GUM, Moscow

GUM is one of the biggest and the oldest shops in Moscow. It is located near the Red Square. The building was built in the 1890s and was a combination of elements of Russian medieval architecture and a steel framework and glass roof. Nowadays, the building functions as a shopping mall. Its name is the Soviet abbreviation of “State Department Store”. However, now it is private. Over 100 world-famous brands are presented in GUM. There are also cafés, a cinema-hall and a famous fountain in the centre.