Old Square
Behind the History Museum: old Government House, the old Lenin, Soviet monuments.
- 1936–1954square built
- Leninmoved from Ala-Too
- July +30°, January +3°daytime
- Orozbekov / RazzakovBishkek, behind the museum
Stops in walking order
The list on the left follows the chapters as you scroll. Tap a photo to enlarge it.
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outside1 / 6
Government House
The colonnaded façade on the north side of the square. Government House was built in 1,957 for the Central Committee of the Kirghiz Communist Party and the Council of Ministers.
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August 18, 2018outside2 / 6
Lenin monument
Lenin, arm outstretched, stands by the back façade of the museum. The statue used to stand on Ala-Too Square and was later moved here.
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outside3 / 6
Red Guard Obelisk
A red granite obelisk among the trees by the square, crowned with a hammer and sickle and a star.
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September 17, 2019outside4 / 6
Marx and Engels
Bronze figures of Marx and Engels sit side by side on a bench at the south-east corner of the square, among fir trees and flower beds.
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September 17, 2019outside5 / 6
Emblem on the façade
A Soviet emblem with a relief of flags survives at the top of the Supreme Court building.
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September 17, 2019outside6 / 6
Flower beds
Large patterned flower beds lie at the south-east corner of the square. In June 2,016, private investors decided to renovate the square as a gift to the city.
History by date
- 1936Construction begins
Work on the square began for the 19th anniversary of the October Revolution.
- 1954Square completed
Construction continued through the war years and was completed in 1,954.
- 1957Government House
Government House was built for the Communist Party Central Committee and the Council of Ministers.
- 1964Renovation
The square’s reconstruction was led by the architect Yevgeny Pisarskoy.
- 1984A new main square
After Ala-Too Square opened, the Old Square was used less often.
- 2020Usubaliev’s name
The square was officially named after Turdakun Usubaliev.
Four seasons
How the place looks at different times of year.
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Spring
March–MayDays from +11 °C in March to +23 °C in May, nights from −1 to +9 °C.
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Summer
June–AugustGreen trees around the square. Days +27…+30 °C, nights +14…+17 °C.
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Autumn
September–NovemberThe flower beds bloom in September. Days from +24 °C in September to +9 °C in November, nights from +12 to −3 °C.
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Winter
December–FebruaryDays +3…+5 °C, nights down to −8 °C.
Where it is
- Address
- Bishkek, Orozbekov / Razzakov
- From the base
- ≈0.3 km as the crow flies · Bishkek
- Coordinates
- 42.8792° N, 74.6044° E
Opening times and etiquette
Etiquette
- Government offices. Ministries and a court work around the square: do not photograph the guards or building entrances.
Check on site
- Whether there is a fair or event on the square on site
Contact and help
112 single emergency number
- 101 fire and rescue
- 102 police
- 103 ambulance
You can call 112 with a local SIM or without one.
Old Square in photos
Real photos, each with the date it was taken. Tap or click to enlarge.
- August 18, 2018
- September 17, 2019
- September 17, 2019
- September 17, 2019
Guides and ready-made itineraries
Pages that include this place in a guide or itinerary.
Included in guides
Routes and programmes
Nearby and where to go next
Base · BishkekBishkekA city base for museums, squares and a walk through the market.- Cultural site · ≈0.2 km as the crow fliesNational Historical MuseumKyrgyzstan’s history and ethnographic collections beside Ala-Too Square.
- Cultural site · ≈0.3 km as the crow fliesAla-Too SquareThe main square of Bishkek, with fountains, monuments and the national flag.
- Cultural site · ≈0.4 km as the crow fliesPanfilov ParkOne of Bishkek’s oldest parks: shady alleys, rides and a Ferris wheel.
Cultural site · ≈0.2 km as the crow fliesM. V. Frunze MuseumA house museum with Frunze’s personal belongings and material on Kyrgyzstan’s history.- Cultural site · ≈0.2 km as the crow fliesAbdumomunov Kyrgyz National Academic Drama TheatreThe national drama theatre, with a main stage and a small stage.