A unique cathedral with 10 churches in one that became the symbol of Russia and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Saint Basil's Cathedral also known as the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat or simply Pokrovsky Cathedral, was built from 1555 to 1561 by order of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible whose reign was the longest in Russian history. The Cathedral was erected to commemorate the victory over the Kazan Khanate. Ten churches of the Cathedral show interiors of the 16th–20th centuries. The walls and domes are covered with frescoes and oil paintings with plant ornament and images of saints. The museum temporary exhibition presents rare examples of ancient Russian icon-painting school and masterpieces of applied art. Precious donations of royalty and parishioners are located in the former sacristy. Some relics of Moscow inhabitant Basil the Blessed (the contemporary of Ivan the Terrible) were buried under ground. In 1588 a church dedicated to St. Basil was built on this site, with wall paintings and icons showing his amazing miracles.
Information
Address
7, Red Square (Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya, Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Kitay-Gorod metro stations)
Working hours:
Mon | Tue | Wed | Sun
10:00–18:00
Thu | Fri | Sat
10:00–19:00
The Museum is closed on June 5, July 3, August 2 and September 4.
September 16 – October 31 (daily)
11:00–18:00
November 1 – May 14 (daily)
11:00–17:00
Ticket offices close 45 minutes prior to the Museum closing.
Tour centre:
visitor@shm.ru
+7 (495) 698-33-04
Entrance ticket:
Adults
2 000 RUB
Children aged 7–17 years
1 000 RUB
Children aged 7–17 year
Free
ICOM members
Free
Audio guide
600 RUB
Dear visitors!
Our top priority is the safety of our visitors and staff. When planning your visit to the Museum, please read the following Visitor Regulations:
It is prohibited to bring food or any liquids in any container into the Museum with the exception of bottled drinking water in the summer.
Please note that the high steps on the first floor do not allow visitors with strollers or wheelchairs to move independently. Due to the architectural features of the Cathedral, the second floor is not accessible to visitors with strollers, wheelchairs and those with mobility difficulties. It is not possible to enter the Museum with a guide dog. Please leave your dog near the Museum's tour desk and ask a Museum staff member to accompany you around the cathedral.
Bags and packages larger than 30 x 40 cm, as well as backpacks and umbrellas must be checked into storage lockers.
It is prohibited to touch display cases and exhibits with your hands.
Photography and video shooting without the use of flash or tripods is allowed in the Museum’s permanent exhibition halls only.
It is prohibited to leave young children unattended in the Museum halls.
It is prohibited to carry out commercial and excursion activities in the Museum (with the exception of authorized Museum employees and organizations conducting excursions under an agreement with the Museum). An excursion activity is considered a group tour of the Museum (more than two people), accompanied by a narrative from one of the group members about the exhibits along the entire route of the group, with regular stops near the exhibits, regardless of whether this event is of a commercial nature or not.
