Poklonnaya Hill & Park Pobedy
Anyone who has ever been to Russia can’t help but notice the Russian pride in their various military victories throughout history. This pride usually manifests itself in memorials and monuments dedicated to those who fought and died in the conflicts. Even in some of the smallest villages and in the most remote areas of Russia, you will find some sort of memorial commemorating victory in the Great Patriotic War (Великая Отечественная война). However, there is one place in Russia that is the grandest memorial of them all. Situated on Moscow’s Poklonnaya Hill (Поклонная гора) is Park Pobedy (Парк Победы), an immense open air museum and memorial to the Russian victory.
The hill was said to have been the place that Napoleon hoped to receive the keys to the Kremlin from the Russians, but instead, now has become a place to celebrate his and the fascists’ defeat. Situated on the hill is the massive park with numerous paths and statues scattered throughout. Each one dedicated to different aspects of the war. For instance, there is an area with a memorial to the victims of the holocaust, another to the role the allies played in victory and much more.
The centerpiece of the area is a long path leading to an enormous square. In the center, there sits a large obelisk designed to resemble a bayonet with the goddess Nike on top and St George slaying the dragon on the bottom. Curving around the square is the equally impressive museum of the war with its own variety of exhibits and memorials inside.
In recent years, the park has had many features added to it, meaning that every time you visit, you will potentially see something new. This makes the park a must see in Moscow, in addition to the many other amazing sites in the Russian capital.
