Red Square is the Moscow square bordered by the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral.
The square lies in Moscow’s historic center, directly alongside the Kremlin’s eastern walls. Saint Basil’s Cathedral forms its southeastern boundary, while other landmarks include the GUM department store, the State Historical Museum, and Lenin’s Mausoleum. Measuring about 330 meters long and 70 meters wide, Red Square covers nearly 73,000 square meters.
Its name can be misleading. The Russian word krasnaya once meant “beautiful,” so the original sense was closer to “Beautiful Square” than “Red Square.” Earlier names included the Great Market and Pozhar, or “burnt-out place,” reflecting fires that affected the area. The modern name became established in the 17th century.
Red Square has hosted religious processions, public executions, political speeches, demonstrations, and military parades. Saint Basil’s Cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible after Russia’s conquest of Kazan and was completed in the 16th century. The Kremlin and Red Square together became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.