Poklonnaya Hill

Poklonnaya Gora (lit. a bow-down hill) is, at 171.5 metres, one of the highest spots in Moscow. Its two summits used to be separated by the Setun River, until one of the summits was razed in 1987. Since 1936, the area has been part of Moscow and now contains the Victory Park with many tanks and other vehicles used in the Second World War on display.

Historically, the hill had great strategic importance, as it commanded the best view of the Russian capital. Its name is derived from the Russian for “take a bow”, as everyone approaching the capital from the west was expected to do homage here. In 1812, it was the spot where Napoleon in vain expected the keys to the Kremlin to be brought to him by Russians.

Hall of glory’ holds reliefs of the 12 soviet Hero Cities, on its marmor walls are inscribed the names of several thousand Heros of the Soviet Union, awarded during the war. ‘Hall of remembrance’ downstairs contains ‘Books of remembrance’ with the names of more than 26 million soviet war dead. The Victory Park and the Square of Victors are important parts of the outdoor museum. In the 1990s an obelisk was added with a statue of Nike and a monument of St George slaying the dragon. The obelisk’s height is exactly 141,8 meters, which is 10 cm for every day of the War.At the 60th V-day celebrations in 2005, President Vladimir Putin inaugurated 15 extravagant bronze columns, symbolizing main fronts and navies of the Red Army during the World War II.