The State Museum of Oriental Art

The State Museum of Oriental Art is hard to beat if you are looking for an attraction that fully reflects the beauty and richness of Asian culture. The Museum is widely recognised for its unique collection of historical significant pieces from Transcaucasia, Buryatia, Kazakhstan and even Chukotka, as well as from China, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Indonesia, Thailand and the whole Asian and Far Eastern continent.

To confirm the importance of the State Museum of Oriental Art, in 1991 the head of the Russian Federation issued a decree declaring the museum as a most important and valuable cultural heritage of the country. This is a popular museum with a strong interest shown in the cultures of Asian peoples.

Visitors will find permanent exhibits divided by all the relevant countries and regions. In addition to the regular exhibits, the State Museum of Oriental Art often hosts temporary exhibitions of famous domestic and foreign cultural figures.

Visitors can enjoy works of art spanning drawing, sculpture, painting, arts and crafts. Unique features include some amazing artefacts from the Middle Ages, Buddhist art, weapons, jewellery, household items, works of textile, wood and bone, national clothes, dishes and much more. There are also particular areas dedicated to famous travelers, scientists and artists such as Svyatoslav and Nicholas Roerich.

Besides being an exhibition centre, the museum serves a research and development function. It employs professionals and doctors of sciences. High school students are constantly working at the museum and have formed circles and clubs which hold fascinating lectures and interviews with scientists, historians, art and cultural figures.

The museum building is located in a luxurious mansion on Nikitsky Boulevard 12A. Also known as 'Lunin House' it was built in the best traditions of Russian classicism of the XIX century under the guidance of renowned Italian architect, Gilardi. The building was built for the famous Decembrist Lunin. Nearby is the Kokoshkin House, Finance house Golitsyn, now called the House of Journalist.

The museum also has workshops and a lounge-gallery 'Sean.' Tickets may be purchased at the box office of the museum itself.