Since the time of Peter the Great, the most striking victories of the Russian people have been celebrated with some kind of majestic structure that will remind of the country’s feat. The Arc de Triomphe or the Moscow triumphal gate, erected in the early thirties of the 19th century in honor of the 1812 victory over Napoleon Bonaparte, is precisely such a monument.

History of the monument

The history of the monument goes back to the first half of the 19th century to the distant Tverskaya outpost, where it was originally erected, but not from stone, but from wooden materials. Crowned architectural structure the chariot of glory, the cornice rose on monumental columns, which represented a majestic gate, decorated with statues of liberators, and images of the departure of enemy troops. But, since the monument quickly deteriorated and became unusable, they soon decided to replace the wooden arch with a stone one in order to preserve it for a longer period.

Nicholas I and the Arc de Triomphe

Initially, the idea of ​​​​creating the Arc de Triomphe belonged to the Russian Emperor Nicholas I, who was inspired by the projects being built at that time in St. Petersburg, and wanted to build something similar in Moscow. The project was entrusted to the most famous at that time Osip Ivanovich Bova. But lack of finance and lack of government assistance have been the centuries-old scourge of Russia, so construction was extended over several years.

More than a century legendary monument of the great victory of the Fatherland existed at the Tverskaya Zastava, and only in 1936, in connection with the reconstruction and expansion of Moscow streets and squares, a decision was made to move the famous gate.

Relocation of the Arc de Triomphe

Tverskaya Zastava and Triumphal Gate in the 1920s. In the background is Belorussky Station

The arch was carefully disassembled, the museum architects made careful measurements for subsequent restoration work, and the parts were placed in storage at the museum. It was not restored immediately, but only thirty years later. One can only imagine how complex and painstaking work fell to the architects and engineers of that time.

Using the remaining drawings, drawings and old photographs, it was necessary to restore the monument to its original form, filling in those details that had irretrievably disappeared. On the arch cornice alone, it was necessary to place more than a thousand independent parts!

A huge team worked to recreate the lost fragments: using plaster casts, they re-cast the shapes of details of military armor and coats of arms of ancient cities. The panorama of the “Battle of Borodino” helped a lot in this process, some compositions from which were also used.

There was also a lot of controversy regarding the choice of location. Undoubtedly, when the arch was initially erected in the 19th century, it looked majestic anywhere in Moscow, since the nearby houses were not distinguished by their height, and after a century the capital had changed beyond recognition, and it was difficult to preserve the architect’s original idea among the high-rise buildings and highways.

Installed the Arch on Kutuzovsky Prospekt not far from Victory Park, where it fit perfectly into the bustle of Moscow life, reminding people of the great feat of the Russian people, who from time immemorial have stood guard over the Fatherland.

Triumphal Arch- This is one of the most significant monuments of the Patriotic War of 1812, which silently reminds of those great events sung by many writers of past years.

In the photo: the process of moving the arch from Tverskaya Zastava, 1939.
1974 Kutuzovsky Avenue

Triumphal Arch on Kutuzovsky Prospekt. Author I.S. Burov. Moscow. 1984Photo: Main Archive Department of Moscow

The Triumphal Gate on Victory Square is one of the most recognizable landmarks of the capital. This is also a reminder of an important page. Russian history- Patriotic War of 1812. And there are few old-timers left who saw the majestic structure in a completely different place...

Triumphal Gate at Tverskaya Zastava

In the summer of 1814, a wooden Triumphal Arch appeared on Tverskaya Zastava Square - it honored the Russian army, which was returning from Europe after the defeat of Napoleon. The place was not chosen by chance: usually it was here, at the entrance to the city, that Moscow mayors, nobles and honorary citizens met the emperor arriving from Northern capital. This road later became known as the St. Petersburg (now Leningrad) Highway - it was opened in 1822.

The arch itself was also made in the best traditions - many similar structures were built along the path of Russian soldiers.

In 1826, Nicholas I decided that the memory of the victory deserved something more lasting and ordered the wooden gates to be replaced with stone ones. The famous architect Osip Bova was commissioned to create them. Construction began three years later, and ended after another five: according to some sources, the treasury did not have enough funds - the city continued to be revived after the great fire of 1812; according to others, the work was slowed down by Moscow officials, who for some reason did not like the project.

In September 1834, the grand opening of the monument finally took place. Alas, the author did not live several months to this moment, and his younger brother Mikhail Bove completed the construction of the gate. The structure at the intersection of architecture and sculpture turned out to be truly majestic: six pairs of columns framed high pedestals with powerful figures of ancient warriors in pointed helmets and plate armor. The coats of arms 36 were placed on the decorated frieze Russian provinces, whose residents participated in the Patriotic War of 1812, and medallions with the monogram of Nicholas I. The arch was crowned by the chariot of Glory, standing in which six horses of Nike, the winged goddess of victory, ruled. The pediment on both sides was decorated with an inscription (facing inside the city - in Russian, outside - in Latin), glorifying Alexander I as the savior of the Fatherland.

The troubled fate of the monument

In 1872, a horse-drawn line from Tverskaya Zastava to Voskresenskaya Square (now Revolution Square) passed under the gate. In 1899, it was replaced by the city's first electric tram, launched from Strastnaya Square (now Pushkinskaya) to Petrovsky Park. Intense traffic could not but affect the condition of the monument, and on the centenary of the Battle of Borodino, the gate underwent its first restoration - cosmetic for now. The next renovation took place under Soviet rule, in the mid-1920s.

In 1936, Tverskaya Zastava began to be rebuilt in accordance with the General Plan for the Reconstruction of Moscow, adopted a year earlier. The triumphal gate was dismantled, with plans to later return it to its original location after careful restoration. During dismantling, specialists from the Museum of Architecture named after A.V. Shchusev measured the parameters of the structure, drew up detailed drawings of the tiers and photographed the arch from all sides. Most of the elements were cleaned and updated, and then sent for storage to a branch of the museum on the territory of the Donskoy Monastery. They fit quite organically into the overall composition: the figures of warriors lined up along the central alley, the high reliefs were placed in wall niches, and the chariot of Glory was installed on a special pedestal.

The restoration of the gates was not postponed indefinitely - it was pushed back by the Great Patriotic War, after which the capital, like the entire country, was essentially rebuilt. The elements in the Donskoy Monastery were patiently waiting in the wings. Much less fortunate, for example, were the cast iron columns: they lay on Miusskaya Square for several years, and then they were melted down for military needs - only one of the twelve survived. It seemed that the monument was destined for oblivion as one of many “relics of the past”...

Arches and gates: a look into history

Triumphal gates have come to us from time immemorial: classical examples - the arches of the emperors Titus, Septimius Severus and Constantine in Ancient Rome. They served as a standard for the construction of triumphal arches in Paris under Napoleon, and the gates at the Tverskaya Zastava, like the Narva Gate in St. Petersburg (also opened in 1834), became a kind of “symmetrical response” to Russia.

It is believed that Peter I brought the ancient tradition to Russia: in 1696, he built a triumphal gate in honor of the capture of Azov, and in 1709, on his orders, seven arches were erected at once in honor of the celebration of the victory near Poltava. All of them, although skillfully decorated with paintings, statues and allegorical figures, were temporary, mostly made of wood. Usually they were dismantled at the end of the celebrations or later, when they became dilapidated; often the arches burned down in a fire.

The first capital structure in this series was the Red Gate, built in 1753 under Elizaveta Petrovna on the site of a wooden arch. They tried to demolish them back in the middle of the 19th century, and in 1927 they were destroyed to expand the Garden Ring. The name of the monument was preserved in the toponym of the square, and in 1935 a metro station of the same name opened here.

However, triumphal arches also have another “relative”, which is not necessarily associated with victories, but marks the central, ceremonial entrance to the city and most often speaks of its capital status - we are talking about the Golden Gate. In Rus' they first appeared in Kyiv under Yaroslav the Wise (11th century); they were modeled after the Byzantine arch of Emperor Constantine. Later, the Golden Gate was erected in other cities to show their greatness, for example in Vladimir (12th century).

Another analogue of triumphal arches is the Royal Doors in Christian churches. They also inherit the ancient tradition: in Ancient Rome, the two-faced Janus was responsible for any gates and doors - a deity who looks simultaneously forward and backward, into the future and the past, and connects different worlds. It was in his honor that the month that begins the year was named January. In the temple, the Royal Doors symbolize the transition from the earthly city to the heavenly city, in other words, the entrance to heaven. In addition, according to some studies, in the era of classicism (late 18th - early 19th centuries), iconostases in the form of triumphal arches became widespread.

In general, the Soviet government had reason to be skeptical about the bright symbol of imperial greatness, which was also indirectly connected with religion.

Recreating the Triumphal Gate: new place, new meaning

Victory in the Great Patriotic War made it possible to reconsider ideological positions. In May 1947, a wide carved arch with traditional Russian patterns rose on Pushkin Square; in the evenings it was illuminated by colorful lights. This was not just an entrance to the first post-war Spring Bazaar fair, but a symbolic transition from a time of famine and devastation to an era of abundance and prosperity.

In the early 1950s, large-scale, truly triumphal gates appeared at the main entrance Central Park culture and recreation named after Gorky and VDNKh, which was then the main platform for mass festivities.

And in 1965, the Council of Ministers of the USSR finally recognized the great artistic value and socio-historical significance of the Triumphal Gate and ordered its restoration. But they no longer fit into the ensemble of the square near the Belorussky Station, and a new suitable place was found for them - on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, opposite the “Battle of Borodino” panorama.

Strictly speaking, the structure was not restored, but recreated: 30 years after dismantling, many parts were lost or became unusable. Apparently, this is why the restorers decided not to touch the reliefs and statues preserved on the territory of the Donskoy Monastery. Using drawings and photographs from 1936, as well as the author’s copy of the arch, which was kept in the Museum of Architecture, all elements were made anew. For example, cast iron columns were made at the Stankolit plant, and sculptures, coats of arms and high reliefs were made at the Mytishchi artistic casting plant.

There were some transformations: the base of the structure became reinforced concrete, and not brick, as in the original; Instead of white facing stone, granite and gray Crimean limestone were used. The inscriptions on the memorial plaques also changed: the mention of Alexander I was removed, but lines from Kutuzov’s address to the army were quoted. This is clearly a key point - the people, not the emperor, were recognized as the savior of the Fatherland. In addition, the Triumphal Gate was no longer a travel gate: it was installed on an island in the middle of the avenue, leveling a small hill, and underground pedestrian crossings were installed on both sides of the highway.

The grand opening was timed, as expected, to coincide with the revolutionary holiday: the ceremony took place on November 6, 1968. And eight years later, on the 30th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War, the area around the Triumphal Gate was named Victory Square. The military memorial complex and Victory Park, which later grew up on Poklonnaya Hill, helped the recreated monument, sharing with it a heavy double load.

Arches of the new century: restoration and reconstruction

Time flies quickly and does not spare even stone and cast iron. At the beginning of the 21st century, experts noted that the Triumphal Gate needed restoration, and it was carried out in 2012, on the 200th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812. Not only the arch itself was improved, but also the area around it: landscapers laid out new flower beds, and engineers redid the artistic lighting system. The updated monument became one of the gifts to Muscovites.

The jury of the Moscow Restoration competition awarded several prizes for the work on updating the monument. Awards were given in seven categories, including for the best project and for the high quality of work performed.

Moreover, on the 18th International exhibition on restoration, protection of monuments and urban renewal, carried out under the patronage of UNESCO in Germany, the award was received by the stand of the Moscow Government, where, first of all, the restoration of the Arc de Triomphe was presented.

Used sources

1. Kraevsky B.P. Triumphal Gate. - M.: Moscow worker, 1984.
2. Kharitonova E.V. Triumphal Gates of the Capital // Moscow Journal. - 2012. - No. 5 (257). — P. 91-96.
3. Mikhailov K.P. Moscow, which we lost. - M.: Eksmo, 2010.
4. Posternak K.V. Heterodox borrowings in Russian church interiors of Peter’s time // Bulletin of PSTGU. Series V. Questions of the history and theory of Christian art. — 2015. — Issue. 3 (19). — P. 102-119.

And many other cities where there are the same or similar structures. At the same time, the Moscow Arc de Triomphe, despite the external resemblance to them, upon closer examination turns out to be completely different: original, with its own zest and, of course, with its own unique history. It impresses with its beauty and grandeur. In these gates, even the most inexperienced tourist sees the embodiment of the high self-awareness of the Russian people, their pride in their sons, who defended the freedom of their native Fatherland on the battlefields.

A little background

In May 1814, Russian troops, having completely defeated the French, were returning home from Paris. The head of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Russian Empire, Sergei Kuzmich Vyazmitinov, ordered a ceremonial meeting of our units, sending out a corresponding decree to all provinces. At the same time, Emperor Alexander I officially notified the Governor-General of Moscow, Count Fyodor Vasilyevich Rastopchin, about the conclusion of the Paris Peace Treaty, which legally secured the defeat of Napoleon’s Grand Army and Russia’s victory in this bloody war.

The Moscow mayor ordered magnificent celebrations to be held in honor of the entry of the Allied troops into the French capital and the achievement of the long-awaited peace. By his order, in June 1814, the construction of wooden triumphal gates began at the Tverskaya Zastava. Why was this particular location chosen? There seemed to be no other options. When the emperor came to the Mother See, it was here that the leaders of Moscow met him along with a large retinue of representatives of the local nobility and merchants.

It should be noted that the mentioned gates were not the only ones installed along the route of Russian troops from defeated France. The construction of similar structures was carried out in two more places: at the Narvskaya outpost, at the entrance to St. Petersburg (near the Obvodny Canal), and in the capital of the Don Cossacks, the city of Novocherkassk.

At the same time, Emperor Alexander I was afraid that the solemn meeting of the victors could develop into popular unrest, and in connection with this, in early July 1814, he banned the holding of mass meetings and receptions. At that time, the Triumphal Arch in Narva was almost ready, only the external decoration work remained, which was completed by the end of the month.

Construction of the Arc de Triomphe in Moscow

The triumphal gates in the capital are perceived today as a kind of collective symbol of all our victories over foreign invaders who have ever set foot on our land and received a worthy rebuff. Meanwhile, the history of this landmark began with one victory - in the Patriotic War of 1812. The immortal feat of its heroes was intended to perpetuate this unique architectural structure.

The initiative to build an arch in Moscow similar to the one in St. Petersburg belongs to Emperor Nicholas I, who voiced it in April 1826 during the celebrations of his own coronation. The development of the project was entrusted to Osip Ivanovich Bova, the most authoritative domestic architect of that time. He completed the task in a short time, but it became necessary to make adjustments, which took much more time - two whole years. And so on August 17, 1829, after the final version was approved by the sovereign, the ceremony of laying the foundation of the Arc de Triomphe took place, arranged very solemnly. Governor General of Moscow Dmitry Golitsyn and Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna Filaret (Drozdov) were present.

It should be noted that the foundation ceremony was mostly a formality, since by that time the work on the construction of the gate was already in full swing. The foundation, which is based on a bronze slab, has already been brought to the surface level. 3,000 piles were also driven. Interesting fact: a handful of silver coins of the same year of minting were placed in the foundation, as they say, “for good luck.”

For the construction of the Arc de Triomphe in Moscow, a wide variety of materials from different places were used. The walls were lined with stone from the Samotechny Canal, which, coincidentally, was just being dismantled, and “Tatar marble” - stone imported from the village of Tatarovo, Moscow district. The columns and the sculpture crowning the structure were made of cast iron, but Ivan Timofeevich Timofeev and Ivan Petrovich Vitali worked on the sculptural decoration of the gate. The craftsmen were guided by the drawings of the “father” of the project, the architect Beauvais.

On the decorative attic crowning the Arc de Triomphe there is an inscription, the text of which was personally approved by the emperor in 1833. It is in two languages ​​– Russian and Latin, both versions are identical. The first could be read from the city side, the second - on the opposite side. From the inscription we learn that the triumphal gate is dedicated to the “blessed memory of Alexander I.”

The text also noted that the sovereign raised from the ashes and decorated with many monuments “this capital city during the invasion of the Gauls and with them twenty languages, in the summer of 1812 it was dedicated to fire.” And the year is indicated: “1826”. True, it does not correspond to the date of the official opening of the monument, which took place only in September 1834. Construction dragged on for two main reasons: lack of funding and indifference to the project on the part of the Moscow authorities.

A historical event for the capital, such as the start of operation of the city's first electric tram in 1899, is connected with the Moscow triumphal gates, albeit indirectly - it passed right under them. The tram line ran from Pushkinskaya Square (it was then called Strastnaya) to Petrovsky Park, which is now adjacent to Leningradsky Prospekt. On the approach to the arch, the conductor invariably announced: “Tverskaya Zastava. Triumphal Gate. Alexandrovsky Station.

For the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, which was celebrated in 1912, the capital's Arc de Triomphe was cleaned and restored. On the day of celebrations on the occasion of this epoch-making date, the Moscow leadership laid a wreath at its foot. The next time the monument was updated was after the October Revolution, in the mid-20s. The restoration work was led by the talented Russian and Soviet architect Nikolai Vinogradov.

Subsequently, however, the fate of the monument was unenviable. In accordance with the reconstruction plan for the square located on Kutuzovsky Prospekt - this is at its intersection with Barclay, General Ermolov and 1812 streets - in the summer of 1936, the triumphal gates were dismantled. Before dismantling, the architects carefully measured the arch, photographed it and made the appropriate drawings and sketches, since it was planned that it would be restored in the future in a new location, namely on the Belorussky Station Square. But since this was not done, the details of the gate and some of the sculptures remained where they were sent for storage after dismantling - in the Museum of Architecture, on the territory of the former Donskoy Monastery. The cast-iron columns of the gate lay on Miusskaya Square for several years, until during the Great Patriotic War they were melted down. All but one.

Chariot with six horses and a sculpture of the goddess Nike

In 1965, the Soviet government finally recognized that the Arc de Triomphe has great socio-historical and artistic value, having adopted a corresponding resolution on its restoration. A group of architects was formed consisting of I.P. Ruben, D.N. Kulchinsky and G.F. Vasiliev under the leadership of the architect-restorer V.Ya. Libson, which built a new Arc de Triomphe within two years (1966-1968). A new place was found for it on Kutuzovsky Prospekt - next to the Battle of Borodino panorama museum, opened on the 150th anniversary of the largest battle of the Patriotic War of 1812.

Despite the fact that during the construction of the gate, sketches and measurement drawings made before dismantling were used, the resulting copy still differs from its predecessor arch. Here are the main differences: the walls, vaults and basement were made of reinforced concrete (on the previous gate they were brick), grayish Crimean limestone and granite were replaced with white stone on the cladding, and the gratings and guardhouses were not restored at all. The original parts that were stored in former monastery– the same statues and cast-iron reliefs. At the Mytishchi plant, more than 150 sculptures were cast from scratch, and at the Stankolit plant, 12 new cast iron columns were cast, using as a basis the only original column that survived the war. The height of each is no less than 12 meters.

The changes also affected the texts on memorial plaques. In particular, they contained lines from the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army M.I. Kutuzov dated December 21, 2012, in which he honors our victorious soldiers, indicating that future generations will keep their exploits in their memory.

And now the long-awaited day has come for the opening of the capital's new Arc de Triomphe. The ceremony took place on November 6, 1968.

Triumphal Arch in Moscow today

In 2012, Russia celebrated the 200th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. In preparation for the celebrations, it was decided to restore this unique monument. The leadership of Moscow, through the mouth of Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, officially announced that the Arc de Triomphe was in disrepair, which meant that the authorities were planning large-scale repair and restoration work.

Arc de Triomphe illuminated at night

Their implementation was carried out by the state government institution “Mosrestavratsiya”. The cladding, which had fallen into disrepair, was almost completely replaced, and the stone walls and sculptural groups were thoroughly cleared. The chariot with six horses and a sculpture of the goddess Nike crowning the arch was also removed (on May 31, 2012 they were returned to their original place). The restorers did not ignore even those elements of the gate that could not be dismantled and could still serve for some time.

The restoration of the triumphal gates cost the capital's treasury 231.5 million rubles. The renewed and rejuvenated beautiful arch was inaugurated on September 4, 2012 in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev - three days before the historical date of the 200th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Borodino. During this battle, as we know, neither side achieved a decisive victory, but the French, who received serious damage, failed to destroy the Russian army and force Russia to surrender on its own terms, which ultimately predetermined the defeat of Napoleon.

How to get there

The Triumphal Arch in Moscow is located at Pobeda Square, 2, k1.

You can get there by metro, reaching the Park Pobedy station on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line. From there you can walk.

On July 29, 1836, the Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated in Paris on Place des Stars (now Place Charles de Gaulle), which today has become one of the symbols of French capital. It took 30 years to build. Napoleon ordered the construction of the arch immediately after the Battle of Austerlitz. True, the emperor himself never saw the result; construction was completed during the reign of Louis Philippe. The arch reaches a height of 50 meters and is decorated with images of military campaigns of the French army.

Triumphal arches as a memorial to victory in battles can be found all over the world. We have collected 7 more of the most impressive ones.

Triumphal Arch in Moscow

In 1826, it was decided to replace the arch with a stone one.

The history of the Moscow arch began in the 19th century. At first it was wooden - it was erected in honor of the return of Russian troops with victory over Napoleonic army. In 1826, it was decided to replace the arch with a stone one. Construction took 20 long years, and after that it was completely dismantled as a relic of the past. However, after another 30 years, the capital authorities decided to recreate the arch and install it on Kutuzovsky Prospekt. The work was completed in 1968. The monument consists of an arch and 12 columns. Between pairs of columns, large figures are placed on pedestals, the equipment of which repeats the equipment of ancient Russian warriors. Above these figures are images of battle scenes, as well as the Russian Emperor Alexander I and heroes of ancient myths. Above the arch there is a sculptural group - a chariot harnessed to six horses, driven by the goddess of victory Nike.

India Gate Arch in New Delhi

The Indian arch is very reminiscent of its “sister” from Paris - not only in scale, but also in its significance for the city. The memorial was erected in 1931 to honor the soldiers who fought during the First World War - the names of each fallen are carved into the arch. The 48-meter arch is located on main street New Delhi, the so-called Way of the Kings.

Arc de Triomphe in Barcelona

The top of the arch is decorated with the coat of arms of Spain.

The arch in Barcelona was erected in 1988 specifically for the World Exhibition. The monument is built of red brick and is located at the junction of Pasé de Lluis Companus and Pasais de San Juan boulevards. The top of the arch is decorated with the coat of arms of Spain, and the coats of arms of the country's provinces are placed on the arcs of the facades. At the top of the arch there are several sculptural compositions.

Arch Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

The famous Berlin Arch was erected in 1791. It was heavily damaged during World War II, and its restoration in 1957 became a symbol of the division and subsequent reunification of Germany. The gate is the boundary of the old city center. During the Cold War, this is where construction began Berlin Wall, and here in 1989 the first East Germans crossed the border to get into West Germany. The top of the arch is decorated with a sculptural group: four horses, controlled by the goddess of victory Victoria.

Marble Arc de Triomphe in London

Initially the monument was located in front of Buckingham Palace.

This arch is located near the Speaker's Corner in Hyde Parker. It was created in 1828 by the architect John Nash, who took the Arc de Triomphe of Constantine in Rome as a basis. Initially, the monument was located in front of Buckingham Palace and served as its main entrance. The building was moved in 1851. The arch is decorated with Corinthian columns and has three arched passages: one large central arch and two smaller ones on either side of the central arch. At the top is a bas-relief representing England, Scotland and Ireland.

Arch of Augustus in Rimini

The arch in Rimini is one of the oldest in the world. It was erected in honor of Emperor Octavian Augustus and initially served as the main gate to the city - its walls were located on either side of it. The height of the arch is 9.92 m, width - 8.45 m, thickness - 4.10 m. Its four medallions depict four deities: Jupiter, Neptune, Apollo, son of Jupiter, Minerva, and on both sides there are the heads of two bulls, symbolizing Rimini as a colony of Rome. Previously, at the top of the arch there were four horses (traditional for Roman architecture), which were controlled by Emperor Augustus.

Triumphal Arch in Bucharest

The arch is one of the main symbols of the capital of Romania.

The arch is one of the main symbols of the capital of Romania. It is located near the big park on one of the most important highways in the capital, which bears the name of the Russian general and diplomat, Count Pavel Kiselev. The arch was installed in honor of the defenders of Romanian independence in 1922. Like the Moscow one, this one was initially built of wood, and only in 1936 was it replaced with an arch made of reinforced concrete and granite. Its height is 27 m. Texts of the great Romanian historian Nicolae Iorga and a list of names are carved on the arch settlements in which the fighting took place.

Moscow Triumphal Gate (Triumphal Arch) - built in 1829-1834 in Moscow according to the design of the architect O. I. Bove in honor of the victory of the Russian people in the Patriotic War of 1812. Now located on Victory Square (Kutuzovsky Prospekt) in the area Poklonnaya Gora. The nearest metro station is Park Pobedy.

The triumphal arch in Moscow replaced the old wooden arch of 1814 on Tverskaya Zastava Square, which was built to welcome Russian troops returning from Paris after the victory over the French. The walls of the newly built arch were lined with white stone, and the columns and sculpture were cast from cast iron. Initially, the arch was called the Moscow Triumphal Gate.

On both sides of the triumphal arch there was a commemorative inscription, on the one hand in Russian, on the other in Latin: “To the blessed memory of Alexander I, who raised from the ashes and adorned this capital city with many monuments of paternal care, during the invasion of the Gauls and with them twenty languages , in the summer of 1812, dedicated to the fire, 1826", but after reconstruction it was replaced by another: "This Triumphal Gate was laid as a sign of remembrance of the triumph of Russian soldiers in 1814 and the resumption of the construction of magnificent monuments and buildings of the capital city of Moscow, destroyed in 1812 by the invasion of the Gauls and with them twelve languages."

The first wooden Triumphal Arch, intended for the ceremonial entry into Moscow of Russian troops returning from Western Europe after the victory over Napoleon, it was built in 1814 on the site of the coronation gate of Paul I (modern Triumphal Square).

The wooden building quickly fell into disrepair, and in 1826 Emperor Nicholas I wanted to build a stone Triumphal Arch in front of the Tverskaya Zastava at the entrance to the capital.
The architects used the triumphal arches of Ancient Rome as a model.
All sculptures are cast from cast iron using a unique technology, the secret of which has now been lost, and covered with a special composition that emphasized the decorative and plastic qualities of the sculpture.

In 1936, in connection with the redevelopment of the Belorussky Station area and the expansion of the transport highway, the Triumphal Arch was dismantled and in 1968 restored in a new location, on Kutuzovsky Prospekt. Its brick floors were replaced with reinforced concrete, and the cast-iron 12-meter columns were cast anew following the example of the only column of the old arch that had survived until that time...

Kutuzovsky Prospekt, view from the Arc de Triomphe

After 1968, no large-scale restoration work was carried out at the site.
In 2008-2010, by order of the Moscow City Heritage, research and design work was carried out on the object, the results of which revealed its extremely unsatisfactory condition.

Chariot of Glory

The Moscow government decided to restore the Arc de Triomphe.
The decision is all the more relevant since this year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. The specialists had a very large amount of work to do...
All restoration work on the arch will be completed, and its grand opening will take place on September 8, the day of the Battle of Borodino...

Chariot of Glory

After the examinations, it became obvious that the arch was in critical condition. The specialists literally gasped when they saw traces of corrosion on the metal elements. When we climbed onto the scaffolding, it became clear: only the chariot and the Goddess of Victory can and should be restored in factory conditions. All other sculptures are too massive and too dilapidated.

Nicky's sculpture was all cut up and put back together. Assembled by welding. Somewhere, rags were placed instead of putty; all of this had a lot of sand inside. It’s difficult to call it a restoration; the chariot was dismantled, and the horses were also dismantled. The task ahead was to “unharness” the chariot at the top and lower it down for the necessary work... But they could only lower the goddess of Victory Nike, and the horses had to be dismantled on the spot... They didn’t dare lower them from a height of 21 meters.

According to the contract, the total cost of work on the restoration of the Arc de Triomphe is 220 million rubles. The maximum contract price for the restoration of the arch is 234.42 million rubles. “We have the great honor to put in order this, without a doubt, important and significant object, symbol Russian victory. “I, as a descendant of a participant in the Borodino battle, am doubly pleased that I was involved in this,” said A. Kibovsky. (head of department cultural heritage Moscow)...

The Triumphal Arch is a beautiful symbol of victorious Moscow, imbued with the idea of ​​the triumph of the Russian people, it is the main monument to the Patriotic War of 1812 in the capital, it is a visible embodiment of the deep gratitude of descendants to the victorious heroes. “Russia must solemnly remember the great events of the Twelfth Year!” - wrote V. G. Belinsky. And the recreated Arc de Triomphe on Victory Square is the best confirmation of this.