Andrei Halias

October Square, also known as Kastrychnitskaya Square in the Belarusian language, is one of the most significant squares in the center of Minsk. It is located in the Central District of the city, bordered by Independence Avenue, Engels Street, and Internatsionalnaya Street. Along the square are important administrative and cultural buildings, such as the Palace of the Republic, the Palace of Culture of Trade Unions, the Minsk Regional Executive Committee building, and RUE "Beltelecom." Metro stations "Oktyabrskaya" and "Kupalauskaya" are also located here, making the square one of the key transportation hubs of the capital.

The square has a rich history, beginning to take shape in the post-war years. Initially, it was called Central Square, as it was the main venue for state holidays and ceremonial events. Construction began in 1949-1950 when several administrative buildings appeared here, and in 1952, a 10-meter-tall monument to Joseph Stalin was erected. However, the monument stood for only nine years and was dismantled in 1961.

In 1957, government stands were installed on the square, from which the leadership of the Belarusian SSR would view parades and greet demonstrations, making the square the central location for political events in the city. However, in 1980, construction began on the Oktyabrskaya metro station, leading to the gradual transfer of parades to Lenin Square (now Independence Square).

The official renaming of Central Square to October Square took place in 1984, after the opening of the first metro line. During this period, construction began on the Palace of the Republic — a large multifunctional cultural and concert complex. The construction took 17 years and was completed only in the early 2000s. The Palace of the Republic became the key architectural element of October Square, its massive 45-meter-high building with underground floors extending 20 meters down occupies a significant part of the square.

An important architectural landmark of the square is the <a href="https://findit.city/en/belarus/minsk/leisure/recreation/parks/49/description">Alexander Square</a>, adjacent to Independence Avenue. In the park, there is an old fountain with the sculpture "Boy with a Swan," around which are memorial architectural objects of the Soviet era, including former government stands. The park is surrounded by the Central House of Officers, the residence of the President of the Republic of Belarus, and the National Academic Theater named after Yanka Kupala. This historical ensemble makes October Square not only a center of city life but also an important cultural space.

The square also has a "Zero Kilometer" marker, symbolizing the start of all the country's roads, adding to its symbolic significance. In the winter, the city's main New Year tree is traditionally installed here, and an open-air skating rink is set up. The square becomes the center of Christmas and New Year's celebrations, with fairs and mass festivities taking place.

Modern October Square continues to develop. Where the Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War used to stand, the Capital Palace business center was built. The square remains a popular place not only for Minsk residents but also for visitors to the capital, attracting people with cultural events and the opportunity to enjoy walks in one of the most picturesque and historically significant areas of the city.

Thus, October Square, originally designed as the central place for state holidays, has now transformed into a cultural and business center of Minsk. It combines historical heritage, monuments of Soviet-era architecture, and modern cultural spaces, making it one of the most popular and recognizable places in the Belarusian capital.

十月广场，在白俄罗斯语中也被称为卡斯特里奇尼茨卡亚广场，是明斯克市中心最重要的广场之一。它位于市中心区，四周分别是独立大道、恩格斯街和国际街。广场旁边有重要的行政和文化建筑，如共和国宫、工会文化宫、明斯克州执行委员会大楼以及RUE“白俄罗斯电信”。地铁站“十月广场”和“库帕洛夫斯卡亚”也位于此处，使得广场成为首都的关键交通枢纽之一。

广场有着丰富的历史，始于战后时期。最初它被称为中央广场，因为它是举行国家节日和庆典活动的主要场所。1949-1950年，广场的建设开始，出现了一些行政建筑，1952年竖立了一座10米高的约瑟夫·斯大林纪念碑。然而，这座纪念碑仅存在了九年，便在1961年被拆除。

1957年，广场上建造了政府看台，白俄罗斯苏维埃社会主义共和国的领导人从这里检阅游行，并向游行队伍致意，使广场成为城市政治事件的中心。然而，1980年开始建设十月广场地铁站，游行逐渐转移至列宁广场（现为独立广场）。

中央广场正式更名为十月广场是在1984年，第一条地铁线开通后。此期间，广场上开始建设共和国宫——一座大型多功能文化和音乐会综合体。建设工程持续了17年，直到2000年代初才完成。共和国宫成为十月广场的主要建筑元素，其45米高的巨大建筑和向下延伸20米的地下楼层占据了广场的大部分区域。

广场的重要建筑地标是毗邻独立大道的<a href="https://findit.city/cn/belarus/minsk/leisure/recreation/parks/49/description">亚历山大公园</a>。公园里有一座带有“男孩与天鹅”雕像的古老喷泉，喷泉周围是苏联时代的纪念性建筑物，包括原政府看台。公园周围是中央军官之家、白俄罗斯总统官邸以及扬卡·库帕拉国家学术剧院。这一历史建筑群使十月广场不仅成为城市生活的中心，也成为重要的文化空间。

广场上还设有“零公里”标志，象征着全国公路的起点，赋予其象征意义。在冬季，广场传统上会安装城市的主要新年树，并建造露天滑冰场。广场成为圣诞和新年庆祝活动的中心，这里会举办集市和大型庆典活动。

现代的十月广场继续发展。在曾经是卫国战争历史博物馆的地方，建造了“首都宫”商业中心。广场不仅是明斯克市民的热门去处，也是首都游客的吸引点，吸引人们参与文化活动，享受在这个最具风景和历史意义的地区之一的散步。

因此，最初作为国家节日中心设计的十月广场，如今已转变为明斯克的文化和商业中心。这里融合了历史遗产、苏联时代的建筑纪念碑和现代文化空间，使其成为白俄罗斯首都最受欢迎和最具辨识度的地方之一。