Hall of Military Glory at Mamayev Kurgan

A round, windowless building is set into the slope of the kurgan between the Square of Heroes and the Square of Sorrow. Inside is a cylindrical hall forty-two metres in diameter, its walls covered entirely in gold smalt mosaic; laid over it are thirty-four mosaic mourning banners lowered to half-mast, bearing the names of the fallen defenders of Stalingrad. About seven and a half thousand surnames are carved here in all, and that is only a small part of the list. In the centre of the hall a five-metre marble hand rises out of the floor, holding a torch with the Eternal Flame; the light from the flame and from the gold gives the distinctive warm glow that the hall is remembered for. A round opening was left in the ceiling, through which the sky can be seen, and a spiral ramp carries visitors up to the exit onto the Square of Sorrow. A band runs along the wall with an inscription saying that the city's defenders were mortal, but that they did their duty. An honour guard stands by the Eternal Flame all year round.

On the map