 Map of the Contracts Square in Kyiv | |
 Interactive map of Square of Contracts | |
| Type | Square |
|---|---|
| Location | Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Official name | Комплекс споруд Контрактової площі (Complex of buildings in the Square of Contracts) |
| Type | Urban Planning, Architecture |
| Reference no. | 260097-Н |
Square of Contracts orContract Square (Ukrainian:Контрактова площа,romanized: Kontraktova ploshcha,IPA:[kontrɐkˈtɔwɐˈplɔʃtʃɐ]) is a square in the historicPodilneighborhood ofKyiv, the capital ofUkraine. The square is an important economic, cultural, and transport center of Podil, containing numerous architectural and historical monuments.
Contract Square is known since theKyivan Rus' times as an important part of the Podil merchant neighborhood.[1] The square lies surrounded by theAndriivskyi Descent, Sahaidachny, Pokrivska, Florivska, Prytisko-Mykilska, Kostiantynivska, Mezhyhirska, Spaska, Skovorody and Ilynska streets.[1][2]
The construction of theContracts House, a permanent trading center wherecontracts were signed, at the end of the 18th century gave the square its current name.[1][2] During 1748-1749, theFountain of Samson was built to repair the water distribution system of the area[3] to a design by Ukrainian architectIvan Hryhorovych-Barskyi.[2] The compound of theNational University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, one of Ukraine's leading universities dating back to 16th century,[4] adjoins the square.[1]
In the 1970s, archaeological works conducted by the Institute of Archaeology of theUkrainian SSR were done on the square, as well as reconstructions of the square's main constructions.
The square was renamed several times during its history: in 1869-1919 the square was namedAlexander Square in honour of theRussian emperorAlexander II; in 1919-1944 it was namedRed Square, dedicated toCommunism; between 1945 and the 1950s, it was renamed back toContracts, althoughRed continued to be widely used among elder people; in 1990, the original name was re-established.[2]
Today, the Contracts Square is an important center of thePodil neighborhood, and also a recreational, cultural and transportation point of the city.
The square is often used for various outdoor public festivities, including music concerts and fairs. The Petro Sahaidachnyi Street which leads to the square is limited topedestrians onweekends.
Listed clockwise from the Sahaidachnyi Street:
Contracts Square is one of the largest and oldest transport hub of theKyiv tram system, end stop for several tram routes. However, tram lines crossing the square are being gradually phased out since the 1980s.
Most importantly, Contracts Square adjoins theKyiv MetroKontraktova Ploshcha Station (
Obolonsko–Teremkivska line), thus forming a multi-modal passenger knot with the tram andminibus lines. The station has a sub-surface design with four entrances, two of them being outside the square.[7]
50°27′50″N30°31′5″E / 50.46389°N 30.51806°E /50.46389; 30.51806