Red Square, Moscow

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The name Red Square derives neither from the colour of the bricks around it (which, in fact, were whitewashed at certain points in history) nor from the link between the colour red and communism. Rather, the name came about because the Russian word êðàñíàÿ (krasnaya) can mean either "red" or "beautiful" (the latter being archaic). This word, with the meaning "beautiful", was originally applied to Saint Basil's Cathedral and was subsequently transferred to the nearby square. It is believed that the square acquired its current name (replacing the older Pozhar, or "burnt-out place") in the 17th century. Several ancient Russian towns, such as Suzdal, Yelets, and Pereslavl-Zalessky, have their main square named Krasnaya ploshchad, namesake of Moscow's Red Square.My favorite and actually main point of interest on the Red Square was The Kazan Cathedral.
Kazan Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox church located on the northeast corner of Red Square in Moscow. The current building is a reconstruction of the original church which was destroyed at the direction of then Premier of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin in 1936.The original church was erected as a shrine in the early 1630s to mark the city's liberation from the Polish aggressors by the Russian people's volunteer army at the close of the Time of Troubles.

Upon clearing Moscow from the Poles in 1612, Prince Dmitry Pozharsky attributed his success to the divine help of the icon Theotokos of Kazan, to whom he had prayed on several occasions. From his private funds, he financed construction of a wooden church to the Virgin of Kazan on Red Square in Moscow.
After the diminutive shrine was destroyed by fire in 1632, the Tsar ordered it replaced by a brick church. The one-domed edifice, featuring several tiers of kokoshniki, a wide gallery and a tented belfry, was consecrated in October 1636. That its history was tempestuous is evidenced by the fact that its archpriest Avvakum led the party of religious dissenters, or Old Believers.After numerous renovations of the cathedral undertaken in the imperial period, the original design was lost behind later additions. The distinguished Russian restorer Peter Baranovsky supervised a complete reconstruction of the church's exterior to its original design in 1929–1932. Some specialists, however, criticised the accuracy of this reconstruction.

In 1936, when Red Square was being prepared for holding the military parades of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin ordered the square cleared of churches. Although efforts were made by Baranovsky to save it, he could not prevent the Kazan Cathedral from being demolished (though Baranovsky did manage to save another of the square's cathedrals, Saint Basil's Cathedral from destruction).

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Lenin's Mausoleum is a a pyramid composed of red granite cubes.

It was designed by Alexei Shchusev in 1924.

The embalmed body of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin - rumours say it is a wax copy - is placed on a sarcophagus in the Memorial Hall.

The Mausoleum can be visited on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays between 10 am and 1 pm.

The entrance is free and visitors are expected to line up at the northwest corner of Red Square, which is closed during visiting hours of the Mausoleum.

Bags, cameras and mobile phones aren't allowed in the Mausoleum and can be stored in a cloak room.

On exiting the Mausoleum visitors pass the cemetery at the Kremlin Wall, where among others Stalin, Brezhnev, Andropov and Gargarin are buried.

Directions:
Lenin's Mausoleum is located on Red Square, just in front of the Kremlin Wall.

Website: http://www.lenin.ru/

The Red Square is most known for military parades. Ivan the Terrible ordered a destruction of all houses around Kremlin to make space for a square surrounding the Kremlin. Although the palace Kemlin as it is today was build many years later. The square got it's name "Red Square" in the 19th century.

Before my trip, I knew of Red Square from TV clips of the May Day parades.

Fascinating to be right there in person.

It is unavoidable (not just a "must see") when in Moscow. You have the Kremlin on one side, GUM (pronounced "goom" - acronym for State Universal Shop - viz. department store) on the opposite side, and the fabulously ornate St Basil's Cathedral on the south end.

The main public Kremlin entrance was off the south end of the square. St Basil's was under renovation when we were there, so we were unable to visit. In those days GUM was the USSR's showpiece retail outlet. It was gloomy, understocked and you could not have given the goods away in the West.

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Another historic and iconic Russian building. Seeing the colours of the cathedral is stunning when compared to some of the grey and austere buildings in Moscow. For a small fee you can take a look inside at some of the ornate rooms. Simply a must see.

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An essential of any trip to Moscow is a walk around Red Square. A really lovely place which exudes history.

The world famous, iconic, St Basil’s cathedral stands at one end and the Historical Museum at the other. The imposing walls of the Kremlin run down one side. It also contains Lenin's Tomb

A real piece of Russian history.

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You must visit Lenins Tomb on Red Square. I paid a visit in 1992 but I didn't make it this time in 2008

The tomb is open every day except Mondays and Fridays from 10:00 to 13:00. There is normally a long line to see Lenin. No photos or video are allowed.

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When arriving at the Red Square i could only remembre the famous parade of the Red Army during the Cold War. It 's so large and long that you feel very small. Don't miss it at at the sunset ! Wonderful !