In the historical part of the city of Samara, at the intersection of Kuibyshev and Venzeck streets, the Revolution Square is located. This is one of the oldest and most beautiful squares in the city, which has a rich history and is a landmark of Samara. It will be discussed in the article.
Names
The original name of the square is Market Square. Throughout its history, it has been renamed more than once - Panskaya, Alekseevskaya, and in the end it became known as the square of the Revolution.
History of the Revolution Square in Samara
In the middle of the 18th century there was a lake and a small meadow on this place. However, in 1782, a geometrical development plan was developed for the city, which envisaged the construction of a market square at this place, which was called Trade, or Market. The territory began to be built up with wooden trading benches, which formed a guest yard. It was convenient to deliver goods from the marina here. The parade ground at that time had a typical bazaar look and was buried in garbage. But in 1851 there was a terrible fire, which destroyed all the shops and buildings here. Trade had to be transferred to Troitskaya, and the Trade Square was renamed Panskaya.
Years go by, Samara becomes a province, a dirty square in the center of the city spoils the image of the city, it is cleared and renamed in honor of the patron saint of the city, Metropolitan Alexy. The newly-built square becomes the decoration and the public center of the city.
Gradually, a unique architectural ensemble develops on the territory of the square, and it turns into the central city square.
Revolutionary years
During the years of the revolution, the square in Samara became the venue for rallies and mass gatherings, at which Kuibyshev, Galaktionov, Frunze and many others speak. After the end of the revolution, festive demonstrations of workers were held in the central square of the city.
Building history
From the middle of the 19th century, the area begins to be intensively built up. A two-story hotel was built here (the first stone building in the city). In 1862, the first bookstore in Samara was opened in the building (in Soviet times, the building was rebuilt and added up to 5 floors).
In the 60s of the 19th century, a wooden chapel was built on the square, the tower height of which reached about 17 meters. There was a gatehouse in the lower tier, and a 2-meter dial and clockwork on the upper tier. The top of the chapel tower was crowned by a huge bell. The wooden structure was dilapidated, and already in 1875 the bell was moved to the Trinity Church, and the chapel was dismantled.
In 1887, a square was laid out on the square, which was decorated with flower beds. At this time, new buildings appeared: a district court, hotels, the governor’s apartment, a notary’s office, several shops and a newspaper.
In 1889, a monument to Emperor Alexander was erected here, at the bottom of the figure were emblems that depicted important events that occurred during his reign: the abolition of serfdom, the conquest of the Caucasus, the liberation of the Slavic peoples (1878), the conquest in Central Asia. After the revolution, the monument was removed from the square.
In 1918, a monument to the Liberated People was erected here. It was a sculpture of a worker with a rifle and a torch in his hands, and an anvil, a hammer and a sickle at his feet. The monument on the Revolution Square in Samara stood until 1927, and was replaced by a monument to Lenin V.I. (one of the first monuments to the leader in the country). But the sculpture of the leader turned out to be disproportionate to the pedestal, because of which there is a visual impression that Lenin was taking his wrong place.
Buildings and constructions
One of the most unique and famous buildings in the square and in the city is the district court building. Initially, it was a three-story building that housed the Kornilov Hotel and Restaurant. Here the regulars were the judges and wealthy citizens. During the revolutionary years, the building was nationalized and settled by workers and peasants in need of housing, and later an organization for the protection of cultural and historical monuments was located here.
Directly adjacent to the building was a two-story building with elements of classic decor, which housed the editorial office and printing house of the local newspaper Samarskie Vesti.
On the contrary was the editorial office of the equally popular Samarskaya newspaper. A tavern and storage rooms adjoined this building. A little later, a printing house was located next to the tavern.
It also housed the building, which housed the office and personal apartments of the governor. In the halls of the provincial residence often hosted exhibitions of Samara artists and artisans, as well as their fellow artists from other cities.
So from a dirty trading parade ground, this place turned into the central city square, where cultural and social life boiled and continues to boil. Against the background of the Revolution Square in Samara, newlyweds, citizens and guests of the city arrange photo and video shooting, as it is truly a decoration and landmark of the city.
