This Soviet postcard from 1970 depicts the ruins of the Golden Gate in Kyiv, an outstanding monument of defensive architecture from the Kyivan Rus period, built during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise.
What is shown on the postcard
The image shows the surviving original walls of the ancient gate, conserved and reinforced with metal roofing to protect them from weather damage. A small fenced area with a wooden railing surrounds the ruins, where a group of visitors is seen walking. The monument is surrounded by the lush greenery of the square.
Historical note
Built in the first half of the 11th century, the Golden Gate served as the main triumphal entrance to Kyiv. Over the centuries, the structure fell into ruin. In 1832, archaeologist K. Lokhvytsky excavated and partially reinforced the remaining walls. The monument was preserved in this authentic ruined state until the late 1970s.
Present day
In 1982, for the celebration of Kyiv’s 1500th anniversary, a major reconstruction was completed. A protective pavilion replicating the original appearance of the gate with its gate church was built over the ancient ruins. Today, this pavilion houses a museum, preserving the surviving 11th-century masonry inside.
Location (map)
Address: 40A Volodymyrska St, Kyiv, Ukraine
Coordinates: 50.448830, 30.513330
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the Golden Gate in Kyiv.
Questions and answers
- What state of the Golden Gate is shown on the 1970 postcard? The postcard shows the authentic 11th-century ruins before the modern protective reconstruction pavilion was built.
- When was the major reconstruction of the monument completed? The reconstruction, which enclosed the ruins in a protective pavilion, was completed in 1982 for Kyiv’s 1500th anniversary.
- Who conducted the first excavations of the ruins in the 19th century? The first excavations and conservation of the ruined gate were carried out in 1832 by archaeologist K. Lokhvytsky.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Kyiv from 1970.
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