10 Most Beautiful Mansions of Moscow, Part 2
8. Pashkov's House
One of the best-known classicist buildings of Moscow, it nowadays belonging to the Russian State Library. It was built during the period from 1784 to 1786. Pyotr Pashkov, the son of the striker of Peter the Great and the former captain-lieutenant of the Semenovsky Regiment was the customer. The combination of stern and solemn antique style with purely Moscow ornamentalism makes the house a masterpiece of original Russian Classicism.
The majestic palace is veiled in legends. As a legend goes, it was on the tower of the Pashkov’s House that the Prussian king bowed to Moscow for rescuing Prussia from Napoleon. Another legend states that underpass from Zamoskvorechye to the Kremlin was laid under Pahskov’s House. By the way, it was on a terrace of this house where Voland, Azazello and Matthew Levi came together in the final of the novel Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov.
Located: 3/5, Vozdvizhenka Street, near Biblioteka Imeni Lenina metro station.
9. Kharitonenko's House


The estate in Sofiyskaya Embankment was built in 1891-1893 by order of the famous sugar manufacturer Pavel Kharitonenko. The building was designed by the architect Vasily Zalessky in the Renaissance and Baroque style. The stern and at the same time elegant facade of the house is trimmed with rustication, windows are framed with classical platbands. The young architect Fyodor Schechtel was invited for design of the house interiors and it turned to be one of the first independent works by the future renowned master of Russian architecture. Presently the house is the residence of the ambassador of Great Britain.
Located at: 14/12, Sofiyskaya Embankment, near Borovitskaya Metro Station.
10. Peter’s en Route Imperial Palace

Peter’s en Route Imperial Palace was built in 1775-1783 in honor of the victory of Russia over Turkey. It was conceived as the grand residence of Russian emperors and intended for the sovereigns’ last stop on the way from St. Petersburg to Moscow. The palace architecture completely corresponded to its assignment: the residence was considered practically informal and therefore was designed in easy-going freestyle. The palace gained festive and merry character due to its numerous white stone details, such as platbands, arches, carved arch ribs, and low pot-like columns. Presently the palace is officially named the Reception House of the Moscow City Hall.
Located at: 40, Leningradsky Avenue, near Dynamo metro station.
Author: Vera Ivanova