"Borodino Field" - State Borodino Military History Museum-Reserve

Borodino field is not only a part of the territory, but also a reminder to all about the military glory of the Russian soldiers who defended their Motherland not only in the XIX, but also in the XX century. What does it represent after many years after the great victories of our compatriots? Borodino field, a photo of which simply can not convey the grandeur of this historic place, every time every Russian should visit.

General information

Many young people, fond of the glorious history of our state, know the Borodino field well. Where is the place of the battle of the invincible French army of Napoleon and the Russian army is known even to many foreigners. This is due to the huge significance of this bloody battle that occurred in the Patriotic War of 1812. It in many ways changed the course of history not only for the Russian Empire, but also for Europe.

The Borodino field is a large territory, stretching west of the city of Mozhaisk. It is located on the site of a rural settlement. He has the corresponding name - Borodino. This settlement belongs to the Mozhaisk region of the Moscow region. It is built near the village of Borodino. It was this place that was destined to become a monument of glory and unbending spirit of Russian soldiers.

The Museum-Reserve, so-called "Borodino Field", is a memorial to two Patriotic Wars. It is known in many countries of the world. It is considered to be the oldest museum created on the battlefields. The territory of the reserve is 110 square meters. Km. There are more than 200 memorial places, obelisks and monuments on it. Some of the most famous of them are the command posts of Napoleon and MI Kutuzov, a memorial complex, monuments on the places where Russian troops stay.

Glorious history of Russian troops

On August 26 (according to the new style of September 7) of 1812, a grandiose battle took place in the territory of a modern settlement between the French army of Napoleon and the Russian troops. But not only this battle of Borodino is a matter of pride of local residents. In 1941-1942 years. On this territory was the front line of the defense of Moscow.

The map of the Borodino field is replete with various signs denoting those or other memorable places. The main events of the French-Russian battle took place between the two old Smolensk roads. In this territory were located such important military facilities:

• Bagrationov (Semenovsk) flushes;

• Shevardinskiy redoubt;

• Rayevsky's battery.

Results of the battle

According to historians, 120,000 Russian soldiers and 135,000 French soldiers participated in the battle of Borodino . The Russians had 624 guns, and their opponents - 587. The battle began with the capture by the French of the village of Borodino, where before them were the troops of Russians. The main events of the battle began at 5 o'clock in the morning, on the left flank of the Russian army. In this place near the Semenov ravine there were Bagration's flushes. There have been many hours of fierce fighting. Flushes many times passed from hand to hand opponents. The earth was completely covered with corpses of soldiers and horses. In this battle, the commander-in-chief of the 2nd Western Army PI Bagration received a mortal wound. After that, the French were able to capture flushes.

The same cruel battle was for Rayevsky's battery, which was in the center of the Russians' positions. During the bloody battle, in which thousands of soldiers died on both sides, the Russian soldiers showed their unshakable will to win. Despite the fact that the French were able to capture the fortifications of the Russians in the center and on the left flank, Napoleon faltered from the determination of the enemy to stand to death and retreated to his original positions.

Borodino battle is considered the most bloody in the history of one-day battles. It killed 45 thousand Russians and about 40 thousand French. At the same time, on both sides there were losses not only to soldiers, but also to officers. In this battle, 23 Russian and 49 French generals were killed, which greatly weakened the invincible army of Napoleon.

Meaning of the Battle of Borodino

The Battle of Borodino is one of the most bloody in the history of the Russian army. It was described with great accuracy in Tolstoy's novel War and Peace. The consequence of this battle was the flight of Napoleon. He not only abandoned Moscow, but lost his army of many thousands and France.

Foundation of the museum

In 1837, the Russian Emperor Nicholas I purchased in the name of his son Alexander part of the estate in the village of Borodino. An important step in preserving the memory of the heroes of the Russian army was the opening on August 26, 1839, of a monument to Russian soldiers, which is located on the Rayevsky battery, and the reburial of the ashes of Bagration P. In the future, a museum dedicated to one of the greatest battles in the history of the Russian The Empire. A general inspection of the field can be made from a high mound, which is located behind the village of Gorki. It was on him on the day of the battle was the observation post of M. I. Kutuzov. According to the old legend, at the beginning of the battle over the commander-in-chief, an eagle flied, predicting victory for the Russians. It was this bird that was planted on the obelisk located on this mound.

In 1912, to the 100th anniversary of the battle, 33 monuments to various divisions, regiments, corps, companies and batteries were installed on the battlefield. All of them are on different in size burial mounds, on the banks of streams and slopes of ravines. Most of the monuments were built on the donations of officers and soldiers who served in military units, inheriting the names of units fighting under Borodino.

Monuments of Borodino

Visitors to the Borodino field have the opportunity to see at once more than 50 beautiful monuments, both to outstanding military commanders and ordinary Russian soldiers. All of them make us proud of our ancestors, instill a sense of patriotism in every person. The main monuments of the Borodino field:

• Obelisk to Field Marshal M. I. Kutuzov, created by the famous architect Vorontsov-Velyaminov.

• Bagration's flushes.

• The killed French soldiers.

• Rayevsky's battery.

• Russian soldiers.

• Utitsky Kurgan (Mountains Gardens).

• 7th Infantry Division.

• Nezhinsky dragoon regiment.

• Field mounted artillery.

• 2 Cuirassier Division.

• The Volyn regiment.

• Grave of General Bagration.

• To the Lithuanian regiment.

• Shevardinsky redoubt.

• 3 Infantry Division of General Konovnitsyn P.P.

• "Rubo's height".

• 24 infantry division.

• Moscow and Smolensk militia.

• The Finnish Regiment.

• 3 Cavalry Corps and 1 Horse Battery.

• 12 Infantry Division.

• 2 Horse battery of the artillery brigade of Captain Raal F.F.

At the highway, which connects the village of Borodino with the museum, the T-34 tank stands on the pedestal. This monument is dedicated to the soldiers of the 5th Army defending Moscow in 1941. A memorial sign was the DOT of the Mozhaisk fortified area, built in 1941.

Common graves

In addition to monuments and obelisks, there are several mass graves on the territory of the reserve , in which Russian and French soldiers who died in the year of the Battle of Borodino are buried. Next to the monument of the division Bakhmetev are the burials of Russian officers who died in that battle. On the territory of the museum-preserve there is the Brotherly grave of soldiers killed in the Utitsk forest. The memorial sign on it was built in 1962. At the same time, the remains of soldiers of both armies were found in the place where Bagration's flashes were located. After the solemn reburial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was discovered . In 1912, on the site where Napoleon's command center was located, the only monument to the dead Frenchmen was placed. It is inscribed on it: "Dead to the great army."

Also on the field there are also the burial places of Soviet soldiers 1941-1942, which are almost next to other commemorative signs established in honor of the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812. Thus, the Brother's grave of Soviet soldiers of the 5th Army is located at Borodino station.

Military History Museum

The Borodino field, in the center of which the Military History Museum is located, attracts hundreds of tourists every day. The main building was built in 1912, just in time for the 100th anniversary of the world-famous battle that broke the course of the war of 1812. It houses a rich exposition showing the descendants of glorious warriors as the battle of Borodino passed.

Architectural and memorial complex

At the place where once was one of the flashes of Bagration, today stands a beautiful architectural and memorial complex. It includes:

• The Spaso-Borodino Monastery, the construction of which was carried out in 1830-1870.

• The Church of the Savior.

• Kolotsky monastery, in which the headquarters of Kutuzov M.I.

• Church of the Nativity, dated the end of the XVII century.

The Spaso-Borodino Monastery was founded by Margarita Mikhailovna Tuchkova in the place where her husband, General AA Tuchkov, died. In her house in 1994, a small exposition was created, located in 3 rooms. It tells about the life of this glorious couple and the history of the founding of the monastery. In the main room is the memorial of General Tuchkov.

The modern life of the museum-preserve

In the 21st century, the museum-reserve presented its visitors with a new exposition called "Borodino - the Battle of Giants". It is housed in a building built with Rayevsky's battery. The basis of the exposition is made up of genuine objects that are associated with the battle of Borodino. It includes: banners and standards; Weapons; Uniforms of soldiers of two armies; Awards; documentation; cards; Personal things. Here are the finds from the battlefield. Among them there are fragments of grenades, cores, bullets. The exhibition included various works of fine art created by participants and contemporaries of those long-standing events. Also there are thematic paintings of artists of the XIX-XX centuries.

On the territory of the Borodino field there is a settlement "Doronino", which is an interactive museum of military and peasant life. Its main feature is that all buildings, objects, things and interior details are real.

Other expositions of the museum

One of the most popular expositions of the museum-reserve is the "Military Gallery". It is located in the refectory of the Church of the Savior-Borodino Monastery. The battle in the Borodino field was very large, so the exhibition presents more than 70 portraits of officers of the Russian army, in which there are many famous and little-known generals. More than a third of these commanders in the battle were wounded or concussion. The battle on the Borodino field is very reliably reflected in various mock-ups and stands.

Orthodox festival and reconstruction of battles

Borodino field since 2005 became the venue for the International Youth Festival "Brothers". Many patriotic clubs participate in the reconstruction, which recreates the battles of the Patriotic Wars of 1812 and 1941. Each year an increasing number of various organizations take an active part in them. This fascination gives modern people an opportunity to look at the historical events of their homeland through the eyes of the people who participated in them. This rapprochement with the past allows us to fully experience our history and the succession of generations. Participants in military-historical clubs take an active part in many educational programs, in demonstration performances, make documentaries.

How to get to the museum

Many people want to visit the Borodino field. How to get to him from Moscow? It is not difficult to get to the museum-reserve. You can get here:

• By car, heading for 102 km of Minsk highway. Then turn to the right, in the direction of Mozhaisk. From it, at the sign to the village of Borodino, you need only 12 km.

• By bus, taking the long-distance route №457 "Moscow-Mozhaisk". You can sit on it at a stop at the metro station "Park Pobedy". Then you should go to the stop "Borodino".

• By train, you can get from Belorussky railway station to Borodino station, and then walk about 3 km to the museum. The journey time is about 3 hours.

The museum-reserve accepts both group excursions, and ordinary tourists. Experienced workers of the museum will help with the choice of the route through the territory of the Borodino field and the architectural and memorial complex. They will talk about any moments of one of the greatest battles in the history of our Motherland.

In the village of Borodino there is a cafe "Mozhayskoe rancho", in which tourists can rest and refresh themselves.