"Borodino Field" - Borodino State Military Historical Museum-Reserve

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Borodino field is not only a part of the territory, but also a reminder to everyone about the military glory of Russian soldiers who defended their Motherland not only in the 19th, but also in the 20th century. What does it represent many years after the great victories of our compatriots? The Borodino field, the photo of which simply cannot convey the grandeur of this historical place, every Russian should visit at least once in his life.

General information

Many young people who are fond of the glorious history of our state know the Borodino field very well. Even many foreigners know where the place of the battle of the previously invincible French army of Napoleon and the Russian army is located. This is due to the great significance of this bloody battle that took place during the Patriotic War of 1812. It largely changed the course of history not only for the Russian Empire, but also for Europe.

Borodino field is a large area, spread outwest of the city of Mozhaisk. It is located on the site of a rural settlement. It has a corresponding name - Borodino. This settlement belongs to the Mozhaysky district of the Moscow region. It was built near the village of Borodino. It was this place that was destined to become a monument to the glory and unbending spirit of Russian soldiers.

Museum-reserve, so called - "Borodino field", is a memorial of two Patriotic wars. It is known in many countries of the world. It is considered the oldest museum created on the battlefields. The territory of the reserve is 110 square meters. km. It has more than 200 memorial sites, obelisks and monuments. Some of the most famous of them are the command posts of Napoleon and M. I. Kutuzov, the memorial complex, monuments at the places where Russian troops were stationed.

Glorious history of Russian troops

On the territory of the modern settlement on August 26 (September 7 according to the new style), 1812, a grandiose battle took place between the French army of Napoleon and the Russian troops. But not only this Battle of Borodino is a source of pride for local residents. In 1941-1942. on this territory was the advanced line of defense of Moscow.

The map of the Borodino field is replete with various signs denoting certain memorable places. The main events of the French-Russian battle took place between two old Smolensk roads. The most important military facilities were located on this territory:

• Bagration's (Semenov's) flushes;

• Shevardinsky redoubt;

• BatteryRayevsky.

Results of the battle

According to historians, 120,000 Russian soldiers and 135,000 Frenchmen took part in the Battle of Borodino. The Russians had 624 guns, while their opponents had 587. The battle began with the capture by the French of the village of Borodino, where the Russian troops had been before them. The main events of the battle began at 5 o'clock in the morning, on the left flank of the Russian army. In this place, near the Semenovsky ravine, the Bagrationov flushes were located. Many hours of fierce fighting took place here. Flushes have changed hands many times. The ground was completely covered with the corpses of soldiers and horses. In this battle, the commander-in-chief of the 2nd Western Army, P. I. Bagration, was mortally wounded. After that, the French were able to capture the flushes.

The battle for Raevsky's battery, which was in the center of the Russian positions, was just as fierce. During the bloody battle, in which thousands of soldiers died on both sides, the Russian soldiers showed their unshakable will to win. Despite the fact that the French were able to capture the fortifications of the Russians in the center and on the left flank, Napoleon f altered from such determination of the enemy to fight to the death and retreated to his original positions.

The battle of Borodino is considered the bloodiest in the history of one-day battles. It killed 45,000 Russians and about 40,000 French. At the same time, on both sides there were losses not only of soldiers, but also of officers. In this battle, 23 Russian and 49 French generals were killed, which greatly weakened Napoleon's previously invincible army.

MeaningBattle of Borodino

The battle of Borodino is one of the bloodiest in the history of the Russian army. It was described with great accuracy in L. Tolstoy's novel War and Peace. The result of this battle was the flight of Napoleon. He not only left captured Moscow, but also lost his army of many thousands and France.

Foundation of the museum

In 1837, the Russian Emperor Nicholas I acquired part of the estate in the village of Borodino in the name of his son Alexander. An important step in preserving the memory of the heroes of the Russian army was the opening on August 26, 1839 of a monument to Russian soldiers, which is located on the Raevsky battery, and the reburial of the ashes of Bagration P. I. Later, a museum dedicated to one of the greatest battles in the history of Russia was founded on this territory Empire. A general inspection of the field can be made from a high mound, which is located outside the village of Gorki. It was on it that on the day of the battle there was an observation post of M. I. Kutuzov. According to an old legend, at the beginning of the battle, an eagle flew over the commander-in-chief, predicting victory for the Russians. It was this bird that was erected on the obelisk located on this mound.

In 1912, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the battle, 33 monuments to various divisions, regiments, corps, companies and batteries were erected at the battle site. All of them are located on mounds of different sizes, on the banks of streams and on the slopes of ravines. Most of the monuments were built with donations from officers and soldiers who served in military units that inherited the names of the units that fought at Borodino.

Monuments of Borodino

Visitors of the Borodino field have the opportunity to see more than 50 beautiful monuments at once, both to outstanding military leaders and ordinary Russian soldiers. All of them make us proud of our ancestors, instill a sense of patriotism in every person. The main monuments of the Borodino field:

• Obelisk to Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov, created by the famous architect Vorontsov-Velyaminov.

• Bagration flushes.

• To the fallen French soldiers.

• Raevsky's battery.

• To Russian soldiers.

• Utitsky Mound (Mount Sady).

• 7th Infantry Division.

• Nezhin Dragoon Regiment.

• Field Horse Artillery.

• 2nd Cuirassier Division.

• Volyn regiment.

• Grave of General Bagration.

• Lithuanian regiment.

• Shevardinsky redoubt.

• 3rd Infantry Division General Konovnitsyn P. P.

• "Roubeau Height".

• 24th Infantry Division.

• Moscow and Smolensk militias.

• To the Finnish regiment.

• 3 Cavalry Corps and 1 Horse Battery.

• 12th Infantry Division.

• 2nd Horse Battery of the Artillery Brigade of Captain Raal F. F.

At the highway that connects the village of Borodino with the museum, there is a T-34 tank on a pedestal. This monument is dedicated to the soldiers of the 5th Army who defended Moscow in 1941. The bunker of the Mozhaisk fortified area, built in 1941, is marked with a commemorative sign.

Common graves

Besides monuments andobelisks, on the territory of the reserve there are several mass graves in which Russian and French soldiers who died in the year of the Battle of Borodino are buried. Near the monument to Bakhmetev's division are the burial places of Russian officers who gave their lives in that battle. On the territory of the museum-reserve there is a mass grave of soldiers who died in the Utitsky forest. A memorial sign was erected on it in 1962. At the same time, in the place where the flashes of Bagration were located, the remains of the soldiers of both armies were discovered. After the solemn reburial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was opened. In 1912, at the place where Napoleon's command post was located, the only monument to the dead Frenchmen was erected. It bears the inscription: "To the dead of the great army".

Also on the field there are burials of Soviet soldiers of 1941-1942, which are located almost next to other memorial signs installed in honor of the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812. For example, near the Borodino station there is a mass grave of Soviet soldiers 5 Army.

Military History Museum

Borodino field, in the center of which is the Military History Museum, attracts hundreds of tourists every day. The main building was built in 1912, just in time for the 100th anniversary of the world-famous battle that turned the tide of the war of 1812. It houses a rich exposition showing the descendants of glorious warriors how the Battle of Borodino took place.

Architectural and memorial complex

At the place where one of Bagration's flushes used to be,Today, a beautiful architectural and memorial complex rises. Includes:

• Spaso-Borodino Monastery, which was built in 1830-1870

• Spasskaya Church.

• The Kolotsk Monastery, where the headquarters of Mikhail Kutuzov was located.

• Church of the Nativity, dating from the late 17th century.

The Spaso-Borodino Monastery was founded by Margarita Mikhailovna Tuchkova at the place where her husband, General A. A. Tuchkov, died. In her house in 1994 a small exposition was created, located in 3 rooms. It tells about the life of this glorious couple and the history of the founding of the monastery. The main room contains a memorial to General Tuchkov.

Modern life of the museum-reserve

In the 21st century, the museum-reserve presented its visitors with a new exposition called "Borodino - the Battle of the Giants". It is housed in a building built near the Raevsky battery. The basis of the exposition is made up of authentic items that are associated with the Battle of Borodino. It includes: banners and standards; weapon; uniforms of warriors of two armies; awards; the documents; cards; personal items. Finds from the battlefield are also exhibited here. Among them there are fragments of grenades, cores, bullets. The exposition included various works of fine art created by participants and contemporaries of those ancient events. There are also thematic paintings by artists of the 19th-20th centuries.

On the territory of the Borodino field there is a settlement "Doronino", which is an interactivemuseum of military and peasant life. Its main feature is that all buildings, objects, things and interior details are real.

Other museum exhibits

One of the most popular expositions of the museum-reserve is the "Military Gallery". It is located in the refectory of the Church of the Spaso-Borodino Monastery. The battle on the Borodino field was very large-scale, so the exhibition features more than 70 portraits of officers of the Russian army, which includes many famous and little-known generals. More than a third of these commanders were wounded or shell-shocked in battle. The battle on the Borodino field is very authentically reflected in various layouts and stands.

Orthodox festival and reenactment of battles

Borodino field since 2005 has become the venue for the International Youth Festival "Brothers". Many patriotic clubs participate in reconstructions that recreate the battles of the Patriotic Wars of 1812 and 1941. Every year an increasing number of different organizations take an active part in them. Such a hobby gives modern people the opportunity to look at the historical events of their homeland through the eyes of the people who participated in them. Such a rapprochement with the past allows you to fully experience your history and the continuity of generations. Members of military history clubs take an active part in many educational programs, in demonstration performances, and make documentaries.

How to get to the museum

Many want to visit Borodinofield. How to get to it from Moscow? Getting to the museum-reserve is not at all difficult. You can get here:

• By car, heading up to 102 km of the Minsk highway. Then turn right, in the direction of Mozhaisk. From it, following the sign to the village of Borodino, you need to drive only 12 km.

• By bus on the intercity route No. 457 "Moscow-Mozhaysk". You can take it at the stop near the metro station "Park Pobedy". Next, go to the Borodino stop.

• By train you can get from the Belorussky railway station to the Borodino station, and then you need to walk about 3 km to the museum itself. Travel time is approximately 3 hours.

The museum-reserve accepts both group excursions and ordinary tourists. Experienced museum staff will help you choose a route through the territory of the Borodino field and the architectural and memorial complex. They will tell about any moments of one of the greatest battles in the history of our Motherland.

In the village of Borodino there is a cafe "Mozhayskoye rancho", where tourists can relax and eat.