Victory Square, Minsk (must see)

Victory Square is located at the crossing of Independence avenue and Zakharau street. A green park stretches from the Victory Square to the river of Svislach and to the entrance to the M. Gorky Park. Victory square is the key landmark of Minsk. A 3-meter replica of the Order of Victory crowns a granit column of 38 metre erected in the centre of the square. The Sacred Sword of Victory is at the base of the monument. The monument was built in 1954 in honor of the soldiers of the Soviet Army and partisans of Belarus.

The four fascets of pedestal hold bronze relief thematic images: "May 9 1945", "Soviet Army during the Great Patriotic War", "Belarusian Partisans", "Honour to Heroes who gave their lives for liberation". In 1984 architects B. Larchenko, B. Shkolnikov, K.Vyazgin re-designed the square from round into oval to fit the exits from metro station. On 1 July 1984 granit blocks were mounted with capsules containing soil from Soviet Hero Cities. 8 May 1985 in commemoration of 40th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War a Memorial Hall opened in the pedestrian underpass under the Victory square. The Hall honors the Heroes of Soviet Union who gave their lives to liberate Belarus from Nazi occupation.