Red Square is the main symbol of Moscow and Russia as a whole. Almost every guest of the capital visits this place without fail. Red Square is located on the northeastern side of the Moscow Kremlin and is limited by several buildings, which are the most valuable architectural monuments.
Red Square dimensions
Currently, this is one of the few places in Moscow that is a pedestrian zone. Driving here is strictly prohibited. The size of Red Square in Moscow is actually very large. Its length is 330 m, width - 70 m. That is, its total area is 23100 m2. Of course, this is a lot. Today it is the largest square in the capital. Tourists usually get here by subway. You should get off at the stations Teatralnaya, Revolution Square or Okhotny Ryad. Everyone who wants to join the ancient culture of Russia is allowed here without hindrance. The Red Square is paved with paving stones.
History
So, what is the size of Red Square inMoscow, we found out. Now let's look at when it was formed, and why it has such great historical and social significance. This square appeared in the capital as a result, oddly enough, just a sad accident. Once upon a time, a settlement was located on this place, the houses in which were mostly wooden. In 1493, a fire broke out here, which destroyed almost all the buildings. Later this area was forbidden to build up. This decision was made in order to secure the walls of the Kremlin. For a very long time this area was called Pozhar in Moscow.
After some time, enterprising merchants built shops on the eastern side of the square. Despite the prohibitions, trade was carried out on the square itself. Therefore, its name was changed to Market. At that time, the square was divided into three parts by the cobbled streets of Ilyinka, Varvarka and Nikolskaya. In the 15th century, the Intercession Cathedral and the Spasskaya Tower were built here. The area adjacent to the temple began to be called Red. Later, this name spread to the entire area. Officially, it was fixed in 1661 by a royal decree. According to a description made in 1782, Red Square in Moscow was 135 sazhens long and 75 sazhens wide.
Attractions
The most remarkable places in Red Square are:
- Protection Cathedral.
- State Department Store (GUM).
- GIM.
- Spasskaya Tower.
- monument to Minin and Pozharsky.
- mausoleum.
- Execution Ground.
- Kazan Temple.
Intercession Cathedral
Sometimes this building is called St. Basil's Cathedral. However, historians consider this somewhat incorrect. In fact, only one of the outbuildings of the temple, erected in 1588 over the burial of the saint, is considered to be the Church of St. Basil the Blessed. The cathedral itself was built in 1555 under Tsar Ivan the Terrible in honor of the capture of Kazan. It is not known for certain who was its architect. According to one version, it was built according to the project of the Pskov architect Yakovlev Postnik. Some historians also believe that an unknown Italian master was the architect of this temple.
Currently, the Pokrovsky Cathedral is a branch of the State Historical Museum. Worship services are held here only occasionally. This temple is one of the Moscow structures included in the UNESCO List.
Monument to Minin and Pozharsky
The size of the Red Square in Moscow (photos on the page confirm this) is actually large. And there are really a lot of attractions here. Near the Intercession Cathedral there is a monument to Minin and Pozharsky. It was installed in 1818 in the presence of a large number of people and the emperor himself. The model of the monument was developed by the sculptor Ivan Matros. At first, the group was placed in the very center of Red Square, opposite the modern GUM. It was transferred to St. Basil's Cathedral only in 1931. This decision was made by the Soviet Government due to the fact that the group interfered with the parades.
State Universalstore
The GUM building was opened on Red Square in 1893. Initially, it was the famous Upper Trading Rows in the capital. The project of this grandiose building in the pseudo-Russian style at that time was developed by the architect A. N. Pomerantsev. During the years of Soviet power, the GUM building was supposed to be demolished. But, fortunately, this did not happen. In 1953, the State Department Store was opened here. In 1992 it was privatized. However, the name GUM remained with him.
State Historical Museum
The size of Red Square in Moscow is such that on one side (short) it was once possible to place another large and very famous building - the State Historical Museum. The scale of the exposition of this complex is really impressive. Visitors have the opportunity to view the exhibits exhibited in 39 halls located on two floors. The museum presents the history of Russia, from ancient times to the 20th century. The construction of the building itself lasted from 1875 to 1881. This museum opened its doors to visitors in 1883
Lenin Mausoleum
The most important square in the capital is not only a major historical center. Among other things, there is a rather large necropolis. It was formed not so long ago - in Soviet times. In those years, there was a tradition to wall up urns with the ashes of famous political figures in the Kremlin wall. For the first time, a demonstrative ideological funeral on Red Squaretook place in 1917. Then the Bolsheviks, who died during the revolutionary events in Moscow, found their last refuge near the wall. In 1919, Y. Sverdlov and M. Zagorsky, victims of the terrorist attack, were buried here.
And, of course, the most important part of the Kremlin necropolis is the mausoleum to them. Lenin, which is almost an Egyptian pyramid with the mummy of the "Pharaoh" inside. In Soviet times, thousands of people flocked to this small building in order to see the “leader of the peoples” with their own eyes. The size of Red Square, as we have already found out, is very large. The length of the queue could go far beyond its limits. People who wished to see Lenin waited for this moment for several hours, only from time to time going to rest on the benches and lawns in the Alexander Garden.
The mausoleum was built in 1930 from reinforced concrete. In 1945, a podium for politicians was built on it. This building is currently open to visitors three times a week.
Kazan Cathedral
This majestic building is located at the intersection of Red Square with Nikolskaya Street. In 1625, in honor of the victory over the Polish-Lithuanian invaders, the Kazan Church was built here. But unfortunately, in a few years, in 1634, this wooden building was destroyed by fire. After that, it was decided to build a new temple, this time of stone. After the revolution, the Kazan Church was destroyed. In 1993, the temple was restored to its original form.
Execution Ground
SizeRed Square is quite large, and it has a separate historical part, called Lobnaya. It is located on the south side and is mistakenly considered the place of executions. In fact, this part of the square has always been sacred for Russians. Executions were indeed carried out here, but only in exceptional cases. Most often, various kinds of royal decrees were simply announced at the Execution Ground, the appointment of the patriarch was announced, announcements were made about the beginning of the war, etc.
During the religious festivities around this part of the Red Square, the procession took place. Who first introduced the tradition of holding large-scale social and church events in this place is not known for certain. Scientists have only facts that it has been mentioned in chronicles since 1549.
Spasskaya Tower
This building, although it does not belong to Red Square itself, plays an important role in the architectural appearance of this place. The Spasskaya Tower was built in 1491 according to the project of the Italian architect Solari. The gates located below are considered the main ones in the Kremlin. In past centuries (the size of Red Square in Moscow has always been rather big), various restrictions were in effect here. For example, men could not pass through the Spassky Gates in a headdress. It was also not allowed to ride through them.
The well-known chimes are located on the Spasskaya Tower, traditionally considered a symbol of the New Year. The very first clock at the top of this structure was installed back in the 16th century. The chimes that adorn the tower today were made in 1852. In 1917, during the revolutionary events, a shell hit the clock. They were restored a year later. Since 1937, the chimes have been wound up with the help of special electromechanisms.
Size of Red Square in Moscow in hectares
Thus, the length and width of Red Square, which housed just a huge number of attractions, is 330 and 70 m, respectively. This plot is very large, and therefore it is often measured not in meters, but in hectares.
So, what is the size of Red Square in Moscow in ha? Within historical boundaries, this figure is neither more nor less - 4.6 hectares. The borders are located along the width - from the Kremlin wall to GUM, and along the length - from the Execution Ground to the Nikolsky Gates.
So now you know what is the size of Red Square in meters and in hectares. This place is really very significant for our country and, of course, very large. Of course, every tourist should visit it and learn a lot of interesting things about the history of Russia.
