Pashkov House Moscow is a white neoclassical mansion on a rise above Borovitskaya Square, facing the western wall of the Kremlin. It was built between 1784 and 1786 for Pyotr Pashkov, a retired officer, and its design is traditionally attributed to Vasily Bazhenov, although no written proof survives.
Today it is the Old Building of the Russian State Library, with departments for manuscripts, music and maps, so it is mainly a building to admire from outside. This guide explains how to find it near Borovitskaya Metro, what its rotunda, colonnade and terraces look like, how it relates to the library and the Rumyantsev Museum, what you can and cannot enter, which neighbouring museums are close, and how to include it in a walk from the Kremlin to the Arbat.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Дом Пашкова |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1786 |
| Architect(s) | Attributed to Vasily Bazhenov (no written proof) |
| Address | Mokhovaya Street, at the corner of Vozdvizhenka Street, Moscow (Old Building of the Russian State Library, across Borovitskaya Square from the Kremlin) |
| District | Arbat |
| Metro | Borovitskaya (Line 9, light gray, named as the nearest station; a walk of about 3 minutes (estimate)) Biblioteka imeni Lenina (Line 1, red, also named as a nearby station; a walk of about 3 to 5 minutes (estimate)) Alexandrovsky Sad (Line 4, light blue, also named as a nearby station; a walk of about 5 minutes (estimate)) |
| Opening hours | The exterior can be seen at any time from Mokhovaya Street and Borovitskaya Square, while the library departments inside have their own reader hours that were not verified (as of October 2026 – check the official site of the Russian State Library). |
| Admission | Viewing the exterior is free; the interior serves the Russian State Library's departments, and access depends on library rules, so check the official site. |
| Best time to visit | Early morning is the quietest, and the facade is best photographed in morning or evening light. The exterior can be seen at any time, while the library departments follow their own reader hours. |
| Recommended duration | About 20 to 30 minutes |
| Website | rsl.ru |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Pashkov House Moscow?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The exterior and the view from the street | Included in the standard ticket | Free to see at any time from Mokhovaya Street and Borovitskaya Square. |
| The library reading rooms | Separate ticket or institution | For registered readers of the Russian State Library; check the library's rules. |
| The Manuscripts, Music and Maps departments | Separate ticket or institution | Working departments of the library, not museums. |
| The main building of the Russian State Library | Outside / not part of it | The large Soviet-era building beside the house, with its own entrance and rules. |
| The Moscow Kremlin | Outside / not part of it | A separate site across Borovitskaya Square; see the Red Square and Moscow Kremlin Walking Itinerary. |
| Private and storage areas | Not open to visitors | Not open to visitors. |
Why Visit Pashkov House Moscow?
The house is one of the finest examples of Moscow neoclassicism and one of the few large 18th-century mansions that survives in the center. It stands on Vagankovo Hill and is crowned by a round belvedere, which gave it a view straight across to the Kremlin, and it was the first secular building in Moscow to look at the Kremlin on a level.
It also carries a long cultural story: in 1861 it received the collection of the Rumyantsev Museum, and the library founded the next year grew into the Russian State Library. It appears in Bulgakov’s novel The Master and Margarita. A free look from the square takes only minutes, and it sits beside several other museums.
How Pashkov House Moscow Is Laid Out
The house stands on a hill at the corner of Mokhovaya and Vozdvizhenka streets, overlooking Borovitskaya Square and the western Kremlin wall, beside the large Soviet-era main building of the Russian State Library.
It consists of a central block topped by a round belvedere, with a colonnade and two wings, and its main facade faces the Kremlin while a courtyard lies on the other side. The right wing houses the Manuscripts Department, and the left wing the Music and Maps departments, according to guides. A visitor describes an entrance from the courtyard side. Check the library’s official site for any public access or tours.
Highlights of Pashkov House Moscow
The white facade and colonnade
The mansion is white with classical columns and a portico, built in 1784 to 1786 for Pyotr Pashkov, and is a landmark that most Muscovites recognize. Look at the proportions and the symmetry of the wings from Borovitskaya Square. Check the light for photographs.
Tip: View it from the corner near the Kremlin for the full facade.
The belvedere rotunda
A round belvedere tops the building, making the house appear taller and giving it a view across to the Kremlin. It was built on Vagankovo Hill, as a continuation of the natural rise. Look up at the rotunda from the street. Check whether it can be photographed against the sky.
Tip: Photograph the rotunda against the sky in the morning.
The view toward the Kremlin
The house was the first secular building in Moscow with a level view of the Kremlin, while other houses looked up to it, according to one source. Look from the terrace area on the street toward Borovitskaya Square and the Kremlin wall. Check the vantage point on Mokhovaya Street.
Tip: Look back toward the house from Borovitskaya Square.
The Russian State Library departments
The right wing houses the Manuscripts Department and the left wing the Music and Maps departments, which were opened to readers in 2009 after reconstruction from 1988 to 2007. Registered readers use the reading rooms. Check the library's rules, since access is not for tourists by default.
Tip: Check the library's website before you plan to enter.
The Rumyantsev Museum story
The house was bought by the treasury in 1839 and in 1861 received the collection of the Rumyantsev Museum, Moscow's first public museum, and the library was founded on 1 July 1862. Check the library's history page.
Tip: Read about the Rumyantsev collection before you go.
The Bulgakov connection
The house appears in Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita, according to guides, which makes it a stop on literary walks around Mokhovaya and Vozdvizhenka. Look at the house after seeing the Bulgakov Museum Moscow guide. Check the walking route.
Tip: Combine it with the Bulgakov places in the center.
Atmosphere
The white mansion rises over the traffic of Mokhovaya Street, its rotunda glowing in the morning sun with the red Kremlin wall beyond. The sounds are cars, footsteps on the pavement and, from the square, the bells and the hum of the center.
People who pass are library readers with bags of books, tourists on the way to the Kremlin and photographers, and the sidewalk is quiet before ten in the morning. Evenings light the facade, and in winter the white stone stands out against dark skies.
History of Pashkov House Moscow
Pashkov House was built between 1784 and 1786 for Pyotr Pashkov, a retired officer of the Semyonovsky Regiment, on Vagankovo Hill facing the Kremlin. Its overall design is traditionally attributed to Vasily Bazhenov, although there is no written proof of this, and the attribution is debated.
The house was damaged in the fire of 1812, when Napoleon’s army entered Moscow, and was restored in the following years. In 1839 the Treasury bought it from Pashkov’s heirs for Moscow University, and in 1861 it received the collections of the Rumyantsev Museum, Moscow’s first public museum and library, which became the Moscow Public Museum and Rumyantsev Museum. The library, founded on 1 July 1862, is considered the birth of the Russian State Library.
In 1941, when German troops neared Moscow, the collection of the house was evacuated to a new depository. The building stood out of use for decades while repair work lasted from 1988 to 2007, and the departments were opened to readers in April 2009. Today the right wing houses the Manuscripts Department and the left wing the Music and Maps departments. Dates and details should be checked against the library’s official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified; sources differ on the details of ownership and restoration.
Tickets and Booking for Pashkov House Moscow
Entry. Viewing the building from outside is free and needs no ticket. The interior houses departments of the Russian State Library, whose reading rooms are for registered readers with a library card, and whether tours or events are offered was not verified, so no ticket prices or booking window are given here. A visitor mentions presenting a document to enter the library, so bring identification if you plan to try. Rates and rules for Russian citizens and foreign readers may differ, so check the official site rsl.ru for the current access rules.
Payment. If a paid event is offered, 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 Pashkov House Moscow
20 minutes
Walk from Borovitskaya Metro to the corner of Mokhovaya and Vozdvizhenka, view the facade and the rotunda and take photographs.
2 hours
Add the Schusev State Museum of Architecture on Vozdvizhenka and the Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812.
Half day
Combine the house with the Kremlin and Red Square, following the Red Square and Moscow Kremlin Walking Itinerary.
How to Get to Pashkov House Moscow
Take the Metro to Borovitskaya (Line 9, light gray), about 3 minutes on foot, or to Biblioteka imeni Lenina (Line 1, red) or Alexandrovsky Sad (Line 4, light blue), both a short walk; the walking times are estimates.
- By taxi: ask for the Old Building of the Russian State Library on Mokhovaya Street.
- On foot: the house is across Borovitskaya Square from the Kremlin.
- Orientation: look for the white mansion on the hill with the round belvedere.
Accessibility
The exterior can be seen from the pavement of Mokhovaya Street, while accessibility facilities inside the library departments were not verified, so check rsl.ru before you go.
Food Nearby
The streets around Vozdvizhenka, Manezhnaya Square and Arbat have many 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 camera with a wide lens, and identification if you plan to ask about library access.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Pashkov House Moscow
The corner of Mokhovaya and Vozdvizhenka
The full white facade and rotunda above the street.
Best time: Morning light.
Borovitskaya Square
The house on its hill with the Kremlin wall at the side.
Best time: Late afternoon.
The belvedere rotunda from below
The round tower silhouetted against the sky.
Best time: Morning.
The facade at night
The lit white stone above the dark street.
Best time: Blue hour.
Photography Rules
Photography of the exterior is generally allowed; inside the library, follow the rules and signs, since photography may be restricted, and drones must not be flown near the Kremlin.
Family Suitability
Suitable as a short outdoor stop with children, since it is a landmark to see from the street; the interior is for library readers and is not family-oriented. Stroller access along the pavement is good.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Do not expect a museum, since the house works as part of a working library.
- Look back at the house from Borovitskaya Square for the view the architect intended.
- Combine it with the Schusev Museum of Architecture, which is a few steps away.
- Read about the Rumyantsev Museum to understand the building's role.
- Do not confuse it with the large main building of the library next to it.
- Visit early to take photographs without crowds.
Explore Nearby Pashkov House Moscow
Sights near Pashkov House Moscow
Schusev State Museum of Architecture Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscowabout 600 m away (~10 min walk) · typical visit: About 2 to 3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscowabout 950 m away (~16 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Museum of Archaeologyabout 900 m away (~15 min walk) · typical visit: About 45 minutes to 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Diamond Fund Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Armoury Chamber Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Pashkov House Moscow
Borovitskaya Metro Stationabout 150 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Stationabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Alexandrovsky Sad 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 Pashkov House Moscow
WA Gardenabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Krasotaabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Elevenabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gvidonabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Pashkov House Moscow
Rhythm & Blues Cafeabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Rule Taproomabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Pashkov House Moscow
Russo-Balt Hotel Moscowabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Bokstel Hostelabout 650 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Stella Di Mosca Hotelabout 700 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Pashkov House Moscow
December Nights Music Festival in Moscowabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscowabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Orthodox Easter in Moscowabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
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Browse more: More in Arbat · All Architecture · All Sightseeing
FAQ: Pashkov House Moscow
Who built Pashkov House?
It was built for Pyotr Pashkov in 1784 to 1786.
Who designed it?
It is attributed to Vasily Bazhenov, but there is no written proof.
Can I go inside?
The interior houses library departments; access depends on library rules.
What is inside?
The Manuscripts, Music and Maps departments of the Russian State Library.
Which Metro station is closest?
Borovitskaya, about 3 minutes on foot (estimate).
Was it damaged in 1812?
Yes, it burned in the fire of 1812 and was restored.
Is it the same as the Russian State Library?
It is part of it, the Old Building, next to the large main building.
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.
See also: Moscow architectural landmarks.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026.
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