This 1980 postcard features a view of Lenin Square (now Independence Square) in Minsk, showcasing the Church of Saints Simon and Helena and the Government House.
What is shown on the postcard
The foreground of the postcard shows green lawns and pathways of the square’s park. On the right stands the red-brick Church of Saints Simon and Helena (the Red Church). The left side features the monumental Government House of the BSSR with the Lenin monument in front of it. Soviet buses and cars are visible on the road.
Historical note
Lenin Square was designed in the 1930s by architect Iosif Langbard as the city’s main administrative center, during which the grand Government House was built. The Red Church, constructed in 1910 and funded by Edward Woyniłłowicz, miraculously survived World War II and the subsequent Soviet redevelopment of the square.
Present day
In 1991, the square was renamed Independence Square. In the early 2000s, an underground shopping mall named ‘Stolitsa’ was constructed beneath the square, and the surface area was fully reconstructed into a pedestrian zone with fountains.
Location (map)
Address: Independence Square, Minsk, Belarus
Coordinates: 53.896400, 27.547500
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of Independence Square (formerly Lenin Square), Minsk.
Questions and answers
- What is the historical name of the square on the postcard? The 1980 postcard shows the square under the name Lenin Square, which is now known as Independence Square.
- Which key landmarks are visible in the image? The image shows the Red Church (Church of Saints Simon and Helena) and the Government House of the BSSR.
- How has the square changed in the modern era? In the early 2000s, the underground shopping mall ‘Stolitsa’ was built beneath the square, and the surface was transformed into a pedestrian area.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Minsk from 1980.
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