The Lenin mausoleum is a small pyramid shaped building of black and red granite cubes and on the front of the building reads the name ‘Ленин’ (Lenin). Although it’s not the most imposing building, it’s one of Red Square’s major tourist attractions. Behind the mausoleum, ... Read review
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Advantages: Just to be able to say you've seen him Disadvantages: Limited opening times
The Lenin mausoleum is a small pyramid shaped building of black and red granite cubes and on the front of the building reads the name ‘Ленин’ (Lenin). Although it’s not the most imposing building, it’s one of Red Square’s major tourist attractions. Behind the mausoleum, under the outer wall of the Kremlin, lie the graves of many other famous Russians, which can only be seen after leaving the mausoleum.
... ...days a week (Tuesday – Thursday, Saturday and Sunday), which was the main reason it took me so long to get around to going to see it! It’s one of those tourist attractions you can’t come home without seeing, even though I wasn’t really interested in seeing Lenin’s corpse, if indeed that’s what it is. Entrance is free, but I would expect that in summer you may have to queue. While the mausoleum is open, the rest of Red Square is closed off from the ... more
The Lenin mausoleum is a small pyramid shaped building of black and red granite cubes and on the front of the building reads the name ‘Ленин’ (Lenin). Although it’s not the most imposing building, it’s one of Red Square’s major tourist attractions. Behind the mausoleum, under the outer wall of the Kremlin, lie the graves of many other famous Russians, which can only be seen after leaving the mausoleum.
Lenin’s mausoleum is only open from 10am until 1pm 5 days a week (Tuesday – Thursday, Saturday and Sunday), which was the main reason it took me so long to get around to going to see it! It’s one of those tourist attractions you can’t come home without seeing, even though I wasn’t really interested in seeing Lenin’s corpse, if indeed that’s what it is. Entrance is free, but I would expect that in summer you may have to queue. While the mausoleum is open, the rest of Red Square is closed off from the public and you have to enter from the other side of the Historical Museum so that you can be searched with a metal detector to make sure you don’t have a camera.
Inside the building you pass a soldier every few metres, it is very dimly lit and you are expected to remain quiet and to keep walking through. The soldiers were telling people off every so often, presumably for talking or having their hands in their pockets and not being respectful, but since my Russian’s not up to much I’m not sure exactly what they said! In any case, I can’t say most Russian soldiers are particularly intimidating; these looked about 17!
I hadn’t seen pictures or postcards of Lenin’s body before I visited the mausoleum, so I was still surprised at how wax work-like he looks. There are plenty of rumours that this isn’t his body, but has long been replaced by a wax work, but if you’d been dead for 80 years and regularly cleaned and embalmed ever since, I suppose you would look a bit shiny. Despite all this I was amazed to see him lying there in his glass case, even if it did all seem a bit gruesome.
On leaving the building you are guided by yet more guards around to the outer wall of the Kremlin where the graves of many other famous Russians are situated. The plaques are obviously all written in Cyrillic, so if you don’t read Russian and are interested in Russian history, a guided tour might be a good idea (or listen to someone else’s!). Fortunately I can cope with that level of Russian, even if it did make me realise how poor my knowledge of Russian historical figures is! Among the dozens buried under the walls are Lenin’s wife, Krupskaya, Yuri Gagarin and Maxim Gorky. Further on you will also come to more tombs of soviet leaders including Stalin and Brezhnev. And that’s it; you can tell your friends you’ve seen Lenin! But if you get the chance, go while you can, they’re not going to leave him there forever…
Advantages: get to see the founder of the USSR Disadvantages: dimly lit, a bit scary with the guards
The Lenin Mausoleum, a red and black granite pyramid shape is situated in Red Square. There are usually long queues of pilgrims waiting to go and pay their respects, but if you are on an organised tour then chances are that you will be able to skip the queue and go straight inside. No info on prices, sorry, but my tour, in 1996, was one in which everything was included - probably the best way to see Russia!
The mausoluem houses the body of Lenin, ... ...no infomation in here about Lenin and his life, so read up before you go. Inside, it is very dark, and Lenin's body is guarded by very frightening Russian guards. Obviously as there is a dead body in here, it is not the place to take small children or those who are overly squeamish. The Russian guards are armed, and prevent anyone from lingering too long, from talking and making sure they show signs of respect - taking off hats, and hands out of ...
weebagpuss 06.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lenin Mausoleum
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Advantages: Must be done if you are in Moscow Disadvantages: Dont get caught out by the queue system
I visited Red Square in November 2007. The earlier review on this site seems to be completely out of date so I thought I would do an update for you.
Lenin's Mausoleum is a "done it, tick it off" sort of attraction. He does look like a waxwork and the debate goes on about whether it is actually him. One tip that may save you some time is that you are not allowed to take in cameras or large bags. The queue starts nowhere near the mausoleum, it is actually to the right of the main entrance to the square, opposite end to St Basil's. You join the queue and they let 30/40 people through at a time. There is a badly positioned sign telling you to leave your luggage at an office before you go to the mausoleum but few people pay any attention. You then walk 200 yards to the mausoleum to queue again and and the guards then scan you and send you ...
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Advantages: The history. The sights. The people. The architecture. The vodka. Disadvantages: The bureaucracy. The traffic. The cold.
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Red Square, or Kрacнaя площадь, as it’s known in Russian (wow – I can still remember some Russian!) is the place that everyone heads to when in Moscow. Dominated by St Basil’s Cathedral with its fantastically bright multi-coloured domes, arches and towers (photo time!) and Lenin’s Mausoleum (which I have done separate reviews on and so won’t discuss here), it is arguably the most well known Square in the whole of Russia.
I went on a school trip here in 1997, and Red Square, where the communist May Day parades used to be held, was the very first place we visited. Your first view of Red Square will stay in your memory for ever. We entered at the far end of the square, near St Basil’s cathedral – doubtless many of you will have seen ...
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