Arc-shaped street Kuznetsky most on the map of Moscow is located inside the Boulevard Ring. It is located on the territory of the Tversky and Meshchansky districts of the Central Administrative District of the capital and is named after the ancient architectural structure of the same name, which existed from the middle of the 18th century to 1819.
The Kuznetsky Most street starts from Bolshaya Dmitrovka and ends at the intersection with Bolshaya Lubyanka.
History before 1819
The first mention of the street, which corresponded to the modern Kuznetsky Most, is contained in the document "Census of Moscow courtyards" dated 1620. It also mentions that the courts of the patriarchal nobles and the archbishop of Tver were located on it. Around the same period, a wooden bridge was built across the Neglinka, called Kuznetsky, next to which representatives of the most famous aristocratic families began to settle. A century later, it was replaced with a white stone one, and it became one of the four mainstructures of this kind in Moscow.
After the decree of Catherine the Second on privileges for foreigners, the area where the modern street. Kuznetsky Most began to turn into a place of compact residence for merchants from European countries, who began to open fashionable and haberdashery stores there. Over time, many Russian aristocrats moved, and their mansions turned into arcades and, as they would say today, shopping centers.
During the fire of 1812, the street crossed by the Kuznetsky bridge was practically not damaged thanks to Napoleon's guards, who guarded the shops and houses of their compatriots. After the end of the Patriotic War, foreigners returned there, and trade went on with even greater success than before.
After 1819
As part of a large-scale restructuring of the capital in 1817, work began on covering the Neglinka with stone vaults. As a result, the Kuznetsky Bridge was filled up, the parapets were removed, and new houses were built along their lines. Toponyms have also changed. In particular, the Kuznetsky Most Street has now appeared.
Moscow in those days even had some advantage over St. Petersburg in terms of trade, so people from all over Russia came there for shopping. In particular, until 1917, Kuznetsky Most, in modern terms, was the main shopping place for fashionistas from all over the country, and in the newspapers of that time it was often called "the sanctuary of luxury and fashion." Over time, ateliers appeared on the street, where in 24 hours they sewed dresses and suits for customers according to samples broughtstraight from Paris.
Later, the Kuznetsky Bridge became a kind of showcase of the city's prosperity, which was shown to foreigners with pleasure. For this purpose, electric lighting was even installed there in 1886, which was a novelty for Russia. Large-scale construction on Kuznetsky Most Street (Moscow) began in the 20th century, when some dilapidated houses and passages were demolished and new profitable houses and passages were built, which today are its decoration.
After the October Revolution
In the first years after the establishment of Soviet power, most of the buildings on the Kuznetsk bridge were confiscated and transferred to various state institutions and organizations. The second life of the street began during the NEP period, when enterprising citizens were again allowed to develop trade. However, the title of the main fashion center of the country was returned to this place when the All-Union House of Models was opened in house No. 14, for which Kuznetsky Most is still famous.
Moscow after this event, thanks to the designers working there, became known in the world as a place where a special fashion with a Russian soul is created.
In the post-Soviet period
After the collapse of the USSR, in the early 90s, some buildings were demolished and new ones were built in their place. It is difficult to say whether they decorated the Kuznetsky Most. During this period, Moscow generally suffered many architectural losses, mostly irreparable. To prevent this from happening in the future, in 2011, that part of the street where the ancient buildings are concentrated was included in the protected areas. In addition, practicallyall of them have been given the status of monuments of federal significance.
Modern look
Today, in the vicinity and on Kuznetsky Most Street itself (the area of Moscow bounded by Teatralny Proyezd and Bolshaya Dmitrovka and Rozhdestvenskaya streets) there are many famous cultural and educational institutions, from the Bolshoi Theater and the Technical Library to the College named after. Shchepkina.
At the same time, it continues to be the place where the most famous shops of the capital are concentrated. Among them are the completely renovated Central Department Store, the Svetlana Trading House, the 4-storey Podium store, etc. This old street is also known for its sights that deserve a separate description.
Tretyakov Profitable House
The most convenient transport that allows you to get to Kuznetsky Most Street is the metro. Not far from the station of the same name is the Tretyakov Profitable House, built in 1892 in the pseudo-Russian style by the architect Kaminsky.
Currently, the owner of the building, which was overhauled in 2011, is the Bank of Moscow.
Popov's Passage
This is one of the most remarkable buildings on Kuznetsky Most. Initially, in its place was the mansion of Count Vederevsky. The building changed hands several times and survived several fires. At the end of the 19th century, the house was bought by the merchant Popov, who demolished it to the ground and built a passage that housed numerous shops.
After the revolution, the building was confiscated and housedvarious state institutions, and later - a scientific and technical library. At the moment, the building is being reconstructed, and it is planned to open a large department store in it.
Falcon Profitable House
Another attraction that you can see when you go to Kuznetsky Most Street (the metro is within walking distance from it) is famous for its mosaic facade. We are talking about the so-called Profitable house "Falcon", in the decoration of which N. Sapunov, I. Mashkov and M. Vrubel took part.
Now you know what Kuznetsky Most Street is famous for. Above are only three famous buildings, out of several dozen architectural monuments that can be seen there. So, all this is worth seeing with your own eyes!
