Moscow Oblast, Russia

The capital city of Moskovskaya oblast: Moscow.

Moscow Oblast - Overview

Moscow Oblast is a federal subject of Russia located in the Central Federal District. Moscow, the capital city of the country, is the administrative center of Moscow Oblast. At the same time, Moscow is not part of this region, it is a separate federal subject of Russia, a city of federal importance.

The population of Moscow Oblast is about 7,769,000 (2022), the area - 44,379 sq. km.

Moskovskaya oblast flag

Moskovskaya oblast flag

Moskovskaya oblast coat of arms

Moskovskaya oblast coat of arms

Moskovskaya oblast map, Russia

Moskovskaya oblast map of Russia

History of Moscow Oblast

The territory of the Moscow region was inhabited more than 20 thousand years ago. In the first millennium AD, this land was inhabited mostly by the Finno-Ugric peoples (Meryane and Meshchera). In the 9th-10th centuries, the Slavs began active development of the region. The population was engaged in hunting, fisheries, agriculture, and cattle breeding.

In the middle of the 12th century, the territory of the present Moscow region became part of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, the first towns were founded (Volokolamsk in 1135, Moscow in 1147, Zvenigorod in 1152, Dmitrov in 1154). In the first half of the 13th century, the Vladimir-Suzdal principality was conquered by the Mongols.

In the 14th-16th centuries, Moscow principality became the center of unification of Russian lands. The history of the Moscow region is inextricably linked to military events of the Time of Troubles - the siege of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery by the troops of False Dmitry II, the first and second militias.

More historical facts…

In 1708, by decree of Peter the Great, Moskovskaya gubernia (province) was established. It included most of the territory of present Moscow oblast. In 1712, St. Petersburg became the capital of the Russian Empire and the significance of the Moscow region as the country’s economic center began to decrease.

In 1812, the Battle of Borodino took place near Moscow. It was the biggest battle of the Russian-French War of 1812. In the second half of the 19th century, especially after the peasant reform of 1861, the Moscow province experienced economic growth. In 1851, the first railway connected Moscow and St. Petersburg; in 1862 - Nizhny Novgorod.

The population of the Moscow region increased significantly (in 1847 - 1.13 million people, in 1905 - 2.65 million). On the eve of the First World War, Moscow was a city with a population of more than one million people.

In November, 1917, the Soviet power was established in the region. In 1918, the country’s capital was moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow that contributed to economic recovery of the province. In the 1920s-1930s, a lot of churches located near Moscow were closed, a large number of cultural monuments were destroyed. On January 14, 1929, Moscow Oblast was formed.

In 1941-1942, one of the most important battles of the Second World War took place on the territory of the region - the Battle for Moscow. In the postwar years, the growth of economic potential of the region continued; several science cities were founded (Dubna, Troitsk, Pushchino, Chernogolovka).

In the 1990s, the economy of Moscow Oblast experienced a deep crisis. Since the 1990s, due to the motorization of the population and commuting, road traffic situation in the Moscow region significantly deteriorated. Traffic jams have become commonplace.

Pictures of Moscow Oblast

Moscow Oblast scenery

Moscow Oblast scenery

Author: Mikhail Grizly

At the airport in the Moscow region

At the airport in the Moscow region

Author: Evgeny Davydov

Nature of Moscow Oblast

Nature of Moscow Oblast

Author: Alexander Khmelkov


Moscow Oblast - Features

Moscow Oblast is located in the central part of the East European Plain, in the basin of the rivers of Volga, Oka, Klyazma, Moskva. The region stretches from north to south for 310 km, from west to east - 340 km. It was named after the city of Moscow, which however is not part of the region. Part of the administrative authorities of the region is located in Krasnogorsk.

On the territory of the Moscow region, there are 77 cities and towns, 19 of them have a population of more than 100 thousand people. The largest cities are Balashikha (518,300), Podolsk (309,600), Mytishchi (262,700), Khimky (256,300), Korolyov (225,300), Lubertsy (209,600), Krasnogorsk (174,900), Elektrostal (149,000), Odintsovo (138,900), Kolomna (136,800), Domodedovo (136,100).

The climate is temperate continental. Summers are warm, winters are moderately cold. The average temperature in January is minus 10 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 19 degrees Celsius.

One of the most important features of the local economy is its proximity to Moscow. Some of the cities (Odintsovo, Krasnogorsk, Mytishchi) have become in fact the “sleeping districts” of Moscow. The region is in second place in terms of industrial production among the regions of Russia (after Moscow).

The leading industries are food processing, engineering, chemical, metallurgy, construction. Moscow oblast has one of the largest in Russia scientific and technological complexes. Handicrafts are well developed (Gzhel ceramics, Zhostov trays, Fedoskino lacquered miniatures, toy-making).

Moscow railway hub is the largest in Russia (11 radial directions, 2,700 km of railways, the density of railways is the highest in Russia). There are two large international airports - Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo. Vnukovo airport is used for the flights within the country.

Attractions of Moscow Oblast

Moscow Oblast has more than 6,400 objects of cultural heritage:

  • famous estate complexes,
  • ancient towns with architectural monuments (Vereya, Volokolamsk, Dmitrov, Zaraysk, Zvenigorod, Istra, Kolomna, Sergiev Posad, Serpukhov),
  • churches and monasteries-museums (the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Joseph-Volokolamsk monastery, Pokrovsky Khotkov monastery, Savvino Storozhevsky monastery, Nikolo Ugresha monastery).

The most famous estate complexes:

  • Arkhangelskoye - a large museum with a rich collection of Western European and Russian art of the 17th-19th centuries,
  • Abramtsevo - a literary and artistic center,
  • Melikhovo - an estate owned by A.P. Chekhov at the end of the 19th century,
  • Zakharovo and Bolshiye Vyazyomy included in the History and Literature Museum-Reserve of Alexander Pushkin,
  • House-Museum of the composer P.I. Tchaikovsky in Klin,
  • Muranovo that belonged to the poet F.I. Tyutchev,
  • Shakhmatovo - the estate of the poet Alexander Blok.

The architectural ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The largest museum of the Moscow region is located in Serpukhov - Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum.

The places of traditional arts and crafts are the basis of the souvenir industry of Russia:

  • Fedoskino - lacquer miniature painting,
  • Bogorodskoe - traditional manufacture of wooden toys,
  • Gzhel - unique tradition of creating ceramics,
  • Zhostovo - painted metal crafts,
  • Pavlovsky Posad - fabrics with traditional printed pattern.

Some of these settlements have museums dedicated to traditional crafts (for example, a toy museum in Bogorodskoe), as well as centers of learning arts and crafts.

Moskovskaya oblast of Russia photos

Landscapes of Moscow Oblast

Nature of the Moscow region

Nature of the Moscow region

Author: Mikhail Grizly

Country road in the Moscow region

Country road in the Moscow region

Author: Evgeny Davydov

Moscow Oblast landscape

Moscow Oblast landscape

Author: Mikhail Kurtsev


Moscow Oblast views

Moscow Oblast scenery

Moscow Oblast scenery

Author: Asedach Alexander

Country life in Moscow Oblast

Country life in Moscow Oblast

Author: Andrey Zakharov

Church in Moscow Oblast

Church in Moscow Oblast

Author: Groshev Dmitrii


Churches of Moscow Oblast

Church in the Moscow region

Church in the Moscow region

Author: Mikhail Grizly

Church in Moscow Oblast

Church in Moscow Oblast

Author: Andrey Zakharov

Cathedral in Moscow Oblast

Cathedral in Moscow Oblast

Author: Mikhail Grizly


The questions of our visitors

Elizabeth asks: How much is rent for a one room flat in the Moscow region?
Expert's answer:
The average cost of renting a one room apartment in the Moscow region is about 20,000 Rubles per month.
Steve Riley asks: Met someone named Natalya. Has mentioned Palova in her emails and that she is from Russia. How would a person travel from the US into Pavlova, Moscow Oblast, Russis
Expert's answer:
I haven't found the settlement named Pavlova in Moscow oblast, but there is the town of Pavlovsky Posad in the region, maybe it is the one you need?

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