Maidan Nezalezhnosti
50.4530.524166666667Koordinaten: 50 ° 27 '0 " North, 30 ° 31' 27" E
The Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Ukrainian Майдан Незалежності [ maɪ̯dan nezal'ɛʒnosci ]; Russian Площадь Независимости Ploshchad Nesawissimosti; German " Independence Square " or " Independence Square " ) is the central square of the Ukrainian capital Kiev. It is usually abbreviated to Maidan.
The location is determined by the Khreshchatyk ( a multi-lane main road ) into a northern and a southern part separately. Both parts of the square are connected by the underground shopping center "Globus" and through the underpass of the metro station " Maidan Nezalezhnosti ".
The Maidan became world famous in 2004 by the Orange Revolution, when he was the center of political protest against electoral fraud in the Ukrainian presidential elections. He is also since November 2013 the center was named after him Euromaidan protests.
History
The story of today's Maidan began in the mid-19th century, when the first stone building of Kiev were built at this point. First, he was called " Chreschatyki " since 1871 then, because of the built in its center building of the City Council ( Duma ) " Dums ` ka ". After the October Revolution, the square was renamed " Sowjetska " and in 1935 he was called " Kalinin Square ".
The German occupiers named the place during the occupation from 1941 until 6 November 1943, after the day of the conquest of Kiev by the Wehrmacht as "place of the 19th September ." As the entire city center of Kiev also today Maidan during the Second World War, was badly damaged. Even the building of the Duma was heavily damaged and was not rebuilt. The site has now been completely redesigned in the style of Soviet architecture.
Sixtieth anniversary of the October Revolution on the south side of the square is a monumental memorial of the Great October Socialist Revolution was built in 1977, which was demolished after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. From 1977 to 1991 was called the Maidan today's "place of the October Revolution." For the 10th anniversary of the independence of Ukraine, on 24 August 2001, the Maidan has been redesigned again fundamentally.
During the fighting of Euromaidan in February 2014, the place was partially destroyed, the House of Unions burned out.
Development of the square
Northern Maidan
The semi-oval north side is framed by seven buildings in the Stalin style of Soviet Realism ( also called Socialist Classicism ). Five roads to go on this side of the square, including the Cathedral of St. Sophia and Michael monastery. Directly on Khreshchatyk are the House of Unions and the main post office in Kiev. On the north side of the square there are also several fountains, and the 2001 newly built Ljadski gate with the bronze sculpture of the Archangel Michael, the patron saint of the city.
Southern Maidan
The south side of the square has a diameter of 70 meters and is paved with granite slabs in the form of a Ukrainian embroidery pattern. In its center is the 63 meter high monument independence of Ukraine. Behind it is a three-story glass palace in the form of a semicircle, which houses a shopping mall. It is perched on the hillside the 16stöckige hotel " Ukraine Corporation " (until 2001, the hotel " Moskva "). Decorated is the place with flower beds and three fountains, of which the fountain of the city's founder is adorned with statues of the four legendary founders of Kiev, Kyj, Kiy, Choriw and Lybid. About the place blows the Ukrainian national flag. On the west side of the square is flanked by the building of the National Music Academy of Ukraine, in front of the Cossack Mamai Memorial, the east side of the there is a large TV screen, gives a view of the October Palace free.