Zayauzye, literally the area beyond the Yauza, is the historic name for the part of Moscow east of the Yauza River, and the Zayauzye District Moscow of the old city lay largely within today’s Tagansky District. Moscow crossed the Yauza, its former natural eastern boundary, in the early 16th century, and settlements, markets and trading streets grew up on the far bank.
The name is now mostly historical, and the area is known by its neighborhoods: Taganka around Taganskaya Square, Rogozhskaya Sloboda, the spiritual center of the Old Believers, Kulishki, Solyanka and Krutitsy. It has a Stalin skyscraper at the mouth of the river, several monasteries and some of the oldest streets of the east of the center, and it suits a walk that is quieter than the central sights.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Заяузье |
|---|---|
| Address | The historic area between the Moskva and Yauza rivers around Taganskaya Square, Tagansky District, Moscow OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Tagansky |
| Metro | Taganskaya (Koltsevaya Line (Line 5, brown) and Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya Line (Line 7, purple), At Taganskaya Square, the old center of Zayauzye; the exits and walking times were not verified) Marksistskaya (Kalininskaya Line (Line 8, yellow), Linked with Taganskaya; its vestibule is at the junction of Taganskaya and Marksistskaya streets; the exits were not verified) |
| Opening hours | The streets and squares are public and can be walked at any time; monasteries, churches, shops and cafes keep their own hours.
(as of October 2026 – check the official site) |
| Admission | Walking the area is free. Monasteries and other venues set their own rules. |
| Best time to visit | The area can be visited all year, and it is best on a dry day in spring, summer or autumn. Evenings around the theater are busier. Crowd patterns were not verified. |
| Recommended duration | 2 to 3 hours |
| Last updated | October 7, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Zayauzye?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Taganskaya Square and the old streets | Included in the standard ticket | Public streets and squares that can be walked free at any time. |
| Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building | Outside / not part of it | An apartment building, a sight from the outside only. |
| Andronikov, Pokrovsky and Novospassky monasteries | Separate ticket or institution | Walled monasteries with their own hours and rules. |
| Rogozhskaya Sloboda | Outside / not part of it | An Old Believers' district in the east; churches have their own rules. |
| Taganka Theatre | Separate ticket or institution | Performances need tickets; the theater is covered in the Taganka guide. |
| Khitrovka | Outside / not part of it | A neighboring historic quarter, with its own guide. |
| Zamoskvorechye | Outside / not part of it | The area across the Moskva River to the west, with its own guide. |
Why Visit Zayauzye?
Zayauzye is the part of Moscow that the Kremlin-centered itineraries skip: a trading and craft area east of the river, where Nikoloyamskaya and Verkhnyaya Radishchevskaya streets, the main streets of the area, sprang up in the 15th century, and where Taganskaya Square became the center in the 17th century.
It also has the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building at the mouth of the Yauza, at least three walled monasteries, the Andronikov, the Pokrovsky and the Novospassky, and Rogozhskaya Sloboda, the spiritual center of the Old Believers. A walk can start at the Taganskaya metro station and combine with the Taganka guide on this site.
How Zayauzye Is Laid Out
The historic Zayauzye lies between the Moskva and Yauza rivers, near the mouth of the Yauza, which joins the Moskva just west of Tagansky Hill, now marked by the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building. In the mid-17th century the area was bordered to the east by the Earthen Rampart, whose only gate stood at Taganskaya Square.
The modern center is Taganskaya Square, which has its own guide as Taganka. Nikoloyamskaya and Verkhnyaya Radishchevskaya streets lead east from it, Kotelnicheskaya Embankment runs along the river to the west, and the old subdistricts of Rogozhskaya Sloboda, Krutitsy, Kulishki and Solyanka lie around it. Khitrovka, which has its own guide, is in the same district.
A sensible walk starts at Taganskaya, follows Nikoloyamskaya Street, returns toward the river and ends at the skyscraper and the embankment.
Highlights of Zayauzye
Taganskaya Square
In the 17th century Taganskaya Square became the center of Zayauzye, and the Tagansky market made it one of the centers of commerce in Moscow. The square is at the former gate of the Earthen Rampart, the only gate on this side. Today it is a busy junction and the modern center of the district. It has its own guide as Taganka.
Tip: See the Taganka guide on this site for the theater and the church on the square.
Nikoloyamskaya Street
Nikoloyamskaya and Verkhnyaya Radishchevskaya were the main streets of Zayauzye, which sprang up in the 15th century as the center of old Moscow began to grow and the area saw a population influx. They are among the oldest streets east of the center. Look for the older houses between modern buildings.
Tip: Walk the street uphill from Taganskaya for the view of the older houses.
The Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building and the Yauza mouth
The Yauza joins the Moskva just west of Tagansky Hill, which is marked by the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building, one of the seven Stalin skyscrapers and once the tallest in the Soviet Union. The embankment runs from the mouth of the Yauza eastward. The building is an apartment block and a sight from the outside only.
Tip: See the skyscraper from the embankment and the bridge over the Yauza.
Rogozhskaya Sloboda
Rogozhskaya Sloboda is the spiritual center of the Old Believers, and the fire of 1886 almost completely destroyed the subdistrict. It lies in the east of the old Zayauzye and is a quieter, more residential area. Its churches are active, with their own rules, which were not verified.
Tip: Plan the trip with a map and each church's hours, since it lies farther from the center.
The monasteries of the district
The modern district includes at least three walled monasteries: the Andronikov, the Pokrovsky and the Novospassky. They lie a short ride from Taganskaya Square. Each has its own opening hours and rules, and none was checked for this guide.
Tip: Plan each monastery as a separate stop, with its hours confirmed in advance.
The first Soviet housing
The first residential building built in Moscow after the revolution was on Taganka, and residents moved into the house of the Dinamo factory on 14 October 1923. It marks the area's shift from a trading district to an industrial and worker district. It is a residential building, so it is a sight from the outside only.
Tip: Check the address on a map before going, since it is not a marked sight.
Atmosphere
Zayauzye is a mixed area of old trading streets, Soviet apartment blocks, churches and the river embankment, with traffic on the Garden Ring side and quieter lanes behind it. The Kotelnicheskaya skyscraper dominates the skyline at the western edge.
By day the streets are used by residents and people moving between metro stations, and in the evening Taganskaya Square fills with theatergoers. The eastern subdistricts, such as Rogozhskaya Sloboda, are calm and residential. The crowd varies by day and season, and no figures were verified.
History of Zayauzye
Moscow expanded beyond the Kremlin and Zaryadye at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. The Yauza River, first mentioned in the chronicles in 1156, had marked the city’s eastern boundary for centuries, and the city crossed it in the early 16th century. The area beyond it, Zayauzye, began to see a population influx, and its main streets, Nikoloyamskaya and Verkhnyaya Radishchevskaya, sprang up in the 15th century.
In the mid-17th century the population density of Zayauzye was among the highest in Moscow. At that time the area was bordered to the east by the Earthen Rampart, with the only gate at Taganskaya Square. A market formed there, the Tagansky market, and in the 17th century Taganskaya Square became the center of Zayauzye, making it one of the commercial centers of the city.
The area took its present name from the Taganskaya Sloboda, where coppersmiths lived in the 16th century. In the 18th century Zayauzye also included several walled monasteries.
After the fire of 1812 Zayauzye burned down almost completely: in the Yauza part of the district 36 houses remained, in Rogozhskaya 63 and in Taganskaya only 13. The fire of 1886 almost completely destroyed the Rogozhskaya Sloboda subdistrict.
Towards the end of the 19th century the area industrialized rapidly, with a copper smelter in the Alexeevskaya Sloboda, a tobacco factory on Vorontsovskaya Street and the Nizhegorodsky railway station in Rogozhskaya Sloboda. After the revolution the first housing for workers was built here, and the first residential building in Moscow after the revolution was the house of the Dinamo factory on Taganka, in which residents moved on 14 October 1923.
Taganskaya Square took its present form in 1963, and the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building became the largest post-war building of the area. Today the modern district includes the historic neighborhoods of Taganka, Kulishki, Solyanka, Krutitsy, Khitrovka and Rogozhskaya Sloboda, the spiritual center of the Old Believers.
Tickets and Booking for Zayauzye
There is no ticket for the area. The monasteries and churches set their own rules, the Taganka Theatre sells tickets for its performances, and no individual venue was verified for this guide. Check each venue’s own site for hours before you plan a visit, and dress modestly if you go into a church.
- Neighboring areas: Taganka, Khitrovka and Zamoskvorechye, with their own guides, are close by.
- Payment: foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict some Russian payment services, so check this yourself.
Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ at most venues, so check each venue’s own page for all categories.
Plan and Book
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Suggested Itineraries for Zayauzye
1 hour
Start at Taganskaya Square and walk down Nikoloyamskaya Street, looking at the older houses between the modern buildings. Return to the square.
2 hours
Follow the 1-hour route, then walk toward the river for the Kotelnicheskaya skyscraper and the mouth of the Yauza. Return along the embankment.
3 hours
Add one monastery, the Andronikov or the Novospassky, planned with its hours, or Khitrovka. Check venue hours first.
How to Get to Zayauzye
The old center of Zayauzye is served by Taganskaya (Lines 5 and 7), with Marksistskaya (Line 8) linked to it. The monasteries and Rogozhskaya Sloboda are farther away and need a further metro or taxi ride. The exits and walking times were not verified.
- Metro: use Taganskaya to start at the square; the metro guides on this site explain the lines.
- Taxi: the taxi apps guide of this site explains the options; the Garden Ring around the square is very busy.
Accessibility
No accessibility information for the area was found. The pavements, the underground passages and the monasteries differ, so check the metro maps and ask individual venues before you go.
Food Nearby
Cafes and restaurants stand around Taganskaya Square and along the streets leading toward the river. No individual venue was verified for this guide, so check opening hours and menus on site.
What to Bring
Comfortable shoes for a walk across busy junctions and layers for the season. Modest clothing if you plan to go into a church. Bring rubles in cash for small purchases, since foreign cards are reported not to work.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Zayauzye
The Kotelnicheskaya skyscraper from the embankment
The Stalin high-rise rising above the river and the older buildings around it. The open embankment gives room for the whole building.
Best time: Late afternoon light.
Taganskaya Square
The wide junction with the church and the theater facade. It shows the busy center of the old Zayauzye.
Best time: Dusk, when the lights come on.
The mouth of the Yauza
The place where the Yauza joins the Moskva, below Tagansky Hill. The river meeting and the skyscraper make a good frame.
Best time: Morning light.
Photography Rules
No general photography rules for the area were found. Churches and monasteries set their own rules, so look for signs and ask before photographing inside, avoid flash, and respect residents.
Family Suitability
The area is a flat walk with a few attractions aimed at children, so it suits older children interested in history. The monasteries need quiet behavior. Stroller access on the pavements and the underpasses was not verified.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Use the name Zayauzye for the historic area and Taganka for the square, since signs use the second.
- Start at Taganskaya Square and walk toward the river, so that the walk ends at the skyscraper.
- Plan the monasteries and Rogozhskaya Sloboda as separate trips, since they lie farther out.
- Look for the older houses on Nikoloyamskaya Street above the shop fronts.
- Combine the walk with Khitrovka, which lies in the same district.
- Check each church's hours before you go, since active churches close for services.
Explore Nearby Zayauzye
Sights near Zayauzye
Bunker-42 Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Museum of Russian Icons Moscowabout 800 m away (~13 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building Moscowabout 1000 m away (~16 min walk) · typical visit: About 30 minutes to 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Krutitskoye Podvorye Moscowabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk) · typical visit: 45–60 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novospassky Monastery Moscowabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk) · typical visit: 1–1.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Andrey Rublev Museum Moscowabout 1.5 km away (~25 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Zayauzye
Marksistskaya Metro Stationabout 150 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Proletarskaya Metro Stationabout 1.3 km away (~20 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Taganskaya Metro Stationabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Zayauzye
El Gauchoabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Zayauzye
Igor Butman Jazz Clubabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Esse Jazz Clubabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Zayauzye
Swissotel Krasnye Holmy Moscowabout 950 m away (~15 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ibis Moscow Centre Bakhrushinaabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscowabout 1.9 km away (~31 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Zayauzye
Novospassky River Pierabout 1.1 km away (~18 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Paveletsky Railway Terminalabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Taganka: Taganskaya Square, the Theatre and Moscow’s Old SlobodaMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Khitrovka: Moscow’s Former Slum Quarter, Lanes and Old MansionsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Zamoskvorechye: Pyatnitskaya Street, Ordynka and Old ChurchesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kotelnicheskaya Embankment: Stalin Skyscraper and the Yauza MouthMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Krestyanskaya Zastava Metro Station: Peasant Labor Theme and TransferMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Tagansky · All Neighborhoods
FAQ: Zayauzye
What does Zayauzye mean?
The area beyond the Yauza, the historic name for the east bank.
Is Zayauzye the same as Taganka?
Taganka is the central part of the historic Zayauzye, around Taganskaya Square.
What is Rogozhskaya Sloboda?
The spiritual center of the Old Believers, in the east of the district.
Which metro station is the nearest?
Taganskaya, with Marksistskaya linked to it.
Where does the Yauza meet the Moskva?
Just west of Tagansky Hill, marked by the Kotelnicheskaya skyscraper.
Are there monasteries nearby?
Yes, the Andronikov, Pokrovsky and Novospassky monasteries are in the district.
Is there an entrance fee?
No for the streets; monasteries set their own rules.
How long does a visit take?
About 2 to 3 hours on foot, longer with a monastery.
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Last updated: October 7, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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