Andrei Halias

Aleksandrovsky Square, also known by the popular name "Panikovka," is one of the attractions of Minsk. It is located in the very center of the city, next to the National Academic Theater named after Yanka Kupala, and also close to the metro stations "Kupalauskaya" and "Oktyabrskaya."

The history of the square dates back to 1836, when it was created on the site of the former Novy Market at the initiative of the city mayor Leopold Delpats. The square was named in honor of Alexander Nevsky. Until the 1930s, there was a chapel of the same name here, which was later demolished, and the square was renamed Central. Only in 2009 was the historical name restored.

The central attraction of Aleksandrovsky Square is the fountain "Boy with a Swan," installed in 1874 to celebrate the launch of the city water supply. The sculpture, created by the Berlin master Theodor Kalide, has become a hallmark of the square. Over time, the fountain acquired the nickname "Panikovsky," in honor of the hero of the novel by Ilf and Petrov "The Golden Calf."

Aleksandrovsky Square is also known for its interesting architectural history. In 1890, a theater was opened here, which now bears the name of Yanka Kupala. The square also retains the building of Minsk's first public toilet, built in 1912. This object attracts attention for its unusual architecture and the urban legend about how an architect, who did not receive payment for building a palace, retaliated by creating a scaled-down copy of the client's house.

Today, Aleksandrovsky Square remains a cozy green corner in the city center, where you can relax in the shade of trees, sit on benches, or attend summer concerts. Combining rich historical heritage with a modern atmosphere, this square is an ideal place for walks and meetings.

亚历山大广场，也以民间名称“潘尼科夫卡”闻名，是明斯克的一个景点。它位于城市的正中心，靠近以扬卡·库帕拉命名的国家学术剧院，并且靠近“库帕洛夫斯卡亚”和“十月”地铁站。

广场的历史可以追溯到1836年，当时它是在前诺维市场的旧址上，由市长利奥波德·德尔帕茨发起创建的。广场以亚历山大·涅夫斯基的名字命名。直到1930年代，这里有一座同名的小教堂，后来被拆除，广场更名为中央广场。直到2009年，历史名称才得以恢复。

亚历山大广场的主要景点是“少年与天鹅”喷泉，它于1874年安装，以庆祝城市供水系统的启动。这座由柏林大师西奥多·卡利德创作的雕塑成为了广场的标志性元素。随着时间的推移，这个喷泉获得了“潘尼科夫斯基”的绰号，以纪念伊尔夫和彼得罗夫的小说《金牛犊》中的英雄。

亚历山大广场还以其有趣的建筑历史而闻名。1890年，这里开设了一座剧院，现在以扬卡·库帕拉的名字命名。广场上还保留了明斯克第一座公共厕所的建筑，建于1912年。这个建筑因其独特的建筑风格和一个城市传说而引人注目，传说中，建筑师因未获得为宫殿建造的报酬，报复性地建造了一个缩小版的客户房子。

如今，亚历山大广场仍然是城市中心一个舒适的绿地角落，你可以在树荫下休息，坐在长椅上，或参加夏季音乐会。结合丰富的历史遗产和现代氛围，这个广场是散步和聚会的理想场所。