Military prison, Novocherkassk

The Military prison in Novocherkassk is a stone structure with a symmetrical facade featuring two Ionic columns, a central loggia, and a triangular pediment. The building displays segmented window pediments, decorative geometric patterns along its frieze, and pilasters at the corners.

The military guardhouse was constructed in 1856 under Ataman Khomutov's administration and served to detain military personnel stationed in Novocherkassk. It rose during a period when the city was gaining importance as an administrative center for the Cossack territories.

The building appears in Alexei Tolstoy's novel 'The Road to Calvary' and held revolutionary Kibalchich and poet Isakovsky among its inmates. This literary reference gives the structure a presence in Russian cultural memory beyond its role as a place of detention.

The building continues to function as a military commandant's office, with its basement maintaining its original purpose as a detention facility. Visitors should note that it remains an active military structure, so access may be limited or restricted.

The structure displays a rare blend of classical architecture with Ionic columns and geometric reliefs that were typical of Cossack administrative centers in the 19th century. This combination of formal elegance and military purpose makes it a distinctive example of its era.

Location: Novocherkassk

Inception: 1856

Architectural style: classicism

GPS coordinates: 47.41243,40.10471

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:24