Freedom Square in Derbent — Watch Live Webcam Online
Derbent's Main Square: Three Names in One Location
Freedom Square is the central square of Derbent, located in the heart of one of Russia's oldest cities. This space has seen more than any guidebook could tell. The live webcam allows you to observe this place in real time — pedestrians cross the square, street lamps glow, and around it stands historical architecture preserving the memory of different eras.
This square has had three names. Originally, after the construction of the St. George the Victorious Cathedral in 1853, it was called Church Square. During the Soviet period, the church was destroyed, and the square was renamed after General Yermolov — a controversial but significant figure in Caucasian history. Later the name was changed to the ideologically neutral Freedom Square. In 2016, a petition was even raised to rename Yermolov Street due to the general's painful role in the Caucasian War, but the square retained its modern name.
St. George Cathedral: From Construction to a Glass-Covered Foundation
The main drama of this territory unfolded around the St. George the Victorious Cathedral. Built in 1853, it was Derbent's main Orthodox church for nearly a century. In 1938 the cathedral was destroyed, and for a long time its trace remained only in archives and the memories of old-timers.
Today, part of the church's foundation is open for viewing on the square. It is covered with a glass triplex approximately 22 square meters in area. Under the glass, stone blocks and the outlines of former grandeur are visible. A memorial sign with a brief history of the cathedral stands nearby — a place where the past literally emerges through the present.
Lenin Monument and Soviet Heritage
On the site of the destroyed cathedral, a monument to V.I. Lenin was erected — it still dominates the square's silhouette, setting the vertical accent. This is a typical example of Soviet monumental heritage, when one symbol was replaced by another. Yermolov Square, and later Freedom Square, became the venue for parades, rallies, and festive events — here the public life of Soviet Derbent was shaped.
2021 Reconstruction: What Was Found Underground
In the fall of 2021, large-scale improvement work began on the square. The territory was leveled — previously it had a noticeable slope for water drainage, now it is being made smoother, transitioning into a park. But the most interesting discoveries awaited builders underground.
During excavations, the foundation of that very St. George Cathedral was discovered. Initially, only a small fragment was opened for viewing, but then the museumification expanded to an area of over 100 square meters. The archaeological layer was turned into an open-air exhibition — now anyone passing by can peer into the depths of centuries.
The Square as the Center of City Life
Freedom Square remains Derbent's main public space. Holidays, military parades, flash mobs, and rallies are held here. For New Year, the city's main Christmas tree is installed — during these days the square becomes a center of festive attraction for citizens.
Religious processions regularly start here — from the active church to Freedom Square, once known as Church Square. This is a symbolic movement between past and present, between the lost cathedral and its visible foundation under glass.
Architectural Ensemble and Surroundings
The square is a spacious, rectangular space. The central element of the ensemble is the city administration building (mayor's office) — it sets the tone for all the surrounding architecture. In the western part of the square, remnants of historical fountains have been preserved — three bowls under the arch of a retaining wall. They were once fed by water from the Jalgan Gorge.
Modern improvements have added children's and sports playgrounds, teahouses, and restaurants. Nearby are the "Mourning Mother" Memorial and the Military Glory Park, opened in May 2015 for the 70th anniversary of Victory. An obelisk to the soldiers who fell in the Great Patriotic War also stands here.
What the Camera Shows
The live camera broadcasts a view of Freedom Square in Derbent. In the frame — pedestrian paths, street lighting, landscaping, and the historical buildings around. The city's central square appears in all its diversity: from the Lenin monument to the glass triplex over the 1853 cathedral foundation. The real-time camera shows how the main square of Derbent lives — one of Russia's oldest cities on the shore of the Caspian Sea.
