Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A DETOUR
SPARROW HILLS
The green hills in the south of Moscow are known as Sparrow Hills, or Vorobyovy Gory.
Running along the south side of the river bank, opposite the tip of the Khamovniki
peninsula, there is a pleasant strip of greenery, known as Vorobyovy Gory Nature
Preserve ( GOOGLE MAP ; www.vorobyovy-gory.ru ; Vorobyovy Gory) . This wooded hillside is a
less developed, less crowded extension of Gorky Park and Neskuchny Garden. The
paved path that originates further north continues along the river for several kilo-
metres, and bikes and skates are available to rent here.
Walking trails from the river bank wind up through the woods to Moscow State
University (MGU GOOGLE MAP ; Universitetskaya pl; Universitet) . From the lookout point,
most of the city spreads out before you. It is an excellent vantage point to see Luzh-
niki, the huge stadium complex built across the river for the 1980 Olympics, as well as
Novodevichy Convent and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.
The Stalinist spire of MGU towers over the square. One of the 'Seven Sisters', the
building is the result of four years of hard labour by convicts between 1949 and 1953.
It boasts an amazing 36 storeys and 33km of corridors. The shining star that sits atop
the spire is supposed to weigh 12 tonnes. Among other socialist realist frills on the
facade, note the eager students looking forward to communism. The building is not
open to the public, which is a shame, because the lobby is equally elaborate, featuring
bronze statues of distinguished Soviet scientists.
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