Large Scale of Things: All Russian Exhibition Centre
Large Scale of Things: All Russian Exhibition Centre
One thing visitors to Moscow may quickly notice is the immense scale of things. Nearly every structure in the city was built with the large scale of Russia itself in mind. The All Russian Exhibition Center (Всероссийский выставочный центр, or ВВЦ as its official abbreviated and ВДНХ on metro maps) is no exception. Originally established in 1935, but not opened until 1938, the center was intended to showcase the agriculture of each soviet republic with its own pavilion. After the Second World War, the center was expanded numerous times to include industry, engineering, space and many more areas of the socialist economy.
Today, visitors to the center are greeted by a massive gate, which serves as the entrance to the center, and an enormous statue known as Worker and Kolkhoz Woman (Рабочий и колхозница) depicting an industrial worker and a farm women standing side by side, each holding either a hammer or a sickle. As you make your way through the 700,000 square meter center, you are able to visit its 82 pavilions, many fountains and even a Vostok rocket, like the one used to send Yuri Gagarin into orbit.
The center is also used to host many different exhibitions throughout the year. This means that on any given day you visit, you are potentially able to see something new. It is a great place to spend a day exploring the achievements of Russian culture, industry and history.
This post was brought to you by Steven, currently studying Russian at Liden & Denz
