The Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen is the main historical park of Almaty. It is located in the city center and combines several iconic landmarks: the Memorial of Glory with the Eternal Flame, the Ascension Cathedral — a masterpiece of wooden architecture, and the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments. This place is ideal for a leisurely stroll, getting acquainted with history, and relaxation.
History of the Park: From City Garden to Memorial
The park was founded in 1872 on the site of a Cossack cemetery and was originally called the City Garden, and later — the Old Cemetery Garden. Over its long history, it changed its name many times, but received its current name in 1942 in honor of the feat of 28 soldiers of the 1075th Regiment of the 316th Rifle Division.
This division was formed in Alma-Ata in the summer of 1941. Its soldiers, mostly natives of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, arrived at the front near Moscow at the end of 1941. On November 16, 1941, several dozen young, inexperienced soldiers held back the onslaught of a German tank column for four hours, destroying 18 out of 50 tanks. This unparalleled feat went down in history as the feat of the 28 Panfilov men. All of them were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Memorial of Glory — The Heart of the Park
The central place in the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen is occupied by the Memorial of Glory, opened on May 8, 1975, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The main sculptural composition of the monument is called "The Feat." It is a grand triptych 10 meters high and 25 meters wide. The central part depicts the international images of the Panfilov heroes as a symbol of the heroism of Soviet soldiers. The left bas-relief "Oath" is dedicated to young fighters for Soviet power, and the right part "Trumpeting Glory" embodies victory and the triumph of life.
The Eternal Flame burns in front of the monument. On both sides of it, under massive cubes of labradorite, capsules with soil brought from twelve hero cities and the Brest Fortress are sealed.
An interesting detail: if you walk around the monument along its contour, you can see the outlines of the map of the Soviet Union of that time. This architectural technique was conceived by the sculptors entrusted with creating the memorial.
On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in 2025, the Memorial of Glory underwent a large-scale restoration. Over 50 years, the granite slabs and paving stones had worn down significantly, and cracks had appeared. Now the memorial has been put in order, and next to it an open-air museum of military equipment has appeared, featuring the T-34 tank, the "Katyusha," and other wartime exhibits.
Monuments to the Heroes
In addition to the Memorial of Glory, several monuments have been installed in the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen:
• Bust of General Ivan Panfilov — at the southern entrance to the park. The legendary commander died on November 18, 1941, near Moscow.
• Monument to Bauyrzhan Momyshuly — on the northern side of the park. He commanded a battalion in the Panfilov division, distinguished himself heroically in battles near Moscow, and became a Hero of the Soviet Union.
• Monument to Tokash Bokhin — on the western side of the park.
• Along the alley crossing the park, granite pedestals with the names of the 28 Panfilov heroes are installed.
At the northeastern entrance, you can see the ship`s gun of the Red Banner cruiser "Kirov" — the flagship of the Baltic Fleet during the war.
Ascension Cathedral — An Architectural Marvel
In the center of the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen rises the Ascension Cathedral — a unique monument of wooden architecture from the early 20th century. Construction lasted from 1904 to 1907 according to the design of architect Andrei Zenkov.
The cathedral reaches a height of 56 meters and is built of wood without a single nail. It is one of the eight most unique wooden structures in the world. The interior painting was executed by artist Nikolai Khludov.
The cathedral is not only an architectural gem but also a monument of engineering thought: it withstood the devastating earthquake of 1911, proving the high degree of seismic resistance of the structure. The cathedral is included in the list of monuments of history and culture of Kazakhstan of republican significance.
Other Park Attractions
• The Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen is home to the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments named after Ykylas, which houses a rich collection of not only Kazakh instruments but also those of other peoples of Central Asia.
• Also located here is the Army House, in the right wing of which is the Military History Museum of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• Since 1993, the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen has been included in the Almaty State Historical-Architectural and Memorial Reserve.
The Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen is a must-see point on the route of any guest of Almaty. It is conveniently located in the center, combines historical, architectural, and memorial sites, and is suitable for visiting at any time of year. Plan at least two hours for exploration.
