Nearest metro: Ohotny Ryad
Despite its Soviet feel and basic accommodation, the Intourist Hotel sits on one of the most sought-after sites in Mosow, immediately adjacent to the golden onion domes and crenellated towers of The Kremlin and the historical and spiritual heart of Moscow. The Kremlin, or simply fortress in Russian, was founded by Prince Yury Dolgoruky in the 12th century AD. Originally just a wooden fort built on the hill above the confluence of the Moskva and Neglina rivers, the Kremlin rapidly became the focus around which grew up the city of Moscow.Over the centuries the Kremlin settlement developed and stone fortifications and cathedrals were built to house the rulers of Russia. The notorious Ivan The Terrible, the throne usurper Boris Godunov and Mikhail Romanov, the first Tsar from the dynasty that would rule Russia until the Revolution of 1917, all chose The Kremlin as their seat of power. But at the turn of the 18th Century Tsar Peter The Great founded the European city of St. Petersburg on the banks of the Neva River and the Gulf of Finland and made it Russia's new capital. Just over 200 years later political power returned to Moscow and the Kremlin, when Lenin transferred the Bolshevik government there in March 1918. The Kremlin complex houses not only the Senate, the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation, but also the two Great Kremlin Palaces, numerous cathedrals and the State Armory, which exhibits a huge collection of priceless artifacts from throughout the history of the Russian Tsars.
Just beyond the Kremlin and 2 minutes walk from the hotel stands the vast, cobbled expanse of Red Square, famed as the site of numerous Bolshevik demonstrations, Soviet parades and now occasional pop concerts. The Square is flanked by some of Moscow's most famous tourist sites; the red and back granite cubes of Lenin's Mausoleum (still displaying the body of the founder of the Soviet State some 76 years after his death), the brightly-colored onion domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, built in the 16th century by Ivan The Terrible to commemorate Russia's victory over the Kazan Mongols, the elegant turn-of-the-century GUM Department Store and the country's central Historical Museum. Immediately outside Red Square guests will find Manezhnaya Square, home to the leafy and fountain-filled Alexander Gardens, and Moscow's plush underground shopping mall, packed with boutiques catering to the city's nouveaux riches.
Within a 5 minute walk of the hotel guests of the Intourist will be delighted to see the impressive stucco-covered facade of the famous Bolshoy Theatre, the gem of Moscow's performing arts scene and home to the magnificent Bolshoy Ballet. Visitors shouldn't miss the opportunity to see one of their world-class ballet or opera performances.
Also within walking distance of the hotel are the monumental State Duma building (home to the lower house of the Russian Parliament), the Offices of the Mayor of Moscow and an impressive statue devoted to the founder of the city, Prince Yury Dolgoruki. Moscow University's downtown complex and the Moscow Art Theatre, one of the most prestigious theatres in Russia, are also located nearby.
The Intourist Hotel is ideally located in the very heart of Moscow, just a few minutes walk from Metro Station Okhotny Ryad, and approximately an hour's drive from Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport.
