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10 Military Museums in Moscow That You Shouldn't Miss
The political, scientific, historical, architectural and business center of Russia, Moscow displays the country's contrasts at their most extreme. The ancient and modern are juxtaposed side by side in this city of 10 million. Catch a metro from one of the ornate stations to see Red Square, the Kremlin, the nine domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, the KGB Museum and other symbols of Moscow's great and terrible past, then lighten up and shop Boulevard Ring or people watch in Pushkin Square.
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1. Exhibition of Military Equipment and Weapons in the Open Air
2. Armoury Chamber
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,933 reviews
A dazzling array of treasures from the 4th to the 20th century are housed in this Kremlin museum, including thrones and carriages of the tsars, the works of Moscow silver and goldsmiths, arms, jewels, precious Russian Easter eggs and other Russian and foreign decorative arts.
Reviewed By RitaC651 - Melbourne, Australia
We were overwhelmed by the treasures we saw and were surprised that such an amazing collection survived Russia’s turbulent history. Hundreds of objects made of gold and silver were encrusted with gems. The gold carriages were unbelievable. The collection of crowns was my favourite. So many display cases were filled with items that showed the wealth and lavish lifestyle of the Tsars. There were displays of clothes worn by the royal family, some famous Faberge eggs and many other items. Everything was beautifully styled. There were military uniforms, weapons and horse armoury that were all heavily decorated. There was also a number of religious items. This museum shows the connection between the wealth and power of the Tzar, the church and the state. No wonder there was a revolution in Russia.
3. Borodino Battle Museum Panorama
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 232 reviews
The highlight of the museum is the panorama Borodino created by Russian battle-painter Franz Roubaud in 1912. The museum exposition is dedicated to the Russian victory over Napoleon's Great Army in 1812.
Reviewed By Logie66 - Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
This museum is a representation of the Russians defeating Napoleon at the battle of Borodin. At the very top is a 360 degree painting that cleverly re-created the scene of the battle with the foreground from the viewing point showing the debris and destruction of this war.
4. Central Armed Forces Museum of Russian Federation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 285 reviews
Reviewed By dgjohansson - Ronneby, Sweden
A bit hard to rate this museum since you probably either love it or are not interested in military history, and then hate it. But there is a grey area here since if you like military history, you also might either feel underwhelmed or overwhelmed. While the museum has a good mix of display cases with stuff in, they also have a lot of full-size dioramas. If you don't speak or read Russian, you must get the audioguide since there are no signs in English at all. The audio guide is very good if you just want an overview of the most important things in a room, but there is no option to get more information about a specific item not mentioned in the guide. That's why you either will be over- or underwhelmed depending on your interests. Also, the audioguide speaks about each room and directs you by the narrator where to go within a room, so jumping ahead is not possible. You'll have to listen or fast-forward the narrator within each room. Every room is a new track. There are about 24 rooms, each with a specific era or time period as a theme. A lot of rooms about WW2, but not so much about the war campaigns itself, but more about happenings before and after. Some very interesting Nazi artifacts are displayed, taken from Berlin for instance. Unfortunately, they have chosen to put them in red light (easy to spot the "enemy things") which makes them hard to see. Colors are disappearing or changed in the red light. Outside, there is a crowded display of Russian airplanes, tanks, missiles, and even a ship, but they are put very close together which makes it hard to get a really good look. Except for the boat, there are no ramps or anything making it possible to see the things from any view besides the front (more or less). Still very interesting. Also, there are only Russian things - no conquered Nazi tanks or planes or anything like that. The audioguide also speaks about several objects within each stopping point instead of giving each item a number of itself. There is a small cafe inside with fair enough food. As usual, you are not allowed to carry a backpack, outer clothes or anything like that. There are free lockers to lock away your backpack and smaller bags while clothes must be left at the wardrobe service in the basement (also free). The exit to the outside passes the wardrobe and makes it possible to dress on again before heading outside. You'll also need to put something as a deposit when getting the audio guide. Passport, 1000 Rub or Id-card will do. The only two only downsides of this place were the souvenir shops which only contained plastic toys, some medals, and some basic Russian things/shirts and such. No posters, no old Soviet replicas and things easy to take home. The second thing was that the audio guide lost its objectivity for each room you passed, becoming more and more patriotic the closer you came to the current time, that in the end, it became ridiculous. Keep that in mind and you can still enjoy this place as much as I did. The audio guide will entertain you about 2-3h, so I recommend you to stay here for 4-5h.
5. The museum of the Patriotic War of 1812
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 177 reviews
The Museum of Patriotic War of 1812 was opened in honor of the 200 Anniversary of the war. The exhibition consists of several thematic sections and is arranged in chronological order: from the events before the War of 1812 to foreign campaigns of Russian Army in 1813–1814. There are awards and uniform of French and Russian soldiers, maps and documents, household items and equipment among the rarities.
Reviewed By ginsengNewYork
This unique museum is fascinating for history lovers. It is located in the heart of Moscow, across from the Museum of State History, near Red Square, It tells the amazing story of the brilliant Russian victory over Napoleon in 1812 : Indeed, when Napoleon, after conquering most of Europe, invaded Russia with his humongous army (the "Grande Armée" numbered 680 000 soldiers, the largest army ever known at that time), he had no clue it was the beginning of the end for him and his men! The tsar, and mostly General Kutozov, head of the not so strong Russian army, avoided most bloody battles, and abandonned and set fire to Moscow, their sacred city, before Napoleon got there, preventing him from finding food and shelter, right before winter! When Napoleon finally realized the tsar would neither surrender, nor negociate, nor fight, but practised the "scortched earth" tactic, leaving no food for his troops, he had no choice but go back to France! This lengthy retreat, in the middle of a torturous early winter, turned to a gigantic nightmare! Kutozov's brilliant strategy was to wear them down by incessant minor engagements while retreating and preserving his army, and letting "General winter" do the rest. He first blocked Napoleon's attempt to retreat along a fertile, southern route, forcing the disintegrating French army to leave Russia by the very path it had totally devastated when entering the country, with nothing left to forage! The French retreat was a true descent into Hell (only 1/10th of the Great Army made it back home!) This invasion is very important in the Russian psyche, because it roused an immense wave of patriotism amongst all Russians, and because they are rightly proud to have defeated an indomitable ennemy and facilitated the freedom of Europe from Napoleon’s grasp. The Museum comprises modern spacious halls, with many fascinating artifacts – authentic documents like Napoleon's speeches to his men, period paintings, Russian and French uniforms, weapons, canons, with descriptive plaques in both Russian and English, as well as some movie sequences ("War and Peace" mostly in Russian) The exhibition space shows the structure of both French and Russian armies, their battle tactics, successfully supplemented with interactive touchscreen kiosks. Highly recommended!
6. Northern Tushino Park of Culture and Leisure
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 51 reviews
7. Museum of Military History Streletskiye Palaty
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Museum of military history Streletskiy palati of the Russian military historical society is an interactive platform for people who interest in Russian military history. The halls of the Museum is locate in the building of architectural monument of the XVII century. Their first owner was a clerk of the Council Semyon Titov, a close confidant of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov.
8. Podvodnaya Lodka Museum
9. Museum of Weapons
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
First interactive gun museum! Tired of exhibits under glass? Now history is in your hands! - Take and try real legendary weapons! - Make unique fotos in historic uniforms! - Want to look inside a gun? Easy as that! Want more? We will take you to Young fighter course, teach basics of weapon manipulations, tactical medicine and many more!
10. The Victory Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 558 reviews
Reviewed By DarshanaBR - Amman, Jordan
One of a best museum i visited in my russian tour. I went with my friends. After get tickets we had to give our jackets to cloak room. Then there is a nice lady came and explain all the exhibits and the story behind it very well. It was really worth to hear the WWII story and how russian beat germany. The movie on the big hall was amazing
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