Nikolskaya Street

Nikolskaya Street is one of Moscow’s oldest thoroughfares, stretching just 630 metres between Red Square and Lubyanka Square. Despite its modest length, this pedestrian zone has played a key role in the life of the capital for centuries. Here you will find architectural monuments from different eras, fashionable restaurants and boutiques, and the evening illumination turns the ancient street into a fairytale promenade.

Historical journey from the Middle Ages to the present day

Medieval origins

The history of Nikolskaya begins in the 13th century, when it formed part of the Vladimirsky tract – an important trade route linking Moscow with the ancient cities of Vladimir, Suzdal and Rostov Veliky. Originally the thoroughfare was called Sretenskaya, as it continued all the way to Sretenka and did not end at Lubyanka. In the 14th century a Greek monastery of St Nicholas the Old appeared on the street, giving it its modern name. According to another version, the name became fixed in the 15th century thanks to the Kremlin’s Nikolskaya Tower, from which the street begins. The name is first officially mentioned in documents from 1547.

Heyday in the imperial era

The 16th century marked Nikolskaya’s transformation into one of the capital’s central arteries. The area was built up with boyars’ mansions, monastery metochia and state institutions. Under Ivan the Terrible Russia’s first Printing House was founded here, where Ivan Fyodorov and Pyotr Mstislavets printed the book “Apostol” – the first edition produced by typographic method. In the 18th century Nikolskaya acquired the status of a ceremonial street: royal cortèges passed along it on their way to the Kremlin. At that time the buildings were erected by members of the nobility – the Sheremetevs, Dolgorukovs and Saltykovs. The nineteenth century turned the street into Moscow’s business centre. The area was occupied by trading rows, hotels, restaurants and manufacturers’ offices. Nikolskaya became the heart of the book trade – most of the capital’s bookshops were located here.

Soviet period and the present

After the 1917 revolution the street was renamed “25 October” in honour of the date (Old Style) of the Bolshevik storming of the Kremlin. This name lasted from 1935 to 1990. In Soviet times some historic buildings were demolished to create the square in front of the “Teatralnaya” and “Ploshchad Revolyutsii” metro stations. The historic name was restored in 1990. Since 2013 Nikolskaya has been fully pedestrian: the area was paved with tiles, façades were restored, benches and flower beds installed. Year-round LED garlands create a unique atmosphere for an evening stroll.

Architectural gems of Nikolskaya Street

Kazan Cathedral

A small church at the entrance to Red Square was built on the orders of Prince Dmitry Pozharsky. In 1625 a wooden church was erected to commemorate victory over the Polish-Lithuanian invaders. The main shrine was the miracle-working icon of Our Lady of Kazan, before which the militia of Minin and Pozharsky prayed. Five years after a fire the church was rebuilt in stone. Despite its modest size, the cathedral held an important place among Moscow churches: its rector was part of the senior clergy and twice a year it hosted cross processions. In 1936 the building was demolished during the reconstruction of Red Square. It was rebuilt only in 1990–1993 in its 17th-century forms. Today the ancient image of Our Lady of Kazan is kept here – one of Russia’s principal Orthodox holy objects.

The Printing House (Pechatny Dvor)

The building at No. 15 is the oldest structure on Nikolskaya. The printing house was established in 1553 by decree of Ivan IV. In 1564 masters Ivan Fyodorov and Pyotr Mstislavets printed here the “Apostol” – the first Russian book produced by typography. The original two-storey building was supplemented in the 1640s with chambers and gates featuring a 26-metre late-Gothic tower. The façade was decorated with carved columns, sundials and reliefs of lions and unicorns – symbols of tsarist power. After being transferred to the Synod in the 18th century the institution became known as the Synodal Typography. The main building acquired its present appearance by 1815 during a Gothic-style reconstruction. The architects reproduced the historic decoration with carved details and heraldic symbols. Today the complex belongs to the Russian State University for the Humanities.

Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy

Moscow’s first institution of higher education was opened in 1685 through the efforts of the Greek monks Ioanniky and Sofrony Likhud. The idea had been put forward by the enlightener Simeon Polotsky, who did not live to see it realised. The academy became famous for its distinguished graduates:

• architect Vasily Bazhenov
• actor and director Fyodor Volkov
• mathematician Leonty Magnitsky, author of Russia’s first arithmetic textbook
• Mikhail Lomonosov – the academy’s most famous student

After the founding of Moscow University in 1755 the institution was converted into a theological academy and in 1814 moved to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Of the original complex only the brethren’s building in the courtyard survives – the two lower floors date from 1686, the third was added two centuries later. The ornate building with bell tower and gates facing the street was erected in 1900.

Nikolskie Trading Rows

The elegant three-storey building behind Kazan Cathedral was designed by architect Lev Kekushev at the turn of the 19th–20th centuries in Art Nouveau style. Construction began in 1899 and the opening took place in 1903. Eight large shops were occupied by Moscow’s wealthiest merchants, each with its own street entrance. The façade is decorated with mascarons, miniature columns, decorative vases and lion masks. The building is asymmetrical – the left half is one bay longer. The windows of each floor differ in size and shape. The central dome echoes the bell tower of the neighbouring Zaikonospassky Monastery. After the revolution the shops gave way to state institutions and cafés. Today the building belongs to the State Historical Museum and houses souvenir shops.

Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos

The small single-dome church in the Naryshkin Baroque style was built at the end of the 17th century on the estate of boyar Pyotr Saltykov. The southern side-chapel consecrated to the Saviour Not Made by Hands belonged to the elder brother; the northern part with the Dormition altar belonged to the younger. In 1747 the estate was bought by the Dolgorukov princes, who presumably demolished the Saviour chapel. Later the property changed hands several times until it passed to the Chizhov merchants. They built trading chambers and a hotel on the site of the manor house, completely blocking the church from the street. The church could be reached only through a small archway. In 1925 the church was closed and the premises used for state purposes. Services resumed in 2000. The church is currently closed for restoration.

Sheremetev Metochion (Podvorye)

The Sheremetev boyars’ chambers stood on this site as early as the 16th century – they are marked on the “Petrov drawing” of 1597. A two-storey stone house with a porch separated a spacious courtyard from the street. In the 18th century the Sheremetev family became related to the neighbouring Cherkassky princes and merged the estates. Heir Nikolai Sheremetev built two buildings at the edges of the plot. One housed the famous serf theatre, which moved here for the winter from the Kuskovo estate. After the count moved to his palace on Vozdvizhenka the estate stood empty. In the 1860s entrepreneur Alexander Porokhovshchikov rented the plot and built a hotel. In 1898 Count Sergei Sheremetev expanded the holdings and erected a large revenue house in Baroque style with eclectic elements. After the revolution the building housed publishing houses; after restoration in the 2020s it was converted into residential apartments. The hotel was dismantled in the 2010s and a shopping centre built in its place.

Ferrein Pharmacy and Revenue House

Both buildings Nos. 21 and 23 belonged to Vladimir Ferrein – second-generation representative of the pharmaceutical dynasty. His father Karl Ferrein moved one of his pharmacies from Myasnitskaya to Nikolskaya in 1862. In 1899 the old pharmacy was rebuilt, creating one of the street’s most spectacular buildings. The four-storey house was decorated with half-columns, relief brickwork and four statues of the goddess Hygieia. The interior was stunningly luxurious: massive glass doors, Mettlach floor tiles, marble staircase, gilded vases, carved cabinets and marble statues. Anton Chekhov described the interior in a story with the words: “One is afraid to take a step!” In the 1870s the company acquired the neighbouring house No. 23, which had belonged to the Moscow Craft Council. Initially it housed sales rooms and laboratories after the new pharmacy opened the building became a revenue house – premises were rented to company employees. After the Ferrein family left in 1917 the revenue house was occupied by the Supreme Court, then a military enlistment office. It is currently closed for restoration. Until the 2000s house No. 21 housed a state pharmacy today there is a restaurant and shop.

Practical information for visitors

How to get there

Two ways to reach Nikolskaya Street:

1. From Red Square – landmark: the Kremlin’s Nikolskaya Tower near Lenin’s Mausoleum
2. From Lubyanka Square – metro stations “Lubyanka” or “Kuznetsky Most”

Best time to visit

The street is open 24 hours a day and welcomes guests all year round. In winter the area is carefully cleared of snow. The New Year illumination is especially beautiful, turning the promenade into a fairytale space. For a quiet walk without crowds of tourists it is best to come on weekday mornings. The evening lighting creates a magical atmosphere that attracts photographers and romantics.

How much time is needed

The 630-metre street itself can be walked in 10–15 minutes at a leisurely pace. However, to explore the sights, visit shops, cafés and restaurants you should allow 2–3 hours. Many visitors simply stroll up and down the pedestrian zone, enjoying the atmosphere of the historic centre.

What to see nearby

Nikolskaya connects two key squares with numerous attractions:

• On Red Square: the Kremlin, St Basil’s Cathedral, GUM, Lenin’s Mausoleum, State Historical Museum
• Near Red Square: Manezhnaya Square, Okhotny Ryad shopping centre, Tverskaya Street
• At Lubyanka: FSB building, Solovetsky Stone memorial to victims of repression, Detsky Mir, Biblio-Globus bookstore, Polytechnic Museum

Interesting facts about Nikolskaya Street

In the 17th century, unlike most Moscow streets, Nikolskaya’s log pavement was covered with planks – a rare improvement for the time. In 2007, 81 skeletons with a Browning-system revolver were found in the basement of the Chizhov metochion. Initially thought to be victims of the Civil War or repressions, forensic examination dated the remains to 200–300 years old. In 2018 Nikolskaya became the main fan zone for the FIFA World Cup. Fans from all over the world walked the street, took commemorative photos and celebrated their teams’ victories. House numbering starts from Red Square and runs towards Lubyanka. In the building next to the Printing House (No. 17) is the chamber stage of the Bolshoi Theatre. Previously the “Slavyansky Bazaar” complex stood here in 1897 the legendary 18-hour meeting between Nemirovich-Danchenko and Stanislavsky took place, giving birth to the Moscow Art Theatre.

Tips for photographers

Nikolskaya offers excellent photography opportunities at any time of day. Many prefer evening shots when the bright façade illumination is switched on. Interesting frames are obtained of the old churches, trading rows and revenue houses. Architectural details – mascarons, columns, reliefs – look especially impressive. In winter the snow-covered street with festive lights creates a fairytale atmosphere. In summer it is worth capturing the flower beds and outdoor cafés with open terraces.

Conclusion

Nikolskaya Street is a unique place where centuries of history coexist with modern urban life. A walk along this pedestrian promenade allows you to touch different eras of the Russian capital: from medieval monasteries and the first printing presses to 19th-century merchants’ mansions and the Soviet period. Today the street lives a vibrant life: restaurants and shops operate here, festive events are held, and Muscovites and guests of the capital meet. Every building on Nikolskaya keeps its own story, which is fascinating to discover either on your own or with experienced guides who know all the secrets of Moscow’s historic centre.