Red Square

Moscow, Russia

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Red Square in Moscow, Russia, is a large open plaza in the heart of the city that lies directly east of the Kremlin and north of the Moskva River, serving as one of the country’s most iconic historical and ceremonial spaces.

Named “Red” from an old Russian term meaning “beautiful,” the square dates back to the late 15th century and has been the backdrop for events ranging from tsarist ceremonies and Soviet military parades to modern celebrations and political demonstrations.

It is surrounded by major landmarks such as Saint Basil’s Cathedral with its colorful onion domes, the red‑brick State Historical Museum, the Kremlin walls, the GUM department store, and Lenin’s Mausoleum, and together with the Kremlin it forms a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today Red Square functions as a popular tourist destination, a major transportation hub, and a symbolic center of Russian national identity.