One of the most picturesque places in Moscow is the Novodevichy Convent and its environs. Founded in the sixteenth century, it not only became an amazing architectural monument, but also reflected the history of the Soviet era. Prominent cultural politicians rest in a cemetery located near the southern wall of the Novodevichy Convent (Moscow). "How to get to this attraction?" - in Soviet times, when atheism prevailed over religiosity, every Muscovite or regular guest of the capital knew the answer to this question.
Vow of Basil III
Before answering the question of how to get to the Novodevichy Convent, you should, of course, talk about this architectural ensemble, which contains a lot of tragic and joyful events.
Legend has it that Vasily III, completely exhausted after many futile attempts to conquer Smolensk, once vowed to build a nunnery in Moscow near the walls of this wonderful city. His dream came true in July 1514. Prince Vasily took Smolensk, and ten years later the construction of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow began.
How to get to the monastery established by the winner of the Lithuanian army? It is located from the Kremlin in three miles. The place for the monastery was not chosen by chance. The prince ordered to build it on the bend of the Moscow River, on the Maiden’s Field. By the way, Vasily spent about three thousand rubles in silver, a dozen palace villages and several huge land plots on his project.
About how to get to the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, in the 16-17th century, some noble people did not want to know. So, the father of Ivan the Terrible was married more than once. Solomonia Saburova could not give birth to a son for twenty years. Prince Vasily was angry and sent her to the Novodevichy Convent. There is an opinion that he planned to do this at the initial stage of the construction of the monastery. At that time, such an act was unprecedented. But later, Vasily's example was followed by other noble nobles who sought to get rid of an uncomfortable wife, daughter-in-law, niece, or even daughter.
Under Ivan the Terrible
Before you get to the famous monastery, you should look at a map of Moscow. Novodevichy Convent is located in one of the most prestigious areas of the capital. It is located in the south-west of the city, a kilometer from it is the Luzhniki Stadium. Not far from the monastery is a well-equipped garden with weeping willows, a pond in which ducks splash in the summer. Parks and manicured ponds in the 16th century were not on the map of Moscow. Novodevichy Convent was surrounded by wasteland.
Under Ivan the Terrible, some inhabitants of the monastery led a far from ascetic lifestyle. Paletskaya received monastic tonsure here . Do not assume that a noble person has abandoned all worldly things. Juliana Paletskaya lived in special cells, owned a huge cellar, contained a whole staff of courtiers. In 1582, the Dowager Elena Sheremetyeva moved here. In the Time of Troubles, the monastery became a haven for the royal people, who were in disgrace.
Architectural features
In the center of the ensemble is Smolensky Cathedral, decorated with fresco paintings. In 1690, a bell tower was built in the Novodevichy Convent. In Moscow, then she became the most outstanding. The bell tower is an alternation of "deaf" and openwork tiers, has a height of 72 meters. On the territory of the Novodevichy Convent there are also the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the refectory, the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior, the Lopukhinsky Chambers and about ten other historical monuments. In order to examine them all, it will take more than one day.
Bell tower
This famous architectural monument was built in 1690. The bell tower consists of five tiers and is an octahedron set on top of each other. In 1998, a terrible hurricane occurred in Moscow, which carried a cross on the bell tower. After 17 years, a fire broke out here, which was managed to extinguish after ten hours. The historical monument, which is an important component of the architectural ensemble of the monastery, was, of course, restored. It is worth saying that the Moscow monastery itself is included in the cultural heritage of UNESCO.
Novodevichy cemetery
In the 16th century, near one of the walls of the monastery, a small churchyard appeared. Here was buried the young daughter of Ivan the Terrible and other representatives of the royal family. In the 19th century, graves of musicians, poets, writers began to appear here.
Visiting the Novodevichy Convent, tourists will certainly come to the cemetery. The writers Nikolai Gogol and Mikhail Bulgakov are buried here. Over the past century, the most famous people living in Moscow found the last refuge either at Vagankovsky or at the Novodevichy cemetery. In the latter, on the "New" territory, mainly officials, statesmen, recognized people of art were buried. At the end of the Central Alley is a huge marble monument depicting the Flag of the Russian Federation. This is the grave of the first president of Russia, Boris Yeltsin. Pyotr Konchalovsky, Yuri Nikulin, Sergey Eisenstein and many other celebrities are buried here.
How to get to the Novodevichy Convent (Moscow)? By metro you need to get to the Sportivnaya station, get off towards the Luzhniki stadium. Then walk along the street of the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution. After 5 minutes, the magnificent wall of the Novodevichy Convent will open your eyes. The territory of the monastery is open to visitors from 9:00 to 17:00.