The beautiful capital of Russia, spread out along the fancifully curving Moscow River and the no less wobbling Yauza River, is a rather big city. In order to somehow take it under control and simplify the management, administrative divisions are made throughout the city – with each division divided again into districts. In total, there are 12 administrative divisions and 146 districts in Moscow. Not all districts are equally prosperous or popular, unfortunately – just like how things commonly are in big cities. The most famous districts are all gathered in the Central Administrative Division. Here are the 3 districts of Moscow you should try and visit at least once in your lifetime.
1. Arbat
Arbat is one of the oldest districts of the capital with more than 500 years of history, and many monuments of architecture, history and culture. It is named after the Arbat Street which is located here. The peculiarity of modern Arbat is that on its territory there is no mass housing construction and a small concentration of industrial enterprises, and only reconstruction works are carried out from construction works.
Arbat is a heterogeneous development area. Basically, these are mansions and other buildings erected before the revolution in the 18th-19th centuries. Some of these houses have been reconstructed. As a rule, they are equipped for business centers or for elite class housing. A special charm of the area is its quiet side streets. On the streets of Arbat are embassies of foreign countries, small office centers, restaurants and cafes. On the main streets, everything is different – there are a large number of expensive restaurants and boutiques of famous brands with flashy and big signs.
2. Zamoskvorechye
Zamoskvorechye district is located in the bend of the Moscow River, on its right bank, south of the Kremlin. The district is distinguished by vivid historical, cultural and urban values. It has a number of historical, cultural, social and industrial features. Here also, many of the most important sights of Moscow are concentrated. Zamoskvorechye inherited the current appearance in many respects from merchant times: low-rise buildings, a constellation of churches of different styles – all this retained the old perspective of the view of the Kremlin. Although Soviet urban development did not particularly spare these protected places.
The Garden Ring divides the area into two quite different parts. Within the Garden Ring is a historically formed part of the city, rich in architectural and memorial sites, which leads to a special approach to the reconstruction of existing buildings and new construction, etc. The territory beyond the Garden Ring, which became part of Moscow in the 18th century, was finally formed only by the 90s of the last century. A large number of industrial enterprises and design institutes are concentrated in this part of the district.
3. Khamovniki
Khamovniki district is located on the banks of the Moscow River. It is harmoniously blended with the coastal natural landscape while fully preserving its appearance of the architecture of the past centuries. The district has many cultural monuments: temples, monasteries, museums, historical buildings and structures – which are carefully preserved and reconstructed.
Khamovniki is one of the most environmentally friendly areas of the capital center. There are several green areas such as the Neskuchny Sad or Mandelstam Park. The social infrastructure of the district is very well developed. In terms of comfort, Khamovniki can be considered one of the best areas of the center of Moscow.
The Khamovnikov housing stock, which was almost completely formed in Soviet times, is still in good condition today. The district is decorated with Frunzenskaya embankment, where beautiful examples of “Stalinist” buildings are located – both residential and administrative buildings. Numerous military establishments are located along it, therefore, in Soviet times, apartments in the houses here were received by employees of the state apparatus, KGB officers and senior command personnel of the Armed Forces. In addition, a certain percentage of apartments went to prominent figures of science and art. Now high-quality housing construction in Khamovniki is carried out mainly in the center of the district. There are practically no new buildings along the Frunze Embankment.