Басманная полицейская часть, Police station building from 1782 in Basmanny District, Moscow, Russia
The Basmanny Police Station is a two-story classical building located in Moscow's Basmanny District that served various institutional purposes. The structure displays typical late 18th-century design elements characteristic of official Russian buildings from that period.
Originally built in the late 1700s as a private residence, the structure transitioned to official use when it became a police station in the early 1820s. This shift marked a change in how the building served the city's administrative needs.
The place holds significance in Russian political history through the detention of prominent figures during periods of social upheaval. Its role in these events has made it a marker of how the city's institutions reflected the tensions of the era.
The building stands currently unoccupied and is not open for regular visits, as it requires substantial restoration work. It can best be appreciated from the outside, where you can observe its classical facade and position within the historic district.
Seven underground cells were discovered in the basement, locally called 'mogilki' meaning little graves, revealing the harsh conditions faced by detainees. These hidden chambers reveal an aspect of the building's past that most visitors would otherwise miss.
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