Mamayev Kurgan, War memorial on Mamayev Hill in Volgograd, Russia
Mamayev Kurgan is a memorial complex on a slope overlooking the Volga River in Volgograd, Russia. A series of stone steps and terraces link monuments, statues and walls with engraved names, rising from the base to a central figure holding a sword above the surrounding plains.
Soviet troops defended the slope between August 1942 and February 1943 in one of the longest urban battles of the war. The complex was built between 1959 and 1967 to honor those who fought here, turning the former battlefield into a memorial landscape.
The name comes from Tatar guards who once watched over the steppe from this height during the Golden Horde period. Russian families now come here to leave flowers at memorial stones and pay their respects to relatives who fought in the battle.
Visitors can walk the entire route on foot, but expect a climb with many steps and little shade on hot days. Arriving in the early morning or late afternoon makes the ascent more comfortable and the light better for photographs.
Inside the Hall of Military Glory, an eternal flame burns while honor guards change position every hour in a solemn ceremony. The circular chamber creates an echo that amplifies every sound, making even footsteps resonate throughout the space.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
