MILLENNIUM MONUMENT OF RUSSIA

This monument was inaugurated in 1862, to celebrate Russia's 1000 years of existence and the 50 years of victory over Napoleon. In 862, the first chronicles evoked Prince Rourik, a member of a varègue princely family («Viking») who had established his kingdom on Russian lands. The impressive monument weighs nearly 300 tons and represents 127 characters who played a role within 1000 years of Russian history. At the summit, there is a representation of mother Russia and the Orthodox Church. Among the characters represented, you will notice at the top, Rourik, Vladimir of Kiev and Michel Romanov (founder of the Romanov dynasty, which led Russia from the th to the th century). On the west side, Russian writers and artists are represented.