Exhibitions
6+Falcon Yard
Kolomenskoe
Tue. - Thu., Sun. 10:00-18:00
Prospekt Andropova 39, bldg. 71
Falcon Yard at modern Kolomenskoe is the only place in Moscow where you can watch hunting birds fly, learn about the peculiarities of their behavior and how they are taught hunting.
You can get acquainted with historical data at the ‘Falconry at Kolomenskoe’ exhibition. The exhibition shows us how the royal falconers of the XVII century lived and worked, introduces the basic terms of hunting craft and the attributes used in the training of hunting birds. It also displays the story of falconry and notes its value as cultural heritage.
During the reign of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, a royal falcon yard was established at Kolomenskoe. Here, on its water meadows, the tsar and his eldest sons devoted time to their favorite pastime – ‘red (beautiful) falconry’. The tsar often came to Kolomenskoe to hunt. For example, according to the court diary records of 1657, in the summer Alexey Mikhailovich visited the village more than 20 times. His reign was the golden age of falconry: The Russian royal court hunt with hunting birds was the largest in Europe. At the same time, the first professional literature work appeared in Russia — ‘The Constable of the Falconry’ — the tsar himself contributed to its creation.
Falconry has been an integral part of the culture of Europe and Asia for more than 4,000 years. In 2010, UNESCO inscribed falconry on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, showing the unique interaction of man and a bird of prey.
Today, falconry is developing in many countries around the world, including Russia, the USA, Great Britain and Japan. Nowadays, falconry techniques are often used for other purposes. For example, the ornithological services at airports with the assistance of hunting birds provide clean sky, help to avoid bird strikes (aircraft collisions with flocks of birds). According to the same principle, cultural monuments are protected from the dominance of bird flocks, which can disrupt the exterior and preservation of valuable objects.
The Falcon Yard includes a museum exhibition in the Falconer's House and an open-air exposition showing different types of birds of prey. Guided tours and other museum events include a display of the saker falcons, goshawk and buzzard flight.
Sightseeing tours to the Falconry are available every weekend.