Description of the attraction
The memorial arch in Mogilev was built in 1780 for the arrival of Empress Catherine II. Through this arch the Empress entered the city.
In 1780, a meeting of two powerful monarchs of Europe was supposed to take place in Mogilev: the Austrian Emperor Joseph II and the Russian Empress Catherine II. Here the crowned heads agreed to meet to solve important political problems.
Despite the fact that the negotiations were unofficial, the news of the arrival of such important persons quickly spread throughout the state. It was this meeting that decided the fate of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The city authorities of Mogilev did their best to organize a solemn meeting that would flatter the capricious and powerful queen. The solemn reception and a specially constructed arch flattered the autocrat's pride and softened her heart. The meeting of the two old royal friends and allies took place, and all the necessary preparations for important events for the country were agreed upon.
The monarchs agreed that in memory of this meeting, each of them will build a cathedral: the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Mogilev and the Cathedral of St. Catherine in Vienna. It was decided to build the Cathedral of St. Joseph on the central square, which was renamed Cathedral. The Arc de Triomphe was opposite the entrance to the cathedral. Unfortunately, the Cathedral of St. Joseph has not survived - it was blown up by the Bolsheviks in 1938.
After the end of World War II, the Soviet government decided to restore the triumphal arch in Mogilev in its own way. After the restoration, bas-reliefs of Stalin appeared on the arch (after the cult of personality was debunked, it was covered with a hammer and sickle) and Lenin, the coat of arms of the USSR, and later, in the 1960s, a passage was laid under the arch, marble plaques with the names of the dead Red Army men appeared on the brick wall. liberating Mogilev from the Nazi occupation.
During its existence, the arch has changed its name three times: the Arch of Glory, the Arc de Triomphe and the Memorial Arch (nowadays).
Description added:
Nastasya Filippovna 2016-16-05
Does anyone claim that the cathedral was built in Vienna?
Description added:
N. 2016-15-05
Sorry, there is no Catherine Cathedral in Vienna, supposedly a copy of the destroyed Joseph Cathedral. And most likely it never happened.
