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Lenin Avenue was the main road into Pripyat. At the corner of Lenin Avenue and Kurchatova Street was 32/13 Lenin Avenue, a residential building with a furniture store on the ground floor. It was surrounded by a few public places and shops.
Looking down Kurchatova, it’s possible to spot a 16-story building with a hammer and sickle on the top. That building had a library on the ground floor.
Main Square
Pripyat’s large main square sat at the end of Lenin Avenue. It was surrounded by several public places (see below). A Soviet flag flies from one of the flagpoles in the square.
City Administration Building
On the far east side of the square is city administration building. During the Chernobyl disaster, authorities continued to use this building as the disaster control headquarters.
Hotel Polissya
Next to it was the Hotel Polissya (Готе́ль Полісся). It was used by workers and the authorities during the disaster control period. The hotel originally accommodated guests and visitors of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It was built in the 1970s.
Palace of Culture “Energetik”
A colonnade separates the hotel from the Palace of Culture “Energetik” (Дворец культуры “Энергетик”), which had a pool, dance hall, movie theatre, boxing ring, and other entertainment. Behind the colonnade was a park, part of which was going to be used as an amusement park for May Day and Victory Day celebrations that never took place.
Shopping Center
On the west end of the square was a shopping center that consisted of a supermarket and restaurant.
Storage Room
A city storage room was located in the back of the Palace of Culture. It was filled with items for the upcoming May Day celebration.
