Victory Square in Minsk

Until 1958, Victory Square was called Round Square. It began to take shape in the late 1930s. Its appearance was preceded by the construction of two residential buildings with distinctive arch-shaped facades. Construction was interrupted by the beginning of the war, so the work was completed in the post-war period. At that time, the area was not landscaped, trams ran right across the square along the avenue, and there was a tram depot nearby.

In the early 50s, Minsk was actively being built up. Houses were being erected along the avenue, which was named after Stalin, trees were being planted, squares were being arranged, and trade points were opening. It was also the time when the legendary "Bakery" opened, where a bread store still operates today, now known as "Karavay".

In 1954, a granite obelisk was erected in the center of the square in honor of the liberation of the city from the Nazi invaders. The monument, worked on by the leading Belarusian sculptors, was dedicated to the memory of those who gave their lives to save the Belarusian capital. At the top of the obelisk is a bronze Order of Victory. The lower part of the monument is decorated with four bas-reliefs:

• «Soviet Army in the Years of the War» by S. Selikhanov;
• «May 9, 1945» by A. Bembel;
• «Partisans of Belarus» by A. Glebov;
• «Glory to the Fallen Heroes» by Z. Azgur.

In 1961, an eternal flame was lit at the foot of the granite monument, which has not gone out for over 60 years.

In the early 80s, due to the construction of the metro line, the square changed its shape, becoming more elongated. It was then that pedestals with capsules were installed here. They contain soil brought from hero cities - Odessa, Kerch, Moscow, Tula, and so on. In the underground passage under the square, a Memorial Hall was opened in 1985. The event was timed to coincide with the fortieth anniversary of the victory in the war. In the center of the hall is a wreath in the form of an eternal flame, made of colored glass. The walls of the passage feature commemorative inscriptions, as well as the names of the Heroes of the USSR who perished in the war.

Victory Square is surrounded by buildings from the 1950s. In one of the houses in the 60s lived Lee Harvey Oswald, who was accused of assassinating US President John F. Kennedy. The curved houses at the edges of the square are adorned with the slogan " The Feat Of The People Is Immortal ". It appeared on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the victory in the war against the fascists.

Victory Square is a place that reminds us of the heroic past of our people. Celebrations dedicated to Victory Day and the liberation of Minsk from Nazi invaders, solemn events and commemorative ceremonies are held here. Newlyweds, schoolchildren and students, foreign diplomats, and political figures come to honor the memory of fallen soldiers and lay flowers at the eternal flame.

Shops and cafes, Gorky Park, the wooden house-museum of the 1st Congress of the RSDLP, Kupala Park, and the Svisloch embankment with picturesque fountains are all within walking distance of the square. The convenient location of the square - in the city center, near the metro - makes it an excellent starting point for excursions around the capital.