Andrei Halias

Victory Square in Minsk is one of the most iconic and historically significant squares of the city, located on <a href="https://findit.city/en/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/90/description">Independence Avenue</a>, the main artery of the Belarusian capital. It attracts attention from both locals and tourists due to its majestic monument, which symbolizes the victory in the Great Patriotic War and preserves the memory of the fallen.

The central element of the square is the Victory Monument, installed in 1954. This is a granite obelisk about 40 meters high, erected in honor of the heroes of the Red Army and Belarusian partisans who fought during the war. Its design was developed by architect Georgy Zaborsky, who conceived the monument back in 1942 while recovering from an injury sustained in the Battle of Stalingrad. The obelisk is clad in gray granite, brought from the Zhytomyr quarry, and at its top is the image of the Order of Victory, the highest military award of the wartime.

Each of the four sides of the pedestal is adorned with bronze reliefs created by renowned Belarusian sculptors. These reliefs depict key moments in the history of military actions and popular resistance:

<ul><li>"May 9, 1945" (sculptor A. Bembel) — dedicated to Victory Day.</li> <li>"Belarusian Partisans" (sculptor A. Glebov) — symbolizes the contribution of Belarusian partisans in the fight against the occupiers.</li> <li>"Glory to the Fallen Heroes" (sculptor Z. Azgur) — pays tribute to the heroes who gave their lives for liberation.</li> <li>"The Soviet Army during the Great Patriotic War" (sculptor S. Selikhanov) — portrays the exploits of the army in the fight against fascism.</li></ul> 
The Eternal Flame, lit at the base of the obelisk on July 3, 1961, became a symbol of eternal memory for the fallen. The honor to ignite it was given to Hero of the Soviet Union Alexey Burdeiny. This flame still burns today, serving as an important symbol of courage and sacrifice for the sake of freedom.
Modern Victory Square is a place where people come to honor the memory of the millions who died during the war. Newlyweds often come here to lay flowers at the Eternal Flame, symbolizing respect for the deeds of past generations. A feature of the square is the underground gallery surrounding the obelisk. It leads to a memorial hall where plaques are installed bearing the names of 566 Heroes of the Soviet Union who fought on Belarusian soil. At the center of the hall is a wreath made of artistic glass with internal lighting — a symbol of eternal memory for the fallen heroes.

The architectural ensemble of Victory Square took shape between 1939 and 1958. Before the war, the first residential buildings had already been laid according to a typical project by architect Roman Stoller. Construction was halted due to the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, and after the hostilities ended, work resumed. By 1956, six residential buildings with corner towers were completed, as well as the monumental entrance to Gorky Park, designed by the same architect as the obelisk — Georgy Zaborsky. Gorky Park, located next to the square, remains a popular recreational spot for residents and visitors of the capital.

The buildings surrounding Victory Square were constructed in the post-war years, and some were built by German prisoners of war. These houses are executed in the classical Stalinist style with rich decorative designs. Capsules with ashes from Soviet hero cities are embedded in their walls, making this architecture even more symbolic and significant.

Victory Square is an important element of Minsk's central avenue. It is part of the 1932 master plan, which was revised and refined after the war. The city's layout changed: the old center retained a regular street grid, and beyond the Svisloch River, new districts began to be developed. Victory Square, originally known as Round Square, received its modern name after the obelisk was erected and the residential buildings were completed in 1958.

Today, Victory Square is easily accessible for all who wish to visit. Directly beneath the square lies the metro station of the same name — "Victory Square," making it a convenient starting point for city walks.

Victory Square is not only a symbol of remembrance of heroic events of the past but also an important part of city life. Tourists and residents of Minsk can enjoy its architecture, stroll through the surroundings, visit <a href="https://findit.city/en/belarus/minsk/leisure/recreation/parks/1/description">Gorky Park</a>, or simply feel the spirit of history that surrounds this significant place.

明斯克的胜利广场 是这座城市最具标志性和历史意义的广场之一，位于<a href="https://findit.city/cn/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/90/description">独立大道</a>上，白俄罗斯首都的主要干道。它以其宏伟的纪念碑吸引了当地居民和游客的目光，这座纪念碑象征着在伟大的卫国战争中的胜利，并保存了对逝者的记忆。

广场的核心元素是1954年竖立的胜利纪念碑。这是一座高约40米的花岗岩方尖碑，为纪念红军英雄和在战争中战斗的白俄罗斯游击队员而建。它的设计由建筑师格奥尔基·扎博尔斯基开发，他早在1942年斯大林格勒战役受伤后疗养时就设想了这座纪念碑。方尖碑由从日托米尔采石场运来的灰色花岗岩包裹，顶部装饰着象征着战争时期最高军衔的胜利勋章。

基座的四面装饰着著名白俄罗斯雕塑家创作的青铜浮雕。这些浮雕描绘了军事行动和全民抵抗历史上的关键时刻：

<ul><li>"1945年5月9日" (雕塑家A. 本贝尔) — 纪念胜利日。</li> <li>"白俄罗斯游击队" (雕塑家A. 格列博夫) — 象征着白俄罗斯游击队在抗击占领者中的贡献。</li> <li>"荣耀归于牺牲的英雄" (雕塑家Z. 阿兹古尔) — 向为解放而献出生命的英雄致敬。</li> <li>"伟大的卫国战争中的苏联军队" (雕塑家S. 塞利哈诺夫) — 描绘了军队在抗击法西斯主义中的功绩。</li></ul> 1961年7月3日在方尖碑基座点燃的永恒之火，成为对逝者永恒纪念的象征。点燃这火焰的荣誉归于苏联英雄阿列克谢·布尔杰伊尼。今天，这火焰依然燃烧，作为勇气和为自由献身的重要象征。
如今的胜利广场是人们前来纪念战争中逝去数百万人的地方。新人们经常来到这里向永恒之火献花，象征着对过去几代人壮举的尊敬。广场的一个特色是环绕方尖碑的地下长廊。它通向一个纪念大厅，厅内安装了刻有在白俄罗斯土地上作战的566名苏联英雄名字的牌匾。大厅中央摆放着一顶艺术玻璃制成并带内部照明的花环，象征着对牺牲英雄的永恒记忆。

胜利广场的建筑群形成于1939年至1958年之间。战前，按照建筑师罗曼·斯托勒尔的典型设计，第一批住宅楼已奠基。由于伟大的卫国战争爆发，建设工作暂停，战斗结束后，工程继续进行。到1956年，六栋带角塔的住宅楼竣工，戈尔基公园的宏伟入口也完工，设计师是方尖碑的同一位建筑师——格奥尔基·扎博尔斯基。戈尔基公园紧邻广场，至今仍是明斯克居民和游客的热门休闲场所。

围绕胜利广场的建筑群是在战后几年内建成的，其中部分建筑由德国战俘建造。这些建筑采用了经典的斯大林主义风格，装饰丰富。其墙壁内嵌有从苏联英雄城市带来的骨灰胶囊，使这些建筑的象征意义更加深远。

胜利广场是明斯克中央大道的重要组成部分。它是1932年总体规划的一部分，战争结束后进行了修订和完善。城市的布局发生了变化：老城区保留了规则的街道网格，而斯维斯洛奇河对岸开始开发新区域。胜利广场，原名圆形广场，在方尖碑竖立和住宅楼建成后于1958年获得了其现代名称。

今天，胜利广场对所有想要参观的人来说都很容易到达。广场正下方设有同名地铁站——“胜利广场”，使其成为城市漫步的便捷起点。

胜利广场不仅是对过去英雄事件的纪念象征，还是城市生活的重要组成部分。游客和明斯克居民可以欣赏它的建筑，漫步周围，参观<a href="https://findit.city/cn/belarus/minsk/leisure/recreation/parks/1/description">戈尔基公园</a>，或只是感受笼罩在这个重要地方的历史氛围。