The Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow is a circular museum on Kutuzovsky Prospekt that shows a huge painting of the Battle of Borodino of 1812, created by the battle painter Franz Roubaud in 1912. The painting, about 115 meters long and 15 meters high, surrounds the viewer and is the main exhibit of the museum, which has been in its present building since 1962.
Around the panorama the museum tells the story of the Patriotic War of 1812 with weapons, uniforms and objects of the period. This guide explains the opening hours as published by the museum, the Friday closing, how the ticket categories work, what the nearby Kutuzov monument, hut and triumphal arch add, and how this museum in Moscow differs from the Borodino battlefield museum-reserve about 125 km west of the city, which is a separate day trip.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Музей-панорама «Бородинская битва» |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1962 |
| Architect(s) | Franz Roubaud (the painter of the panorama, completed in 1912) |
| Address | Kutuzovsky Prospekt 38, Moscow 121170 |
| District | Dorogomilovo |
| Metro | Kutuzovskaya (Line 4, light blue, listed by the museum as a nearest station; about 10 minutes on foot (estimate)) Park Pobedy (Line 3, dark blue, and Line 4, light blue, listed by the museum as a nearest station; about 10 minutes on foot (estimate)) |
| Opening hours | The museum's older official page gives daily 10:00 to 18:00 and Thursday 10:00 to 21:00, closed on Friday and on the last Thursday of each month, with the booking office closing 45 minutes before closing time, so check the current schedule (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | An older official page listed a budget price (₽) for a standard ticket, a budget price (₽) for a reduced ticket and a budget price (₽) for a temporary exhibition, with free entry on the third Sunday of each month; check the official site for current prices. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings are the quietest, and weekends and the free third Sunday of the month are busier. The museum is closed on Friday and on the last Thursday of each month and open until 21:00 on other Thursdays, according to the older official page. It works in any weather and suits a rainy day; see the Moscow in the Rain: Indoor Sightseeing Itinerary. |
| Recommended duration | About 1.5 hours |
| Website | 1812panorama.ru |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Borodino panorama and the 1812 exhibition | Included in the standard ticket | The main displays in the circular museum on Kutuzovsky Prospekt. |
| Temporary exhibitions | Separate ticket or institution | Listed with a separate small ticket on the older official page; check the current rules. |
| Kutuzov's Hut (the Council of War in Fili) | Separate ticket or institution | A branch near the museum with its own hours and ticket. |
| The Museum of Heroes of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation | Separate ticket or institution | A separate exhibition run by the museum with its own ticket. |
| The Kutuzov monument and the triumphal arch | Outside / not part of it | Outdoor monuments along the avenue, free to see. |
| The Borodino battlefield museum-reserve | Outside / not part of it | A different institution about 125 km west of Moscow; see the Borodino Battlefield Day Trip from Moscow. |
Why Visit Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow?
The panorama is a rare survivor of the 19th-century art of the 360-degree battle painting. Roubaud created it for the centenary of the battle in 1912, and its figures and landscape wrap around a circular viewing platform, so you stand in the middle of the scene.
The museum also holds more than 800 objects from the period of 1812, among them battle paintings, decorative art, weapons and the equipment and daily-life items of the Russian and French armies, and a section recreating the Council of War in Fili. It is easy to reach from the Metro and works on a rainy day, and it combines well with the Victory Park complex, a short walk away.
How Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow Is Laid Out
The museum stands in the Dorogomilovo district on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, with a monument to Field Marshal Kutuzov in front of it. The panorama is in the circular main hall, with the exhibition of the 1812 war and temporary exhibitions in the rest of the building.
The museum is part of a historical and memorial complex of the Patriotic War of 1812. Nearby are Kutuzov’s Hut (Kutuzovskaya Izba), the building associated with the Council of War in Fili, a branch of the museum, a museum-chapel, a common grave of Russian soldiers and a triumphal arch, according to older descriptions, and the museum also runs a Museum of Heroes of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. Check the official site for the sites that are open and their tickets, and see the Victory Park and Poklonnaya Hill Walking Itinerary for the area.
Highlights of Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
Roubaud's Borodino panorama
The museum's main exhibit is a circular painting of the Battle of Borodino of 7 September 1812, about 115 meters long and 15 meters high, one of the largest paintings in the world. Franz Roubaud completed it in 1912 for the centenary of the battle, and it was first shown that year in a wooden pavilion on Chistoprudny Boulevard. Stand at the center of the circular platform and turn slowly.
Tip: Allow time to walk the full circle, since the details are in the foreground and the far distance.
The 1812 exhibition
Around the panorama the museum shows more than 800 objects of the 1812 era, among them battle paintings, weapons, uniforms and equipment of the Russian and French armies and objects of daily life. Labels are mostly in Russian, so a translation app helps. The audioguide was available in Russian and English according to the older official page. Check the current arrangement of the halls.
Tip: Use the audioguide or a translation app, since English labels are limited.
Kutuzov's Council of War in Fili
A section of the museum recreates the setting of the famous Military Council held in Fili in 1812, where the decision to leave Moscow was taken. A separate hut associated with the council, known as Kutuzov's Hut, stands nearby and is run as a branch; its original burned down in 1868 and it was rebuilt in 1887 from sketches by the painter Aleksey Savrasov, according to a guide. Check the hours of the branch.
Tip: Check the hours of the separate hut before you plan to see it.
The Kutuzov monument
In front of the museum stands a monument to Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov on horseback, unveiled in 1973, whose pedestal is decorated with statues of 26 other participants of the war, including Bagration, Yermolov, Platov and Raevsky, according to a guide. It is free to see from the street. Look at the figures around the base.
Tip: Photograph the monument from the avenue, with the museum building behind it.
The triumphal arch and the memorial complex
The museum is part of a memorial complex of the war of 1812 on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, which is crowned by a triumphal arch, according to the older description, and includes a chapel and a common grave of Russian soldiers. These are outdoors and free to see. Check which parts are accessible, since the area sits along a busy avenue.
Tip: Combine the walk with the triumphal arch and Victory Park, since both are close.
The Museum of Heroes of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation
The museum-panorama also runs a museum devoted to the Heroes of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation, with its own ticket listed on the older official page. It is a separate exhibition. Check whether it is open and whether it needs a separate ticket.
Tip: Check its hours and ticket separately from the panorama.
Atmosphere
You walk up a ramp into a round, dim hall and the whole battle opens around you: smoke, cavalry, cannon and a wide pale sky painted across a single band. The painting is lit from above and the effect is theatrical, helped by objects placed in front of it.
The museum is quiet on weekday mornings, with school groups and visitors speaking softly, and busier at weekends and on the free third Sunday of the month. Outside, the monument of Kutuzov stands over the avenue and traffic, a contrast to the calm of the hall. The museum suits a rainy afternoon.
History of Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
The panorama of the Battle of Borodino was painted by the Russian battle painter Franz Roubaud and inaugurated on 11 September 1912, in honor of the centenary of the Patriotic War of 1812, in a wooden pavilion on Chistoprudny Boulevard in the center of Moscow. It shows the battle of 7 September 1812 between Napoleon’s army and the Russian army, one of the bloodiest of the Napoleonic wars.
In 1962, for the 150th anniversary of the battle, the museum-panorama opened in a new building on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, where it has stayed. A monument to Field Marshal Kutuzov and his comrades was unveiled in front of the museum in 1973. The museum became part of the historical and memorial complex dedicated to the war of 1812, with a hut, a chapel and a triumphal arch nearby.
Today the museum shows the panorama, an exhibition of more than 800 objects of the period and temporary exhibitions, and has branches including Kutuzov’s Hut and a museum of Heroes of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. Dates and details should be checked against the museum’s official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified; one guide gives 1960 for the opening, which conflicts with 1962.
Tickets and Booking for Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
| Ticket | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard ticket | a budget price (₽) in an older official listing; check the current price | Entry to the panorama and the main exhibition without a guided tour. |
| Reduced ticket | 100 RUB in an older official listing; check the current price | A reduced rate for eligible categories; the rules should be checked on the official site. |
| Temporary exhibition | 100 RUB in an older official listing; check the current price | Entry to a temporary exhibition. |
| Museum of Heroes ticket | a budget price (₽) in an older official listing; check the current price | Entry to the separate Museum of Heroes of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. |
Tickets. Tickets are sold at the booking office, which closes 45 minutes before the museum, according to the older official page; whether online sales are available was not verified. Admission is free on the third Sunday of each month according to the museum, when the museum is busier, and photography permission and an audioguide in Russian and English were offered, the audioguide against an identification document. Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ, so check the official site 1812panorama.ru for all categories.
Payment. Cash in rubles is the safe option. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Plan and Book
Suggested itineraries Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
1.5 hours
Walk from Kutuzovskaya or Park Pobedy Metro to the museum, look at the Kutuzov monument, see the panorama and the 1812 exhibition, and finish at the memorial complex outside.
Half day with Victory Park
Visit the museum in the morning, then walk to Victory Park and Poklonnaya Hill for the afternoon, following the Victory Park and Poklonnaya Hill Walking Itinerary.
1812 day
See the panorama in Moscow, and plan the Borodino Battlefield Day Trip from Moscow for another day, since the field is about 125 km away and needs a whole day.
How to Get to Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
Take the Metro to Kutuzovskaya (Line 4, light blue) or Park Pobedy (Line 3, dark blue, and Line 4, light blue), both listed by the museum, and walk about 10 minutes along Kutuzovsky Prospekt. The museum is at Kutuzovsky Prospekt 38, building 1.
- On foot: the museum is also a walk from Victory Park.
- By taxi: ask for Kutuzovsky Prospekt 38, the Borodino Panorama.
- Orientation: look for the circular building and the Kutuzov monument at the entrance.
Accessibility
The museum has a circular hall with a viewing platform, and accessibility facilities such as lifts and ramps were not verified on the official site, so check 1812panorama.ru or call the museum before you go.
Food Nearby
The Kutuzovsky Prospekt area and the neighborhood near Kievsky Railway Terminal and Victory Park have cafes and restaurants; the exact venues were not verified. See the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring a translation app for the Russian labels, an identification document if you take an audioguide, cash in rubles and a light layer.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
The Kutuzov monument in front of the museum
A bronze Field Marshal on horseback on a high pedestal ringed with statues of his officers, with the museum behind.
Best time: Morning light or late afternoon.
The museum facade on Kutuzovsky Prospekt
The round museum building seen from the avenue with the monument in the foreground.
Best time: Clear days, midday.
The panorama platform
The circular painting around the viewing platform; check photography rules before using a camera.
Best time: Weekday mornings, when the hall is quiet.
The triumphal arch on the avenue
A grand arch crowning the memorial complex with the avenue stretching beyond it.
Best time: Sunset, with the arch in warm light.
Photography Rules
The older official page listed photography permission as free, but rules may have changed, so ask at the booking office and follow the signs. Flash and tripods are generally not allowed in the halls, and drones must not be flown near the monuments.
Family Suitability
Suitable for school-age children, who often enjoy the huge circular painting and the weapons; labels are mostly in Russian and the subject is war, so check whether it suits younger children. Stroller access was not verified, so check with the museum.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Do not plan to visit on Friday, since the museum is closed.
- Do not confuse the museum with the Borodino battlefield, which is about 125 km west of Moscow.
- Check whether the last Thursday of the month is a closing day before you go, according to the older official page.
- Go on a weekday morning for the quietest hall, since the free third Sunday is busy.
- Walk on to Victory Park, since it is close and makes a good half day.
- Take an identification document if you want an audioguide, since it is issued against a document.
Explore Nearby Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
Sights near Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
Only Love Is Above Observation Deck Moscowabout 1.4 km away (~22 min walk) · typical visit: 45–90 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Victory Museum Moscowabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk) · typical visit: 3–5 hours with the open-air areaMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Victory Park Moscowabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk) · typical visit: 2–4 hours; longer with the museumMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
PANORAMA360 Moscowabout 1.5 km away (~25 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscowabout 1.6 km away (~25 min walk) · typical visit: About 45 minutes to 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novodevichy Pond Moscowabout 2.4 km away · typical visit: 45–90 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
Park Pobedy Metro Stationabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kutuzovskaya Metro Stationabout 750 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Fili Metro Stationabout 950 m away (~16 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
KU: Ramen Izakaya Barabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ruskiabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
High Barabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
Kievsky Railway Terminalabout 2.8 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Borodino Battlefield Day Trip from Moscow: Train, Museum and FieldMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow in the Rain: Indoor Sightseeing Itinerary: Dry Stops and ArtMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow
Is this the Borodino battlefield?
No. This museum is in Moscow on Kutuzovsky Prospekt; the battlefield is about 125 km west and is a separate day trip; see the Borodino Battlefield Day Trip from Moscow.
Who painted the panorama?
The battle painter Franz Roubaud, who completed it in 1912 for the centenary of the battle.
How big is the painting?
About 115 meters long and 15 meters high, according to the museum's description.
Which Metro station is closest?
Kutuzovskaya or Park Pobedy, about a 10-minute walk.
Is the museum open every day?
No. It is closed on Friday and on the last Thursday of each month according to the older official page.
Is admission ever free?
On the third Sunday of each month according to the museum, when it is busier.
Do I need a guide?
No. An audioguide in Russian and English was offered, and tours can be arranged with the museum.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so carry cash in rubles; see the booking section for sanctions rules.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026.
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