#6 GUM

RED SQUARE, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

GUM is a department store with a vibrant history. During the time of the Soviet Union, the top floor was home to section 100, a secret clothing store only open to the highest echelons of the communist party.

Nowadays, the store is open to everyone but the impressive building still harbours relics of a bygone era which has enabled it to keep its prestige and continues to be a buzzing hub of consumerism in Moscow.

The site has always been used for trading and the current building was completed in 1893 by architect, Aleksander Pomerantsev, and engineer, Vladimir Shukov.

At the time of its completion, GUM was considered to be at the cutting edge of technology. The design has stood the test of time as the building is just as awe inspiring today as it was back then.

Steel frame work and a glass roof give it a resemblance to a train station.  A huge fountain is the centerpiece of this stunning store and has become a legendary tourist attraction.

At night, thousands of lamps light up GUM creating a whimsical ambiance around the store.

GUM is an incredibly lavish department store and only stocks the most luxurious of products