The Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow is a branch of the State Historical Museum at Ploshchad Revolyutsii 2/3, in one of the courtyards of the museum complex a few steps from Red Square and Manezhnaya Square. It reopened on 4 September 2012 for the 200th anniversary of the war, building on an earlier museum of 1812 whose history goes back to 1912.
The exhibition follows events in chronological order, from the period before the war to the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813 and 1814. This guide explains how to find the entrance, what the displays contain, how the museum differs from the Borodino Panorama Museum and the main State Historical Museum, which tickets and hours are listed on the official page, which Metro stations are nearest, and how to combine the visit with Red Square and the Moscow Museum of Archaeology.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Музей Отечественной войны 1812 года |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 2012 |
| Address | Ploshchad Revolyutsii 2/3, Moscow (a branch of the State Historical Museum beside Manezhnaya Square) |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Metro | Okhotny Ryad (Line 1, red, a walk of about 3 minutes) Teatralnaya (Line 2, green, a walk of about 3 minutes) Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Line 3, dark blue, named by the museum as a nearby station) |
| Opening hours | The official page gives the museum as open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00, with Tuesday closed and the ticket office closing one hour before the museum, and a separate page mentions longer summer hours and a few closed dates, so confirm the current schedule (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | The official page lists adults at an upscale price (₽₽₽) and children aged 7 to 17 at a moderate price (₽₽), with children under 7 and ICOM members free; check the official site for current prices. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings are the quietest, and Friday and Saturday evenings offer a later visit. The museum is indoors and suits a rainy or winter day; see the Moscow in the Rain: Indoor Sightseeing Itinerary. Remember that Tuesday is closed. |
| Recommended duration | About 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Website | en.shm.ru/museum/mov |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The permanent exhibition on the War of 1812 | Included in the standard ticket | Covered by the standard ticket of this branch. |
| Audio guide | Separate ticket or institution | Offered for an extra fee on the official page. |
| The main State Historical Museum on Red Square | Separate ticket or institution | A different building with its own ticket. |
| The Moscow Museum of Archaeology | Outside / not part of it | A separate underground museum on Manezhnaya Square; see the Moscow Museum of Archaeology guide. |
| The Borodino Battle Panorama Museum | Outside / not part of it | A separate museum on Kutuzovsky Prospekt; see the Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscow guide. |
| Storage and collections not on display | Not open to visitors | Not open to visitors. |
Why Visit Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow?
The museum covers the whole arc of the war against Napoleon in a compact, central venue. The displays are organized in thematic sections in chronological order, and, according to the museum, include awards, uniforms of French and Russian soldiers, maps, documents, household items and equipment.
The exhibition continues past the Moscow campaign to the foreign campaigns of 1813 and 1814, which many shorter accounts leave out. The museum is a few minutes from Red Square, which makes it easy to pair with the State Historical Museum, and it is quieter than the larger museums nearby. Visitors who want the battle itself should also see the Borodino Panorama.
How Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow Is Laid Out
The museum occupies a courtyard of the State Historical Museum complex at Ploshchad Revolyutsii 2/3, on the Manezhnaya Square side of the complex, close to the Moscow Museum of Archaeology and the Hotel Moskva. It is a separate branch from the main museum building on Red Square.
The exhibition is arranged in thematic sections in chronological order, starting with the events before 1812 and ending with the campaigns abroad. Visitors usually follow the halls in sequence. Check the official page for the current entrance, the opening hours of the ticket office, which closes one hour before the museum, and any temporary exhibitions.
Highlights of Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
Uniforms and awards
Among the displays are awards and the uniforms of French and Russian soldiers, which show how the two armies looked and how they were equipped. Look at the details of the uniforms. Check whether the labels are in English, since English texts may be limited.
Tip: Compare a French uniform with a Russian one in the same case.
Maps and documents
Maps and documents trace the course of the war, from the invasion to the retreat, and make the chronology easy to follow. Look for the campaign maps. Check which documents are currently on display.
Tip: Use the maps to place Borodino and Moscow before you see other sights.
Household items and equipment
Household items and equipment among the rarities show the daily life and logistics behind the campaigns, beyond the battles. Look for small objects that belonged to soldiers. Check which cases hold them.
Tip: Read the captions of the small objects, which carry the stories.
From the invasion to the campaigns abroad
The exhibition goes from the events before the war of 1812 to the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813 and 1814, which gives the story its full length. Check the sequence of the halls before you start.
Tip: Follow the halls in order, since the story is chronological.
A museum with a century-old history
A museum of 1812 was first opened in 1912 for the centenary, dissolved in 1919, and its collection merged into the State Historical Museum; the present museum was reopened on 4 September 2012 for the 200th anniversary. Check the museum's own history page.
Tip: Read the history page for the story of the collection.
The Red Square setting
The museum stands in a courtyard of the State Historical Museum complex, a few steps from Red Square, the Resurrection Gate and Manezhnaya Square. It is easy to combine with the larger sights. Check the entrance on Ploshchad Revolyutsii.
Tip: Plan the visit before or after Red Square to save walking.
Atmosphere
Inside the courtyard building the halls are dim and quiet, with glass cases of coats, shakos and sabers and large maps on the walls. The sounds are footsteps, the murmur of a guide and the occasional hum of the square outside.
Visitors are history enthusiasts, school groups and tourists coming from Red Square, and the museum is rarely crowded outside the weekend. Friday and Saturday evenings give a calmer visit because of the later closing. The mood is focused rather than spectacular.
History of Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
A first Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 was opened in 1912, in the year of the centenary of the war, as part of the Historical Museum. After the museum was dissolved in 1919 its collection was divided between various storage facilities, but its major part was later merged into the State Historical Museum’s collection.
In preparation for the 200th anniversary of the war, the museum was reopened on 4 September 2012 in one of the courtyards of the museum complex on Ploshchad Revolyutsii. Its exhibition consists of several thematic sections arranged in chronological order, from the events before the war to the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813 and 1814.
The museum is a branch of the State Historical Museum. Dates and details should be checked against the museum’s official page, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified.
Tickets and Booking for Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
| Ticket | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult ticket | ₽₽₽ | Entry to the permanent exhibition, as listed on the official page. |
| Children aged 7 to 17 | ₽₽ | Entry to the permanent exhibition. |
| Children under 7 and ICOM members | Free | Entry to the permanent exhibition. |
Tickets. Tickets are sold at the museum’s ticket office, which closes one hour before the museum, and on the State Historical Museum’s official site; the prices listed above are for foreign visitors, and rates for Russian citizens and concessions are lower and differ. No online booking window was verified, and other sources mention much lower prices for Russian residents. Check the official page en.shm.ru for all categories and the current hours.
Payment. Cash in rubles is the safe option at the ticket office. 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 for Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
1.5 hours
Walk from Okhotny Ryad Metro to the museum courtyard, follow the halls in order from before the war to the campaigns abroad, and leave.
3 hours
Add the Moscow Museum of Archaeology and a walk on Red Square, following the Red Square and Moscow Kremlin Walking Itinerary.
Half day
Combine the museum with the main State Historical Museum and the Resurrection Gate.
How to Get to Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
Take the Metro to Okhotny Ryad (Line 1, red) or Teatralnaya (Line 2, green), each about 3 minutes on foot, or to Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Line 3, dark blue). The museum is at Ploshchad Revolyutsii 2/3, on the Manezhnaya Square side of the State Historical Museum complex.
- By taxi: ask for Ploshchad Revolyutsii 2/3 and get out near Manezhnaya Square.
- On foot: the museum is a short walk from Red Square.
- Orientation: look for the entrance between the Hotel Moskva side and the museum complex.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities such as lifts and ramps were not verified on the official page, so check en.shm.ru or call the museum before you go.
Food Nearby
Manezhnaya Square has an underground shopping mall with food outlets, and Tverskaya Street and Red Square have many cafes; 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, and a layer for the courtyard queue in cold weather; cash in rubles helps at the ticket office.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
Manezhnaya Square with the museum complex
The red-brick complex and the square in front of it.
Best time: Dusk.
The Resurrection Gate
The gate between Manezhnaya Square and Red Square a short walk away.
Best time: Morning light.
The uniform cases
Coats and shakos of two armies side by side; ask before photographing.
Best time: Weekday mornings.
Red Square from the gate
The square and Kremlin walls beyond the gate.
Best time: Early morning.
Photography Rules
Photography rules were not verified on the official page, so ask staff and follow signs; flash and tripods may be restricted, and drones must not be flown near Red Square.
Family Suitability
Suitable for children from school age who are interested in history, with free entry for children under 7; the exhibition is mostly in Russian and the halls are quiet. Stroller access was not verified.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Combine the museum with the Moscow Museum of Archaeology, since both are on Manezhnaya Square.
- Do not confuse it with the main State Historical Museum, which has its own entrance on Red Square.
- See the Borodino Battle Panorama Museum for the battle itself.
- Read a short summary of the war before you go, since labels are mostly in Russian.
- Visit on Friday or Saturday evening for the later closing.
- Check whether longer summer hours apply, since a separate page mentions them.
Explore Nearby Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
Sights near Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
Moscow Museum of Archaeologyabout 100 m away (~2 min walk) · typical visit: About 45 minutes to 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Maly Theatre Moscowabout 400 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: About 3 hours for a performanceMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Museum of Moscowabout 2.7 km away · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscowabout 6.3 km away · typical visit: About 1.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Historical Museum Moscowabout 100 m away (~2 min walk) · typical visit: 2.5–4 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
GUM Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
Ploshchad Revolyutsii Metro Stationabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Okhotny Ryad Metro Stationabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Teatralnaya Metro Stationabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
Kappo Hiroki Arakawaabout 150 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Varenichnaya No. 1about 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Stolovaya 57about 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
SAVVAabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
Papa's Barabout 400 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Let's Rock Barabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
Four Seasons Hotel Moscowabout 150 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotel Metropol Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotel National Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
Golden Autumn Festival in Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gardens and Flowers Festival in Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Traditions Festivalabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow
Is it part of the State Historical Museum?
Yes, it is a branch, but with its own entrance and ticket.
When did it open?
It reopened on 4 September 2012 for the 200th anniversary of the war.
Which Metro station is closest?
Okhotny Ryad or Teatralnaya, about 3 minutes on foot.
What does it cover?
From the events before 1812 to the campaigns abroad in 1813 and 1814.
Is it the same as the Borodino Panorama?
No. That is a separate museum on Kutuzovsky Prospekt.
When is it closed?
On Tuesday, according to the official page.
How long does a visit take?
About 1.5 to 2 hours.
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. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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