Oktyabrskaya Square in Minsk appeared in the post-war years, like many other ceremonial places in the capital. In 1949, construction began on the square under the name Tsentralnaya, next to which a public garden was laid out - also Tsentralny.
A monument to Stalin and grandstands for the government were erected, from which BSSR party secretaries waved to military parades and demonstrations. At that time, Tsentralnaya Square was the main square in the city. But Stalin's cult was soon debunked, and the monument to him was destroyed.
Oktyabrskaya Square received its new name in 1984, when the first line of the Minsk Metro ran beneath it. But it lost its status as the city's main square at around the same time, due to the 17-year-long construction of Dvorets Respubliki. To avoid holding important capital events against the backdrop of the construction site, all events and mass gatherings were moved to Lenin Square.
Now Oktyabrskaya Square has regained its former glory: mass festivities, concerts and fairs, as well as various public events, are held here. In winter, a large ice rink is flooded here, where city residents happily come to skate.
All the main roads and distances of Belarus are measured from the monument "Nulevoy kilometr", located on Oktyabrskaya Square.
