The Lubyanka building stands at Lubyanskaya Ploshchad 2 in the Meshchansky District of central Moscow, Russia. The original structure was built in 1898-1901 as offices of an insurance company, in a neo-Baroque style, and after the 1917 revolution it was taken over by the Cheka, the first Soviet security police. Under successive names, including the OGPU, NKVD and KGB, the agency used the building as its headquarters. Its notorious inner prison held many prominent prisoners, and the building has come to stand in popular memory for the Stalinist terror of the 1930s. In the 1930s architect Aleksey Shchusev extended the building, adding a new wing in a more austere style, and later expansions took place after the Second World War. The complex today is used by the Federal Security Service, so it is closed to the public and can only be seen from outside. The square itself once held a statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, founder of the Cheka, which was toppled in August 1991 after the failed coup. In its place stands the Solovetsky Stone, a boulder brought from the Solovetsky Islands, the site of one of the first Soviet camps, and unveiled on 30 October 1990 by the Memorial society as a monument to the victims of political repression. Each year on 29 October, the eve of the Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repression, people gather here to read names of the dead in the Returning of the Names ceremony. The site has no museum or exhibition, so a visit consists of viewing the facade and the memorial and reading about the building's history. The ochre facade, the Detsky Mir toy store next door and the nearby Kitay-Gorod streets make it easy to fold into a central Moscow walk. Visitors seeking interior displays can visit the Gulag History Museum or the Museum of the Federal Security Service history in the vicinity, subject to their own access rules. Photography of the building is typically tolerated but security staff may ask visitors not to linger at the entrances.
| Admission | Free (exterior view only) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Exterior only; the building is not open to the public. Solovetsky Stone memorial is open outdoors 24 hours |
| Address | Lubyanskaya Ploshchad 2, Moscow 101000 |
Why it matters
The Lubyanka building served as the headquarters of the Soviet secret police, from the Cheka to the KGB, and was a centre of interrogation and repression, especially in the 1930s. The Solovetsky Stone across the square, placed in 1990, commemorates victims of political repression.
Location
Lubyanskaya Ploshchad 2, Moscow 101000
55.7596, 37.6274 View on map
Highlights
- Exterior of the former KGB headquarters
- Solovetsky Stone memorial to victims of repression
- Site of the toppled Dzerzhinsky statue of 1991
- Neo-Baroque insurance-company building extended in the 1930s
Tips for visiting
- The interior is not open, so plan a short stop of about 20-30 minutes.
- The Solovetsky Stone is in the small garden across the square from the main facade.
- The memorial day on 29 October features a public reading of victims' names.
- Avoid photographing security personnel or entrances directly.
- Combine with the Gulag History Museum and Kitay-Gorod on foot.
When to visit
Daytime is best for photography, and the square is quiet in the early morning. The evening of 29 October is the most significant time for the memorial.
Accessibility
The square and memorial are on level paved ground, and the site is accessible to wheelchair users from the street.
Frequently asked questions
Can visitors go inside the Lubyanka building?
No, the building is used by the Federal Security Service and is not open for tours. Visitors can only view the exterior and the memorial.
How long does a visit take?
About 20-30 minutes for the facade and stone, longer if joined to a guided walk.
Is it suitable for kids?
It is an open public square, so children can visit, though the historical context is heavy and there is little to see.