Chkalov Stairs

One of the architectural landmarks of Nizhny Novgorod is the Chkalov Stairs. This monumental structure occupies more than 150 meters, which is higher than a 50-story skyscraper. It is not surprising that it had long been considered the longest in Russia before the annexation of Crimea. From above, the Chkalov Stairs looks like a figure eight on a stick or a long blacksmith's tongs. It connects the Lower Volga Embankment (Nizhnevolzhskaya Embankment) and Minin and Pozharsky Square. Its top is adorned by the monument to Chkalov, and its bottom – by another monument called "Bogatyr". According to the original plan of 1939, the Chkalov Stairs was supposed to connect the city center and the Volga. The chosen place was loved by citizens at all times: it was the Volga slope, the top of which was occupied by a kind of observation deck, a semicircular ledge. By the way, that was the name of the hotel, which is now called "Russia". Before WWII, it was planned to build a staircase starting from this hotel. Of course, the war made its adjustments. So, the proposer of the construction, Alexander Shulpin (chairman of the City Executive Committee), decided to change the location of the stairs, moving it to the monument to his friend Chkalov.

Shulpin's plan was monumental. He wanted the stairs to surpass the famous Potemkin Stairs in Odessa. And he succeeded, partly due to history itself: impressive sums for construction were allocated in honor of the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad (the initial name of the Chkalov Stairs was to be "Stalingrad"). But the name did not catch on, as well as another, "Volzhskaya". The staircase was built by both locals and German POWs in 5 years and was officially opened in 1949.