The Alexander square in Minsk was founded in 1836 and named in honor of Alexander Nevsky. Now officially it is called simply "Central square". The Park has a popular, widely held in Minsk on the name - "Pankovka".

In the late nineteenth century to the bustling commercial city Minsk began to flourish. Unfortunately, the building was chaotic. In Minsk there was a large number of squatter markets is dirty and unsafe. In 1836 to the authorities in Minsk came mayor Leopold V. Deals. Deals immediately began the improvement of the city and often did it on their own funds. He drew attention to the area, called the New market or Nowomiejska – dirty, overgrown with weeds and dug pits quadrangular wasteland, used by the peasants on Sundays as agricultural and equestrian market. For my money the Leopold Deals lined area of the former waste ground and have surrounded it with trees: the lindens and maples, and peasant horse fair moved out of town. In place of a New Market formed a Boulevard used by merchants to more noble trade.

In 1867 there were paved paths and the Boulevard began to acquire the features of the Park. In 1869, at the entrance to the square was consecrated the chapel of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which was built to commemorate the deliverance of the Emperor Alexander from danger after the attempt on his life in the terrorist D. V. Karakozov. In the chapel was an icon of Alexander Nevsky. Unfortunately, the chapel survived until 1929. Under Soviet rule it was converted into a Newsstand, and then completely demolished.

The most recognizable symbol of the Alexander square is a fountain "Boy playing with a Swan". Its original title "Cupid and the Swan". Author – T. E. Khalid, the famous sculptor who created metal sculptures. Similar fountains were cast and installed in many major cities of Europe. The fountain was opened in 1874 in honor of the momentous occasion of the construction of the municipal water supply of pure artesian water. Originally, the fountain was surrounded by a bronze frog, mouth which beat water jets, and in the pool swam with fishes and turtles.

In the late nineteenth century the Alexander Park became a fashionable place to stroll to the wealthy. Opened nearby pavilion of artificial mineral waters. Hydrotherapy was fashionable among educated respectable public.

In 1890 by architects K. Vvedensky and K. Kozlowski, at the southern end of the square was built Minsk city theatre. When the opening was attended by members of the Imperial family. Now the theater is called the National theatre of Yanka Kupala.

In the Alexander Park is the most unusual in the world the building of a public toilet. Urban legend says that the architect has created a replica of the house of a person who holds a grudge. The toilet is constructed in the Empire style and is a true masterpiece of architecture.

After the October revolution, Alexander square has gone through many dramatic events, as an arena of revolutionary struggle. During the great Patriotic war, the square suffered at the hands of the Nazis. The Nazis used this wonderful square for public executions. About these hard times shows the monument of Amikacina and Levin, erected on the site of the execution of members of the Communist underground in 1979. In the times of Soviet power in the Alexander garden was held the festive demonstration.

The modern look of the Alexander Park was acquired after a major renovation, completed in 2006. Now it is a favorite place of recreation for residents and an attraction, gladly visited by tourists.