On the streets of any modern city you can find many amazing sculptural compositions and monuments. Belgorod was no exception, the highlight of which is their record number. Below we will talk about the most interesting monuments of Belgorod, which ended up in third place in the list of "Top 100 best cities in Russia" in 2013.
Authors of works
You won't be able to bypass the sights at once, there are so many of them. Most of the sculptures were created by Belgorod talented sculptor Taras Kostenko. Another creative person, Anatoly Shishkov, is not inferior to him in terms of the volume of work performed. The size of most of the works reaches human height, for this reason, the favorite pastime of the townspeople and guests of Belgorod is to hold photo sessions near them.
Couldn't clean up the mess?
Recently, sculptures have begun to appear on Belgorod streets, as if frozen in everyday situations familiar to all of us. Thanks to them, a cozyfriendly atmosphere. Such monuments of Belgorod very quickly began to symbolize good luck, happiness, to ensure that all wishes come true. To do this, you just need to touch the sculpture or, remembering the fairy tale plot, rub it with your hand. One of these sculptures is a monument to a janitor.
This composition is one of the most common and found in other cities. Its installation date is 2006. Place of installation - Pyatidesatletiya street of the Belgorod region. The janitor has a broom in his hands, he is accompanied by a cat of decent size sitting at his feet and carefully looking at passers-by. Citizens and guests tend to stroke the animal, so its head is thoroughly shiny. Belgorod residents also feed the cat. And if he does not pay attention to the sweets, the neighboring brethren get down to business. Also, the sculpture is distinguished by the presence of traditional attributes of this profession: an apron and a cap.
The weight of the bronze sculpture is 175 kilograms. The height is almost two meters. It was made within three months, the casting was made in Kyiv.
By the way, in 2009 the city was recognized as the cleanest Russian city. A great contribution to cleanliness, of course, was made by Belgorod janitors. Therefore, it is certainly not worth wondering why a monument to the janitor appeared in this city.
Monument in memory of the events
Many urban sculptures commemorate certain historical events. Such objects include the monument to Vladimir the Great. This is the largest statue in the city and the world's largest monument to the prince. Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko.
Despite the lack of documentary evidence, the foundation of the city is attributed to this historical figure. The decision to erect the monument was made in the 1990s. The sculptor Vyacheslav Klykov worked on it. Construction was carried out under the leadership of Vasily Boltenkov.
Description of the monument
The figure of the prince was installed on a 14.5 m high pedestal. The composition itself consists of three tiers: the first two have reliefs depicting saints, the third one has a princely figure. The prince stands firmly on a laurel wreath, it seems to elevate him above everything around him. With his right hand, Vladimir holds the cross. The left one is a shield, as if saying that he will do everything so that the Slavic peoples are under reliable protection.
More than one and a half tons of copper was used to build the monument. Funds for its construction were collected thanks to voluntary donations and sponsorship. Near the monument there is an observation deck, climbing to which you can enjoy the beautiful views of Belgorod.
Monument to the victims of Chernobyl
Chernobyl accident… According to some reports, the number of victims in it exceeds the number of victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. With its consequences, we will meet for a long time. On April 26, we not only remember those who died, but also thank the participants for their salvation. Usually rallies dedicated to this date are held in different cities. Their venues are areas where monuments and commemorative signs are installed.
The monument to the victims of Chernobyl in Belgorod is installed on Bogdan Khmelnitsky Avenue. The sculpture was made by A. Shishkov in 1998. The man standing on the pedestal has his head thrown back and his arms outstretched. It’s as if, with an incredible effort, he is holding back some kind of danger behind his back. Behind him are two stone "sails" with inscriptions on them. Curves meander between these figures, their peak is crowned by a schematic representation of an atom. Copper was used to make the sculpture.
Afghanistan: the pain continues
We continue our conversation about the monuments of Belgorod. The next object, to which we will make a virtual trip, is the memorial complex for those who died in Afghanistan.
Date of appearance of the memorial - 1995. The place of its installation is next to another memorial complex of Belgorod - the museum-diorama of the Battle of Kursk. The author of the work is Anatoly Shishkov. Eighty-five - that's how many citizens did not return from the local war. Hundreds of people were injured and eventually became disabled. The total number of residents of the city who went through the Afghan war is almost three thousand.
The composition consists of a rectangular cube with entrance arches. In the center of the structure are suspended bells, symbolizing mourning. The memorial is crowned with a large cross (black marble was used for its manufacture). Also placed in the center of the cube are commemorative plaques engraved with the names of citizens who did not return from Afghanistan. In the evening andat night, the backlight turns on. Every year on February 15, rallies are held near the monument.
We told only about some monuments of Belgorod. As for its other sights, one should definitely mention the fountains, church architectural ensembles, the Belgorod State Museum of Local History. All these objects deserve a leisurely and careful study. You will definitely want to come to some of these sights more than once, to introduce them to friends and relatives. We hope that our material will help you decide which of the sculptures is better to start exploring the city's attractions.
