared there.

Pleasant stay

The territory of the complex is so large-scale and expressive (more than 300 hectares) that even a whole day is not enough to fully explore it. Every time here you can discover something new.

Recent several How many years has VDNKh been reconstructed? The exhibition was combined with the Botanical Garden and

In Moscow, or simply VDNKh, this is one of the main attractions of the capital, and, perhaps, of the whole world, because there are no analogues to this exhibition and museum complex. VDNH welcomes more than 20 million guests a year, its area, together with the Botanical Garden and Ostankino Park, is over 500 hectares, and all pavilions are 134 square meters. At VDNKh there is something interesting for everyone, regardless of their age or nationality.

History of VDNKh

Moscow saw the exhibition complex in 1939, and over the years of its existence it changed its name more than once and came from prosperity to decline. Initially, VDNKh was an agricultural exhibition, which was evacuated to Chelyabinsk during the Second World War. After the war, the complex was rebuilt and given the status of an exhibition of the national economy. During the Soviet period, many cultural and cultural facilities were built on the territory of VDNKh. historical significance, including the sculpture “Worker and Collective Farm Woman” by Vera Mukhina, the Friendship Fountain of Peoples. Unfortunately, some of the VDNKh pavilions have not survived to this day. Photos of them can be seen in the article.

Perestroika and the collapse of the Soviet Union had a detrimental effect on many areas of life. A new world was being built, where VDNKh turned, in fact, into a market. Many pavilions were sold or put into storage, most of the unique exhibits were lost. In fact, only an amusement park worked in the entire complex.

The revival of the complex began in 2013. Retail outlets were demolished and liquidated, all pavilions were vacated and restored, tons of garbage were removed from the territory. Also adjacent to and were included in the complex. Was restored and accommodating 4.5 thousand spectators. Now it is the main summer venue in Moscow for concerts and various events. And in the summer of 2015, Moskvarium, the largest oceanarium in all of Europe, opened its doors at VDNKh.

Main pavilions

Initially, there were about 70 different pavilions on the territory of the complex dedicated to the republics of the USSR, as well as various areas of Soviet science, industry, medicine, culture, and sports. Soviet guidebooks claimed that it would take at least 5 days to see the entire VDNKh exhibition. Photos and chronicles of those years allow us to imagine the scope and scale of the exhibition.

Modern VDNKh also begins with the main monumental gate and the first central pavilion, and right behind it extends the Kolkhoz Square, along which 20 pavilions dedicated to different peoples are lined up. former USSR. Some of them are being restored, and some hold various events, for example, there is an Ice Age museum and a tasting room for producers of fortified drinks from the regions of Russia.

To the right of Kolkhozov Square is the “Local Dacha” - a special space for a relaxed summer vacation in the heart of the metropolis. There is a chess club, a dance floor, a summer reading room and many other interesting places.

The central part of the complex is decorated with the Mechanization Square and the Cosmos pavilion, which is under reconstruction. To the right of it is the wedding palace. It is very popular among newlyweds, because at VDNKh you can sign, and get married in a local chapel, and arrange a photo walk, and hold a banquet. There is also a summer cinema very close to the palace. Its special advantage is the presence of a roof, so you can enjoy viewing in any weather.

In the western part of the park, look for the Green Theater, and in the eastern part - pavilions dedicated to animal breeding. So, in the pavilion "Sheep breeding" today there is an equestrian center, where anyone can ride a pony or horse, as well as visit a special excursion.

Parks and recreation areas

Ostankino Park and the Botanical Garden, which have joined VDNKh, are great places for walking and interesting outdoor activities. The park has a boat station where you can rent a boat or a catamaran. And the Port at VDNKh complex is a huge beach area with pools and bars.

You can also walk along the numerous alleys and parks of the complex, for example, visit the theatrical sculpture park with white stone figures depicting various theatrical entities. Pine forest, linden alley, birch grove are also waiting for hikers, and not far from the main entrance there is a “fishing village”, where you can relax by the fire, go fishing and taste beluga or sterlet fish soup cooked by the best chefs.

Lectures and educational activities

The main place for those who want to improve their intellectual level and broaden their horizons is a cinema-lecture hall. Regular paid and free lectures are held here on a variety of topics: from psychology and physics to fashion and music history. Lectures are also given in English.

In the pavilion "Culture" there is a gallery "ROSIZO", where you can get acquainted with the Russian fine arts. The Transportation Pavilion houses the Polytechnic Museum, where you can visit a variety of excursions. Many exhibitions are held in other pavilions.

Sports events

If you are in the mood to play sports or spend an active weekend, VDNKh offers many options. For example, near the pavilion "Physical culture and sports" there is the largest rope park in Russia. In addition to the rope jungle, the complex offers a giant swing and an observation deck.

For those wishing to arrange a corporate or friendly mini-football or basketball tournament, open areas equipped for these sports are rented out. Fans of more intimate competitions should go to the “Local Dacha” site, where you can play ping-pong and badminton.

Yoga lovers can work out in the fresh air in the same place, in the country, and fans of fitness and strength exercises can visit the special Reebok training ground near the Young Technician pavilion.

As many as 5 rental points for various sports equipment work at VDNKh. This means that you can rent not only a regular bike or roller skates, but also a longboard, a fitness bike, a scooter and even a tandem bike.

Exhibitions and concerts: cultural program at VDNKh

Moscow received the main concert venue with the reconstruction of the Green Theatre. In May, he opened a new theatrical and concert season, but tickets should be bought in advance. There are also free concerts, often during the daytime. Both classical and modern music sounds from the stage, tours of foreign musicians and performances of the best theaters in Russia take place. Charity and children's events are held.

In Soviet times, the visitors of VDNKh were surprised by the unique circular film panorama, the reviews of modern viewers say that the power of engineering still amazes them now. Until now, here you can watch 7 unique films and understand that this is where the history of modern cinema began, in which the goal is to completely immerse the viewer in the created reality.

VDNH for children

The main entertainment for children is the new, largest oceanarium in Europe. This is not only an aquarium where 8000 different marine animals live, but also a theater for performances by marine artists. In addition, kids can touch stingrays, starfish and some fish. Educational programs are also planned.

The Young Naturalist pavilion houses a museum and a theater of fairy tales. The museum has a lot of exhibits that acquaint children with Russian authentic and fabulous life. Particularly attractive is the fact that all the exhibits can be touched, and the imitation of the hut can be viewed literally up and down, even crawl through the stove with a “burning” fire.

If you come to VDNKh with children, you should also visit the ceramic manufactory, where guests are introduced to such a type of applied art as pottery. You can visit one of the workshops and try to make your own clay pot or jug.

Immediately behind the "Agriculture" pavilion stands an amazing upside-down house, where everything is turned upside down. This exciting attraction can be found in amusement parks around the world.

Lokal Dacha also organizes many interesting events for children, for example, in the summer on the street, and in the winter there is a chess club for children and adults in the house of culture. There is also a huge (600 m2) children's playground with slides, swings and carousels.

How to get to VDNH

You can get to VDNKh by any type of public transport: metro, bus, trolleybus, tram, car, and even a monorail. It is easier to get to the main entrance, but there are also additional side passages to the territory of VDNKh. Address of the complex: Moscow, Prospekt Mira, 119.

If you decide to take the metro, get off at the VDNKh station and get straight to the main entrance. Also, several buses (routes numbered 33, 56, 76, 93, 136, 154, 172, 195, 239, 244, 803), trolleybuses (routes 14, 48, 76) and trams (numbers 11 and 17) go to the stop of the same name. ). He goes to VDNKh and the monorail to the stop "Exhibition Center".

Other entrances to the exhibition can also be reached by land transport:

  • Northern entrance - stop "Northern".
  • South entrance - stop "VVC Yuzhnaya".
  • Entrance from - stop "Film studio".

If you are driving, find out everything about VDNKh: the address and coordinates for the navigator, as well as the exact coordinates of all parking lots. It is possible to move around the territory by car, but not on all days, it is better to check the details in the administration of the complex.

Almost 60 years ago, on June 16, 1959, the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy was opened to visitors. Prior to that, since 1939, VDNKh existed under the name of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition (VSHV). Since its opening, more than one generation of Muscovites and guests of the capital has been walking, falling in love, making new friends at VDNKh. VDNKh has collected a variety of cultural features of the Soviet era, being a kind of open-air museum of the history of the USSR and Russia.

Of course, now VDNKh has changed somewhat, but even now this place attracts many tourists. Residents of Moscow are also not averse to roller-skating or skating along the numerous paths of VDNKh.

What should you pay attention to when you are here for the first time? There are at least 10 places worth visiting at VDNKh.

1. Amusement park

The amusement park is one of the few VDNKh attractions that have retained their originality for several decades now. Previously, there were 2 amusement parks at VDNKh - to the right and to the left of the Main Entrance. Now the Amusement Park is located only on the left, although in the future it is planned to restore the second amusement park.

One of the symbols of VDNKh (and Moscow as a whole) is the Ferris wheel, which was previously located to the right of the Main Entrance. It was the highest Ferris wheel in Moscow, so for those who want to ride, but are afraid of heights, closed cabins were provided. At the moment, the Ferris wheel has been dismantled. The new ferris wheel is planned to be installed by 2018.

2.

Just like the Ferris wheel, the Friendship of Peoples fountain is a landmark building at VDNKh and one of the symbols of Moscow. It was built in 1954 and had several unofficial names: Golden Sheaf and Friendship of the Peoples of the USSR.

The fountain is a sculpture of 16 girls in national attire, symbolizing the 16 union republics of the USSR.

Russia (a girl holding wheat in her hands, with a scythe on her head) stands in the center facing the Main Pavilion, Ukraine (a girl with a wreath on her head) and Belarus (a girl with a headscarf) are located on the sides of her. Visitors noted that all the fraternal republics are located in a different order than they are presented on the coat of arms of the USSR.

By the way, four sculptures of the fountain have prototypes: the Estonian ballerina and actress Virve Kiple-Parsadanyan, the Russian Honored Worker of VDNKh Raisa Frolovna Kolganova, the Turkmen pianist Gozel Annamamedova, the wife of the poet Mikhail Svetlov, Rodam Amirejibi, is a citizen of the Georgian SSR.

The fountain attracts many guests every day who want to take a memorable photo or just sit on comfortable benches next to the fountain. And this is not surprising - in the evenings, the fountain is illuminated with different colors, which change 16 times in 1 hour!

3. Cinema "Circular cinema panorama"

The cinema is located at the southern entrance of VDNKh. This is the only cinema in the world where visitors can watch unique films with a 360-degree view and stereo sound. These films are usually around 20 minutes long.

There are benches in the center of the hall where you can sit down for more comfortable viewing. 22 screens installed in 2 tiers form a vicious circle, thanks to which a completely realistic effect of presence is created for each visitor.

It is hard to believe, but the Circular Cinema Panorama was created back in 1959 and was timed to coincide with the July plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the opening of VDNKh. In 1965-1966 the cinema has been modernized. Now there are about 20 screenings a day.

The address: Prospekt Mira, 119, building 541
Ticket price: 150 rubles.

4.

The first manned flight into space is one of the most important stages in the development of science in the Soviet Union and one of the most important world achievements. Of course, this theme could not but be reflected in the image of VDNKh.

In 1964, a monument to the Conquerors of Space appeared at VDNKh. In April 1981, the Cosmonautics Museum was opened at the base of the monument. Museum visitors could see things here one way or another related to space and astronauts: space equipment, the first spacesuits and artificial satellites of the Earth - everything that helped to study the Moon and other planets of the solar system.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the museum was closed for renovation and reopened in 2009. After the reconstruction, the area of ​​the museum has increased by 4 times, now there are 8 exhibition halls and a conference hall has been added.

Museum halls:

  • "Space Age Morning";
  • "Creators of the space age";
  • "Space House in Orbit" (modern manned astronautics);
  • "Research of the Moon and Planets of the Solar System";
  • "Cosmonautics - to mankind";
  • "International cooperation in space";
  • "International Space Park" (space states of the world, the rocket and space industry of Russia);
  • "History and Culture of the Space Age".

There are more than 90 thousand exhibits here: these are samples of rocket and space technology (rockets, satellites, simulators for astronauts, etc.), and rare things, documents, objects of arts and crafts, paintings, and many others.

The address: Prospekt Mira, 111
Ticket price: from 50 rubles.

5. Moscow Butterfly House

Do you love tropical motifs? Do you like lightness and grace? Then the Butterfly House in pavilion No. 519 is the place you should definitely visit at VDNKh!

There are 2 halls in the Butterfly House, or Butterflyarium.

Greenhouse No. 1 is an exposition with live tropical butterflies. Here you can see different types of butterflies and even touch them! After all, butterflies in the Butterflyarium flutter right in front of visitors.

Here you will get acquainted with the life of butterflies, their nutrition, and you can even watch how the chrysalis becomes a butterfly.

In hall number 2 you will see a gallery with a unique private collection of butterflies and various insects collected from all over the world. There are no analogues of this collection. It has been gathering for about 50 years and has absorbed insects from Asia, Africa, South and North America.

If after visiting the museum you realize that butterflies are really yours, you can buy a chrysalis or a live butterfly in the store and settle it at home! It also sells handmade souvenirs.

The address: Prospekt Mira, 119, building 519
Ticket price: from 300 rubles.

6.

Moskvarium opened in 2015. It is divided into several zones: an aquarium zone, a swimming center with dolphins, a lecture hall. In addition, there are often shows with marine life.

About 8 thousand marine and freshwater inhabitants from all over the globe are represented in the aquarium zone with an area of ​​12 thousand square meters. Here are stingrays, and crustaceans, and different types of fish (including an eccentric nautilus), and sea ​​stars, and octopuses. Extreme lovers will be able to get acquainted with sharks and caiman crocodiles.

At the moment Moskvarium is the only place where you can swim with dolphins. This is what the swimming center is for.

To see the performances of maritime artists, visit the show at the Moskvarium. Charming fur seals, majestic killer whales, mysterious beluga whales and, of course, mischievous dolphins will gladly show you everything they are capable of!

The address: Prospekt Mira, 119, building 23
Ticket price: from 600 rubles

7.

The Museum of Optical Illusions opened in 2015 in Pavilion No. 55. Here, anyone can get into a parallel reality and do what they have long dreamed of. For example, thrill-seekers will be able to jump with a parachute or try to escape from bloodthirsty zombies, movie lovers will feel like they are their favorite movie characters.

Despite the fact that this museum is loved by both adults and children, it is of particular delight to the younger generation of visitors. This is not surprising - where else can kids get to know the minions, Scrooge or the Simpson family?

The feeling of reality is created by special three-dimensional paintings created by the best 3D artists and props in Russia. Against the background of these paintings, you can - and even need to - be photographed. After all, it is in the photo that the necessary effect of presence appears!

The address: Prospekt Mira, 119, building 55
Ticket price: from 350 rubles

In addition to visiting the aforementioned places, you can always find something to your liking at VDNKh. If you like outdoor activities, you will always find a place at VDNKh. Summer paths with smooth asphalt will appeal to fans of roller skating or jogging. Perfect ice at the winter skating rink attracts ice skating fans.

In addition, here you can always just take a leisurely walk with friends or make a romantic date.


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