Triumphal Arch Kursk

The Triumphal Arch in Kursk is part of the ensemble erected in honor of the Great Patriotic War and, in particular, the Battle of the Kursk Bulge. In addition to the arch itself, the composition of the Kursk Bulge memorial includes a monument to the famous commander Zhukov, the Church of St. George the Victorious, a monument dedicated to the Unknown Soldier, and the Eternal Flame.

Story

The Triumphal Gate in Kursk was built in 2000. The construction history was very long. The inhabitants of the city wanted to perpetuate the memory of the soldiers who died in the Battle of Kursk for a long time. There were many ideas, and in 1973 the authorities held a competition, in which the project of Evgeny Vuchetich won.

This architect created the memorial complex “Motherland” in Volgograd, compositions dedicated to the Great Patriotic War, in Kiev, Berlin and New York. In Kursk, it was planned to create their own Motherland, but when the construction of the complex began, Vuchetich died, and the construction was frozen.

In 1987, work resumed, but in the early nineties, funding was stopped. In 1996, the President signed a decree on the allocation of funds for the construction of a local history museum and a museum-spherorama “Kursk Battle”, but the funding did not go through.

As a result, the governor of the region Rutskiy A.V. decided to build a temple and the Kursk Triumphal Arch. Survey work was carried out very quickly, and already in the spring of 1998 construction began. A monument to Zhukov was erected at the northern facade, and a sculptural composition of George the Victorious was placed at the head of the arch.

Description

The Arc de Triomphe is 24 meters high. The upper part of this Kursk landmark is decorated with the figure of George the Victorious, striking a dragon with a spear. At the foot are images of soldiers from several historical eras: a Russian soldier, an infantryman, a grenadier, and a figure of a tankman from the time of the Battle of Kursk, which took place in 1943.

The walls are decorated with inscriptions praising the Russian military spirit. The entire arch is finished with marble. At the memorial of the Great Patriotic War, cast-iron floor lamps and spotlights are installed, which provide illumination of the arch at night.

The square on which the Arc de Triomphe stands is surrounded by avenues of military equipment that stretch for five hundred meters. This place is popular with the townspeople – they love to walk here. Newlyweds also come here to bow to the Eternal Flame, lay flowers and take beautiful photographs.

On the territory of the complex there is a memorial stele made in the form of a column of the Doric order with a cartouche. In the corners there are pedestals with bas-reliefs that tell about the history of the city. At the Arc de Triomphe there is an exhibition of military equipment, howitzers, cannons, self-propelled guns “Katyusha”, “St. John’s wort”, a T-34 tank.

How to get there

Every tourist is interested in how to get to the Arc de Triomphe in Kursk. This is very easy to do. You need to cross the Perekalsky Square or the market from K. Marx Street to Radishchev. From Moskovskaya Square you need to take trolleybus number 1 and drive to the very outskirts, past the impressive building of the Kursk Agricultural Academy and almost to the end.

The address of the Arc de Triomphe in Kursk is Pobedy Avenue. The memorial is stretched along the street for about half a kilometer. A new neighborhood is being built at the beginning of this beautiful place, and modern cottages at the end. The Arc de Triomphe is the hallmark of the city of Kursk and its pride.

Interesting Facts

• Near the Arc de Triomphe, there is a monument to Jews who were shot by the Germans during the 15-month occupation of the city.
• The height of the sculpture of St. George the Victorious is 6.4 meters.
• According to Aeroflot Premium magazine, the Arc de Triomphe, as a landmark of the city of Kursk, is one of the ten most beautiful arches in the world.