Hitrovskaya Square in Moscow - the most dangerous place

Destruction always becomes the mother of creation. This example was Khitrovskaya Square in Moscow. At this place people lived peacefully, until a tragedy occurred. The renewed and rebuilt territory was to become a kind of a shopping center, but it turned into the abode of the social bottom.

City authorities of different time periods changed the layout of the terrain, modified or demolished buildings, but the name still causes mixed feelings among the population. On the one hand, it is something that resembles the market described at the beginning of the book "The Story of a Murderer" by Suskind, on the other - the most beautiful area.

History of creation

Nobody thought that the Khitrovskaya Square in Moscow would exist. If it were not for the sad coincidence of circumstances, then, who knows, perhaps even to this day this territory would remain a kind of sleeping area of the city.

When a fire in 1812 passed through Moscow, a large number of buildings were destroyed. Including burned and many houses. Since it was not accepted to keep funds in treasuries or imitations of banks, money was invested in jewelry, real estate or simply stored at home. After the city was burned, many lost their homes and livelihoods. The inhabitants of two mansions in the center of the White City of Moscow were no exception.

The owners could not restore the houses on their own, and they still had to pay taxes. It was decided to lower these estates under the hammer. He bought them NZ Khitrovo in order to build a square and give it to the city.

This fact is documented in the correspondence of Nikolai Zakharovich with the then governor. Thanks to the generosity of the townspeople, Moscow received a beautiful place called Khitrovskaya Square.

Plan of the square and its districts

The master plan shows the area, one side is surrounded by buildings, and the other - trees that would give beauty. Four "ribs" were named accordingly to the parties of the world.

The south has placed on itself trading numbers and inhabited farmsteads. When Khitrovo died, these buildings passed to the new owners, but survived to this day, although slightly modified.

Khitrovskaya Square did not meet the plan of its "parent". After the death of the general, the number of shopping rows increased, building a park. The location in the city center made this market extremely popular, and with time more and more buyers and traders began to come here.

Khitrovskaya Square in the 19th century (from the second half) began a new stage in development.

Dangerous period

In the first half of the XIX century, another trading series was completed on the "eastern" side. The construction of the park zone was first postponed, and then ignored altogether after the construction of the "northern" and "western" sides. Some of the chambers have also survived to this day, although they have been slightly modified both inside and outside.

Hitrovskaya Square was gaining trade turnover every year even more.

At first, before the church holidays and during the festivities, sellers with portable trays emerged, then the permanent tenants began to occupy places.

The real hell began when a canopy was built over the terrain. Here is the labor exchange, and in search of earnings unemployed, runaway peasants from all over the district began to converge here. Many remained. For a couple of years Hitrovskaya Square has become a haven for disadvantaged and drinkers. In short, if people were looking for a place in Moscow where there was a social bottom, then it was located right here.

In addition to a dysfunctional contingent, there was also the complete collapse of any infrastructure. The lack of coverage, robbery and theft flourished in the area. The local people said that they do not need lights, since they will always find their way, but there's nothing to try and strangers.

The then Khitrovskaya Square - the most dangerous place in Moscow XIX century.

The Soviet period

In 1929, this place was built a building, which is better known as "Iron", it is housed grocery store. In the apartments there were many townspeople, including famous ones, for example, actor Yevgeny Morgunov.

In the 1920s, the Khitrovskaya Square lost its square with rare and valuable varieties of trees. Of the former plants there were only three poplars.

In the late 30's, the construction of a favorite "local house with sculptures" began. At the same time, the school was erected as a substitute for the Zachatievsky Monastery.

Khitrovskaya Square, the most dangerous once, and its name has lost. It was renamed Gorkovskaya. This toponym lasted until the 60s of the XX century. His appearance is tied to the play "At the bottom", because they believe that Maxim Gorky came here for inspiration and studied the features of the life of the lost people. But this fact has no documentary confirmation.

Reconstruction

The idea to restore the former appearance of the square arose in 1996. However, only in 2008 the application for restructuring was considered. Local residents were offered a project according to which instead of Electromechanical college there should have been a multi-storey house intended for offices. In addition to the building itself, it was planned to build a large parking lot for five hundred seats. However, this caused resentment among local residents and local lore. Over 10 thousand signatures were collected, and the historical legacy was defended.

Recently, the government granted Khitrovka a security status.

sights

Hitrovskaya Square, a dangerous place in the last century, returns its former bright image. Here often come to walk and look at the legendary places. The moviegoers represent Morgunov, who often went out into the yard to play ball or wait for a friend.

Of particular value are architectural structures, among which is the surviving house Khitrovo, the profitable estate of Bunin.

Musicians honor the square as the birthplace of the great composer Alexander Scriabin. Preserved and the building, founded in the XVII century - the house of Yaroshenko, who at different times belonged to high-ranking officials.

Among the philologists there is a literary salon located in one of the apartments, in which the most famous writers and poets gathered. Also here lived L. Kashin, who became the prototype of Anna Snegina. He and Sergei Yesenin were close friends, and the poet often came to stay with his family.

Myths of the Square

It is rumored that Hitrovskaya Square, once dangerous, attracted the legendary swindler - Sonya the Golden Pen. It was here that she found her social circle, she could practice her skills and learn new things. As the legends say, in one of the houses the girl hid the treasure, consisting of the stolen jewels, but to find it so nobody has managed till now. Fans of easy money either went mad, or died under mysterious circumstances.

And ghosts are walking about the streets. They appeared when thieves tried to enrich themselves at the expense of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The attackers decided to make a dig, and when they were already under the sanctuary, the building could not stand it and fell right on them. Since then, their souls roam the streets and frighten passers-by with requests to beg for another's sin.

Another option says that the merchant-villain in the dream saw Nicholas the Wonderworker who ordered him to steal and sell the cassock from the statue in order to resume the business on this money. The man listened to him, and the apparel was in place at the same time.

Modern area

Hitrovka is a unique area of the city not only because it managed to preserve historical buildings. This is the only place in the center of Moscow, in which the living quarters are much larger than the offices and entertainment centers. Residents have recaptured the area once, and now are again ready to defend their territory in the fight against developers.

Very often the local population can observe the shooting of historical films on the territory of Khitrovskaya Square, which became the pride of Moscow.