VDNKH
The first exhibition complex was opened at this territory in 1939. At that time it served only as the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. During the II World War the exhibits were evacuated. The visitors returned only in 1954. After the merger of VDNKH with a Botanical garden and Ostankino park, the area of our tour reached 520 ha.
Route points
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1The Entrance Arch
Opened in 1954. The arch opens the passage to the Central Alley and symbolizes the victory of our people in the Great Patriotic war. Statues standing on the arch are “The Tractor Driver” and “The Kolkhoz Woman", representing the union of industry and agriculture.
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2The Central PavilionUntil 1963 it was called the "Main". It was designed and built twice, first on the place of The Stone Flower fountain. The pavilion is decorated with emblems of the republics, which were part of the USSR. Initially, there were not 15 but 16 of them. Additional emblem belonged to the Karelian-Finnish SSR. This republic later merged with the Russian Soviet Republic and the "extra" emblem was hidden with plaster.
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3The Friendship of Nations Fountain
This water construction was decorated with sculptures of women - representatives of the republics of the USSR. For each figure representatives of the particular republics were posing to the sculptors. Among them were Estonian ballerina and actress Virve Kiple-Parsadanyan, Turkmen pianist Gozel Annamamedova and the wife of poet Mikhail Svetlov - Rodam Amirejibi from Georgia.
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4The Agriculture PavilionOne of the most striking pavilions, all decorated with gold. It was opened under the name "Ukraine", personally by Secretary General Khrushchev. He was dissatisfied with the building, saying that it looked like a Ukrainian hut and didn’t express the power and the brightness of his homeland.
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5The Museum of Science and Industry (Polytechnic Museum)Opened in 1872 it was first called the Museum of Applied knowledge. One of the oldest technology museums is proud of its modern concept. It has moved to VDNKH only for the time of the reconstruction of its main building which is located on the Old Square.
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6The Skating RinkThe skating rink on VDNKH is officially considered the largest in the world. It covers an area of 20 549 square meters and more than 4 500 people can skate here at the same time. Discos and various flash mobs are constantly organized here.
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7The Worker and The Kolkhoz Woman statueThe legendary monument was first presented at the world exhibition in Paris. Since 1947, the monument is a symbol of the "Mosfilm" studio. The author of the 25-meter stainless steel monument is Vera Mukhina. A pavilion with an exhibition hall is located inside the pedestal.
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8The Wedding Palace
The Wedding Palace was opened in 2014. It serves both for state marriage ceremonies and church procedures. By the way, the Palace is located in the building 421, which was designed as a typical workers' club.
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9The Space PavilionOne of the favorite pavilions of Soviet children. Here one can see space food in tubes, sit in the centrifuge, where was used for training cosmonauts, or see a space rocket in full size. Nearby the spacecraft "Buran" has been recently installed.
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10«The Moskvarium» Center of Oceanography and Marine BiologyOne building houses an auditorium for enchanting water shows with marine animals and circus performers and a huge aquarium. The territory of the aquarium is 12 thousand square meters. It accommodates 80 swimming pools and aquariums with special design. They contain 300 cubic meters of water, home for different inhabitants of the world ocean.
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11The Robot StationThe most interesting entertainment for today's children – an exposition full of robots which teach and entertain the visitors. One of the local robots is familiar with the presidents of different countries. You can also see dancing robots or the robot which is considered the cutes in the world.
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12The Belarus PavilionIn the post-Soviet time it was used as a marketplace. Now, the reconstruction of the building is completed. The 2 meters high sculptural compositions called “The Milkmaid", "The Agronomist", "The Kholhoz woman", "The Hunter" and "The Mechanic" were mounted on the pediments in the autumn of 2016. They are exact copies of the composition "The Workers of Belarus", which could hardly survive during the "market" period.
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13The Circular Cinema PanoramaThe world's only still operating panoramic cinema with a 360-degree view and stereo sound. It’s a masterpiece of Russian engineering. The cinema projection system consists of 11 projectors and screens, arranged in a circle and forming a complete panorama. The surround sound system has 9 channels.
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14The Meat Industry PavilionThe second name of the pavilion is "Glavmyaso". On the second floor in the open terrace, overlooking the exhibition area, there used to be a diner serving hot Moscow cutlets, sausages, broth and sausage sandwiches.
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15The Ostankino ParkIt has been recently incorporated into the VDNKH territory. You can enjoy the historic 18th century manor house, which for a long time belonged to the family of Sheremetev counts. It was here, that one of the richest members of the Russian nobility fell in love with a serf actress Parasha Zhemchugova. More than that, he officially married her, hitting the society with such a misalliance.