Within the Boulevards: Volkhonka Street The central part of Khamovniki is dominated by the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, a 2000s replica of a 19th-century cathedral by
Konstantin Thon, destroyed in 1931. The history of Volkhonka and Znamenka street goes back to the 14th-century court of
Sophia of Lithuania, wife of Prince
Vasili I and the regent of Moscow after his death, which stood on the site of
Pashkov House (
Russian State Library) and later housed the
Shuysky family. The site of Pushkin Museum was occupied by the royal Coach Yard (Колымажный двор, Kolymazhny Dvor), giving name to existing Kolymazhny Lane. The western boundary of central district, marked by extinct
Chertoryi brook on site of present-day
Gogol Boulevard, was fortified in 1504 and 1580s. It is believed that
Malyuta Skuratov, close associate of
Ivan Grozny, lived and was buried here, as indicated by the tombstone found in the 1930s. The area gained importance with the completion of
Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge in the 1690s. Throughout the 18th century, it acquired noble residents like
Golitsyn,
Dolgorukov and
Volkonsky families. A state-run pub on Volkonsky property gave name to Volkhonka Street. Most of historical Volkhonka was demolished in 1838 and the 1880s, clearing sites for Christ the Saviour and a riding school, the latter replaced in 1912 by Pushkin Museum. Znamenka Street was razed in the 20th century and is now occupied by institutions of the Ministry of Defense.
Boulevards to Garden Ring: The Golden Mile , later
Golitsyn family Urbanization of the territories beyond the walls of
Bely Gorod (Boulevard Ring) is credited to Ivan Grozny. Ivan allocated these lands to
Oprichnina, his own private domain. Very soon, Ivan's faithful associates resettled into
oprichnina lands, thus present-day Ostozhenka,
Prechistenka and Sivtsev Vrazhek streets initially developed as upper-class neighborhoods and retained this status ever since. Lanes in these neighborhoods (Mansurovsky, Khrushyovsky etc.) are named after original landlords. Ivan's son, childless
Fyodor I, instituted extant
Conception Monastery between Ostozhenka and
Moskva River on the site of old Saint Alexis convent that perished in the
Fire of Moscow (1547). Until the 1830s, frequent floods discouraged construction near the river, and the boundary of inhabited territories was 100–200 meters to the north from present-day embankment (see
Vodootvodny Canal for more details). Legacy of 16th century survives in historical red and white chambers across Christ the Saviour, restored to their (perceived) original shape. Upper-class population grew stronger after the
Fire of Moscow (1812), when the main streets were rebuilt in
Neoclassical architecture by disciples of
Matvey Kazakov. Grand 2–3 mansions were more common in Prechistenka, smaller single-story buildings—in Ostozhenka Street; some of them survive to date. However, the territory between facades of Ostozhenka and the embankment were a maze of wooden huts, small factories etc.; this disparity continued until the 1990s, and even today there are many run-down, condemned wooden houses. The end of 19th century gradually replaced country-style houses with 3–4 story rental buildings. Architectural diversity expanded into
Art Nouveau (
Lev Kekushev's and
William Walcot's mansions, 1900–1903),
Russian Revival fantasies (Pertsova Building, 1906–1910, and Tsvetkov House, 1901), Dutch style (Prechistenskaya, 3) and Neoclassical Revival (Mindovsky House by
Nikita Lazarev). Since the 1990s, territory of old Ostozhenka became a construction site. Old blocks are torn down one by one and replaced with modern-looking midrise apartment buildings and offices. The area is now probably the most expensive real estate in Moscow, nicknamed
The Golden Mile. In March 2007, advertised
starting prices for yet unbuilt properties range from 12,000 to 20,000
USD per square meter (1,100–2,050 USD per square foot).
Beyond Garden Ring: Khamovniki proper Khamovniki proper is the territory directly beyond Ostozhenka Street (across the Garden Ring).
Kham was the name of fabric made by the craftsmen of local
sloboda. These craftsmen, originally from
Tver, were forced to settle in Moscow in 1624. Extant
Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki, the center of sloboda, was erected in 1679. In 1708,
Peter I added a canvas factory. The textile tradition continued into industrial age; late 19th century textile mills are now converted to offices. The area is marked by two large historical military institutions: the Grain Warehouses (Провиантские склады, 1827) and Khamovniki Barracks, built in 1807–1809 by
Matvey Kazakov on the site of canvas factory, and later expanded. A huge parade ground in front of the barracks now forms part of
Komsomolsky Prospekt. The neighborhood also has
Leo Tolstoy memorial house (Lva Tostogo Street, 21).
Stalinist apartment blocks between Komsomolsky Prospect and Moskva River belong to some of the most expensive real estate in Moscow.
Novodevichy Convent, cemetery and Devichye Pole For more details on this section, see Novodevichy Convent, Novodevichy Cemetery and Devichye Pole Fortified
Novodevichy Convent, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, was established in the early 16th century at the far end of Luzhniki bend to control the river crossing of the
Old Smolensk Road. Extant structures remain virtually unchanged since the 17th century. Adjacent
Novodevichy Cemetery, inaugurated in 1898, has been Moscow's most famous burial site (excluding
Kremlin Wall Necropolis). The area between Khamovniki sloboda and the Convent, once a 1.6 kilometer long stretch of green field used for public festivities, is known as
Devichye Pole. In 1884–1897, it was developed in a medical campus of
Moscow State University. State-funded clinics, built in strict neoclassical manner, were lined on the northern side of Bolshaya Pirogovskaya Street; privately funded clinics, on the southern side, present a diversity of styles from
Palladian architecture to
Russian Revival fantasies. In 1905–1914, the city and private sponsors added new educational properties, including nation's largest college for women. At the same time, Moskva River bank north from the campus developed into a strip of factories; more factories and workers followed during 1915 evacuation of industry and workers from
Riga. To accommodate these residents, in the 1920s the
Bolshevik administration built the
Rationalist Usachevka housing project and
Constructivist Kauchuk Factory Club.
Luzhniki Luzhniki area today is locked between River Moskva and the Moscow Ring Railroad, built in the 20th century. The name is borrowed from an old Luzhniki village, razed to construct the main Stadium. Urbanization of Luzhniki actually started during
World War I. In 1914–1916,
Nikolay Vtorov company built a munitions factory, still existing on a triangular lot south-east from present-day
Luzhniki Metro Bridge. In 1928, the city built the first wooden Luzhniki Stadium (''Chemists' Stadium'', 15,000 seats) on the site of present-day main arena. This stadium and Luzhniki village was torn down in the 1950s. The opening of the 1980 Olympic Games was held at Luzhniki Stadium. ==Notable buildings, cultural and educational facilities==