The Moscow Gate is a historical monument and a triumphal arch dedicated to the memory of the events of the Patriotic War of 1812 in the city of Pushkin in St. Petersburg (Tsarskoye Selo).
The gates are made in the Empire style and in their guardhouses (former premises for military guards) today there is a museum with expositions dedicated to the history of the city outpost and the Tsarskoye Selo garrison.
The Moscow Gate was erected as a Triumphal Gate in 1829-1831 by the decree of Emperor Nicholas I, according to the project of architects V. A. Glinka (gate) and A.M. Gornostaev (guardhouse) with the participation of I. Hildebrandt.
The gates were erected in memory of the glorious victories of the Russian Army in the Patriotic War of 1812 and the military company of 1812-1814.
The gate was built on the road to Moscow, at the place where in 1827 Nicholas I, surrounded by troops of the Tsarskoye Selo garrison and residents of the city, was met by a funeral cortege from Taganrog, which brought the coffin with the body of the late Emperor Alexander I, the liberator of the peoples of Russia and Europe from the Napoleonic invasion. The young emperor wept for a long time over his brother's coffin at the outpost before the motorcade went to the temple of the Grand Palace. At this place, on the instructions of the emperor, the triumphal gate was erected.
At that time, the Moscow Gate served as a city outpost with a barrier and a guard for checking travel documents. In 1856, the city barriers were moved beyond the boundaries of Tsarskoye Selo, and the outpost at the Moscow Gate was abolished as unnecessary. Then the gate was adapted for the apartments of police officers, after which it was used as a quarantine room of the hospital and in this form existed presumably until 1945.
In the post-war years, the Moscow Gate was in disrepair and was being destroyed.
From 2010 to 2014, serious restoration work was carried out, and today the gates are under the jurisdiction of the "Historical and Literary Museum of the city of Pushkin".
Now the Moscow Gate is the brightest monument of the city of Pushkin, and its theme is due to the memory of victorious battles.
The gate is located on the Moscow highway of the city of Pushkin, two massive guardhouses are located on both sides of the road. The buildings of the former guardhouses are decorated with military attributes: modeling in the form of shields and helmets, swords, oak and laurel branches. The guardhouses are adjacent to cast-iron grilles installed on a low plinth. The cast-iron pylons of the gate are crowned with double-headed eagles on the powers.
A sign on the Moscow Gate
In the guardhouses of the gate there are expositions "Tsarskoye Selo garrison", dedicated to the history of the city outpost and the Tsarskoye Selo garrison.
Practical information
The Moscow Gate is located in the city of Pushkin, St. Petersburg, at the intersection of the Moscow Highway and Sofia Boulevard.
The Moscow Gate is part of the Historical and Literary Museum of the city of Pushkin.
We recommend checking the working hours of the museum, as well as the conditions of visiting and the cost of tickets on the website of the Historical and Literary Museum of the city of Pushkin: ilmp.ru.
You can visit Tsarskoye Selo with one of the excursions
You can find out about all the ways to get to Pushkin from St. Petersburg (the airport and the city center) here →
In Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) you can stay
The 5-star Pevcheskaya Tower Hotel offers restaurants, a bar, a rooftop observation deck, free Wi-Fi and parking.
Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
The 5-star luxury spa hotel "Tsar Palace Luxury Hotel & SPA"is located in a historic building.
The hotelhas a spa center with a swimming pool, a hammam, a salt sauna, a snow fountain, steam baths and a gym; free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk, 2 restaurants, a lobby bar, private parking and meeting and conference rooms.
The rooms are equipped with climate control, a mini-bar, a safe and a private bathroom.
A buffet breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
3-star hotel Ekaterina, located on the territory of the Catherine Palace and Park Ensemble.
At the hotel: 24-hour front desk, cafe, free Wi-Fi and parking.
The rooms are equipped with: air conditioning, TV, work desk and free toiletries.
Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
All accommodation facilities in St. Petersburg, including in the city center and in Pushkin, can be viewed and booked here
