Moscow is a big place, there’s no doubt. That can make it tricky to narrow down the places to visit in the Russian Federation capital. However, there’s one place that should definitely not miss visiting, Khamovniki District.

As you’ll see below, this is one of the most beautiful, cultural and historical parts of Moscow. There’s a lot to see and do here and in this article we’ll explain the main highlights.

© A.Savin, WikiCommons

explore Moscow

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The Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery is a very picturesque Orthodox monastery of the Moscow diocese, founded in 1398 and located 2 km west of the city of Zvenigorod in Moscow Oblast, about 60 km west of Moscow.

In the 15th-17th centuries, the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery played the role of an outpost of the Moscow Principality in the west. The monastery was a favorite place of prayer for many Russian tsars. The Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery on Google Maps. Photos by: Alexandr Lipilin.

beautiful monastery

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The Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity in Nikitniki (the Church of the Georgian Icon of the Mother of God on Varvarka) is a great example of the Russian (Muscovite) uzorochye of the middle of the 17th century.

It was built by Yaroslavl merchants in Kitay-Gorod, a cultural and historical area within the central part of Moscow, in 1628-1651. In Soviet times, this part of the city was built up with administrative buildings, but the church was preserved and used as a museum. The Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity in Nikitniki on Google Maps. Photos by: Vladimir d’Ar.

picturesque old church

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Jacques Reyne Isidore Acarie-Baron (1798-1874) was a French painter and scientific illustrator and here is one of his works – The Panorama of Moscow from the Ivan the Great Bell Tower dedicated to the Emperor of Russia and created in 1847.

This bell tower with a total height of 81 m is the tallest building of the Moscow Kremlin.

unique views of Moscow

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The Bykovo Estate is a manor complex located in the park in the village of Bykovo in Moscow Oblast, about 40 km southeast of the center of Moscow. This is an outstanding example of Russian architecture and gardening art of the era of Emperor Nicholas I. The territory of the estate and the adjacent park is about 30 hectares.

The main architectural attraction of the Bykovo Estate is the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God – a famous monument of Russian pseudo-Gothic architecture of the 18th century. The Bykovo Estate on Google Maps. Photos by: Vadim Razumov.

unusual Orthodox church

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The Resurrection Church in Kadashi Sloboda (1687-1695) is a picturesque Orthodox church located in Yakimanka District in Central Administrative Okrug of Moscow (2-Y Kadashevskiy Pereulok, 7).

This church is an outstanding architectural monument built in the style of “Moscow Baroque” characterized by elegance of proportions and delicate silhouette. In 2014-2016, a complete restoration of the facades of the church and the bell tower was carried out. The Resurrection Church in Kadashi Sloboda on Google Maps. Photos by: Vladimir d’Ar.

beautiful Moscow church

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The Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery is a monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church located in the town of Istra in Moscow Oblast, about 40 km northwest of Moscow.

The monastery was founded by Patriarch Nikon in 1656. According to his plan, the complex of holy places in Palestine was to be recreated near Moscow. By the end of 2016, restoration work was completed in the monastery. New Jerusalem Monastery on Google Maps. Photos by: Stanislav Konstantinov.

one of the best monasteries in Russia

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“Akhtyrka” is a former estate and park complex located on the banks of the Vorya River in Moscow Oblast near the city of Sergiev Posad, about 60 km north-east of Moscow. From 1734 to 1879, it belonged to the princes of the Trubetskoy family.

In 1922, the wooden palace burned down, other structures gradually collapsed. But the Church of the Icon of Our Lady of Akhtyrka (1821-1825) survived. In 1937, it was closed. In 1991, the church was returned to the community of believers, services were resumed. Today, it is a monument of architecture of federal significance. Akhtyrka Church on Google Maps. Photos by: Vadim Razumov.

picturesque stone church

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Khotkovo is a town with a population of about 21 thousand people located in Moscow Oblast, about 70 km northeast of the center of Moscow and 14 km southwest of Sergiev Posad.

The town originally appeared as a settlement near the Pokrovsky Khotkov Monastery, first mentioned in 1308. Today, the picturesque ensemble of the Pokrovsky Khotkov Convent is represented by buildings of the 18th-19th centuries. Khotkovo on Google Maps. Photos by: Vadim Razumov.

beautiful architectural ensemble

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The Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo is an Orthodox church located in Basmanny District of Moscow (Spartakovskaya Street, 15). It was built by the architect Evgraf Tyurin in 1835-1845. In the area of the cathedral, there was previously the village of Yelokhovo, which became part of Moscow in the 18th century.

The cathedral was constructed in the late Empire style with a dome rotunda in the center, with some features imitating the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The height of the cathedral is 56 meters, area – 1,164 square meters, capacity – 3,000 people. Today, it is one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches in Moscow. The Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo on Google Maps. Photos by: Vladimir Dar.

magnificent church

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