Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia, as well as the. It is also the fourth largest city in the world, and is the first in size among all European cities. Moscow was founded in 1147 by Yuri Dolgoruki, prince of the region. The city was located on important land and sea trade routes, and it grew and prospered. During the 1200s, Tatar invaders from Asia conquered Moscow and other Russian lands. Moscow grew rapidly during the 1600s. Tsars built palaces in the Kremlin and nobles built palaces. New churches and monasteries arose and industries developed. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In 1703, Peter the Great began building a new capital in St. Petersburg. But Moscow remained an important cultural, industrial and commercial center. In the fall of 1812, invading French troops led by Napoleon I entered Moscow without a fight. Most people had left the city. Shortly thereafter, a fire destroyed much of Moscow. After 35 days, the French troops left the city and began a retreat in the snow and cold. In the revolution of 1917 the government fell into the hands of the Bolsheviks. They returned to Moscow in 1918, the capital. Moscow is located in the north-central part of the European part of Russia. The Moskva River flows through the city. Moscow is built in the shape of a wheel. In the center of the wheel is the Kremlin. This old fortress is the center of the Russian government. Within its walls are beautiful cathedrals and palaces, as well as government buildings. Some date back to the 1400s. Red Square is located just outside the Kremlin walls. It got its name in Russian from an ancient word meaning both beautiful and red. There, huge military parades celebrate special occasions. Thousands of people line up every day at the Lenin Mausoleum to see Lenin's preserved body. Opposite the Kremlin, on Red Square, is GUM, the largest department store. St. Basil's Church is also located on Red Square. This 400-year-old building is part of the State Historical Museum. The Russia Hotel, one of the largest hotels in the world, is located opposite the Kremlin near Red Square. Muscovites are proud of their metro system, called the Metro. The city has more than 70 metro stations, which look like halls of a palace and are the most beautiful in the world. Muscovites have many recreational facilities. Luzhniki, a huge sports area, includes the Lenin Stadium, which seats around 103,000 people. Every year, about 7 million people go to Gorki Park, Moscow's most famous entertainment center. The Bolshoi Theater presents ballets that many consider Russia's highest artistic achievement. Young dancers are trained at the Bolshoi Theater school. The largest symphony orchestra in the country performs at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Furthermore, Moscow has numerous famous theaters, such as the Maly Theater and the Moscow Art Theater. The city has around 150 museums and art galleries. Dazzling treasures belonging to the tsars are displayed in the Kremlin Armory Museum. Moscow State University is the largest university in the country. It was founded in 1755 and has more than 30,000 students. Moscow has more than a thousand elementary and high schools and over 80 specialized institutes. Around 3,000 main and branch libraries operate throughout Moscow. The Lenin State Library, the largest library in Russia, has one of the largest collections of books and manuscripts in the world. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Moscow is also the most important industrial city in Russia. Its factories.