Arbat Street

The Old Arbat (Russian: Старый Арбат) is a picturesque pedestrian street in Moscow, running west from Arbat Square (which is part of the Boulevard Ring) towards Smolenskaya Square (which is part of the Garden Ring). The Old Arbat has the reputation of being Moscow's most touristy street, with lots of entertainment and souvenirs sold. It is distinct from the New Arbat, a street running parallel to it and lined with Soviet skyscrapers made of steel, concrete, and glass.

The first mention of the Arbat was in 1493 as a road leading from the Moscow Kremlin to Smolensk. The origin of the name is Tatar and means suburb (the same as Rabat). During the 16th and 17th centuries, the neighbourhood was graced with elegant churches, notably the one featured in Vasily Polenov's celebrated painting ' (1879).

In the 18th century, the Arbat came to be regarded by the Russian nobility as the most prestigious living area in Moscow. The street was almost completely destroyed by the great fire during Napoleon's occupation of Moscow in 1812 and had to be rebuilt. Alexander Pushkin lodged in one of its mansions for a short time, and there is a statue of him and his wife, Natalie, in front of this house. Another famous native was the writer Andrey Bely, many of whose novels feature impressionist portrayals of this patriarchal area.

In the 20th century, the street succumbed to limited renovations in the Art Nouveau and Constructivist styles. Probably the most original monument to this new trend is the Melnikov Mansion. The street's confluence with the Garden Ring was marked with a flamboyant wedding-cake skyscraper of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Simultaneously, most of the Arbat's churches were demolished, including that of St Nicholas, regarded as one of the finest examples of Godunov style. before the Russian Revolution.]]

Since 1986, the Arbat has been dotted with distinctive street lanterns. It has several notable statues, including one to Princess Turandot in front of the Vakhtangov Theatre and another to Soviet-era folk singer, bard, and poet, Bulat Okudzhava, who wrote several poignant songs about the Arbat. During Perestroika, the street was a gathering place for informal youth movements (like hippies or punks), as well as street musicians and artists. Viktor Tsoi's wall in one of the Arbat side-streets (Krivoarbatskiy Pereulok) remains a curious monument to those turbulent years. To this day, Russian youth frequently gather on the Arbat to play the songs of Tsoi and other Russian songwriters.

The Arbat is home to the headquarters of oil company TNK-BP - a modern building at the beginning of the street. It also contains numerous restaurants, including The Hard Rock Cafe. Many of these restaurants are geared towards visitors to Moscow and are considered by many residents to be over-priced and of low quality compared to those in other parts of the city. There are also a few restaurants and cafes that cater to the working population and middle class; these include Kruzhka, Praim, and Mu-Mu's.

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8 February 2013
Какая прекрасная статья об Арбате и о времени! Огромная благодарность автору, очень жаль, что его имя не указано...
Dilek Altuntaş
28 April 2018
Pedestrenian street with lots of souvenir shops and cafes. Always lively and colorful. Street performers, artists selling thelr work. Must be seen.
Mehmet
13 August 2014
Arbat Streets a pedestrian street about one kilometer long in the historical centre of Moscow.One of the oldest street of city and many artists lived and worked there.
Tiffany Z
9 October 2014
The most touristic street in Moscow but nether the less still a beautiful place especially at night! Shops, cafes, restaurants including Hard Rock Cafe! Also lots of street performers & great art!
Tigran Kostanyan
27 November 2018
A living, constantly changing space. The street is lined with souvenir stalls, tourist kiosks and street performers. Take a chance and turn on any side street leading to the famous Hard Rock Cafe.
Mike
11 October 2013
Arbat the most touristy street in Moscow. absolutely has to visit and buy souvenirs !!!!(do not be afraid to negotiate prices) thx Marina :)
Лёха Тёмный
18 August 2015
large and wide street, a lot of restaurants and snack bars, coffee shops and all sorts of souvenir shops!
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Map
Arbat Street, 39, Moscow, Russia, 101000 Get directions
Fri 2:00 PM–11:00 PM
Sat 1:00 PM–11:00 PM
Sun 1:00 PM–10:00 PM
Mon-Wed 2:00 PM–10:00 PM

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