Interesting Soyuz detail:
Soyuz doesn't stand on the launchpad, but is suspended over it. Held in place by the four main support arms. Here seen during pad construction:
Below are triangular guides (yellow-black) that provide extra stability and two additional arms (black) for umbilical lines. (The platform was only present during construction).
Here with a clear view into the flame deflector:
And here with rocket attached. The system is the same for all Soyuz launchpads, but the "house" is a mobile gantry that is a Kourou speciality.
(Main reason for it is to allow vertical integration of satellites, which a lot western sats require.)
The way the primary support arms work is typically Russian fool-proof:
Once the launcher builds thrust the load on the support arms decreases, allowing them to move outwards by the force of counterweights located at their base.
Counterweighs during their installation:
Because of the characteristic opening movement this setup is called the "Tulip".
Here the mobile gantry in action (sorry for the potato quality):
As you can see, rocket is cut of at the neck. The fairing, and inside that the satellite, is missing.
They are added in the next step (vertical integration). On a Baikonur Soyuz the launcher would be rolled out in it's complete configuration.
To close, bonus fun fact:
Ariane 6 will have a similar mobile gantry, only this one is 90 meters tall (the Soyuz is 52m) and weights 8200 tons.
Hope that was interesting
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