In what year was Red Square founded? Red Square: all the interesting things

Red Square in Moscow - favorite place in the capital not only guests, but also Muscovites. She is the symbol of the city, its heart. Its appearance reflects the entire history of Russia.

From the history of Red Square in Moscow

In 1493, by decree of Ivan III, all wooden buildings around the Kremlin were removed to prevent fires. And for trade, a square appeared near the eastern wall, which was called Torgovaya or Torg. It was also called Pozhar because of the fires that often broke out here. In the 16th century, Red Square was called Trinity, after the name of the Trinity Church, located in the southern part of the square. In 1508-1516, a ditch more than 36 m wide and 10 m deep was dug along the Kremlin wall for defensive purposes, which was filled with water. In the 17th century, bridges were built across the moat to the Nikolsky and Spassky Gates. The square began to be called Red, which meant beautiful. Gradually, Red Square in Moscow is becoming not only a shopping center, but also a political center.

Red Square in Moscow – attractions and information for tourists

Red Square in Moscow has always been a crowded place. And construction on it was carried out in such a way as to justify its name - Beautiful. After Ivan the Terrible conquered the Kazan Khanate in 1555-1560, in the southern part of the square, Russian architects Barma and Postnik built the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat. In 1588, an additional altar was built there over the grave of the holy fool St. Basil the Blessed. And the cathedral began to be called St. Basil's Cathedral. The cathedral was also rebuilt in the 17th century. Now we see the temple in the form of nine churches on one foundation. This is one of the main attractions of the capital.

Lobnoye Mesto, built in the mid-16th century, has also been preserved here. Previously, it was wooden and royal decrees were announced from it. A special structure was installed to carry out executions. Later, Lobnoye Place became stone.

When the victory over the Polish invaders was won in 1605-1615, the Kazan Cathedral was built at the expense of the royal family. Under the leadership of the talented architect P. Baranovsky, the cathedral was restored in 1925-1933. During the struggle against religion, the temple was destroyed. According to the design of the architect O.I. Zhurin, a student of P.D. Baranovsky, in 1990-1993. The cathedral was restored at the expense of the people and government of Moscow. On November 4, on the Day of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan, it was consecrated by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. In the place where the Historical Museum is now located, the Mint and the Main Pharmacy were built in the 17th century.

According to the design of the architect G. Quarenghi, in 1786 the Trading Rows were erected along the moat. Later the square was paved with cobblestones. During the Patriotic War of 1812, the Trading Rows were destroyed. And the 19th century became a time of intensive development of the area. Under the leadership of the architect O.I. Bove, the Trading Rows building was restored in the form of a horizontally elongated form on a through arcade. And in front of the building there is a monument to K. Minin and D. Pozharsky, made by I. P. Martos. In the northern part of the square in 1875 - 1881. The building of the Historical Museum is being built according to the design of the architect V. Sherwood. And later, in 1889 - 1893, the current GUM building appeared - Upper Trading Rows, built according to the design of A. Pomerantsev.

After the 1917 revolution, the name of the square was associated with the victory of the “Reds,” and Red Square and the Kremlin became symbols of the revolution. After the death of V.I. Lenin's Mausoleum was built in 1924. At first it was made of wood, and then, according to the design of the architect A.V. Shchusev was rebuilt in marble. In the 1930s, granite stands were built, and spruce trees were planted around the Kremlin wall. The monument to Minin and Pozharsky was moved. The cobblestone surface was replaced with paving stones.

In 1990, the complex of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square were included in the list of the world cultural heritage UNESCO. Therefore, serious modifications in the appearance of these historical places from now on there shouldn't be. Historians hope that the work carried out to restore the Iveron Gate and the Cathedral of the Kazan Mother of God in the early 90s should be the last.

Unfortunately, sometimes here, in the very heart of our homeland, events are held that are not intended for historical places. Thus, 250 dump trucks of sand were delivered for the stage of the Freestyle Motorcycle World Cup that took place on Vasilyevsky Spusk. Due to the wind, dust flew onto and into the restored St. Basil's Cathedral.

The following information may be useful for tourists. Red Square is open to tourists around the clock. In some cases, when preparations are underway for a big holiday, visiting it is closed. A major overhaul of the paving stones is planned. It will be replaced in parts. The area will not be closed to guests. IN last years In winter, a skating rink is built next to GUM. Its size reaches 3 thousand square meters (about a quarter of Red Square) and can accommodate up to 500 people. There is a cloakroom and skate rentals. A New Year's Eve party has been organized. IN holidays famous artists perform.

Red Square in Moscow - May 9 parade

Since 1918, parades and demonstrations of workers began to be held here. From here on November 7, 1941, our soldiers went to the front line. On June 24, 1945, the Victory Parade took place on Red Square in Moscow.

The parade on Red Square on May 9, 2010 was especially solemn. About 10.5 thousand Russian military personnel and almost a thousand foreign military personnel from the CIS, Poland and Great Britain, France and the USA passed through the square. 161 units of military equipment drove by, and 127 planes and helicopters flew in the skies over Moscow. The parades taking place on Red Square in Moscow always attract the attention of Muscovites, guests of the capital and all Russians. At the same time, the paving stones of Red Square suffer from the passage of military equipment.

Red Square is located in the very center of the capital Russian Federation and is the most famous and significant square in the country. Its foundation was laid at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. And although she is several hundred years younger than Moscow, today it is impossible to imagine the capital without her. It is from here that distances to all Russian cities are counted.

The history of Red Square

The square was formed immediately after the reconstruction of the Kremlin walls. Ivan III replaced the tired white stone walls with brick ones. After this, he issued a decree that prohibited all construction within a cannon shot of the new Kremlin walls. All existing buildings were demolished, and a defensive ditch was dug along the wall in 1508, connected to the Neglinnaya River. Its depth in some places reached 12.8 meters and its width - 36 meters. Bridges were built across the moat at the Spassky and Nikolsky Gates. This is how the famous Red Square was formed. But it began to be called “Red” only in the 17th century. At first it was called Torg, since it was not in its open spaces that trade flourished. Later, trade grew even more, thanks to the proximity of river piers, from where goods were delivered. After some time, the square received the name Great Trade.

In 1571, a fire broke out on the square, after which it was forbidden to erect wooden commercial structures on it. Then it received its next name - “Fire”. After some time, the first trade buildings made of stone, the so-called stone merchant chambers, were finally built, and the square began to be called Red, that is, beautiful. This name became official thanks to the decree of the Moscow Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, and in all documents starting from 1661, this name appears. Despite everything, the shopping arcades burned repeatedly and were then rebuilt. Over time, various buildings were erected on the square itself and near it, which centuries later became an integral part of the architectural ensemble of Red Square, which is included in the register of monuments World Heritage UNESCO.

Execution place

Located at the very beginning of Vasilyevsky Descent. It was first mentioned in chronicles in 1547. Over the long period of its existence, its appearance was changed more than once; it was an elevated platform round shape made of brick, which had a lattice made of wood (later made of stone), also a canopy, bars and a door, in the western part, made of iron. Initially, it was used as a place for giving royal decrees to the common people; declaration of a state of war or peace; announcement of the heir to the throne and other significant events.

Intercession Cathedral

Full name: Cathedral of the Intercession Holy Mother of God, which is on the Moat, is also called . This cathedral was erected in the mid-16th century by order of the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Initially it was known as Trinity (it was dedicated to the Holy Trinity). In 1588, St. Basil's Church was added to it. During the years of Soviet rule, the Temple was threatened with demolition, the bells were removed, services stopped, and during the Great Patriotic War it was closed. Nowadays, the temple is a museum, is under restoration, and worship services have been restored.

Historical Museum

Located in the northern part of Red Square. It was founded by order of Emperor Alexander II in the second half of the 19th century. The new building was to be built in the style of Russian architecture of the 16th century and fit into the existing appearance of Red Square. In 1875, the architect V. O. Sherwood and engineer A. A. Semenov began construction. In 1878, the architect A.P. Popov took charge of the construction. Construction of the building itself lasted until 1881. The museum began its work in May 1883. Since 1996 it has been the largest museum in Russia.

Lenin Mausoleum

Built near the Kremlin wall. Nowadays this building serves as the tomb of V.I. Lenin. The first version of the mausoleum was temporary and was built on January 27, 1924 (in fact, on the day of V.I. Lenin’s funeral) from wood. The second mausoleum was also built from wood, but the third version (modern) is made of reinforced concrete, brick and granite. It is interesting that during the war with the Nazis, his body was not in the mausoleum of I.V. Lenin. From 1953 to 1961, the body of dictator I.V. Stalin also rested in the mausoleum. In 1973, a bulletproof sarcophagus was installed. Since 2013, restoration work has been carried out in the mausoleum.

GUM

Located in Kitay-Gorod, parallel to the Kremlin wall. The first attempt to build a shopping center was during the reign of Catherine II, but it burned down in 1812. From the time of the fire until 1886, the so-called Upper Trading Rows were in extremely terrible condition and were closed that same year. In 1889, construction began on a new building for shopping arcades designed by A. N. Pomerantsev. Its opening took place on December 2, 1893. In 1953, the building acquired the name of the State Department Store. Now this building has been privatized, but is still called the State building.

Ice skating rink on Red Square

The skating rink was first built on Red Square in December 2000. Then its dimensions were 15 by 30 meters. All amenities were provided for those who wanted to ride: buffets, changing rooms. The area adjacent to the skating rink was also left, and Christmas tree and two screens for visitor entertainment and a variety of ice sculptures.

Already since 2006 ice rink They are installed on Red Square every year. Its size has increased significantly since 2000, now it is 2800 m2, and approximately 5000 visitors visit it in one day.

Since the Kremlin is the residence of the president and an important strategic site, professional photography is prohibited in all areas adjacent to it. This order was issued in 1993 and is still in effect today. Amateur photography on smartphones and cameras with 70 mm lenses is permitted.

How to get to Red Square: st. Okhotny Ryad metro station

The history of the appearance of Red Square in Moscow

Red Square in Moscow is the most famous and symbolic. The history of Red Square began at the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th century (approximately 1493), when a strip of visible space was cleared in front of the Kremlin wall, which reached a width of about 240 meters. Historians cite the reasons for the arrangement of the square as the need to expand Moscow’s shopping spaces, as well as to ensure the security of an important component of the city - the Kremlin.

At first, this square looked more like a market square, and was called Torg, Pozhar, and already in the second half of the 17th century the square began to be called Red, which meant beautiful.

The most common version says that in 1493, Ivan III issued a decree according to which all wooden buildings near the Kremlin walls must be demolished, because they created a potential fire hazard. As a result of the execution of this order, the predecessor square of Red Square appeared. Small trade developed in the square, and over time, wooden houses began to be built again, which were periodically demolished. Wooden buildings continued to suffer from fires, which is why the square began to be called Pozhar.

The most ancient building of Red Square, which still exists today, was Lobnoye Mesto, which was located at the fork opposite the Spasskaya Kremlin Tower. The first mention of it is found in documents from 1547. At Execution Place there was a wooden platform from which the royal decrees were read out; later, in 1597-1598, the wooden platform was replaced with a stone one.

At the beginning of the 16th century, a wide ditch (width - 36 m, depth - 10-12 m) was dug around the walls of the Kremlin, filled with the waters of the Neglinnaya River. This ditch was named after the architect Aleviz Fryazin. Bridges were thrown across this protective ditch from the access towers. At that time, the most important streets of Moscow faced the square; in addition, river piers were located nearby - this allowed the square to take its place shopping center Moscow. When the Kitai-Gorod Wall was built in 1535-1538, Red Square was enclosed within the boundaries of Kitai-Gorod. After another fire that happened in 1547, at the behest of Ivan the Terrible, wooden shopping arcades were built along the eastern side of the square. And later, during the reign of Boris Godunov, they were replaced with stone ones. At this time, on Red Square there were platforms for installing guns - raskats, on the raskat near Lobnoye Mesto stood the famous Tsar Cannon.

Among the first significant architectural structures, built outside the Kremlin, on the posad, became the Intercession Cathedral, erected in 1555-1561 by order of Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the victory over the Crimean Khanate. There is an opinion that the construction of this temple outside the Kremlin walls was caused by the Tsar’s dislike for the boyar elite. The Intercession Cathedral is a complex of 9 separate churches placed on one common foundation.

A turning point in the fate of Red Square occurred in the 17th century, which was marked by significant architectural transformations. In 1624-1625, the Frolovskaya (now Spasskaya) tower was built, the gates of which began to serve for the ceremonial exit of the reigning persons and the highest clergy. It was from here that the solemn procession from the Assumption Cathedral to the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat began on Palm Sunday. At the beginning of Nikolskaya Street, adjacent to the square, the Kazan Cathedral was built as a sign of memory of the liberation of Moscow from the Poles in 1637. In the northern part of Kitai-Gorod there was the Resurrection Gate, through which ambassadors of foreign powers arrived in Moscow and stayed at the courtyards of Kitai-Gorod. Red Square was paved with logs; in addition to lively mobile trade, wine cellars, taverns, and many shops appeared here.

At the northern end of the square, administrative buildings appeared: the Nourishing Yard (here salaries were paid to service people), on the southern side there was the Tiunskaya Izba (the management center of Moscow churches, which collected taxes and duties).

New stage of transformation

The next wave of transformation began in 1679-1680. At this time, the square was again cleared of wooden buildings, the wooden churches were demolished, and their altars were moved to the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat, part of the Kremlin towers were built on, and the buildings of the Zemsky Prikaz and the Mint were erected from stone. In 1702-1703, a wooden building of a public theater was built - the Comedy Hall, which existed until the early 30s of the 18th century. When the threat of a Swedish invasion loomed over Moscow in 1701, an earthen rampart with bastions was built along the walls of the Kremlin, and at the end of the Northern War (1700-1721), the Triumphal Gate was erected on Red Square.

Despite the fact that in the 18th century Moscow lost its status as a capital, Red Square continued to be the site of fateful events in the history of the state. For the coronation, all the reigning persons still came to Moscow, solemnly entering through the Resurrection Gate and the Nikolskaya Tower.

The formation of Red Square continued in 1780, when the wooden buildings that had managed to grow here in recent years were again demolished, the facades of the Upper Trading Rows were rebuilt, two-story retail shops were stretched along the moat, Lobnoe Place was cleared of buildings and moved to where it is now. Red Square was surrounded by two-story buildings of shopping arcades, and received a pronounced longitudinal direction. In 1804, Red Square was paved with cobblestones.

Red Square after the Great Patriotic War of 1812.

Napoleonic troops caused colossal damage to the architectural appearance of Moscow, so after the end of the Patriotic War of 1812, restoration work began in the city, which primarily affected the Kremlin and Red Square. In the period from 1814 to 1815, according to the design of the architect O.I. Bove's shopping arcades were restored, the shops along the moat were demolished, and the moat itself was covered with earth. Trees were planted in two rows along the Kremlin wall. In 1818, a monument to Minin and Pozharsky was erected in front of the central portico of the shopping arcade. After these transformations, Red Square ceased to play the role of a market; various special events and folk festivals began to be held here. In 1877-1883, the building of the Zemsky Prikaz was demolished, and in its place they built historical Museum, from 1888 to 1891, the construction of new shopping arcades (Upper and Lower) lasted. In 1892, electric lights were installed on Red Square. From 1909 to 1930, tram rails ran along Red Square along the Kremlin wall.

Modern history

After the October Revolution (November 7, old style) in 1917, Red Square began to have a memorial character. On November 10, 1917, Red Army soldiers who died in revolutionary battles in Moscow were buried here. A year later, on November 7, 1918, V.I. Lenin unveiled a memorial plaque in memory of the fallen, which was removed in 1950 during the restoration of the Senate Tower.

Red Square in Moscow became the site of ceremonial military parades and demonstrations. After Lenin’s death in 1924, a wooden mausoleum was erected on Red Square, where the body of the Soviet leader was placed, and in 1930, according to the design of architect A.V. Shchusev, the stone Mausoleum of V.I. was built. Lenin. In the same year, Red Square was paved with paving stones, stands were installed, the Kazan Cathedral and the Resurrection Gate were demolished (restored in 1994-1996), and the monument to Minin and Pozharsky was moved to the Intercession Cathedral. In front of the GUM façade, traffic was open. In 1938, Vasilievsky Spusk became part of Red Square.

Directly from the parade on Red Square, which took place on November 7, 1941, the soldiers went to the front, and it was on Red Square that the Victory Parade took place on May 9, 1945. In the post-war years, the guest stands were replaced with concrete ones, and a Necropolis was formed near the walls of the Kremlin. In the early 70s, the stands were replaced with granite ones, and the Necropolis was also reconstructed. The paving stones that lined Red Square were removed, a concrete base was poured and the paving stones were re-laid on it.

In the early 90s, various concerts and folk festivals began to be held on Red Square. In December 2000, a skating rink measuring 30 by 15 meters was filled for the first time on Red Square, admission to which was free.

Changing the architectural appearance of Red Square in the 21st century

Today, Red Square is located in Kitay-Gorod, and is adjacent to the north-eastern wall of the Kremlin. At the southern end of Red Square is the Intercession Cathedral (St. Basil's Cathedral), to the north is the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and the Historical Museum, to the eastern part is GUM, and to the western part is the Kremlin. The length of Red Square is 330 meters and the width is 70 meters.

Now, if you are on Red Square, then between the Intercession Cathedral and the Spasskaya Tower you can see a modern high-rise building that resembles an airport control tower. This is the building of the Swissotel Red Hills hotel, which opened in 2005. This high-rise ruins the classic panoramic view from Red Square and flagrantly violates UNESCO standards applicable to sites included in the World Heritage List.

Since 1993, professional video and photography has been prohibited on Red Square. The prohibited group of photographic equipment includes all cameras whose body height is higher than 140 mm and whose removable lens diameter is more than 700 mm. Permission for professional filming is obtained from the Kremlin Commandant's Office. preliminary application, delivered in person. Since 2001, it is prohibited to ride bicycles on Red Square.

Historical reference:

turn of the 15th-16th centuries – the beginning of the formation of Red Square
1493 - by order of Ivan III, all wooden buildings near the walls of the Kremlin are demolished and a square space is formed in this place
1547 – the first documentary mention of Lobnaya Place on Red Square
1535-1538 – after the construction of the Kitay-Gorod wall, Red Square turns out to be on the territory of Kitay-Gorod
1547 - by order of Ivan the Terrible, wooden shopping arcades were built along the eastern side of the square
1555-1561 - the Intercession Cathedral was erected to commemorate the victory over the Crimean Khanate
1597-1598 – the wooden platform at Lobnoye Mesto was replaced with a stone one
1637 - at the beginning of Nikolskaya Street, adjacent to Red Square, the Kazan Cathedral was built
1702-1703 - a wooden building of a public theater was built - Comedy Hall
1700-1721 - at the end of the Northern War, the Triumphal Gate was erected on Red Square
1780 - wooden buildings were again demolished, the facades of the Upper Trading Rows were rebuilt, as well as two-story trading shops
1814-1815 - designed by architect O.I. Beauvais, the shopping arcades were restored, the shops along the moat were demolished, the protective moat was filled with earth, trees were planted in two rows along the Kremlin wall
1818 - a monument to Minin and Pozharsky was erected in front of the central portico of the shopping arcades
1877-1883 - the building of the Zemsky Prikaz was demolished, and a historical museum was built in its place
1888-1891 -construction of new shopping arcades (Upper and Lower) continued
1892 - electric lights were installed on Red Square
1909-1930 - tram rails ran along Red Square along the Kremlin wall
November 10, 1917 - Red Army soldiers who died in revolutionary battles in Moscow were buried here
November 7, 1918 - V.I. Lenin unveiled a memorial plaque in memory of the fallen
1924 - a wooden mausoleum was erected on Red Square, where the body of the Soviet leader was placed
1930 - according to the design of the architect A.V. Shchusev, the stone Mausoleum of V.I. was built. Lenin. In the same year, Red Square was paved with paving stones, stands were installed, and the Kazan Cathedral and Resurrection Gate were demolished.
1938 - Vasilyevsky Spusk became part of Red Square
November 7, 1941 - soldiers left the parade on Red Square for the front
May 9, 1945 - the Victory Parade took place on Red Square
1994-1996 - Kazan Cathedral and Resurrection Gate were restored
December 2000 - a skating rink measuring 30 by 15 meters was filled for the first time on Red Square, admission to which was free

The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are the main ones of Russia. Twenty towers and the same number of walls were, in fact, a grandiose fortification for protection against enemy attacks. Currently, the fortress has lost its fortification purpose. The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are business card Russia, its cultural heritage.

Main attractions

The Kremlin is located on the Moscow River, on its left bank, high. Along the perimeter there are several travel towers, the rest are of an architectural and historical nature. The main tower of the ensemble is Spasskaya, with a chiming clock installed on it, which is used to greet New Year countrywide. The watch always shows the exact, reference time. The Spasskaya Tower is a separate landmark of Moscow, but its interior is closed to tourists.

The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are connected together and complement each other. Vasilyevsky Descent begins from the Spasskaya Tower, leading to the Moscow River, Zamoskvoretsky Bridge and the corner Beklemishevskaya Tower.

Ancient Kremlin

In the 16th century, the Kremlin streets were expanded and improved: Nikolskaya, Chudovskaya and Spasskaya. This was done to resettle numerous boyars and representatives of the clergy, who literally filled the territory of the Kremlin, located on permanent residence together with their families. The vacated zones began to be built up. In 1552, the Ivan the Great belfry received an extension in the form of the Church of the Resurrection, then the Churches of the Three Saints and the Solovetsky Wonderworkers appeared in the courtyard of the Metropolitans. The Grand Duke's palace was radically rebuilt. The royal family received the Bed Chambers near the Church of the Savior on Bor.

The main attractions of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square

In the Kremlin there are:

the Armory Museum, where unique exhibits are collected: royal carriages and clothes of monarchs, the world famous Monomakh hat, a collection of Easter eggs from a Russian jeweler;
three grandiose cathedrals: Arkhangelsk, Annunciation and Assumption.
Church of the Deposition of the Robe;
museum exhibit Tsar Bell;
belfry "Ivan the Great";
The Tsar Cannon, a unique weapon.

What is on Red Square?

The main square of Moscow is famous for St. Basil's Cathedral; its other name - Pokrovsky Cathedral of stunning beauty was created during the reign of Ivan the Terrible in honor of the conquest of Kazan. The architectural value of the cathedral has not yet been determined. This greatest masterpiece of temple architecture was created by architects named Postnik and Barma. Nine churches are brought together. Each has its own name. In the center is the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin. Then follow:

church chapel of the Three Patriarchs;
Holy Trinity;
Nikola Velikoretsky;
Cyprian and Ustinya;
the entry of the Lord into Jerusalem;
Gregory of Armenia;
Alexander Svirsky;
Varlaam Khutynsky.

In close proximity to the Intercession Cathedral there is a monument to Minin and Pozharsky. A little further is Lobnoye Place, where public executions were carried out. Next lies the vast space of Red Square, covered with paving stones. At the end is the Russian Museum. On the left, along Red Square, it stretches and ends with the Nikolskaya travel tower.

Until recently, the public was interested in the mausoleum of V.I. Lenin and the section of the Kremlin wall with honorary burials. Today everything there is planted with blue spruce trees, but this area is not popular. On the opposite side of Red Square is GUM, Moscow's oldest department store.

While illuminating Red Square, we can mention the annual parade of military equipment that takes place on the square on May 9th.

IN Soviet time many buildings of the Moscow Kremlin were destroyed. Moreover, this was done as a result of official directives of the Soviet government. The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square were not considered the property of Soviet power. Especially many exhibits were damaged as a result of the barbaric actions of militant atheists. Many sights of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square were damaged. The letter of the People's Commissar of Education Lunacharsky, which he sent to the Chairman of the USSR Central Executive Committee Kalinin in order to prevent further destruction, was considered harmful, anti-communist and anti-Soviet. Two of the oldest Kremlin monasteries, Voznesensky and Chudov, were immediately demolished.

Renaissance

The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square were successfully restored in the post-Soviet period. Cathedrals and museums are active, and new exhibits are appearing. There is no clear answer to the question of which of the sights of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square is the most interesting. All the sights are grandiose, each in its own way. The Armory Chamber, Intercession Cathedral and the Russian Museum leave a particularly strong impression of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square. It is also impossible to pass by church ensembles, Cathedral Square, and other sacred buildings of antiquity. The exact answer to the question of which of the sights of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square is the most significant will be given by the Moscow Antiquities Competition, scheduled for 2016.

How Moscow streets were named

It is believed that this name was given by the word “red” meaning “beautiful”. But there is a version that the culprits of the “colored” name were the shopping arcades where “red” fabrics were sold. G.Ya. Mokeev and V.D. Cherny discovered that at first Red Square was inside the Kremlin - where it is now. It was also there. The Red Porch of the palace (“the most important”) overlooked the square, where three Red Stairs led. Under the porch there was the Red Gate. Perhaps this is where Red Square got its name.

Soviet plans for the reconstruction of Red Square were ambitious. If the government had more money then, the Narkomtyazhprom tower would have stood in place of the temples and shopping arcades.

In 1934, a competition was announced to create a project for the building of the People's Commissariat of Heavy Industry (Narkomtyazhprom). This complex of 110,000 m 3 was supposed to stand on the site of the modern one. To do this, a lot would have to be destroyed. historical monuments.

12 projects were submitted to the first stage of the competition. Among them were works by the Vesnin brothers, Konstantin Melnikov, Alexey Shchusev, Boris Iofan. After 2 years, another competition was held. Now they wanted to put the building in . But after the death of the head of the People's Commissariat of Heavy Industry, Grigory Ordzhonikidze, in 1937, a crisis in heavy industry began, and the project was frozen. They never returned to him.

During the Great Patriotic War, Moscow was surrounded by defensive structures. A balloon barrier zone was created around the city center, and barricades and anti-tank hedgehogs appeared on the streets. So Moscow turned into impregnable fortress. The disguise also changed Red Square beyond recognition: the stars on the towers went out, the domes covered with protective paint stopped sparkling. From the air, the heart of Moscow looked like an ordinary residential area. It seemed that on the site of Red Square there were houses, streets and alleys that had never been on the map. To disorient enemy pilots, the camouflage even hid the bend of the Moscow River.

And on November 7, 1941, the legendary Red Army parade took place on Red Square.

In October 1941, when fighting was taking place on the outskirts of the capital, S.M. Budyonny was summoned to Moscow and informed of the daring plan.

We will definitely hold a parade... Think with Artemyev about what precautions need to be taken against enemy provocations, especially from the air, and do everything to make sure this is a real big parade of the Moscow garrison troops.

The unit commanders were informed that Muscovites wanted to see the troops ready to go to the front, and they needed to Crimean bridge arrange a small show. Until late at night on November 6, parade participants did not know the truth. Special measures were taken to ensure that not a single enemy aircraft could penetrate to Moscow.

On the day of the holiday, in the morning, troops in full combat gear lined up on a snow-covered square. At about 8 o'clock Yu. Levitan announced the start of the parade of Red Army units in honor of the 24th anniversary of the October Revolution. The parade was hosted by S.M. Budyonny, but, contrary to tradition, the speech was delivered not by the host, but by I.V. himself. Stalin. Then he spoke historical words.

You are waging a war of liberation, just. Let the courageous image of our great ancestors - Alexander Nevsky, Dmitry Donskoy, Kuzma Minin, Dmitry Pozharsky, Alexander Suvorov, Mikhail Kutuzov - inspire you in this war! Let the invincible banner of the great Lenin overshadow you!..

During the parade, an unusual incident occurred: two KV tanks, bringing up the rear of the column of equipment, suddenly turned around and went back. This caused confusion. They said that the tankers depicted the flight of the Red Army and thus deliberately ruined the parade. But it turned out that the Moscow streets were icy, and one tank stalled. In order not to stop the column, the organizers decided not to let him into the square. The tank crew reported this to their commander via radio. And the tankers who brought up the rear of the column heard this and went to help. Therefore, we decided not to punish anyone.

And on June 24, 1945, the historic Victory Parade took place on Red Square. It took time to prepare for it.

It was necessary to sew more than 10,000 sets of ceremonial uniforms. After all, at the fronts, and even in the rear, they forgot to think about him... It was also necessary, at least a little, to train people in marching in formation. This, too, was not done for four long war years.

7 legendary parades on Red Square

Since the 1990s, folk festivals and concerts have been held on Red Square, and since 2000, a skating rink has been built.

First, employees of the Moscow Ballet on Ice theater built a free skating rink measuring 15x30 meters. But it did not take root, and since December 3, 2006, a commercial skating rink has opened on the square every winter.

Now Red Square is one of the main tourist places. It is open to the public even at night. This pedestrian zone ( car traffic banned back in 1963, and until 1930 trams ran across the square) is paved with paving stones made of Crimean dolerite. The dimensions of modern Red Square are 330 meters long and 75 meters wide. These 23,100 m2 are concentrated great amount historical monuments, and since 1990 its unique architectural ensemble is under UNESCO protection.

Mini-guide to Red Square

Photos of Red Square over the years:

Can you add anything to the story about the history of Red Square?

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