Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye, Orthodox church in Kolomenskoye, Russia
The Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye is a stone structure with a tent-shaped roof in Moscow, Russia, built on an octagonal base. The white building rises about 41 meters high and is marked by colorful details on its structure, a signature feature of Russian design of its era.
The building was founded in 1532 on the order of Grand Prince Vasili III to celebrate the birth of his son, the future Tsar Ivan IV. Its architectural style introduced a new type where the tent roof was built from stone instead of traditional domes.
Visitors recognize this church as a turning point in how Russians built places for worship, moving away from domes toward a completely different roof shape. Walking around it, you notice how this form became characteristic of Russian Orthodox design and how it stands apart from churches in other parts of Europe.
The church sits within the Kolomenskoye museum grounds and is easily reached by public transport, with a short walk from the nearest metro station. Visitors should come with comfortable shoes and keep in mind that access to the interior is sometimes limited, so viewing from outside is often the main experience.
The interior of the church retains vivid colors, with brick tones in red and blue-gray that form a striking contrast to the white exterior walls. This inner coloring is rarely known and offers a surprising look at the building's original design scheme.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
