Following the vicious but inconclusive battle at Borodino in August 1812, Moscow’s defenders retreated along what is now Kutuzovsky pr, pursued by Napoleon’s Grand Army. Today, along this route, is a museum dedicated to this battle. Its centrepiece is the Borodino Panorama, a pavilion with a giant 360-degree painting of the Borodino battle.
Painted by Franz Roubaud, the canvas is 115m around and 15m high. Standing inside this tableau of bloodshed – complete with sound effects – is a powerful way to visualise the event. The museum also contains other artefacts and artwork related to the battle.
In honour of the 200th anniversary of the battle, the museum opened a new two-room exhibit dedicated to 'Man & War'. It displays more than 400 items – paintings, weapons, uniforms and more. Multimedia displays bring the battle to life.
The nearby Triumphal Arch celebrates the eventual defeat of Napoleon in 1812. The original arch was demolished at its original site in front of the Belorusskaya metro station during the 1930s and reconstructed here in a fit of post-WWII public spirit.
