Moscow Psychiatric Hospital No. 1

Moscow Psychiatric Hospital No. 1 is a psychiatric hospital in the Donskoy District of Moscow, recognised as a protected architectural landmark and a potential cultural heritage site. The complex forms a U-shaped layout with separate wings for male and female patients, both floors designed to bring daylight and fresh air into every part of the building.

The hospital opened in 1894 after wealthy Moscow residents donated funds and Mayor Nikolai Alexeyev championed the project. Alexeyev died in an assassination in 1893, before the facility welcomed its first patients.

Physician Viktor Butske introduced treatment methods that abandoned mechanical restraints and focused on building trust between staff and patients. This approach was uncommon in the late 19th century and influenced psychiatric care across the Russian Empire for decades to come.

The hospital operates several departments across Moscow and offers psychiatric emergency care around the clock through the public health system. Visitors should note that it remains an active medical facility and touring the grounds requires prior arrangement.

A program allowed selected patients to live with families in surrounding villages while remaining under medical supervision from the hospital. This form of care outside the institution walls was considered advanced at the time and practiced in only a few European countries.

Location: Donskoy District

Inception: 1894

Website: https://pkb1.ru

GPS coordinates: 55.69850,37.60800

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:54