The majestic cathedrals of Vladimir — Dmitrievsky and Uspensky — gave their name to the city's central square. Cathedral Square is a must-see stop on any tourist route: on and around it there are quite a few attractions, including architectural landmarks such as the men's gymnasium, Prisutstvennye Mesta, the Noble Assembly, and the City Duma.
The central part of Cathedral Square is occupied by a massive monument, erected in 1958 in honor of Vladimir's 850th anniversary. Its composition consists of three figures — a warrior looking toward the Golden Gate, an architect gazing at the Uspensky Cathedral, and a modern proletarian who, apparently, is most interested in the industrial zone with its factories.
You can also see a monument to V. Lenin on the square, installed on the pedestal where a sculpture of Emperor Alexander II once stood. There is also a monument to the icon painter Andrei Rublyov, which adorned the entrance to the nearby Pushkin Park in 1995.
The large size of Cathedral Square — about a hectare — made it possible in the past to use it as an army parade ground, and even now various events are often held here — from parades to concerts and festivals.
