Leninsky Prospekt leads to the center of Moscow to the Kremlin from Vnukovo Airport, it was here in April 1961 that happy Muscovites welcomed the first Soviet cosmonaut. All of Moscow rejoiced at the first manned flight into space. Gagarin Square appeared on Leninsky Prospekt in memory of this event in April 1968. Later, the titanium monument to the cosmonaut became the main dominant on it.
Square named after the first cosmonaut
On the modern Gagarin Square, Leninsky Prospekt, Prospect of the 60th Anniversary of October (formerly Cheryomushkinsky) and Kosygin Street (formerly Vorobyovskoe Highway) merge on the way to the center of Moscow. The architecture of the square was formed in the late fifties and early sixties of the twentieth century, when the "Stalinist" houses surrounding it were built. From Gagarin Square it starts and goes far to the south of the SWAD of Moscow, its northern part belongs to the Donskoy district of the SAD.
In 1980, the square acquired its main symbol - a monument to the first cosmonaut by the sculptor Bondarenko. The material chosen wastitanium alloy, which was developed by specialists from the Institute of Aviation Materials. The monument became the world's first large titanium monument, its height together with the pedestal is more than forty meters, and its weight is 12 tons. The monument was inaugurated in July 1980, on the eve of the Moscow Summer Olympics.
Interchange
Even during the construction of Leninsky Prospekt, the tracks of the small ring of the Moscow Railway were removed underground, but for almost fifty years only rare trains ran under the square. In 2001, the tunnel of the third ring of Moscow under Gagarin Square was put into operation, linking Leninsky Prospekt with the Third Ring Road. Later, the interchanges with Kosygin Street and 60th Anniversary of October Avenue were reconstructed.
The metro station "Leninsky Prospekt", at that time the last one along the highway (the branch went towards Profsoyuznaya Street), was opened in 1962. During the construction of the station, it was possible to organize a transition to another metro line, the project of which was not implemented. Trolleybuses and buses have been the main transport on Gagarin Square for decades.
In 2016, after the completion of the construction of the MCC, a metro station of the same name was opened near the square. "Gagarin Square" is the only station of the central ring located underground. The transition between Gagarin Square of the MCC and Leninsky Prospekt of the orange line is one of the most convenient on the entire ring of city trains, on average per dayfifty thousand citizens use it.
Academy of Sciences
In 1990, after almost twenty years of construction, the complex of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences firmly fit into the appearance of the square and the surrounding area. Construction near the slopes of the Sparrow (then - Lenin) mountains, prone to landslides, required additional time and the development of new technical solutions.
Logically constructed in the area where a large number of academic institutions are located, the building attracts attention primarily with its architecture. The structure in the upper part of the building, beautifully reflecting the sun's rays, was called "golden brains" by Muscovites.
The observation deck near the building is popular with those who like to watch fireworks. It offers a beautiful view of the Luzhniki Stadium and into the distance - the Moscow City complex. The restaurant with panoramic views is also open in the building itself, on the 22nd floor. From its observation deck, you can see the whole of Moscow: Gagarin Square, Leninsky Prospekt, the City, the Kremlin, the city's water artery - the Moscow River, the greenery of the Sparrow Hills, the lights of highways.
Infrastructure
In Soviet times, well-known stores were located along the perimeter of Gagarin Square - the House of Fabrics and Shoes, the store of household and related goods "1000 trifles", the grocery store "Sputnik". At present, trade enterprises have become smaller, but the sale of food products, fabrics and accessories, household goods and other necessary trifles in the Gagarin Square area in Moscow is still developed.
