Pearls of Russia

Cultural heritage

Triumph Arch

Triumph Arch is the compositional center of Victory Square. This imposing monument was built by an architect O. I. Bove to commemorate the victory of Russia in the Patriotic War against French Emperor Napoleon in 1812.
Originally in 1834 it was placed near Tverskaya Gate v the present Belorusskaya Station Square. In 1936 during the reconstruction of the square the Arch was disassembled.
For 30 years it has been kept in the Architectural Museum. Then it was restored, and 12 missing iron columns were cast anew. In 1968 Triumph Arch was installed in Kutuzovsky Prospect. O. I. Bove in close co-operation with such famous sculptors as I. P. Vitali and I. Timofeev managed to create a bright imposing image, that symbolized power, fame and grandeur of Russia.
In the monument sculptural and architectural ideas became one. A sculptural group called a Chariot of Fame tops the arch.
Allegorical female figures over the columns symbolize Victory, the warriors dressed in Old Russian helmets and armour, standing between the columns, symbolize Power.
The high reliefs above are devoted to driving the French army out of Moscow. On the high relief representing the fight by the Kremlyovskaya wall, two figures of a Russian warrior and a defeated Frenchman are particularly good.
The high relief was created by I. Timofeev. Kutuzov-s words and the text, devoted to the laying of the monument, stand on the bronze plates.

District: West
Address: Kutuzovskiy Pr., Moscow
Underground: Kutuzovskaya