The Arbat Street, also known as the Old Arbat to distinguish itself from the new Arbat Street, is one of the oldest original streets in the Russian capital. There used to be many trade shops, bakeries and jewelry stores along the street.
According to one story, the word “Arbat” comes from the Arab word “arbad”, which means “suburb”. At the time, the city center was inside the walls of the Kremlin, and this area was considered to be a suburb of Moscow. The Arbat area changed during previous centuries. Although this was the place where the simplest tradesmen’s stores opened, the area became famous among the aristocracy of the 18th century. Many famous noble families built houses in the area.
One of the palaces in the area was rented by Alexander Pushkin after wedding day. Pushkin considered living in Moscow expensive, so he quickly moved to the countryside, leaving behind the incredible building and the furniture inside it.
Until the end of the 19th century, the area was home to many artists who weren’t particularly rich, but most of them descended from noble families. This made Arbat Street a cultural hub which became part of the cultural center of Moscow.
Today, the situation is completely different. Although the original appearance of the street remained unchanged, it was turned into a pedestrian zone in order to preserve the look further.
Walking along this street is a truly unique experience, especially if you happen to have a guide take you around the area, as you will learn lot about the street, the artists that once inhabited it, who were all once the carriers of Moscow culture.
