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The Largest University in Russia

Moscow State University was established on the establishment of Ivan Shuvalov and Mikhail Lomonosov by a declaration of Russian Empress Elizabeth dated January 25, 1755. First lessons were held on 26 April. Originally located on Red Square, the university was transferred by Catherine the Great to the present Neoclassical building on the other side of Mokhovaya Street. MSU was founded in 1755; it is the oldest and largest university in Russia. As of 2004, the university has some of 4 000 staff teaching 31 000 students and 7 000 postgraduates.

The main building was designed by architect Lev Vladimirovich Rudnev. In the post-era, Stalin ordered seven huge tiered neoclassic towers built around the city. It was also the tallest construction in the world outside of New York City at the time of its structure and it remained the tallest building in Europe up until 1988.

Facilities on hand in the interior of the building consist of a concert hall, a theatre, a museum, various administration services, a library, a swimming pool, police station, post office, Laundromat, hairdresser’s salon, a canteen, bank offices, shops, cafeterias, a bomb shelter, etc. Quite a lot of other buildings and sports facilities were later on added to the university grounds, including the only baseball stadium in Russia.

The star on top of the tower is large enough to consist of a small room and a viewing platform; it weighs 12 tons. The building’s facades are decked out with giant clocks, barometers, thermometers, statues, carved wheat sheaves and Soviet crests.