Northern River Station

Northern River Station on the Khimki Reservoir is one of the architectural gems of Moscow. The majestic building, erected in the heyday of the Stalinist era, is included in the register of historical and cultural monuments of Russia. It is the central structure of the complex of natural and man-made waterways that made Moscow the “port of the five seas”. Every year from the river station 1.5 million tourists go to see the capital on excursion motorboats. Fascinating cruises on the Volga and Don rivers also start here. Multideck liners have access to many port cities of the country, from St. Petersburg to Astrakhan.

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Video: Northern River Station

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Highlights

The carefully restored Severny River Station is located in the northwest of Moscow. It is an important part of the capital’s transportation infrastructure and a popular tourist attraction. Muscovites and guests of the city rush here not only for the sake of going from the pier to travel on the water. Many come to this corner of the capital, wanting to admire the magnificent building of the station, built in the palace style, to have lunch in its famous restaurant, to walk in the landscaped park, laid out along the embankment.

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‘ Moscow with models of locks and other hydraulic structures. The mini-channel has become a popular entertainment. Radio-controlled models of ships float in its bed. All comers are given remote controls, with the help of which it is possible to control the skittish ships. By the way, in the spring of 2021, the Northern River Station became the center of the sports championship of Russian ship modelers. The exhibition presented skillful works: copies of historical sailing ships, modern famous ships.

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By the summer season-2021 in the southern part of the embankment was completed arrangement of a recreation area with three swimming pools, pontoon pier for boats. Sunbeds of the solarium are placed on concrete platforms with decking elevated above the edge of the pools, and tents were built nearby to shelter from the sun. There are cafes, pavilions with drinks and fast food nearby. Children’s playgrounds and an amusement park have been built. In winter, the park pours skating rink.

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History of the river station

‘ Moscow is associated with the grandiose construction of the Moscow-Volga shipping canal as part of the second five-year plan of industrialization of the Soviet Union. The building was laid in 1933, even before the water of the man-made Khimki Reservoir rose to the planned level of river berths and embankments. The authors of the project proposed to move away from utilitarian schemes of station structures and erect a real palace.

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In addition to the functions of a transport hub, the river station was assigned the role of a center of culture, recreation and entertainment. The facade was decorated with colonnades, sculptures, interiors decorated with stucco and paintings. A vast park was laid near the Khimki River Port (former name). The construction was completed in five years. Architect Alexey Rukhlyadev, who presented the project of the river station at an exhibition in Paris, received a prestigious diploma, and the Soviet government awarded the architect with the Order of Lenin. The striking building became famous throughout the country thanks to the musical “Volga-Volga” directed by Grigory Alexandrov and starring the popular actress Lyubov Orlova. The movie was released in 1938.

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In the following decades, the Severny River Station served as the main starting point for cruise liners sailing through the Moscow-Volga canal system to the country’s southern seas, as well as to the Baltic and the Arctic White Sea. In addition, the lobby was used as a movie theater and concert hall.

In the crisis years of the 1990s, passenger river transportation fell into decline. At one time a spontaneous market operated in the spacious halls of the river port. During this period, the interiors and decor of the facades were significantly damaged. Then the emergency building was closed, and it was abandoned for a long time.

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Large-scale restoration work on the historic structure began in 2017 and was completed in the fall of 2020. The building restored lost details of the facade molding, authentic interiors. In addition, 17 moorings were modernized. The reservoir bottom was cleaned and deepened in the mooring area. Modern communication facilities and advanced navigation equipment were installed in the renovated control room. Boarding exits to vessels are now equipped with systems that guarantee passenger safety. From 2020 navigation seasons in the Moscow region will open at the renovated Northern River Station.

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‘ Restoration work on the Northern River Station in August 2019
‘ Northern river station after reconstruction in 2020

Northern River Station today

‘ Moskva River with a tour of the center of the capital. The sights to be discovered on the banks are commented on by a guide. In the schedule can be found and one-day tours with beach vacation. Ticket price – from 450 rubles.

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If you plan to make a fascinating multi-day cruise, contact the office of the company “Mosturflot”. It is located to the left of the entrance. From the piers of the Northern River Station depart comfortable cruise ships to St. Petersburg, to the shrines on the island of Valaam, to Kazan and Astrakhan, Volgograd and Kostroma, Uglich, Tver and other port cities.

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How to get there

The Northern River Station is located at 51 Leningradskoye Shosse. The closest metro station to the piers is “Rechnoy Vokzal”. From there you can walk west along Festivalnaya Street, cross Leningradskoye Shosse and walk a little more through the park. The walk will take no more than 10 minutes.

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To the Northern River Station go bus routes № 43, 342, 350, 437, 440, 482 and others.

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