Neighbourhood history

Meshchane in Imperial Russia denoted a social estate of poor town residents who did not qualify as merchants or civil servants; in modern Russian, it is a pejorative name for a narrow-minded philistine. Meschansky District acquired its name earlier, in the second half of 17th century, through the Ukrainians and Belarusians abducted from their hometowns in the course of Russo-Polish War (1654–1667). These people settled north from present-day Garden Ring, reaching 692 households by 1682. In their languages, meshchane meant simply «town people», «the locals», without negative connotation; the name of Meshchanskaya sloboda persists to date. Meshchanskaya sloboda became a considerable commercial and handicraft district of Moscow; it has a local self-government which was very progressive for those days.

Three-quarters of all the archeological reserves on the territory of Moscow are located in Meshchansky district, and most of its landmarks are considered as historical and cultural heritage of the capital. Ancient palatary, tenement houses, mansions are well-known architectural monuments.

Bolshaya Lubyanka Street is continued by Sretenka and then by Prospect mira. These streets were thoroughfare running north-east and leading to Vladimir and Yaroslavl. Since olden days the road was used by pilgrims going to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius which is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. The monastery is situated in the town of Sergiyev Posad, about 90 km to the north-east from Moscow by the road leading to Yaroslavl.

«Chemists’ garden» was laid out in 1706 by Peter the Great on the territory of Meshchansky district. Later it became the first Botanical Garden of Moscow. The hothouse collections go back to the late 18th century and are of great scientific value. But the Botanical Gardens are not just for experts. Once inside, it’s hard to believe that you’re close to the centre of Europe’s biggest city, and it’s a wonderful place to come to get away from the noise and stress of urban living. The gardens change their character and their attractions according to the season, and the enormous greenhouses mean that even in the depths of winter there’s plenty to see.

The district is also famous for its other gardens and parks such as Ekaterininsky Garden, Festivalny Park, Sretensky and Rozdestvensky, Tsvetnoy boulevards.

Tsvetnoy Boulevard was laid out in the 1830s to replace the river-bed of the Neglinnaya after this rivulet and the adjacent large pond had been earthed up. Its name is derived from the Russian word for «flowers», alluding to the nearby flower market. The street gives its name to a Moscow metro station Tsvetnoi Bulvar. The most notable landmarks are the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard and a lofty column supporting the statue of Saint George slaying the dragon (i.e., coat of arms of Moscow).

Rostokinsky Aqueduct, also known as Millionny Bridge, is a stone aqueduct built in 1780-1804. It is the only remaining aqueduct in Moscow, once a part of Mytishchi Water Supply, Moscow’s first centralized water utility. The Aqueduct was commissioned by Catherine II of Russia to engineer Friedrich Wilhelm Bauer. Construction, frequently interrupted, dragged for 25 years. Finally, the aqueduct was completed at an unprecedented cost of 2 million roubles, thus the name Millionny Bridge. Aqueduct was renovated, furnished with hand-rails and false decorative roof and open for visitors in 2007/2008.

We hope that unique atmosphere of Meshchansky district will make your stay at Holiday Inn Moscow Suschevsky remarkable and our hotel will be a perfect place to start exploring Russian capital.