Tourism in Russia > Irkutsk > Moscow Triumphal Arch

Moscow Triumphal Arch

The famous Moscow highway approached the left bank of the Angara River, and with a boat bridge travelers were able to finally arrive at Irkutsk. In 1811, using the occasion of the anniversary celebrations of the ten years of rule of Alexander I, construction of the triumphal arch began, and the arch acquired the name of the Moscow arch. On September 15, 1813, construction by the design of architect V.A.Kruglikov was completed. The arch was an impressive structure. It had four brick tiers; their height was 19 m, width - 7.1 m and length - 16.3 m. The passage between the towers was 5.4 m wide, and the inner height of the arch was 10.9 m. The arch was laid of bricks and mortar and it was plastered on the outside. The roof was made of sheet steel. The entire structure was painted yellow, and the decorative details were white. The functional purpose of the arch was to inspect and register all arriving travelers. Throughout the entire duration of their existence, the Moscow Arch was inseparably linked with the history of Irkutsk. Through this arch came virtually all travelers, writers, researchers, public figures, diplomats, who visited Irkutsk since 1813 till the end of XIX century. The arch was dismantled in 1925. Recreated in 2011.