Poklonnaya Hill when it was built. Poklonnaya mountain

March 5th, 2013

Today the story will focus on one of the most famous places in Moscow, along with Red Square and Vorobyovy Gory - the so-called Poklonnaya Hill (or Victory Park). This place is a must for almost all bus excursions that introduce you to the city. By itself, Poklonnaya Gora is a gentle hill to the west of the center of Moscow. Once it was located far outside the city, and from its top a panorama of Moscow and the surrounding area opened up. Travelers often stopped here to look at Moscow and worship its churches - hence the name of the mountain. The view from the mountain opens even now, just like in the photo, but the city center is no longer visible - it is closed by the buildings of the Stalin era along Kutuzovsky Prospekt and the high-rise buildings of Moscow City.

You can talk about Poklonnaya Gora for a long time - in my story, I, as usual, will focus on the main places that any visitor will meet. The mountain itself is located territorially in the Moscow district of Dorogomilovo and became part of the city in 1936. The very first mention of the territory of Poklonnaya Gora dates back to 1368. Here, on an elevated place, important persons and foreign embassies were greeted with bows. Knowing this historical fact, it was on Poklonnaya Hill that Napoleon waited for the keys to the Kremlin. In 1966, most of the mountain was torn down. On the hill left from the hill, a flower clock is now located in the summer:

The nearest metro station to Poklonnaya Gora is Pobedy Park. Immediately upon leaving the station, you will see the Moscow Triumphal Gates, or simply the Triumphal Arch. It was built in 1829-1834 by the architect OI Bove in honor of the victory of the Russian people in the Patriotic War of 1812. Initially, the arch was installed on Tverskaya Zastava Square in place of a wooden arch built in 1814 for a solemn meeting of Russian troops returning from Paris after the victory over French troops.

Currently, the Triumphal Arch is located on Victory Square, which is crossed by Kutuzovsky Prospect, not far from Poklonnaya Gora. It was moved to this place in 1966-1968.

The main part of the Poklonny mountain in this moment occupies the memorial complex, opened on May 9, 1995 for the 50th anniversary of the Great Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

On one side of the main alley of the memorial complex, there is the "Years of War" fountain group, which includes 5 hydro-cascades with 45 jets in each. In the evening, a bright scarlet illumination turns on, evoking associations with blood spilled on the battlefields.

The central place in the complex is occupied by the Victory Monument (project architect - Zurab Tsereteli). It is an obelisk on the Victory Square with a height of 141.8 meters. At the foot, on a granite podium, there is a statue of St. George the Victorious, who hits a snake with a spear and chops it into sausage, which caused a lot of controversy about the creation of Zurab Tsereteli.

The obelisk is decorated with military-themed bas-reliefs with the inscriptions of the hero cities. And at a height of 122 meters, a 25-ton bronze figure of the goddess of victory Nika is attached to the stele.

From the beginning of the main alley to the very Victory Monument, granite slabs were installed with the years in which the war took place.

On the other side of the Main Alley, 15 memorial steles are installed, which is what this granite stone says:

They are located in the sequence and order of placement of fronts, fleets and military formations at the Victory Day parade on June 22, 1945.

In the summertime, it is not only worth coming here to get acquainted with the sights, but also just for a walk.

There is also entertainment for the little ones on Poklonnaya Hill. Tourists will be able to buy souvenirs for themselves in the stalls installed here.

Victors Square, on which the obelisk is located, is bordered in the form of a half-ring by another fountain group - it is designed to symbolize the joy of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

From Poklonnaya Gora one can clearly see the finally completed residential complex "House on Mosfilmovskaya":

Those who are not hindered by fences can climb directly to the base of the obelisk located on a hill and better see the surrounding area. From here the very first photo of the story was taken.

About, built also for the 50th anniversary of the Victory, I have already told a little earlier.

Some of the spotlights that illuminate the monument at night:

Right behind the Victory Monument is the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War, also opened in 1995.

In front of the museum is the Eternal Flame:

The museum deserves a separate day for inspection and therefore a separate story.

We will go around the museum building and go to the second half of Victory Park, where you can take a break from the noise of traffic, visitors and numerous memorial monuments.

But here, too, you can find monuments erected in honor of the victors in the war. Although they were just opened a little later than the 50th anniversary of the Victory. One of them is a monument to the soldiers of the countries participating in the anti-Hitler coalition. It was opened on May 7, 2005 on the Alley of the Partisans. The opening was attended by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The author of the monument is Mikhail Pereyaslavets.

Judging by the form, from left to right, you can recognize a French, Soviet, American and English soldier:

In 2003, a monument-chapel was erected in the Victory Park to the Spaniards who fell in the Great Patriotic War:

Flowers in the park remind of Soviet symbols:

The memorial "We were together in the fight against fascism" was opened on December 21, 2010. It resembles the "Glory Memorial" blown up on December 19, 2009 in the Georgian city of Kutaisi. The memorial is a sculptural composition depicting the soldiers of Mikhail Yegorov and Meliton Kantaria, who are setting the banner of Victory over the Reichstag.

Below, on the side bas-reliefs, are depicted Soviet soldiers throwing Nazi banners at the Kremlin walls, as well as jubilant soldiers.

In the background there is a wall resembling the silhouette of the "Memorial of Glory" destroyed in Kutaisi, and 15 granite cubes. On these cubes there are images of iconic monuments dedicated to the Great Patriotic War, installed in the cities of the former Soviet republics.

The area of the architectural and construction part of the memorial complex is about a thousand square meters... The height of the monument together with the pedestal is 14.5 meters. The project was carried out by a team of authors, which included Honored Artist of Russia Salavat Shcherbakov and People's Artist of Russia Andrei Kovalchuk.

The memorial synagogue, or the memorial "Temple of the Memory of the Jews - Victims of the Holocaust", is also part of the historical and architectural complex dedicated to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The synagogue was built to commemorate more than 6,000,000 Jews killed during the Second World War. The construction of the Memorial Synagogue was financed by the Russian Jewish Congress. Its opening took place in September 1998.

The entire Victory Park is divided into numerous alleys named after something (mostly related to the war).

The Monument to the Soldiers-Internationalists was solemnly opened on December 27, 2004 at the corner of the Peace Alley and the Memory Alley.

In the summertime you can have a snack or rent a bike or roller skates.

There is another sculptural composition behind the museum - "The Tragedy of Nations". It was installed in 1997 at the entrance to Poklonnaya Hill in memory of the victims of the fascist genocide in World War II. However, after a while, the sculpture was moved deep into the Victory Park, behind the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War. Its author is also Zurab Tsereteli.

We will go around the museum and head back to the metro station.

Our walk ends at the Alley of the newlyweds, where the wedding processions stop before laying flowers at the Victory Memorial.

Poklonnaya Gora (or Victory Park) is a majestic memorial erected in Moscow in memory of the soldiers who died for the freedom of the Fatherland. People's grief and pride for the Russian people are reflected in this architectural complex by grandiose monuments, beautiful, slender buildings and outstanding monuments.

Each of them carries pain and glory, memory and tears, valor and suffering. The history of the creation of this memorable place is not easy - it included nationwide enthusiasm, protests, and heated discussions. Nevertheless, now it is one of the favorite places for recreation of the townspeople and guests of the capital, who deservedly appreciated the solemnity of architecture, the splendor of fountains and alley paths, the grandeur of the idea. In addition, Poklonnaya Gora is a giant platform for large-scale actions dedicated to significant events in the history of our country, as well as the life of the city.

History of Poklonnaya Gora

Poklonnaya Gora, or rather what remained of it, is located in the western region. Once it was a high hill, from the top of which there was a magnificent view of the capital. Even 100 years ago, the mountain was outside the city, and according to one version, its name comes from the established tradition, when approaching the capital, to stop at this place and bow to the city temples, their golden domes and snow-white walls.

The history of the mountain is associated with the most significant milestones in the life of the Fatherland. At the end of the 16th century, the Crimean Khan Gazhi Giray spread his camp on a hill when he tried to seize the capital of Muscovy. A few years later, in 1610, Hetman Stanislav Zholkiewski stayed here, intending to put the Polish prince on the Russian throne. Finally, it was from here that Napoleon looked at Moscow on a cold September morning in 1812, waiting in vain for a delegation with the keys to the city. And during the Second World War, thousands of volunteers went to the front line, bypassing this line.

The idea of erecting a memorial dedicated to the heroism of the defenders was born during the war. However, the country, exhausted by deprivation and millions of victims, could not yet realize a large-scale plan that required significant costs. Only in February 1958, on the Defender of the Fatherland Day, a memorial symbol was laid on the hill, proclaiming the construction of a memorial on this site. Soon, green spaces were created on an area of 135 hectares, a park was laid. Long years The territory of the mountain served as a natural park for Muscovites, where they liked to spend their free time in winter and summer. Even then, there was a tradition of organizing mass events and folk festivals at this place.

In 1968, the Arc de Triomphe was installed near the park, which recreates an architectural monument. early XIX century, dedicated to the crushing of Bonaparte's army.

In the 1980s, a fundraiser was organized for the construction and arrangement of the memorial. About 200 million rubles were collected, and the construction began. However, the decision to demolish part

Poklonnaya Gora caused public discontent and led to one of the first protests during perestroika. On May 6, 1987, hundreds of protesters took to Manezhnaya Square with posters calling for the rescue of Poklonnaya Gora. The construction of the memorial was suspended for several months, but by the end of the year, part of the mountain was nevertheless torn down. However, the money soon ran out, and the erection of the Victory Park and the building of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War turned into a long-term construction. Only a few years later, construction on Poklonnaya Gora continued, and on May 9, 1995, the Victory Park was officially opened.

So, on May 9, 1995, on the day of the 50th anniversary of the Great Victory, the grand opening of the memorial on Poklonnaya Gora took place . The event was attended by the President Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin, a parade of troops of the city garrison took place.

Victory Park on Poklonnaya Gora is a majestic architectural complex consisting of dozens of grandiose and beautiful buildings, monuments and monuments. The space of the memorial and its architectonics are imbued with deep symbolism, reflecting the greatness of the feat of the Soviet people and the unprecedentedness of the trials that our Fatherland went through in a terrible war. Thus, the main monument of the park is the Victory Monument, a stele in the form of a triangular bayonet has a height of 141.8 m. In addition to being the tallest Russian monument, its height reflects the number of days of the Second World War. At a height of 104 m, sculptures of the goddess Nike and two angels, marking the victory, are attached to the monument. At the foot of the obelisk there is an expressive sculpture of St. George the Victorious. The number of days of war is reflected in the number of fountains that adorn the park. There are also 1418 of them. Of these, 225, which is equal to the number of weeks of the continuation of the war, are located on the main alley. The alley consists of 5 ledges - according to the number of years of war. The red tint of the fountains fills the cascades of water with a tragic and sorrowful meaning.

sights

The architectural complex of Victory Park has been developing for more than two decades. Every year new monuments and buildings are added to its space.

The main attractions of the park, in addition to those listed:

15 steles reflecting the contribution of the fronts and flotillas to the victory.
An open-air exhibition of military equipment. It features tanks, torpedo boats, aircraft, howitzers, partisan dugouts, pillboxes, torpedoes, shells and other types of combat equipment. This is a favorite place for all the boys and their dads who visit the park.
Temple of St. George the Victorious. The temple contains the relics of the saint, after whom the temple is named, transferred from Jerusalem. The architecture of the building combines the motives of Old Russian architecture and Russian Art Nouveau style.
Mosque. Opened in memory of the Muslims who laid down their heads on the fronts of the Second World War. The architecture of the building intertwines motives of Tatar, Uzbek, Azerbaijani architecture.
Synagogue. The building houses an exhibition dedicated to the Holocaust.
Eternal flame.
Monument "Tragedy of Nations". Dedicated to the victims of genocide.
Monument to Soldiers-Internationalists. Built at the expense of Afghan veterans.
Monument "Missing Soldiers Without Graves". Made in the form of a mortally wounded soldier.
Memorial plaque "Spirit of the Elbe". Dedicated to the memorable meeting on the Elbe of the allied forces;
The monument to the Defenders of the Russian Land is a sculptural group consisting of three warriors - an ancient Russian hero, a grenadier of 1812 and a soldier of the Second World War;
Monument to the front dog. Perhaps one of the most touching monuments in the park;
Monument to the heroes of the First World War. Opened on August 1, 2014, the centenary of the date of Russia's entry into the First World War;
Monument "We were together in the fight against Nazism." Symbolizes a single will different nations who rallied in the fight against Nazism;
Monument to the Spanish volunteers who died in the battles of the Second World War. Designed as a Catholic chapel;
Monument to the countries participating in the anti-Hitler coalition. It is a marble monument with a gilded wreath at the top;
The world's largest flower watch - the diameter reaches 10 m, the length of the minute hand is 4.5 m, the hour hand is 3 m.

Central Victory Museum

The Victory Museum contains over 60 thousand relics. Personal belongings of major military leaders and ordinary soldiers, letters from the front, awards, weapons, uniforms, banknotes and other rarities convey the breath of wartime, allow you to touch the evidence of the past.

The Museum on Poklonnaya Hill is a unique monument of the soldier's courage and heroic deeds of the entire people.

In the Hall of Fame there is a sculpture of the Soldier-winner, and on the boards are the names of all Heroes of the Soviet Union.

In another hall - the Hall of Memory - there is automatic system, in which you can find the names of all who gave their lives for their homeland.

6 video walls show the chronicle of the war days, rare photographs. Large-scale dioramas will acquaint with the largest battles, and interactive excursions will allow museum visitors to try on military uniforms and hold weapons in their hands.

activity

For 20 years now, fateful events have been held on Poklonnaya Gora that are significant in the lives of thousands of townspeople. Weddings are celebrated here, the entry into student life is celebrated, mass festivities, meetings of veterans take place.

For children and adults, rental points are open, where velomobiles, rollers, bicycles and other equipment are given out. On the paths of the park, there are collective yoga classes, crossfit training, martial arts, and running.

There are 15 attractions for children, and a train excursion will introduce you to the main attractions of the park. There are free drawing and painting circles.

Every weekend, and on weekdays, large-scale events are held in the park - song contests, festivals, sports events, concerts, performances, all kinds of promotions and rallies.

Poklonnaya Gora, ice sculptures of 2016 have delighted the New Year and the Ice Moscow festival. A fantastic show of the transformation of blocks of ice and snow into works of art will remain in the memory of tens of thousands of spectators for a long time.

Poklonnaya Gora and the Victory Park located on it are a grandiose memorial to the resilience of the Soviet and other peoples who exterminated the fascist threat. The vast territory of the park allows you to combine majestic monuments and buildings with recreational opportunities for children and adults. There is no doubt that the enormous potential of Poklonnaya Gora as a memorial complex and recreation park will develop further and acquire new forms and incarnations.

Poklonnaya Gora and the Victory Park located on it are among the main attractions of the capital. Here, next to Kutuzovsky Avenue, residents of a huge metropolis like to relax, coming with children, they make appointments and appointments.

Guests of the capital must come here to see with their own eyes historical monuments testifying to the historical victories of the Russian people in military battles. At this place, at times, not only the fate of the capital, but also of the whole of Great Rus was decided.

And here are tips where you can relax in the suburbs -.

Poklonnaya Gora - the history of the creation of the memorial

Legends tell that on this, one of seven, Moscow hill, it was customary to stop before entering the city for all guests and local residents. It was Poklonnaya Gora that opened up the entire delightful panorama of the city. Having looked at the city, everyone made a deep bow to him, which was a tradition. long time... On this hill, VIPs and visitors who arrived in the capital on state affairs were supposedly greeted.

According to another version, travelers, who at all times strived to learn the world with their own eyes, necessarily climbed this gentle hill to see Moscow and its environs at the same time. Admiring the view beautiful city, they bowed to him. So the mountain, which for a long time was away from the city, began to be called Poklonnaya.

The city grew and over time the gentle hill became part of the city itself and residential houses, various buildings and roads appeared on its slopes. So on the eastern side in the middle of the last century a road was laid, on both sides of which the construction of the famous Kutuzovsky Prospekt began.

In the last decades of the 20th century, work on the arrangement of the memorial complex - Victory Park in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was resumed on Poklonnaya Gora. Several decades have passed since the authorities made an official decision to build a memorial here, since it was planned to start work almost immediately after the war.

However, it was necessary to restore the country from destruction, so the case was postponed for a long time, although the park itself was founded by the townspeople in 1958. It was then that a plaque was installed informing that a monument dedicated to the victory of the people in the Great Patriotic War would be erected here.

Over the years, Muscovites and residents throughout Russia have collected almost 200 million rubles, which were invested in the arrangement of the park area and the improvement of the entire allocated site. In addition, additional money was allocated from the budgets of the city and state.

The opening of the Victory Park took place only during the celebrations associated with the 50th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany, in early May 1995.

Victory Park today

The huge Victory Park was created with a deep meaning to convey to subsequent generations the importance of the victories of the Russian people in defending the Motherland. In the memorial complex, almost any detail has a special meaning. So the alley, which bears the name "Years of War", is divided into five terraces. 1418 fountains have been installed on the square of the entire park - for so many days a Russian soldier stood in defense of the Motherland.

Patriotic War of 1812

The memorial on Poklonnaya Gora is also dedicated to another victory of the people with external conquerors. Back in 1942, the architect Y. Chernikhovsky proposed to erect a monument to the heroic deed of the people in the Patriotic War of 1812 here. The idea was supported, but postponed until the end of the war with Nazi Germany.

Despite difficult times on Poklonnaya Hill, it was defeated nature Park as a resting place for townspeople, city festivities were held here. And only in 1968, the Arc de Triomphe was built in the park, reminiscent of the liberation of Russia from the Napoleonic army in 1812.

Museum of Glory on Poklonnaya Hill

The Museum of Glory was created on Poklonnaya Hill on the initiative of veterans who participated in the Great Patriotic War. The museum fund has more than 50,000 exhibits. Here you can find everything that relates to the times when people fought at the fronts and helped the country in the rear. Military equipment, small arms and ammunition for them from the time of two World Wars are on display.

Thematic exhibitions tell about the life of soldiers and military leaders, politicians and ordinary people. Here you can read letters from the front, see awards, leaflets, documents and other exhibits telling about the war.

The most significant site of the museum is the Hall of Fame. In the center, the figure of the victorious Soldier towers over the visitors, and on the walls you can read the names of all more than 11 thousand heroes of the USSR.

This monument was erected on the eve of the Day of Remembrance and Mourning in 2013. The initiative to erect a monument to the dog participating in the battlefields also belongs to the veterans. During the war years, according to historians, more than 60 thousand dogs carried heavy duty next to the soldiers on the battlefields.

Dogs pulled the wounded out of the fire, brought shells, found mines and explosive devices. The dogs taking part in the front marched along with the soldiers in the 1945 victory parade. Researchers say the dogs saved the lives of over 700,000 wounded soldiers.

Religious and places of worship

Religion is represented on Poklonnaya Hill by two religious buildings. Orthodox church George the Victorious was consecrated at the end of the last century by Alexy II, Patriarch of All Russia. The synagogue was installed here a little later, and exhibitions and numerous exhibits of the museum, located on the first floor of a religious building, tell about the torture of the Jewish people, the Holocaust.

Monument to the soldiers of the First World War

On August 1, 2014, another monument was opened in Victory Park. The Russian Military Historical Society held a number of events and raised funds for the installation of a sculpture dedicated to the memory of the soldiers who took part in the First World War. The event was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the date since those tragic events.

The sculptor A. Kovalchuk tried to connect in a single composition the memory of the fearless soldier - the Knight of St. George, with the flag of Russia. Thus, according to the author, he created a collective image of a warrior who honorably performed his duty on the battlefields, defending his homeland at all times from invaders.

In the list of the tallest monuments in the world, the Victory Monument is in second place, after the Washington Monument. The height of the monument to the first President of the United States, George Washington, reaches 169 meters, and before the construction of the Eiffel Tower (324 m), it was the tallest structure on Earth.

It is noteworthy that the completion of the construction of the two tallest structures on the planet (until recently) took place at the end of the 19th century. The Americans erected the monument for a little over 40 years, and by 1885 the stately giant was finally completed. The enterprising French, on the other hand, took a little more than 2 years to build their main attraction, and by the spring of 1889 the beautiful iron tower began to bring fabulous profits to its investors.

It is impossible not to mention one more gigantic monument, which was also being erected at the same time. In 1886, on Liberty Island, about 3 km south-west of the southern tip of Manhattan Island, a torch lit up the Statue of Liberty, which was 93 meters high. It is noteworthy that the frame and pedestal of this monument was made according to the designs of the brilliant engineer Gustave Eiffel.

The word itself monument came to us from Latin (monumentum "remembrance; monument", from Ch. monere "to remind"). It has been customary to build monuments or monuments (which are essentially the same thing) in honor of some great person or significant event since ancient times. But most of the monuments or monuments on the planet are strangely connected with peace and war, with life and death. The Statue of Liberty was conceived to commemorate the centenary of American independence. Eiffel Tower for the centenary of the French Revolution.

By the way, did you know that instead of the main French landmark on the Champ de Mars, the project of the "giant guillotine" was considered, which was supposed to remind of the Great French Revolution? As you know from history textbooks, during the years of the revolution, a gigantic guillotine was installed on the "Place de la Concorde", replacing the statue of the king, and King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, later Danton and Robespierre were beheaded to the cheers of the crowd in the square ...

In Russia, the highest monument, symbolizing life and death, the terrible years of war and unconditional victory, the valor and heroism of fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and the entire Soviet people, is the Victory Monument on Poklonnaya Hill. The tallest monument in Russia, included in the "Russian Book of Records", was erected only in 1995, and not in the planned post-war period ...

The design of the monument and Victory Park began even before the end of the war. But in the post-war peacetime, the priority task was to restore the destroyed country in the shortest possible time. In addition, the USSR faced a new threat in the person of America armed with nuclear weapons. In addition, a sharp struggle unfolded between the two powers in the space industry. In addition to external threats, there were also problems within the country - the death of Stalin, who did not leave a successor and the struggle for power in the party did not fade away for many years ...

Finally, in 1957, the site for the future memorial was finally determined - Poklonnaya Gora. Why exactly on Poklonnaya Hill?

For centuries, the main route from Europe to the ancient capital of Russia passed along Poklonnaya Gora. The Orthodox stayed at this place and, according to tradition, "bowed down" to the temples and monasteries of Moscow. At this place, M.I. Kutuzov decided the fate of the city. Here Napoleon waited in vain for the keys to Moscow. From here in 1941, along the Mozhaisk highway, Soviet troops fled to the west.

In 1958, an open all-Union competition for the best design of the memorial was held, but its results were not implemented. Nevertheless, on February 23, 1958, a commemorative granite sign was erected on Poklonnaya Hill with the inscription:

"A monument to the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 will be erected here."

The foundation stone on Poklonnaya Hill. Family archive.

In 1961, trees were planted around the stone with the inscription, a park was laid, which was named after Victory. For many years the park fulfilled its natural purpose - here Muscovites went in for sports and walked with their children. Only in the early 1980s were earthworks started, laying of communications and roads. For some time the construction site was called "Shock Komsomolskaya" - according to the number of declared volunteers and students.

In modern sources, the construction of the Victory Memorial is attributed solely to the merits of the Moscow mayor's office and the then mayor Yu. Luzhkov, and one very curious fact is rarely and not everywhere mentioned: in the 1970s-1980s, for the construction of a monumental monument, 194 million rubles. And naturally, such an impressive amount was not enough. The project was frozen for more than 10 years.

In 1992, the Moscow government started talking about the long-term construction, and 3 years later, on May 9, 1995 - in the year of the 50th anniversary of the Great Victory, the Memorial Complex was officially opened. Since then, it has continued its development and the most recent object of the Memorial was the monument to the Heroes of the First World War, opened in 2014.

Victory Monument

The Victory Monument on Poklonnaya Hill is the tallest monument in Russia. Photo source: Wikipedia

The obelisk was originally supposed to look like a monument, where soldiers stood on a high pedestal under the victorious Red Banner with the image of Lenin. But in connection with the death of the author of the project, the architect A.T. Polyansky, this creatively complex idea remained only on paper. And over time, the image of Lenin ceased to personify the history of the winners. And this cannot but rejoice. Fortunately, the sober minds of modern architects and sculptors immortalized the victory of the Soviet people , not leaders and revolutionary leaders ...

So, the project was headed by the famous sculptor-monumentalist, then vice-president of the Russian Academy of Arts Zurab Tsereteli. The authorship of the main Victory Monument belongs to him.

The height of the Obelisk is 141.8 meters - according to the number of days of war (1418).

Its shape is in the form of a triangular bayonet. Stele "Bayonet" weighing 1000 tons is made of extra strong steel and faced with stone. Was built in a record short term- in just 9 months!

Most of the monument is covered with bronze bas-reliefs, with the most important battles: the Stalingrad and Kursk battles, as well as the Belorussian operation, and all the cities where fierce battles took place up to Berlin.

Bas-relief of the Victory Monument. Source: loveopium.ru

At a height of 104 meters, a 25-ton bronze sculptural group is attached to the stele, which includes the goddess of victory Nike, carrying a crown, and two cupids trumpeting victory.

Nika with cupids. Obelisk of Victory. Author: Evgeny Chesnokov

To maintain the balance of the statue, special counterweights were placed at its "legs".

The statue of the goddess Nike increased the instability of the monument, its windage, therefore, during the construction of the foundation, it was also necessary to pour about 2,000 cubic meters of concrete additionally. To service the stele, an elevator was installed (it was ordered in Sweden), which rises 87 meters.

Inside the hill on which the Monument stands, there are office space equipped with a facility monitoring station, control rooms, lighting and ventilation equipment, signaling devices, etc.

At the foot of the obelisk is a statue of St. George the Victorious - the defender of Moscow, striking a snake with his spear, which is a symbol of evil. In this case, fascism.

George the Victorious Victory Park.

There are Poklonny mountains throughout Russia, for example, in the northern part of St. Petersburg, on the way to Vyborg or Suzdal. Other ancient settlements also have their own Poklonnaya Gory. But the most famous mountain with this name is in Moscow, to the west of the center of the capital, it is a gentle hill between the Setunya and Filka rivers. Once upon a time, this hill was located far beyond the city limits. Opened from her beautiful view to the surroundings. The travelers lingered here to bow to Belokamennaya, hence the nickname "poklonnaya".

An excursion into history

For the first time, links about Moscow's Poklonnaya Hill can be found in the historical "Chronicle of Bykhovets", in connection with the events of 1368-1370 (Lithuanian-Moscow war). There is also information about her in the originals of the 16th century. In 1508, they greeted the ambassadors of the Crimean Khan Mengli-Girey with bread. During the campaign against Moscow, in 1591, the Tatar prince Gazi Girey II stood here as a military camp. By the way, the campaign ended in failure for him.

They bowed to the hill to meet the eminent and ambassadors of foreign powers. Knowing about this tradition, in 1812 it was on Poklonnaya Hill that Bonaparte unsuccessfully waited for the keys to the Kremlin. Today, in memory of the events of 1812, the Panorama Museum "Battle of Borodino" and "Kutuzovskaya izba" (war veterans) were opened near the mountain, in which Kutuzov chaired a military council during the Battle of Borodino.

In 1958, they laid national park where the festivities took place. Ten years later, the Arc de Triomphe was installed in honor of the Liberation from the French army. To the day of the 50th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War (in 1990), a memorial complex was erected on the mountain.

Versions of the origin "Poklonnaya Gora"

Historians interpret the name "Poklonnaya Gora" ambiguously. Why "mountain" - it is clear, in central Russia, so called any elevation. Historians believe that the name "poklonnaya" mountain was given by the tradition that existed in the 10th century: everyone who comes to the city, be it a great-power prince or a simple peasant, bowed to the hill and bowed, thereby expressing his respect to the settlement and its inhabitants.

But there is another explanation for the origin of this toponym. The word "bow" in feudal times was called the tax that was imposed on travelers entering the city.

Now people come here to bow to the memory of the participants of the two Patriotic Wars. The temples and museums that are located here remind of the tragic days for our Motherland.