Museums There are a lot of museums in Moscow. It's impossible to visit all of them but many are worth going to. Ticket prices for natives and foreigners are very different. You can try pretending being a native or ask someone to buy a ticket for you. Unfortunately, that doesn't always work at the control. THE KREMLIN (Кремль), or Fortress, where the city was established, where the Tsars lived and where the President now works was first built in the10th century. The original wooden structure was burnt and rebuilt several times. In the 13th century it was rebuilt using bricks. It took on its modern appearance, with its high walls of red bricks, its 20 towers, four churches and most of decorations, in 1485-1495. The walls measure 2235 m in length and are between 3,5 - 6,5 m in width and 5 - 19 m in height. The museums - churches are Arkhangelsky, Blagoveshchenskiy, Uspensky cathedral, and Tserkov Rizopolojeniya. There is the Armory Museum (Оружейная Палата) with its huge collection of mediaeval weapons and the Diamond Fund (Алмазный Фонд) with its splendid collection of gems. The big yellow building is the Parliament Hall built in the 20th century. You can book an excursion around the Kremlin or to any particular museum. Tickets can be purchased in the Kremlin ticket office not far from the Borovitskie Gates. Address: Kremlin. Tel. 202-42-56, 202-3776 (answering machine), 203-0349 (excursions). Fax 921-63-23, I-net: www.moscowkremlin.ru. Metro: Alexandrovski Sad (light blue), Ohotny Ryad (red), Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (red). Open: Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun: 10:00-17:00. Tickets: Russian citizens 50 R, foreign students 100 R ($3.5), foreigners 200 R ($7). Guided tours in Russian, English, German, and French are available for the Armory Museum (220R), and for the Kremlin / cathedrals (290R). LENIN'S MAUSOLEUM (Мавзолей) This remainder of the Soviet past, is the cause of many discussions concerning whether it should it continue to exist or not. What is it now - a memory of the past, the last consolation for Lenin's worshippers or a cynical scientific experiment? The body of the communist leader in a glass coffin summons complicated emotions. This is a sight for people with strong nerves. Address: Красная площадь (Krasnaya Ploshad - Red Square), Metro: Ohotniy Ryad (red), Ploshad Revolutsii (blue). Open: Tue -Thu, Sat. 10.00-13.00. MUSEUM OF HISTORY (Исторический музей) Russian history depicted through documents, photos, paintings and archeological artifacts. A rich collection of interesting works of arts and period pieces set in the atmosphere of a rich Russian noble's house (palaty). Upstairs there are contemporary historical exhibits, where the themes are creative and original. There is a souvenir shop and a restaurant serving traditional Russian food. Address: Krasnaya Ploshad (Red Square) #1/2, tel. 292-4019. Metro: Ploshad Revolutsii (blue), Teatralnaya (green). Open: Wed-Mon 11.00-19.00 except 1st Monday of month. TRETYAKOV'S ART GALLERY (Третьяковская галерея) This collection of paintings started in 1856 by Russian merchant-patron Tretyakov presents Russian Art from the 11th to the beginning of the 20th century. Here you can see the evolution from Icons to modern art, the masterpieces of the best Russian artists on permanent exhibition. There are also temporary exhibits. Due to the lack of space a second branch (TRETYAKOV'S ART GALLERY ll) was built at Krymsky Val. Tretyakov's gallery is situated in a nice picturesque area of old Moscow - Zamoskvorechie. It's pleasant to walk around. Address: Лаврушинский переулок (Lavrushinskiy pereulok) #10, tel. 951-1362. Metro: Tretyakovskaya (yellow, orange). Open: Tue-Sun 10.00-19.30 (admission till 18.30). Price: foreigners adults-160 R, reduced rates-95 R, for Russians and members of СНГ adults-20 R, reduced rate-8 R. PUSHKIN MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS was founded in 1898 on the initiative of the professors of Moscow State University, led by Tsvetaev (father of the well-known poetess). It has a very rich collection of art and antiques, starting with the ancient Egyptian objects exposition and ending with modern western painting. The sculptures in the hall on the first floor are very impressive as is the impressionist gallery on the second. Address: Волхонка (Volhonka) street #12, tel. 203-9578. Metro: Kropotkinskaya (red). Open: Tue-Sun 10.00-18.30. PERSONAL COLLECTIONS MUSEUM (Музей личных коллекций) is a part of the Pushkin museum, situated right next to it. All kinds of exhibits - modern and classical, temporary and permanent, are displayed there. Address: Волхонка (Volhonka) street #14, tel. 203-1546. Metro: Kropotkinskaya. Open: Wed-Sun 12.00-19.00 (admission till 18.00). THE MUSEUM OF RUSSIAN TRADITIONAL ART. If you are interested in knowing where Russian art comes from, you should make a point of visiting this museum. Contemporary exhibitions dedicated to Russia's history and its way of life can be viewed at this location. Address: Leontievski lane (Леонтьевский переулок) #7, tel. 291-8718. Metro: Pushkinskaya (violet), Arbatskaya (dark blue). Open: Tue-Sat 11.00-17.00 MAYAKOVSKY MUSEUM (Музей Маяковского) is situated in the house where the famous poet of the nineteen-twenties and thirties lived. The whole house has been redecorated to create an atmosphere of the time and the poetry of Mayakovskiy. Both are strange, brave, experimental, a bit aggressive and tragic. Interesting, well worth having a look. Address: Лубянский проезд (Lubyanskiy proezd) #3/6, tel. 921-9387, Metro: Lubyanka (red). Open: Mon-Tue 10.00-17.00, Thu 13.00-20.00 POLITECHNICAL MUSEUM (Политехнический музей). The scientific achievements and inventions, laboratories of famous Russian scientists collections, mechanisms and constructions - lots of curious things are displayed here. This is also the place, where 'bard' concerts take place (Russian bards - those who sing their own songs, accompanied by solo guitar, which are fine or fun, intellectual, and loved especially by students and the clerisy)., various Address: Novaya square (Novaya ploschad') #3/4, 1st entrance. Metro: Lubyanka (red). Open: Tue-Sun: 10.00-18.00, except for the last Thursday of the month. MANEZH GALLERY (Галерея Манеж). Located close to the Kremlin, this gallery covers more than 5000 sq. m. It became the main exhibition hall of the country in Soviet times and is still a place for big events. Here you can see miscellaneous and interesting exhibitions, festival openings and closings, and painting exhibitions. One of the most remarkable is the Art-Manezh exhibition, which is held annually. The popular Moscow Photobienalle is also featured here. Sometimes there are good exhibitions in the small hall upstairs. Address: Manezhnaya ploschad' (Manezhnaya square) #1. Tel. 202-8976. Metro: Biblioteka imeni Lenina (red), Okhotny Ryad (red). Open: 11.00-20.00. MALY MANEZH (Small Manezh). Here you can see great contemporary art and photo exhibits. Address: Georgievski pereulok (lane) #3. Tel. 292-44-59. Metro: Okhotny Ryad (red), Teatralnaya (green). Open: Tue-Sun 11.00-20.00 VVTs (former VDNKh - Exhibition of achievements of national economy). This is a large park, with great original buildings, where the achievements of Soviet science, agriculture and industry were once exhibited. The pavilions were dedicated to all aspects of Russian life - from space exploration to dairy farming. Now a big market is spread amongst the remains of past splendors. Trade shows and exhibitions are a regular occurrence in this great park. This park is a remarkable place for shopping or for a leisurely stroll. Address: Prospect Mira, tel. 181-95-04, Metro: VDNKh (orange).