This 1982 Soviet postcard presents a view of the beginning of Khreshchatyk Street from Bessarabska Square in Kyiv, featuring mid-20th-century urban architecture.
What is shown on the postcard
On the right, the historic yellow-brick Bessarabsky Covered Market building is visible with its signature arched facade glazing. Along the left, Khreshchatyk Street runs with active Soviet-era automobile traffic and lush green chestnut trees. In the background, multi-story residential buildings in the Soviet neoclassical (Stalinist empire) style line the street.
Historical note
The Bessarabsky Market building was constructed in 1910–1912 based on a design by architect Henryk Gay, funded by a bequest from the prominent sugar industrialist Lazar Brodsky. It was Kyiv’s first indoor market. The architectural ensemble of Khreshchatyk shown here was developed during the post-WWII reconstruction of the late 1940s and 1950s following the severe destruction of the area in autumn 1941.
Present day
Today, the layout of the square and the architectural appearance of the buildings remain largely unchanged. The Bessarabsky Market continues to operate as an active indoor marketplace and is protected as a national monument of architecture. Traffic intensity on Khreshchatyk has significantly increased since 1982.
Location (map)
Address: Bessarabska Square, 2, Kyiv, Ukraine
Coordinates: 50.442654, 30.521591
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Bessarabsky Market and the beginning of Khreshchatyk Street.
Questions and answers
- What prominent building is shown on the right? The building on the right is the historic Bessarabsky Covered Market, built in 1910–1912.
- When was the architectural style of Khreshchatyk on the card established? The current architectural ensemble of Khreshchatyk Street was formed during post-war reconstruction in the late 1940s and 1950s.
- Is the market still open today? Yes, the Bessarabsky Market remains functional as an active indoor market and is protected as an architectural landmark.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Kyiv from 1982.
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