Hotel Metropol Moscow

Hotel Metropol Moscow. A historic luxury hotel located in the heart of Moscow, facing Teatralnaya Square and adjacent to the Bolshoi Theatre. Opened in 1905, it is a premier example of Art Nouveau architecture in Russia and has played a significant role in the nation's political and cultural history, from the Russian Empire through the Soviet Union to the modern Russian Federation.

History

The hotel's construction was initiated by prominent industrialist and patron Savva Mamontov, with the original design competition won by William Walcot. Financial difficulties led to the project's completion under the direction of architect Lev Kekushev and engineer Vladimir Shukhov, renowned for his hyperboloid structures. It opened in 1905, just before the 1905 Russian Revolution, and quickly became a center for Moscow's elite. Following the October Revolution, the building was nationalized and served as the headquarters for the Soviet of People's Commissars, with Vladimir Lenin delivering speeches from its balcony. During the Russian Civil War, it housed the Second Congress of the Comintern and was known as the "Second House of Soviets." It resumed operations as a hotel in the late 1920s, hosting foreign delegations and dignitaries throughout the Soviet era, including during the Second World War and the Cold War.

Architecture and design

The hotel is a monumental work of Art Nouveau and Russian Revival architecture, famed for its ornate ceramic facade featuring a majolica panel titled "Princess of Dreams," based on a sketch by Mikhail Vrubel. The building's innovative steel and glass roof over the central atrium, designed by Vladimir Shukhov, was a pioneering engineering feat. The interior boasts lavish details including grand staircases, stained glass, marble columns, and a celebrated stained-glass ceiling by Leon Bakst. The overall decorative scheme involved contributions from major artists of the Mir iskusstva (World of Art) movement, making the hotel a Gesamtkunstwerk, or total work of art, of the pre-revolutionary era.

Notable guests and events

The hotel has hosted a vast array of prominent figures. Political leaders such as Leon Trotsky, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill have been associated with it, while later guests included Fidel Castro, Yasser Arafat, and Margaret Thatcher. It was a favored residence for cultural icons like Sergei Prokofiev, who composed here, and H. G. Wells, who wrote about his stay. The hotel's grand ballroom was the site of the famous "Metropol Banquet" in 1935, a lavish event for Stakhanovite workers, and it has been a venue for international diplomatic meetings, including during the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT).

In popular culture

The hotel's imposing presence and rich history have made it a frequent setting in literature and film. It features prominently in Boris Pasternak's novel Doctor Zhivago and is a key location in the 1997 animated film *Anastasia*. It has appeared in numerous Soviet and international films depicting pre-revolutionary Russia or the intrigue of the Cold War, cementing its status as an iconic symbol of Moscow. The hotel is also referenced in the works of foreign correspondents and in memoirs detailing life in the Soviet Union.

Present day

Now operating as a five-star luxury hotel under the Historic Hotels of the World brand, the Metropol has been meticulously restored to preserve its historic grandeur. It offers modern amenities while maintaining its unique architectural and artistic heritage, including its renowned Shalyapin Restaurant and the historic Boyarsky Hall. Located near major landmarks like the Kremlin, Red Square, and the State Historical Museum, it remains a preferred accommodation for high-profile tourists, business travelers, and state guests visiting the Russian Federation. The hotel continues to be a protected cultural monument and a living museum of Russia's turbulent and opulent history. Category:Hotels in Moscow Category:Art Nouveau architecture in Russia Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1905