Chambers of The Romanov Boyars – a rare find.

I have always been fascinated by the Romanov history. Over the years I have read various books about the Romanovs and it has deepened my curiosity. I was thrilled to find this museum and couldn’t wait to visit it. Luckily for us, the entrance to the museum was free on the day that we visited.

For some reason this beautiful museum is not frequently visited by tourists. One of the reasons could be that not many people know about it. It is close to Red Square and well worth a visit if you have an hour to spare.

A walk through the Chambers of the Romanov Boyars.

Nikita Romanov built the house. His grandson Mikhail later became the first Tsar of the 300-year Romanov dynasty. This is the house where he was born in the 16th century, where he slept and where he dined.

The house provides a fascinating discovery into the lives of the noble people of the 15th and 16th century and preserved. The rooms contain a large number of historical artifacts and are richly decorated. It takes about an hour to walk through the museum. Passages are narrow and only one person can pass at a time. There is a reason for that though. The passages designed and built to prevent assassinations. It is not possible to draw a sword or knife and kill another person in passing. The walls are thick and insulated against cold and noise.

A traditional Russian house.

There are English translation boards in each room. Staff working at the museum do not speak English but will guide you into the right direction should you get lost. The house has several rooms including a dining room, study, library, bedrooms and living rooms for men and women. You will be able to see how men, women and children lived. Keep in mind that this house is not a traditional Russian house and artifacts are for the royal family. You will see furniture, books, toys, clothing, arts and jewelry.

I especially liked the women’s quarters. The rooms had windows that shed a lot of light. This was important because the women did needle work and tapestry. They spend a lot of time here taking care of the children. In this section you find women dressed in traditional clothing busy sewing. Here they spend hours making beautiful and elaborate clothing.

The lower level is where the servants lived and where the noblemen kept their treasury.

This museum is unique because it is one of a few where you can see how noblemen in Russia lived. I haven’t come across a similar museum during our travels in Russia.

Unusual items seen in the Chambers of the Romanov Boyars.

•  One of the first forks ever used in Russia.
•  Original wooden floors from the 15th century.
•  Unique Russian decor dating back to the 15th century.

Directions to the Chambers of the Romanov Boyars.

A short walk of about 10 to 15 minutes from Red Square, beyond the GUM Dept Store (to the left, NOT toward St. Basil’s). Go 4-5 streets beyond Gum, and then turn RIGHT, go all the way to the end of the street (bear left) until you come to the end, and you’ll see the house. You can’t enter the house from the street, but have to take the stairway to the left of the house, between the house and St. Michael’s Church, to get there.

Address: Ulitsa Varvarka 10, Kitai-Gorod.