This 1979 Soviet postcard captures a panoramic view of Victory Square (now Halychyna Square) in Kyiv, featuring the high-rise Hotel Lybed and the domed circus building.
What is shown on the postcard
The postcard shows an elevated view of Victory Square. On the left stands the 17-story modernist building of the Lybed Hotel with a sign on its roof. In the center, the wide, multi-lane Victory Avenue is filled with cars, buses, and trolleybuses. On the right, the domed building of the Kyiv Circus is visible. The background shows the cityscape with green spaces under a clear blue sky.
Historical note
Hotel Lybed was opened in 1970 to accommodate foreign tourists traveling with the “Intourist” agency. The Kyiv Circus building was constructed earlier in 1960, becoming one of the city’s largest domed structures. The square itself developed on the site of the historic Galician Square, which hosted the busy Galician Market (Evbaz) since the 19th century.
Present day
In 2023, Victory Square was officially renamed back to its historical name, Halychyna (Galician) Square, and Victory Avenue was renamed Beresteiskyi Avenue. Both Hotel Lybed and the National Circus of Ukraine remain active today, though the surrounding area has been heavily altered by modern commercial developments.
Location (map)
Address: Halychyna Square, 1, Kyiv, Ukraine
Coordinates: 50.446900, 30.491200
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of Victory Square (now Halychyna Square) in Kyiv.
Questions and answers
- What is the modern name of Victory Square in Kyiv? In 2023, Victory Square was officially renamed back to its historical name, Halychyna (Galician) Square.
- In what year was the Lybed Hotel opened? The Lybed Hotel was officially opened in the year 1970.
- What domed building is visible on the right side of the postcard? On the right side of the postcard, the building of the Kyiv Circus, constructed in 1960, is visible.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Kyiv from 1979.
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