Санкт-Петербург

Russia, Saint Petersburg 29-10-2013

Two postcard from one city also of same square. Its a St Isaac's Square an St Isaac's Cathedral/
First one is new and unwritten and second is written and satmped sent by friend, Spasiba Marina.
Saint Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia, politically incorporated as a federal subject.
It is located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea.
In 1914 the name of the city was changed from Saint Petersburg to Petrograd, in 1924 to Leningrad and in 1991 back to Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter the Great on May 27 1703. Between 1713–1728 and 1732–1918, Saint Petersburg was the imperial capital of Russia.
In 1918, the central government bodies moved from Saint Petersburg (then named Petrograd) to Moscow.
Saint Petersburg is often described as the most Western city of Russia, as well as its cultural capital.
It is the northernmost city in the world with a population of over one million.
Also home to The Hermitage, one of the largest art museums in the world.

Flag and coat of arms of St. Petersburg 

Цари́цын​ - Сталингра́д​ - Волгогра́д

 ”The fascist fighters wanted to see the Volga and the Red Army gave them such a possibility”.

 

Monument for 400 years of founding city 

Alley of Heroes

Mamaev Kurgan, Memorial of Stalingrad battle 

Russia, Volgograd may 2013

A pack of 4 cards from Volgograd famouse Russian city from WW2. three in new unwritten and unstamped and one (alley) stamped and written.
Volgograd, formerly Tsaritsyn 1589–1925, and Stalingrad 1925–1961, is an important industrial city and the administrative center of Volgograd Oblast. It is 80 kilometers (50 mi) long,[10] north to south. It is situated on the western bank of the Volga River.

I spend two months in city and i did had some great time there, a lot of monuments for Stalingrad battle.
-Postcard one is showing Reconciliation Square. In 1989 to the 400-th anniversary of founding Tsaritsyn a new monument was established on the square. It`s former name was Festival Square..
-The Alley of Heroes is situated between the Square of Fallen Fighters and the central Embankment. It is surrounded with high poplar-trees. Comfortable benches are places in their shadow. Volgograders like to spend their free time here.In 1985 on one side of the Alley a memorial monument to 192 heroes of the Soviet Union born in Volgograd was opened. Tree of them were twice-heroes of the Soviet Union, and 28 had orders of Glory of 3 grades.
- Mamaev Kurgan is a sacred place for the Volgograders and all the Russians. It is the highest point in Volgograd. During the Great Patriotic War the hill was called “Height 102”. The whole city can be seen from the top of the hill. That`s why terrible fights were waged here for its possession. Stalingrad Battle lasted for 200 days and 135 days the Soviet troops fought for the “Height 102”. All the Mamai Hill was dug with bombs, projectiles and mines. Every 1 sq. Meter of the Mamai Hill was covered with 500 – 1300 bullets and shells. The burnt ground soaked with soldier`s blood after bombing was quite lifeless. Even grass didn`t grow there. After Stalingrad Battle the Mamai Hill became the brother`s grave for 34,5 thousand people fallen down defending the city and its population. Making a project of the memorial complex took a lot of time. The building of it started only in May, 1959. The memorial complex “To the heroes of Stalingrad Battle” was opened in October 1967. It is considered to be one of the 7 wonders of Russia.There are memory tombs with some ground from hero – cities: Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Minsk, Odessa, Sevastopol, Novorossijsk, Kertch, Tula, Brest Fortress, Murmansk, Smolensk.The Alley of Pyramid Poplar trees looks like soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder. It`s length – 223 m. The alley leads to the square “Standing to death”. In the centre of the square there is a pond with the figure of a soldier by the rock in the middle of it. He`s got an automatic gun in one hand and a grenade in the other one. You can read the inscriptions on the rock: “stand to death”, “There is no room for us on the other bank of the Volga”, “No step backwards”, “Every house is a fortress”, “Don`t bring shame upon sacred memory”.  

more information about Mamaev Kurgan and other monuments in city of Volgograd you can find here. VOLGOGRAD

Flag and Coat of Arms of Volgograd

Москва́

Moscow Russia 19-5-2004
nice multiview from moscow, spasibo diana :)