Ostozhenka Street

Ostozhenka runs through the historic center of Moscow, stretching from Prechistensky Gate Square to Krymskaya Square. In earlier times, this area was occupied by meadows where horses from the royal stables grazed. The mown grass was stacked into haystacks — hence the street’s name, derived from the old Russian word “ostog” meaning “haystack.”

In the 18th and 19th centuries, nobles began settling near the Kremlin, and elegant mansions appeared along the street — many of which still stand today. In 1935, one of Moscow’s first metro lines was built under Ostozhenka, and the street was renamed Metrostroyevskaya. Its historical name was restored in 1986.

Today, Ostozhenka is one of the most prestigious streets in Moscow, known for its remarkable examples of urban architecture from the imperial era, including Kekusheva’s mansion, reminiscent of a medieval castle, and the house of writer Ivan Turgenev, which became the setting for his famous story “Mumu.”