Red Square
In 1493, Tsar Ivan the Great issued a decree to clear all buildings within 110 sazhens of the Kremlin wall. This action created an empty field that would eventually become Red Square. The area was originally called Pozhar, which translates to 'burnt-out place'. This name reflected the fact that previous structures on the site had been destroyed by fire during the Tatar invasion in 1571. Before this designation, the square served as Veliky Torg or simply Torg, meaning Great Market. It functioned as Moscow's main marketplace and landing stage for trade.
The linguistic shift from Pozhar to Krasnaya occurred gradually over centuries. In archaic Russian, the word krasnaya meant beautiful. By the time the current name became official between 1661 and 1662, the meaning had shifted to red. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich officially extended the name to encompass the entire square. Today, the modern Russian word for beautiful is krasivaya, derived from the older term. The square remained known as Krasnaya ploshchad even after its physical transformation from a burnt field into a central urban space.
Between 1508 and 1516, Italian architect Aloisio the New constructed a moat connecting the Moskva River with the Neglinnaya River. This defensive waterway reached depths of 9.5 to 13 meters and was lined with limestone. Three gates existed on this side of the wall: Konstantino-Eleninsky, Spassky, and Nikolsky. These names came from icons hanging above them representing Constantine, Helen, Christ the Savior, and Saint Nicholas. Wooden bridges stretched across the moat until they were paved over in 1812.
The first permanent stone structures appeared during the reign of Ivan IV. In 1555, Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered a monumental church built on the site where wooden Trinity Church once stood. This became Saint Basil's Cathedral by 1561. Around the same time, a brick platform called Lobnoye Mesto was constructed for announcing tsar decrees. By 1595, wooden market lines were replaced with stone buildings. The square gradually evolved from an open field into a structured commercial and ceremonial center surrounded by fortifications.
In 1931, Soviet authorities dismantled the Resurrection Gate to allow military vehicles to pass through the square. This decision removed a historic entrance that had been part of Kitai-Gorod fortifications since 1680. The gate was later rebuilt as a replica in 1996. During the 1930s, Kazan Cathedral and Iverskaya Chapel were also demolished to make room for heavy military equipment. Plans existed to demolish Saint Basil's Cathedral itself, but Stalin reportedly objected when his associate Lazar Kaganovich showed him a model removing the cathedral.
The square became a stage for military parades starting in 1919. The October Revolution Parade of 1941 took place while German troops besieged Moscow. Troops left Red Square directly for front lines after the ceremony. In 1945, banners of defeated Nazi armies were thrown at the foot of Lenin's Mausoleum during the Victory Parade. Military displays continued annually on May Day until 1969 and on Victory Day thereafter. A West German pilot named Mathias Rust landed a Cessna aircraft near St. Basil's in 1987, causing a major scandal in Soviet Air Defense Forces.
In 1990, the Kremlin and Red Square joined UNESCO's World Heritage List among the first sites added from the USSR. This designation recognized the square's historical significance and architectural value. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia resumed holding military parades through the square in 2008. The annual Moscow Victory Day Parade has been held since then to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. On the 9th of May 2010, armed forces from France, the United Kingdom, and the United States marched together for the first time in history.
Tourism flourished as the square reopened to international visitors. Paul McCartney performed there in 2003, becoming the first Beatle to play live in Russia since their music was banned decades earlier. Skating rinks appeared on the square for New Year celebrations between 2006 and 2008. The State Historical Museum now houses around 4.5 million exhibits across sixteen departments. The site attracts millions of tourists annually who walk its 73,000 square meters of paved ground.
The State Historical Museum building stands at the northwest end of the square. Constructed between 1875 and 1883 by architect Vladimir Osipovich Sherwood, it features dark red facades with arched windows and decorative towers. The museum contains approximately 4.5 million exhibits covering Russian history from all epochs. Adjacent to it is the Resurrection Gate, originally built in 1680 but reconstructed in 1996 after being dismantled in 1931.
On the eastern side lies the GUM department store, completed in 1893. Its glass roof uses about 60,000 panes designed by engineer Vladimir Schuchow. The building replaced earlier trading rows that dated back to 1815. Saint Basil's Cathedral dominates the southern boundary with nine colorful onion-shaped domes. Built between 1555 and 1561, it remains one of Russia's most recognizable cultural icons. The Kremlin wall itself includes twenty towers, with the Spasskaya Tower rising over 71 meters and featuring a clock with four dials each measuring 6.12 meters in diameter.
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Common questions
When was Red Square created by Tsar Ivan the Great?
Tsar Ivan the Great issued a decree in 1493 to clear all buildings within 110 sazhens of the Kremlin wall, creating an empty field that eventually became Red Square. The area was originally called Pozhar, which translates to burnt-out place.
What did the name Krasnaya mean when it became official for Red Square between 1661 and 1662?
The linguistic shift from Pozhar to Krasnaya occurred gradually over centuries until the current name became official between 1661 and 1662. In archaic Russian, the word krasnaya meant beautiful before its meaning shifted to red during this period.
Who built the moat connecting the Moskva River with the Neglinnaya River around 1508?
Italian architect Aloisio the New constructed a moat between 1508 and 1516 that connected the Moskva River with the Neglinnaya River. This defensive waterway reached depths of 9.5 to 13 meters and was lined with limestone.
When was Saint Basil's Cathedral completed by Tsar Ivan the Terrible?
Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered a monumental church built in 1555 on the site where wooden Trinity Church once stood. This structure became Saint Basil's Cathedral by 1561 after being surrounded by fortifications.
Why did Soviet authorities dismantle the Resurrection Gate in 1931?
Soviet authorities dismantled the Resurrection Gate in 1931 to allow military vehicles to pass through the square. The gate had been part of Kitai-Gorod fortifications since 1680 until it was later rebuilt as a replica in 1996.
What happened during the October Revolution Parade of 1941 at Red Square?
The October Revolution Parade of 1941 took place while German troops besieged Moscow, and troops left Red Square directly for front lines after the ceremony. Military displays continued annually on May Day until 1969 and on Victory Day thereafter.