Poklonnaya Hill
Moscow, 3 Pobeda Sqr.
Open: 10am - 7pm
Closed: Monday, last Tuesday of the month
Tel. (495) 142-41-85
Nearest metro stations: Park Pobedy
Poklonnaya Hill (Hill of Glory) is a memorial complex dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Victory in the Second World War. It’s one of the most picturesque sities of Moscow.
The Poklonnaya Hill is the flat hill in the western part of Moscow, between rivers Setun and Filka. Once the Poklonnaya Mountain was far beyond the borders of Moscow, and from its top one could see the city panorama.
“Poklonnaya” derives from “poklon” or “bow”, a Russian gesture to pay respect to a person or object of high reverence. Poklonnaya Hill served a good stopover place for travelers and played host to foreign guests.
The Poklonnaya Mountain was first mentioned in chronicles of the 16th century. At that time it was called the Poklonnaya Mountain on Smolenskaya Road. It was on Poklonnaya Mountain that Napoleon was vainly waiting for the keys to Moscow. During World War II the solders passed by the Poklonnaya Mountain leaving for the front to defend Russia.
The grand opening of the Victory Memorial on Poklonnaya Hill was held in Moscow on May 9, 1995.
Memorial complex is situated on the territory of 135 hectares and includes Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, covering an area of 33,992 square meters, with an adjoining picture gallery, Victory Monument and 3 temples of 3 religions built in memory of the killed during the war, open air exhibitions of weapons and combat equipment, including specimens of material of the navy and the railroad forces, and engineering structures. The Church of Great Martyr and Victory Bearer St. George was consecrated on May 6, 1995; the memorial Mosque was built in 1997 in memory of servicemen-moslems perished in the War and the Memorial Synagogue to memorize Jews perished in the War and the Holocaust Memorial Museum were opened in 1998.
The Central Museum of Great Patriotic War is located in the round Winners' Square. The central alley of the Victory Park with 1418 fountains symbolize duration of the war connects it with Kutuzovsky Prospect. The museum founded in 1986 contains about 50,000 exhibits of military history. The 285 volumes of Memory Books containing the names of those who died during the Patriotic War are displayed in special showcases. Among other items, the museum contains the red Victory Flag that was raised over the Reichstag in Berlin on the 30th of April, 1945.
In the centre of Winners' Square rises a 141,8 meter high obelisk, crowned by a figure of Nika, a goddess of Victory. Its height symbolizes 1,418 days and nights of the Great Patriotic War. At the bottom of the obelisk the statue of Saint George is placed. Saint George is depicted stabbing the snake that symbolizes evil. Both sculptures were made by Z. Tsereteli.
Part of the War Memorial on Poklonnaya Hill is an open-air Weaponry and Fortification Exposition. It begins with specimens of German armaments advancing on the Soviet line of defense. The defense line was built by military engineers on authentic drawings, and serving a model was a strip of land where the Battle of Kursk, one of the fiercest battles of the Second World War, took place in July-August 1943.
On display in the Victory Park are an Exposition of the Navy and the Railway Forces, specimens of artillery guns and aircraft. Apart from that, the Park boasts a complete collection of armored vehicles – from light tanks of the early war years to heavy models, which fought in Berlin in 1945.
In 2003 on the territory of the Memorial the chapel was put up. It commemorates the memory of Spanish volunteers who died during World War II.
Right at the entrance to Poklonnaya Hill is the world’s biggest flower clock, which has been included in the Guinness Book of Records. The clock-face is laid out from some 8000 flowers.
Poklonnaya Hill is one of the most favorite destinations for a good walk and a good rest and is equally admired by both Moscow residents and guests of the Russian capital.