Soviet architecture and artwork to see in Bishkek

Being a former republic of the collapsed Soviet Union, independent Kyrgyzstan still has physical reminders of this union.

The Soviet past permeate in Bishkek, especially in many buildings and art around the city – both unique and fascinating from architecture and historical perspectives.

In this blog post are some interesting pieces of Soviet architecture and artwork that still stands today.

The list below are in an order that is I think is most logical and best for walking and discovering more of the city to see as much as of it during your limited time here.

Happy walking!

In the Soviet Union, religion was actively discouraged and stigmatised as it was seen as a means to control the working class, along with being a threat to the ruling regime. This meant that religious buildings such as churches were confiscated or destroyed. You can guess that this upset a lot of people, particularly those who still believed in the matrimony tradition of getting married in a church, for example.

To make people happy and appeased, buildings were built by the Soviet state with the intention of facilitating marriages regardless of faith.

Bishkek’s wedding palace was created in 1987 as a state-sanctioned and religion-free modern location to conduct weddings, regardless of anyone’s personal faith. It has no allusions to any religions, though it mirrors some of the architectural elements find in churches, temples and mosques.

This wedding palace is still in use today where you are able to go inside for a look where you’ll find a cute ceremonial hall and some pretty stained colour glass.

Constructed in 1976, this building is other-worldly in its UFO saucer design, making it rather unique and memorable among the buildings you’ll find in Bishkek. This kind of building can be found across many of the former USSR republics where such buildings were constructed to facilitate circus performances.

Circuses during the Soviet-era were spectacular and a popular means of entertainment. At the Kyrgyz State Circus, there are still circus performances such as acrobatics and animal performances but these are less frequent and less grand.

On the left side of the Kyrgyz State Circus building (when facing the front), you’ll find some cool artwork depicting a clown, a musician, and an acrobat performer. The relief is slowly fading in detail but still has colours that are vibrant.

As you may have guessed, Victory Square is an area dedicated to Soviet soldiers who served and lost their lives during the Second World War, also known as the Great Patriotic War in the USSR. At the centre of the square is the Monument of Victory, built in 1984 and is shaped with three arching ribs crossing together at the top, over an eternal flame. It’s designed and built in a way represent a yurt with a tunduk, one of the defining symbols of Kyrgyz unity and family. 

Be sure to have a look at their various sculptures around Victory Square depicting battle-worn soldiers and a woman patiently waiting for her husband to return home.

Opened in 1955, the Opera and Ballet Theatre is probably the most grand-looking building in Bishkek with its neoclassic design that is not that common during the Soviet era.

Its doors are normally shut unless there is a ballet or opera performance (typically around autumn and spring) that are most likely worth going to (and probably really affordable to attend).

This is probably one of the most depressing slabs of concrete I have ever seen, so it is a bit of a juxtaposition that the building is also home to the National Museum of Fine Arts that houses some of the most beautiful art created!

Built in 1974, this is one of the typical buildings created during the Soviet times. It’s accentuated by the fact there is a lot of amazing artwork featured inside and some interesting pieces outside.

The Soviet architects who designed this building must of had some inspiration from space rockets!

In an effort to create more dense residential buildings in the 1980s, architects began experimenting with design. This 18-storey apartment tower is one of these experimentations come to life. The building is still visible downtown and still has residents living in it today. It looks rather grimy but this griminess gives it some character.

Built in 1982 during a time where artistic limitations were being relaxed (see the experimental building above), this vibrant ‘sunny’ fish fountain was designed with glass tiles from Belarus and is one of the more joyful Soviet-era creations seen around the capital.

This colourful fountain adds some life to downturn Bishkek where you will often see kids playing around this fountain.

Also known as Bishkek-2 Railway Station, this station was built 1938 and for the most part, aside from a few technological additions like TV screens, this station is largely the same as the day it was built. You will see numerous USSR decorations and elements through the station – one the walls and the ceiling where the letters “CCCP” and Communist hammer and sickle symbols are still visible.

Note: Trying to take some photos will result in a light rebuke from the security guards!

Formerly known as Lenin Square, this square was renamed as Ala-Too Square after Kyrgyzstan’s independence in 1991, named after the nearby Kyrgyz mountain range. It was built in 1984 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic being in the Soviet Union (one of the country’s names before the Kyrgyzstan Republic name was adopted after independence).

The square is a popular area for people to meet up for social occasions or political demonstrations of every size, along with having interesting landmarks.

The State History Museum, built in 1984, sits at the northern end of the square, permanently closed since 2017. The statue of Kyrgyz leader and legend Manas, built in 2011, stands proudly in the middle of the square (a statue of Lenin used to be here). There is massive flagpole where the Kyrgyzstan flag flies majestically – on every hour, expect to see the changing of the guards nearby the flagpole station.

At the southern end, there is the golden-domed Ministry of Agriculture.

On a clear day, stand at the base of the Manas statue to get a great view of the snow-capped mountain range behind the Ministry of Agriculture.

Built in the 1960s, Ala-Too Cinema is Bishkek’s oldest and largest cinema, along with being also one of the beloved cultural monuments of Kyrgyzstan, owing in part to the cool mosaics on its concave facade depicting brave cosmonauts and ordinary but hardworking and peaceful peoples of the USSR.

It’s worth coming here to check out the mosaics or to simply see the latest movies on offer if you’re in the mood to see a movie.

From the exterior, this sports palace looks like the common grey slab of concrete with a more interesting sloped roof, but is amplified by the awesome statue of legendary Kyrgyz strongman Baatyr Kaba Uulu Kozhomkul.

Since built in 1974 to host numerous sporting events like wrestling, this sports building is currently largely defunct, saved for a clothing shop inside and some organised meet-ups inside. The interior is worth going in for a curious look where you’ll find a boss painting of Kozhomkul and some cool wall decorations inside.

The Kyrgyz Philharmonic Hall was an addition to Bishkek during the 1980s when the city was undergoing a significant makeover.

Still in use today, the hall was designed by A. Pechonkin who used Brutalism architecture principles where it is defined by minimalist construction. Typically, the construction shows the bare building materials such as concrete, preferring visible structural design over decorative design. This look shows on the Kyrgyz Philharmonic Hall, in its plain-looking clads of concrete.

While it doesn’t look as classically grand as the Opera and Ballet Theatre, its imposing appearance is accentuated by the majestic statue of Manas, fountains and the beautiful gardens in front of the hall.

These Soviet-era buildings are just a few of the many buildings built during the USSR times where its regime dictated and approved the look and feeling of numerous buildings and subsequently Bishkek city itself.

Have you been to Bishkek and found some other cool buildings from the Soviet era? Let others and I know!

If you know someone who is planning to go Bishkek or is already there, share this blog post to them today.