Castle Quarter has been a Norwich institution for decades, but did you know it has a twin some 1,749 miles away in Russia?

It all came about after then mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, visited Norwich shortly after the mall's construction in 1993.

Impressed with the shopping centre, Mr Luzhkov asked the architect Michael Innes to design an identical structure in the city's Manczhnaya Square, where he had been struggling for a number of years to construct a shopping mall at an affordable cost.

Norwich Evening News: The top of the Okhotny Ryad mall in Moscow, showing its two glass roofs which are identical to those at Castle Quarter.The top of the Okhotny Ryad mall in Moscow, showing its two glass roofs which are identical to those at Castle Quarter. (Image: Government of Moscow Press Centre)

The new mall, named Okhotny Ryad, was built in Moscow in 1997, four years after what was known at the time as the Castle Mall, at a cost of £200m.

Norwich Evening News: The Okhotny Ryad mall in Moscow.The Okhotny Ryad mall in Moscow. (Image: Marc Buehler Flickr)

It has had an eventful life, even before it was built, former US president Donald Trump involved in talks to build the mall, before it was bombed by a terrorist called Khalid Khuguyev in 1999.

Norwich Evening News: The Okhotny Ryad mall in Moscow.The Okhotny Ryad mall in Moscow. (Image: flowcomm Flickr)

Looking at pictures of the Russian mall, its two glass roofs look identical to those in Norwich, although not based in the grounds of a castle, while inside its central staircase and three storey design are the spitting image of its Norfolk relative.

Norwich Evening News: The Okhotny Ryad mall in Moscow.The Okhotny Ryad mall in Moscow. (Image: Valery Pizhanski video & photographer)

Norwich Evening News: The top of the Okhotny Ryad mall in Moscow.The top of the Okhotny Ryad mall in Moscow. (Image: anshar73)

And for comparison here are some pictures of Castle Quarter.

Norwich Evening News: Castle Quarter during COVID19 lock down. All shops are closed except Boots and Poundland which sell essential items. Pictures: Brittany WoodmanCastle Quarter during COVID19 lock down. All shops are closed except Boots and Poundland which sell essential items. Pictures: Brittany Woodman (Image: Archant)

Norwich Evening News: Work going on to clean up the rain coming in at Castle QuarterWork going on to clean up the rain coming in at Castle Quarter (Image: Archant)

Norwich Evening News: Castle Quarter shopping centre, which is located below Norwich Castle, is currently being used as a coronavirus vaccination centreCastle Quarter shopping centre, which is located below Norwich Castle, is currently being used as a coronavirus vaccination centre (Image: Abigail Nicholson)

Norwich Evening News: Norfolk's first mass Covid-19 vaccination centre will be based in the food court at Norwich's Castle Quarter shopping centre.Norfolk's first mass Covid-19 vaccination centre will be based in the food court at Norwich's Castle Quarter shopping centre. (Image: Archant)