Peter and Paul Fortress Map

The first few years, the main construction work was carried out on the Hare Island. Here the fortress of St. Peter-Burh grew up, which was the nucleus of the future city. Its location was determined by Peter himself, who assessed the strategic expediency of the location of the outpost in the Neva delta.
A year later, all six bastions (protruding from the fortification wall) appeared. Although the bastions were earthen, taking care of the stone construction of the new city was one of the most important for Peter. A special decree of 1714 in Russia prohibited the construction of buildings made of stone, and all stone-makers were sent by order to the Neva banks. Peter established a kind of "stone" duty: each ship, each wagon train arriving in the city, had to bring a certain amount of building material.

Peter and Paul Fortress Map

One of southern bastions was under the direct supervision of Peter, therefore he received the name Tsar. On the eastern side of the island, in the curtain that connected this bastion with Menshikov, the main fortress gate was built. They were defended by a ravelin (an external auxiliary building triangular in plan), named after St. John. To get into the fortress, you need to go through the Ioannovsky wooden bridge, the Ioannovsky gate and enter the Peter gate, over the arch of which there is a double-headed eagle made of lead. The gate is decorated with a large bas-relief "The Overthrow of Simonavolkhv" by the German sculptor and carver G.K. Osner. It is believed that this work depicting the Apostle Peter, who by the power of his prayer casts down a pagan sorcerer from heaven, in allegorical form glorifies the victory of Tsar Peter over the Swedish king Charles XII. The Artillery Zeikhhauz (1801) is located behind the Peter's Gate on the right, the Engineering House (1749) is on the left.
By 1787, the entire fortress was dressed in granite. In 1840, all the fortifications were rebuilt into stones. On the Naryshkin Bastion, a signal Flag Tower and a cannon were installed, the shot of which announced the approach of noon - a tradition that has survived to this day.
Not far from the Peter and Paul Cathedral is the Commandant's House (1743-1746). For 200 years, 32 commandants have been replaced. This position was often lifelong. It was received by honored military generals who enjoyed the special confidence of the sovereign.
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The first few years, the main construction work was carried out on the Hare Island. Here the fortress of St. Peter-Burh grew up, which was the nucleus of the future city. Its location was determined by Peter himself, who assessed the strategic expediency of the location of the outpost in the Neva delta.
A year later, all six bastions (protruding from the fortification wall) appeared. Although there were bastions, care for the stone construction of the new city was one of the most important for Peter. A special decree of 1714 in Russia prohibited the construction of buildings made of stone, and all stone-makers were sent by order to the Neva banks. Peter established a kind of "stone" duty: each ship, each wagon train arriving in the city, had to bring a certain amount of building material.

The fortress was supposed to be a closed chain of bastions and curtains (walls connecting the bastions). The construction of fortifications took place under the supervision of the tsar's closest associates, and therefore the bastions were named after them - Naryshkin, Trubetskoy, Zotov, Golovkin, Menshikov.

One of the southern bastions was under the direct supervision of Peter, therefore it was named Tsar. On the eastern side of the island, in the curtain that connected this bastion with Menshikov, the main fortress gate was built. They were defended by a ravelin (external auxiliary building triangular in plan), named after St. John. To get to the fortress, you need to go through the Ioannovsky wooden bridge, the Ioannovsky gate and enter the Peter gate, over the arch of which there is a double-headed eagle made of lead. The gate is decorated with a large bas-relief "The Overthrow of Simonavolkhv" by the German sculptor and carver G.K. Osner. It is believed that this work depicting the Apostle Peter, who by the power of his prayer casts down a pagan sorcerer from heaven, in allegorical form glorifies the victory of Tsar Peter over the Swedish king Charles XII. The Artillery Zeikhhauz (1801) is located behind the Peter's Gate on the right, the Engineering House (1749) is on the left.
By 1787, the entire fortress was dressed in granite. In 1840, all the fortifications were rebuilt into stones. On the Naryshkin Bastion, a signal Flag Tower and a cannon were installed, the shot of which announced the approach of noon - a tradition that has survived to this day.
Not far from the Peter and Paul Cathedral is the Commandant's House (1743-1746). For 200 years, 32 commandants have been replaced. This position was often lifelong. It was received by honored military generals who enjoyed the special confidence of the sovereign.
If you have children or you just decided to have them, then you should think about educational games online, because soon almost all games will be online, so worry in advance about your children and select the best games

The Peter and Paul Fortress was founded according to the plan of Peter I and the French engineer Lambert on the territory of the Hare Island, in the historical center of St. Petersburg, on May 27, 1703 with the aim of protecting against the Swedes in the Northern War. How the museum began to function in 1924. It was originally called the St. Petersburg Fortress, and during the Great October Revolution - the Petrograd Fortress.

The territory of the island at the wide mouth of the Neva is not very large - 750 × 400 m.

It takes several hours, or even a whole day, to see with your own eyes all the structures, buildings and exhibits located here.

Prices in the Peter and Paul Fortress in 2019

That the cost of viewing expositions of bastions, cathedrals and museums without a guide is quite low, especially if the visitor is a student or pensioner. Moreover, separate categories citizens, such as: disabled people, large families, etc. ( full list presented on the website of the Museum of History) - have the right of free admission everywhere. However, communication with a guide has no benefits and definitely costs money for everyone.

The most popular in the Peter and Paul Fortress is Peter and Paul Cathedral and the Grand Duke's tomb- the cost of a ticket here for an adult is 550 rubles, for a student - 300, for a pensioner - 250.

Prices for visiting the Prison of the Trubetskoy Bastion are 250/150/150 rubles, respectively.

In the halls with permanent exhibitions, subject to the availability of tickets, you can take free photo and video filming. At the Museum Pedagogy Center, you can also listen to lectures or attend master classes, for example, glass painting or drawing. Such an occupation costs 600 rubles. You can take part in the fortress quest games for 250 rubles.

Opening hours of the Peter and Paul Fortress

St. Petersburg is famous not only for its culture, but also for its white nights, when to walk and walk ... However, romantics will not be able to get to Zayachiy Islet at night. Only to the "early risers" - those who get up early. The guards of two bridges - Ioannovsky and Kronversky, from which you can enter or ride a bicycle, begin to let such visitors through from 6 o'clock in the morning... But not so long ago, during the time of the first mayor of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak, cycling was banned here!

You can enter or enter the gates of the fortress only from 9.30. The work of ticket offices and museums starts at 10.00, but ends in different ways - from 17.00 to 19.00.

So that tourists do not get lost, signs are installed on the territory of Petropavlovka, and stands with leaflets-schemes are located at the entrance. There are several ticket offices here. However, if someone needs detailed advice on sights and excursions, then it is better to look at the Information Centers. There are two of them on the territory: one is in the Botny house next to the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the other is right behind the Ioannovsky gate on the left.

History

Inspired by the first captures of the Swedish fortresses in the Northern War - Oreshek and Nyenskans, Peter I decided to urgently build a new fortress right on the coast in order to be able to repulse the enemy from afar - at the first appearance of Swedish ships on the horizon. Having studied the area, Peter, together with the engineer Joseph Gaspard Lambert de Guerin, recruited by Prince Grigory Dolgoruky in Poland shortly before, draws a scheme for construction on the Yenisari Island (Hare). And the great Pushkin will write about this event a hundred years later: From here we will threaten the Swede, Here the city will be laid in spite of the arrogant neighbor. Nature here we are destined to cut a window to Europe. Lambert soon fled to Europe. The tsar began to rely on the advice of another foreigner - the architect Domenico Trezzini. That is why the main value of the historical complex - the Peter and Paul Cathedral - looks somewhat in the Western manner with its long spire instead of a dome. At one time it was the tallest building in Russia. However, the construction of the fortress did not proceed quickly. How many nameless Russian peasants and captured Swedes laid down their lives here for the glory of the capital of the Russian Empire? God alone knows ...

Fortress bastions

The idea of Peter I was literate in a military way, but the Peter and Paul Fortress was not destined to take part in the battles, despite the fact that the king's nobles even invested in the construction of the granite walls of the bastions. To this day, these bastions bear the names of these confidants, except for the Tsar's bastion: Naryshkin bastion, Menshikov, Trubetskoy, Golovkin and Zotov. Of course, they all have historical value... But Naryshkin is now most popular, due to the fact that a cannon shoots from him every day at noon.

Politics

The main essence of the Peter and Paul Fortress after the completion of construction was the punishment of high-ranking persons. And the first who, after numerous court intrigues, ended up in prison, was the eldest son of Peter I - Alexei Petrovich. Accused of treason, he was cunningly escorted from Austria to the dungeons of the St. Petersburg dungeon. After severe torture, renouncing the succession to the throne, he died here. Other famous political prisoners imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress were the Decembrists. Opposite the fortress was the place of execution of the instigators of the riot. Now there is a nine-meter obelisk on which, in profile, there is a bas-relief of five rebellious nobles.

Attractions of the Peter and Paul Fortress

One of the legends says that the Hare Island is named so because of the many hares that lived on it. Moreover, it seems like one of them jumped right on the boots of Peter the Great, fleeing the flood. According to another version, the hare jumped directly into the arms of the emperor, who was furious with the poor work of the peasants. Thus, they say, the animal unwittingly pacified the anger of the hot-tempered king, and the poor would-be builders were pardoned.

Gates

Having approached the Ioannovsky bridge leading to the gates of the fortress, guests of the northern capital of Russia see a sculpture of a hare sitting on a breakwater pillar nearby in the Neva. It was installed for the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg - in 2003. As you know, the birthday of the city is the date of birth of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Generous visitors throw coins to the hare, "for luck", and to come back here again. And children love to be photographed with other sculptures of hares, which are easy to meet here, walking along the cobblestones with adults in good weather... The Petrovsky Gates themselves look very impressive. Walking slowly along the Ioannovsky Bridge, which has expanded and strengthened over time, you can feel the greatness of the victory of the Russian army - after all, from above this magnificent Arc de Triomphe of Peter, a large-scale carved panel by the famous sculptor Konrad Osner silently gazes at us. In addition, on both sides, the gate is symbolically guarded by two ancient Greek goddesses - Athena and Poliada. Of course, the biblical images and philosophy of the front gate cannot be compared with the other two entrances and exits. But they should be mentioned. Another bridge, from which you can go to the Hare Island and the fortress, Kronversky, leads to the Nikolsky Gate. On the territory of Petropavlovka there are also the Nevsky gates, leading to the Commandant pier and the beach. Heavy in appearance, and among the people they were nicknamed not in a disagreeable way “the gates of death”. Since it was from here at night that the jailers sent prisoners to the scaffold.

Beach

And yet, even in cool summer St. Petersburg weather, there are always sunbathers on the beach. Swimming, however, is prohibited. But there are brave ones who even get their feet wet in the cold Neva. This kind of entertainment - lying on the sand under the fortress wall has more aesthetic pleasure than a truly full-fledged chocolate tan. The view from the beach to the architecture Winter Palace and Palace Embankment, sculpture Spit of Vasilievsky Island, drawbridges, undoubtedly pleasing to the eye. Another curious sight in the summer on weekends is the divorce of the guard of honor. And for young people, the organizers of museums, in addition to historical and educational excursions, provide scenarios of several adventure quests. Local aborigines, more than once or twice bypassed the fortress along and across, are also unable to resist the harsh magic of this place. They come here just to lie on the grass with a book, sit in the "Leningrad Cafe", on an ice cream bench, or go for health jogging. And someone comes in to pray ...

Cathedral of the First Apostles Peter and Paul

... After all, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, where the relics of the Russian rulers of the Romanov dynasty, including Peter I himself, are kept, is in operation! Since 2000, Orthodox services have been held there, as well as Sunday concerts of carillon music. Throughout its history, the temple has survived fires, storms and bombings. But thanks to the restoration of professional craftsmen, he lived up to the 21st century in the form in which Peter I conceived it: with an angel on a long spire, with an architectural baroque, with small chimes. Now the rector of the church is Archbishop Alexander Fedorov. The ringing of bells, the rich decoration of the interior of the church and the stunning twenty-meter iconostasis performed by the architect Ivan Zarudny create a magical atmosphere, the light of which does not leave the souls of those who came here for a long time.

Monument to Peter I

Once in America, shortly before his death, the famous bard and actor Vladimir Vysotsky saw his drawings of Peter I on a visit to the artist and sculptor Mikhail Shemyakin, and inquired about the Tsar's monument. Shemyakin was modest and replied that his sculptures of prominent personalities were not as good as his paintings. However, he returned to this idea later and began to study archival materials about the parameters of Peter's appearance. Contrary to the generally accepted point of view, the king did not come out tall. Then the sculptor decided to leave the head identical to the cast from the face of the late emperor, and slightly enlarged the body. In art, this is allowed. This is how the bronze Peter I sits on the Main Alley of the Peter and Paul Fortress since the beginning of the 90s, brought from the distant United States of America, as if looking into the distance of centuries over the surrounding everyday bustle.

Mint

Surprisingly, there is a functioning financial enterprise on the territory officially belonging to a cultural monument of antiquity and being part of the Museum of the History of St. Petersburg. Visitors are not allowed here. The mint, founded over three centuries ago, has been minting money, orders and medals to this day. By the way, the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral can be seen on the reverse side of the 50-ruble bills. Collectors-numismatists often drop in at the Mint's brand shop. True, old relics cannot be purchased here, but some of the new products that may become a rare value in the future are possible.

Video: Peter and Paul Fortress and surroundings, aerial photography

How to get there

You can get to the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress by one of two bridges: Ioannovsky or Kronverksky.

Stop land transport from the side of the Ioannovsky bridge - "Troitskaya square".

The Kronverkskiy bridge leads to the western part of the island, and you can reach it by trams going to the stop “Kronverkskiy Prospekt” / “Prospekt Dobrolyubova”.

How to get to the Peter and Paul Fortress by metro

It is close from the Gorkovskaya metro station (line 2) to the Ioannovsky bridge - you need to go through the Aleksandrovsky park to the Kronverskaya embankment.

And the metro from the side of the Kronverksky bridge is located further - 1.2 km from the bridge, the Sportivnaya station (line 5)

By car and taxi

When the tracks are not loaded, it is convenient to use taxi services, in addition, all the most popular applications work in St. Petersburg: Yandex. Taxi, Gett, Uber, Rutaxi.

Peter-Pavel's Fortress was founded on May 27, 1703 for the defense of Russian territory. The fortress is located on the Hare Island, the Ioannovsky bridge connects the Ioannovsky gate of the Peter and Paul fortress with the Petrograd side. The Peter and Paul Fortress did not take part in the hostilities. The official name of the St. Petersburg fortress, in the period from 1914 to 1917, the fortress was called Petrogradskaya. Currently, the fortress is part of the Museum of the History of St. Petersburg.

Fortress history

One of the first images of the fortress on Hare Island (from the educational tables of the Navigation School in Moscow; compiled by Vasily Kipriyanov, 1705).

Since 1700, Russia has fought with Sweden for access to the Baltic Sea. By the summer of 1703, Russia managed to recapture the lands in the mouths of the Neva, which were conquered by Sweden in the 17th century, and in order to gain a foothold and protect itself from attacks, it was necessary to create defensive structures. Peter I considered the captured fortress Nyenskans to be insufficiently fortified and decided to build a new fortress in order to permanently gain a foothold in this territory, the place for the new fortress was chosen on the island, which the Finns called Yenisaari (Hare Island), and the Swedes - Lust-Eiland (Merry Island), from the island, the entrances to the branches of the Neva from Gulf of Finland... On May 27, 1703, Peter I laid a fortress on the island, which gave rise to the city of St. Petersburg. The city got its name in honor of the Apostle Peter. It is believed that the drawing of the first earthen fortress belongs to Peter I himself and the French engineer Joseph Lambert de Guerin. According to the plan, the fortress included: 6 bastions, connected by curtains, 2 ravelins, kronverk. In 1703, Zayachiy Island was connected to the Petrograd side by the Ioannovsky Bridge. In just four months, it was possible to erect defensive structures made of wood and earth. The Peter and Paul Fortress did not take part in hostilities, but nevertheless it was an important link in the defense of the Strait of Finland during the Northern War.

Layout of structures on the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

The construction was supervised by a colleague of Peter I, Menshikov A. The fortress was built with the help of soldiers, captured Swedes and peasants, a certain number of whom were summoned from each province. The construction of a wood-and-earth fortress was completed in October 1703. This event was celebrated both in Moscow and on the banks of the Neva. Initially, the fortress was called St. Petersburg, but another name was also used - Peter and Paul - after the Cathedral of Peter and Paul, located in the center of the fortress, which became official after 1917. During the October Revolution, the fortress became the field headquarters of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, which led the uprising and the capture of the Winter Palace. In 1924, a Museum was opened in the fortress, and since 1993 the Peter and Paul Fortress has been declared a historical and cultural reserve. At different times on the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress, both fortifications and utility buildings were built and modernized.

Most of the buildings are currently used as museum premises, but there are also structures that function for their intended purpose, such as the Mint.

Buildings on the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress

Peter and Paul Cathedral

Peter and Paul Cathedral. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The wooden Peter and Paul Cathedral was founded on June 29, 1703 on the day of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and already on April 1, 1704, the cathedral was consecrated. On May 14, a festive service was held here in honor of the victory of Field Marshal B.P.Sheremetyev by our Swedish ships on Lake Peipsi. The stone Peter and Paul Cathedral was laid on May 30, 1712 according to the project of D. Trezzini and its construction lasted 20 years until 1732. The construction was carried out in such a way that the wooden church remained inside the stone cathedral under construction. Wooden church was dismantled and moved in 1719 to the Gorodovy Island, where it was put on a stone foundation and renamed the Temple of the Apostle Matthew. Later, this church was also rebuilt in stone and stood until the Great Patriotic War.

The construction of the cathedral, by order of Peter I, began with the bell tower, which was completed only in 1720. The construction began with the bell tower, not by chance, but proceeding from strategic considerations, since it could be used as an observation platform for detecting enemy troops. The chimes were installed on the bell tower even in the process of its construction, without waiting for completion, by order of Peter I. The clock began to play in August 1720. On the initiative of Peter I, an elevator could be installed in the bell tower, the idea of which Peter saw from the court mechanic of the Saxon Elector Andreas Gertner, but for unknown reasons the idea was never implemented (some materials for the elevators had already been purchased).

The creation of the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral began in the winter of 1717, with the preparation of rafters. On May 1, the Dutch master Hermann van Boles was invited to work on the spire, who created a project for a 25-meter spire and has been implementing it for several years. In September 1718, an apple was raised on the spire. In May 1719, the Office of City Affairs signed an agreement with the Riga master F. Tsimers, according to which he forged 887 sheets of red copper. In April 1721, an agreement was concluded with the Riga craftsmen Steinbeis I.P. and Eberhard I.V. on the gilding of copper sheets, which was completed in November 1723. The cladding of the spire with sheets and the installation of the angel was completed in 1724. The height of the bell tower from the foundation to the top of the cross was 106 meters. After the cathedral was completed, it became the most tall building in St. Petersburg until 2012.

In May 1722, D. Trezzini was asked to install an angel on the top of the bell tower. Trezzini made a drawing, according to which the figure was made by the peasant Menshoy I. and the silversmith master Zadubsky L. But their work was recognized as of poor quality, so the angel was remade by Steinbes and Eberhard. That angel was different from the one that exists today. It was made in the form of a weather vane, the figure of an angel held with both hands on the axis, in which the rotary mechanisms were placed.

Copper figure of an angel (third), installed on the spire before 1858. Museum of History. Peter-Pavel's Fortress.

The Peter and Paul Cathedral became the object of using many solutions and approaches that had not been used before. Its architectural design was influenced by the influence of Western traditions. The walls are much less thick than those of traditional Russian churches, large windows, tall narrow pillars (pylons), only one dome (instead of the usual five-domed). This cathedral became an example for all other churches until the middle of the 18th century. Further, by the decree of the Synod, churches began to be built again with five domes. Painting inside the Peter and Paul Cathedral is also important from the point of view of the development of Russian art. Before that, the walls of the temples were painted in a completely different way, it was allowed to reproduce only biblical scenes. Secular artistic ornaments are also used here. The painting of the walls of the church belongs to the Russian artists Vorobyov and Negrubov. The plafonds in the central nave were made by Pyotr Zybin.

After the death of Peter I in 1725, the coffin with his body was placed inside the unfinished cathedral, and waited for burial there for 6 years. Later, a coffin with the body of his wife Catherine was also placed nearby. In 1732, when the construction of the temple was completed, the bodies of Peter I and Catherine were buried at the southern wall in front of the altar. Initially, only marble slabs were installed at the burial site, without tombstones. The headstones, made of white marble slabs, were erected in the 1760s. The tombstones of the crowned persons have coats of arms at the corners. Two tombstones are unique, the burials of Alexander II and his wife Maria Alexandrovna are made of jasper and eagle. They are monolithic, each weighing about 5-6 tons.

Scheme of the iconostasis of the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The iconostasis of the Peter and Paul Cathedral is considered unique. The iconostasis is made in the form of a triumphal arch, symbolizing the victory of Russia in the Northern War. The iconostasis was made in Moscow in 1722-1726 in the workshop of Ivan Zarudny from oak and linden. The original drawing of the iconostasis belongs to D. Trezzini. More than 50 workers were involved in the production of the iconostasis, led by I. Zarudny. During the production, small details were constantly refined, therefore the authorship of the iconostasis is attributed to both architects D. Trezzini and I. Zarudny. The iconostasis was brought from Moscow in disassembled form dismantled in 1727, and then it was assembled in the cathedral itself and covered with gilding. Icons for the iconostasis were created for two more years, under the leadership of Andrei Merkuliev. Some of these icons have survived to this day, their forms are unusual. In the center of the iconostasis of the Peter and Paul Cathedral there is the royal gate with sculptures of the apostles. A marble base was built under the iconostasis in the 19th century to strengthen the structure and protect it from the effects of the environment, the wooden gates were replaced with new ones made of bronze, as the old ones were badly worn out. After there was no place for burials in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, a tomb was built next to the temple by 1908, connected with the cathedral by a corridor. In front of the western entrance in 1904-1906, a fence was erected according to the model of the fence Summer garden... It was decided to bury only members of the imperial family in the tomb. Before the start of the First World War, 8 burials were removed from the right nave of the cathedral. In addition, 5 more grand dukes were buried here. A total of 30 crypts were envisaged in the tomb.

Engraving by D. Hobbert after a drawing by F. Klagens. Peter and Paul Cathedral. 1834 year.

On the left side of the central aisle in 1732, a pulpit was equipped by Nicholas Proskop. It is made of carved gilded wood. At the bottom of the pulpit are paintings depicting the parable of the sower. Above are the figures of the apostles Peter and Paul, above them are the four evangelists. At the very top of the pulpit is the figure of a dove, symbolizing the holy spirit. On the right side of the central passage is the royal place. It is also made of gilded carved wood, covered with velvet. There has never been an armchair here; the tsar did not sit down during services. The central nave is lit by crystal chandeliers from the late 18th century. Closer to the altar - authentic, others restored after the Great Patriotic War. In the Peter and Paul Cathedral, trophy banners, keys to cities and fortresses, taken in the wars with Sweden and Turkey, were kept. Now the originals of the flags are in museums, copies of them are placed on the walls. The consecration of the completed Peter and Paul Cathedral took place on June 29, 1733. It acquired the status of a cathedral and was so until the opening of the new St. Isaac's Cathedral in 1858. It became the largest building in St. Petersburg. The walls of the temple were painted blue, the pilasters and cornice were painted white, the roof, bell tower domes and the altar dome were dark blue.

The appearance of the cathedral did not change until 1756, when on the night of April 29-30, lightning struck the spire, and the burning spire fell causing great damage to the cathedral: the bell tower was completely destroyed, the roof was heavily damaged, the portico was broken at the entrance, and as a result of a fire the bells of the chimes melted. It was possible to save the iconostasis from fire, thanks to its collapsible design, which was used by the soldiers of Prince Golitsin, who carried the iconostasis out of the cathedral in parts. On April 31, a decree was issued on the prompt restoration of the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Builders were urgently gathered from all construction sites, and the roof of the cathedral was quickly restored. During the restoration, the shape of the roof was changed from a gable to a flatter one. It was decided to restore the bell tower in stone, which took 20 years. As the mass of the building increased, piles were driven into the base of the bell tower. An additional wall appeared, as a result of which additional rooms... Thus, the Catherine's vestibule, the sacristy, a separate space for the stairs to the bell tower appeared in the Peter and Paul Cathedral. At the same time, volutes appeared on the second tier of the bell tower, the height of the spire was increased to 112 meters, the shape of the dome drum was changed.

Under Catherine II, a special architectural competition was organized for the reconstruction of the cathedral. Several projects were submitted for the competition in which it was planned to change the appearance of the cathedral, but at the insistence of Catherine II, they began to restore it according to the original project of Trezzini D. The new spire has grown from 112 meters to 117 meters. The angel was made according to the original drawing. The new chimes were proposed to be made by the Russian watchmaker Miller. The foreman agreed to perform the work, but refused to give the necessary guarantees, as a result of which the contract with him was not concluded. Then, as a result of the competition, the Dutch master Oort-Kras won, with whom an agreement was concluded, according to which the master's fee was paid in two parts: the first part after the presentation of the mechanism, and the second part after the installation of the chimes on the bell tower. In the fall of 1760, the chimes were delivered to St. Petersburg. Oort-Kras was paid the promised first part of the fee, however, due to the fact that the bell tower had not yet been completed, the chimes were placed on a small temporary bell tower. Oort-Kras died before the completion of the construction of the new bell tower. The chimes were installed in the late 1770s.

The used figure of an angel (fourth) on the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The second version of the angel on the cathedral's spire was destroyed during the 1778 hurricane. The figure was broken by a strong wind. Antonio Rinaldi designed the third angel. In Rinaldi's project, the centers of gravity of the cross and the angel were combined, the figure now did not "fly" holding the cross with both hands, but seemed to be sitting on it. In addition, the angel stopped performing the functions of a weather vane. It was still spinning under the gusts of the wind, but this time only to stabilize and reduce its sail.

In the late 1820s, a strong gust of wind from the angel, placed on the spire, was torn off the wing. The restoration of the figure required the construction of scaffolding around the bell tower, which was very costly, but a young roofer from the Yaroslavl province Pyotr Telushkin came to the authorities' aid. He himself volunteered to climb the spire of the bell tower without scaffolding and fix the angel. Moreover, he left the payment for his work open and left it on the conscience of the authorities. The discussion of this version of the restoration of the angel lasted for a year and a half, and as a result, in October 1830, the work by Peter Telushkin was completed. A large crowd gathered to see the work of the master, who uses only ropes with loops and a movable knot. The renovation lasted six weeks. For his work, the roofer received an award of 3,000 rubles and a silver medal "For diligence" on the Anninskaya tape.

In the middle of the 19th century, the need arose again to restore the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Engineer Zhuravsky is in the competition for the work. The new spire was created in the years 1857-1858 in the Urals, at the Nivyansk plant. The spire was made of a metal frame, sheathed with copper gilded sheets. The spire was 47 meters high and weighs 56 tons. Inside the spire there is a staircase 2/3 of the height, then there is an exit to the outside, brackets lead to the end of the spire. The total height of the spire with the cross and the figure of an angel is 122.5 meters. The figure of an angel was replaced, which slightly changed its appearance, in which it remains today. At the same time, the chimes were reconstructed, a minute hand was added, and the chimes began to play one of two melodies - "If our Lord is glorious" and "God save the king."

After the revolution of 1917, the Peter and Paul Cathedral was recognized as an architectural monument, the decoration of the cathedral was preserved. The cathedral was closed in 1919, and the valuables were removed. The Museum of the History of the City was opened in the building of the cathedral. The spoils of war were donated to the Hermitage and other museums. The grand ducal tomb was plundered, marble tombstones were broken. For a long time there was a warehouse. In the 1930s, workers put forward an initiative to replace the angel with a ruby star, but the planned work was not completed due to the outbreak of World War II.During the blockade of Leningrad, the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral was painted over, the angel was covered with sacking. In 1992, a member of the Romanov family, Vladimir Kirillovich, was buried in the restored grand ducal tomb. Another burial in the Peter and Paul Cathedral took place in 1998, when the remains of Nicholas II and his family were transferred to the Catherine limit. The last to be buried here was the wife of Emperor Alexander III. Her remains were brought here from Denmark.

Grand Ducal Tomb

The Grand Ducal Burial Vault against the background of the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The Grand Ducal Tomb was built in the period 1896-1908 by the project of the architect D.I. compiled in 1896, for the implementation and completion in different years answered architects Tomishko A.O. (1896-1901), Benois L.N. (1901-1907), Stukolkin N.T. (1907-1908). Benois L.N. interiors were designed, a gallery connecting the Peter and Paul Cathedral with the tomb, a fence in front of the Tsar's entrance. In the design of the tomb, Baroque and Renaissance motifs were used, when designing the tomb, they started from the architecture of the already erected Peter and Paul Cathedral and the tomb harmoniously blended into the overall architectural series. The Grand Ducal Tomb is one of the last buildings on the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress of that time. Serdobolsk granite, Italian white marble and a labrador. On the facades there are three mosaics with icons of the Mother of God: Iverskaya, Kazan and Feodorovskaya, which are associated with the history of the Romanovs' house. The mosaics were created in the workshop of V.A. and installed in 1907. In the period from 1906 to 1908, a chapel was built in the name of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky.

The Grand Ducal Burial Vault, Peter and Paul Fortress.

Initially, the burial vault was intended for the burial of uncrowned members of the imperial family (for persons who had the title of Grand Duke and Princess), but, in addition, members of the Beauharnais family, who had the title of Dukes of Leuchtenberg and the Most Serene Princes of the Romanovs, could also be buried in the burial vault. The tomb is designed for 60 burials. Between 1908 and 1915, 13 burials of members of the imperial family were made. In 1992, Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich was buried in the tomb, and in 1995, his parents, Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich and his wife, Grand Duchess, were reburied in the tomb. Victoria Fedorovna.

Since 1994 grand ducal tomb is administered by the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg.

Complex of the St. Petersburg Mint

The main building of the Mint. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The mint was transferred from Moscow to St. Petersburg by order of Peter in 1724 and is one of the oldest industrial enterprises in the city, the date of foundation is December 12, 1724. The stamp on the coins of s.p. b appeared 175 years later in 1899. Initially, the mint building was located in a curtain between Naryshkin and Trubetskoy bastions. In March 1800, the project of the new building of the mint was approved according to the project of Porto A. In June of the same year, the construction of the main building began, which was completed in 1806. The main facade is 157 meters long. The main building is crowned with a low triangular pediment. The side wings end with round towers covered with domes. The originality and expressiveness of the composition of the facade, the skillful solution of the plan make it possible to classify the building of the Mint as one of the best structures of Russian industrial architecture in Russia of the late classicism period. Gradually, new annexes and buildings began to appear next to the main building, thus the area of the mint gradually increased. In the 40s of the 19th century, food stores, laboratories for separating gold from silver, a stamp forge, an administrative wing and shops for medal redistribution and instrumental were additionally built. The construction of new buildings was completed in 1844. In parallel, from 1810 to 1841, the territory of the mint was surrounded by a fence on the north and west sides, on the east side the fence was erected after 1917. After the revolution of 1917, the Ober Officer's and Platz Major Houses were annexed to the territory of the Mint.

At the Mint, coins were minted not only for the Russian Empire and its successors, but also for foreign states: Dutch ducats, Turkish piastres. Coins were also minted for other mints in Russia. In addition to minting coins at the Mint, medal works were also carried out. In the middle of the 18th century, a laboratory for the separation of precious metals was founded on the territory of the plant.

In August 1941, in connection with the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, the bulk of the equipment of the Mint was evacuated to Krasnokamsk and located in the premises of the Goznak paper mill. In connection with the blockade of Leningrad and the entry of many workers and employees of the Mint into the detachments of the people's militia, only about forty qualified workers were seconded to the Krasnokamsk Mint, which was being created in October, and they put it into operation in October. Krasnokamsk Mint in its own way production capacity did not satisfy the increased need for orders and medals, and there were no opportunities for its expansion. Therefore, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR instructed the USSR People's Commissariat of Finance to create a Mint in Moscow, which was allocated production facilities on the territory of the Moscow Printing Factory.

At present, the St. Petersburg Mint, the oldest enterprise of the famous Russian association "Goznak", is considered the leading manufacturer of awards, orders and medals, commemorative coins made of precious metals, badges, and commemorative signs. Along with government orders, the company carries out work on the orders of individuals and companies. Its products are distinguished by a high level of decoration, impeccable minting quality, and are invariably recognized and in steady demand both in Russia and abroad.

Letter coin sign - SPB, SPM, SPMD, SP, CM, L, LMD.

Guardhouse

Guardhouse. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The guardhouse was built in 1748-1749 and was a one-story building with an open gallery on the main facade, the building came to replace the old dilapidated wooden guardhouse. The guardhouse was intended to contain officers and lower ranks who were arrested. In 1908, the building was rebuilt, a second floor was added, and instead of an arcade, four columns joined in pairs were used. The restructuring was carried out according to the plan of Asmus V.F. (presumably).

From 1970 to the present, the building houses the directorate of the St. Petersburg State Museum of History.

Bot house

Botanical house. Peter and Paul fortress.

A copy of Peter the Great's boat in the Botniy House, Peter and Paul Fortress.

The botny house is made in the style of early classicism and baroque, the house is a shelter for the boat of Peter I. The house is located next to the bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral. The construction and finishing works of the Botniy House lasted from 1762 to 1766, according to the project of A.F. Vista. Decorations over windows, cornices, shapes and curves of the roof, shapes of platforms and pedestals under the statue on the roof, the combination of different styles during construction are an outstanding work of their time. The boat of Peter I was on the territory of the house in the period from 1767 to 1931, later it was moved to Naval Museum where it is now. On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the Russian fleet, a reduced copy of the boat on a scale of 1 to 10 was placed in the house. During the Great Patriotic War, the house was badly damaged and in the 1950s it was restored according to the surviving drawings.

Initially, there was a wooden statue on a pedestal on the roof of the house, but in 1826 it was replaced by a stone figure of Naiad, designed by the sculptor N.A. Tokarev. In 1891, this statue was also replaced by a terracotta statue of a woman with a paddle by sculptor Jensen D.I.

Engineering house

Engineering house. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The engineering house was built according to the project of N.I. Muravyov. in the years 1748-1749. Initially, the buildings of the building formed a quadrangular courtyard with two gates, but in 1886 the gates overlooking the main alley were built up and both buildings were brought under the same roof.

At different points in time, the building housed a drawing workshop, an archive of files of the Engineering Department, living quarters for employees of the Engineering Department. Now the building of the Engineering House houses the expositions of the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg.

Cavalier of Anna Ioanovna

Cavalier of Anna Ioanovna. Peter and Paul Fortress.

Cavalier of Anna Ioanovna. Building plan of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

The cavalier of Anna Ioanovna was originally an auxiliary structure inside the bastion with the aim of additional protection Cavalier with artillery fire, at the same time the cavalier would be used to organize defense, when the enemy penetrated the territory of the fortress itself. The cavalier was built in 1731-1733 according to the project of B.Kh. Minich. On three sides, the cavalier was surrounded by a moat, which was filled up in 1812. In 1795-1796, the cavalier was connected to the left flank of the Golovkin bastion, in order to raise the guns, using a two-span arched bridge. The cavalier was rebuilt in 1836-1837, the facade decor was changed, which became decorated in the style of late classicism, the brick parapet was removed, and a pitched iron roof was built. In 1837 the Artillery tseikhhaus was placed in the cavalier. Since 1961 it has been under the jurisdiction of the State Enterprise "St. Petersburg Mint".

Treasury Department

Treasury. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The building of the Treasury was built in 1837-1838 according to the project of I.I. Galberg in order to accommodate the Main Treasury and store the finished products of the Mint, and also included the building of the Secret Chancellery and the Treasury of residual and staff amounts. Since 1862, the building housed the administration of the St. Petersburg Engineering and Artillery Districts. Since 1868, the building was adapted by the Mint for administrative and residential premises. In 1900, the buildings of the boiler room, laundry and garrison workshops, designed according to the project of V.F. Asmus, were added to the building. Currently, the building is under the jurisdiction of the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg.

Cartwheel

Cartwright Peter and Paul Fortress.

The cart was built in 1846 according to the project of Batorsky, official name"Services of the commandant department", in everyday life just "Karetnik". The building was a one-story building in the late classicism style, with a gateway located in the western part of the facade. The building included two carriage sheds, a stable with six stalls located in it, a covered courtyard with a manure pit, and a glacier. Geographically, the coachman is located between the Commandant's House and the Naryshkin Bastion. Since 1994, the building has been administered by the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg.

Commandant's house

Commandant's house. Peter and Paul fortress.

Commandant's house, courtyard, Peter and Paul fortress.

The commandant's house was built in 1743-1746 according to the project of J. de Marina. In 1747-1748, on the western side of the commandant's house, a detached U-shaped stone one-story service wing was erected. In 1750, the building of the commandant's house and the outbuilding were merged, resulting in a rectangular courtyard. The facade of the commandant's house is decorated in the Baroque style. The building is located between the Naryshkin bastion and the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Initially, on the site of this building, there was a wooden commandant's house built in 1704. In 1874 and 1892, the service wings were built on the second floor, on which the living and ceremonial rooms of the commandant of the garrison were located, as well as the house church in the name of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos. On the first floor and on the territory of the wing there were a kitchen, a laundry room, servants' rooms, office, stable. In honor of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg in 2003, a glass roof was erected over the courtyard. In the 19th century, investigations and trials were held in the commandant's apartment in the case of the Decembrists, Petrashevists, and Narodniks. On October 25-26, 1917, the field headquarters of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee operated in the building. Currently, the Commandant's House houses a permanent exhibition of the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg on the history of the city.

Kronverk

Plan of Kronverk and Peter and Paul Fortress. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The construction of the crownwork began in 1705. Kronverk was a fortified polygon with earthen ramparts in front of it, separated from the Peter and Paul Fortress by a moat with water, now called the Kronversky Canal. Kronverk was used to protect the fortress from land, trees were cut down to observe the approaches to the fortress to organize an open space. Kronverk of the Peter and Paul Fortress

Entrance to Kronverk. Peter and Paul Fortress.

In the middle of the 18th century, the kronwerk was rebuilt on a stone foundation. The remaining wooden fortifications were converted into semi-bastions and bastions, in addition, work was carried out to expand and strengthen the canal. In the 60s of the 19th century, a stone building of the Arsenal was built on a flat building according to the project of Tomansky P.I., on the territory of the Aleksandrovsky Park, which had been laid out shortly before. The building was made in the forms of medieval architecture, with brick-faced walls and Gothic motives of interior decoration. Banners, medals, orders, standards and weapons were kept in the building.

Courtyard of Kronverk. Peter and Paul Fortress.

In 1872, the Arsenal was redesigned into the Artillery Museum, which included in its expositions everything that was in the warehouses of the Arsenal. Halls and galleries are used to showcase exhibits. During the Great Patriotic War, the museum building was used for the repair of tank equipment. After the end of the war, the building was reconstructed and the number of exhibits increased. The reconstruction works were headed by architects Khalturina K.D, Benois I.N., Smetannikova D.I. Since the 60s, the Artillery Museum has been merged with the Central Historical Military Engineering Museum, and a new department on the history of the signal troops was opened.

At present, the museum is called the Military-Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineering Troops and Signal Corps; it is in charge of more than 200 thousand exhibits from different military eras of Russia. Expositions and exhibits are located both inside the building and in the courtyard: self-propelled guns, tanks, armored vehicles.

Prison of Trubetskoy Bastion

Yard of the Prison of the Trubetskoy Bastion. Peter and Paul Fortress.

Plan of the Trubetskoy Bastion Prison, Peter and Paul Fortress. 1-27, 29-35 - cells, 28 - punishment cell, I - guardhouse, II - reception room, III - prison kitchen, IV - security service room, V, VI - storage rooms, VII - prison bath, VIII - courtyard, a place for prisoners to walk.

The prison of the Trubetskoy Bastion was built in 1870-1872 according to the project of K.P. Andreev. and Pasypkina M.A. The building is a two-story pentagonal building, erected on the site of the demolished inner walls of the Trubetskoy bastion. The prison was intended for political prisoners. Initially, the building housed 73 solitary confinement cells, but in 1878 their number was reduced to 69. The political prisoners held in this prison were completely isolated both from the outside world and from the rest of the prisoners, a ban was imposed on books, dating, smoking, correspondence. Such harsh conditions of detention of prisoners sometimes led to mental illness. The prison was guarded with the help of the only Observation Team in the country, to which a team of gendarmes was later added.

In the years 1872-1917, more than one and a half thousand people were prisoners. In the 1870s and 1880s, the populist revolutionaries P.A.Kropotkin, G.A.Lopatin, V.N.Figner, A.I. Zhelyabov, N.A. Morozov, A.I. Ulyanov, M. F. Vetrova and many others, in the 1890s - 1900s - Social Revolutionaries B.V. Savinkov, E.K.Breshko-Breshkovskaya, S.V. Balmashev, V.M. Chernov, members of the Union of Struggle for Liberation the working class and the RSDLP (N. E. Bauman, A. S. Shapovalov, P. N. Lepeshinsky, M. A. Olminsky), Konoplyannikova, Zinaida Vasilievna; during the revolution of 1905-1907 - the writer M. Gorky and other members of the deputation who protested against the shooting of the demonstration on January 9, 1905; members of the St. Petersburg Soviet of Workers' Deputies L. D. Trotsky, A. L. Parvus.

In 1879, there was a riot on the territory of the prison due to the refusal to supply tobacco to one of the prisoners. Demands were made by the inmates to improve their lives, the demands were not met by the prison administration, and the inmates were beaten by soldiers. After that, the inmates went on a hunger strike that lasted for several days, as a result of which their demands were partially met.

During the February Revolution of 1917, former ministers, leaders of the political police and other persons were imprisoned in the Trubetskoy Bastion prison; During the October Revolution of 1917, members of the Provisional Government were imprisoned, then participants in the junkers' performance on October 29. In November 1917, the leaders of the banned cadet party PD Dolgorukov, AI Shingarev and FF Kokoshkin became prisoners. The cells of the prison were turned into general cells, and solitary confinement was applied only to individual arrested persons.

The prison was officially closed in March 1918. But, the prison functioned until 1921. In 1919, four Grand Dukes were in custody: Nikolai Mikhailovich, Georgy Mikhailovich, Dmitry Konstantinovich and Pavel Alexandrovich, who were subsequently shot.

The prison became a museum in 1924.

Gates

Vasilievsky gates

Vasilievsky gates. Peter and Paul fortress.

The Vasilievsky Gates were first mentioned in 1729, the name of the gate was given due to the fact that they are located on the Vasilievskaya curtain, directed towards Vasilievsky Island. In 1792-1794, according to the project of De Rankour F.O. the western facade of the gate was supplemented by a classicistic portico with two pairs of pilasters of the Tuscan order and a triangular front with the monogram of Catherine II, the brickwork of the gate was plastered, and the cornice, belts and pilaster bases, the keystone and the plinth were made of limestone. The archivolt was decorated with a keystone, and as a result of the work, the width of the gate arch remained the same, but its height increased. The portico was dismantled in 1872-1874 as a result of work on expanding the gate and was restored only in 1952-1953 according to the project of A.A. Kedrinsky. In the middle of the 19th century, the "treasury of the monetary office" was kept above the Vasilievsky Gate.

John's gate

John's Gate. Peter and Paul Fortress.

John's Gate was built in 1739-1740. according to the project of B.Kh. supervised the work of De Marin H. The inscription "1740" is placed on the gate, indicating the date of the end of the construction of the stone fortress - this gate was the last object of the reconstruction of the Peter and Paul Fortress in stone. In the tympanum of the gate there is a cartouche, which is topped with the Russian imperial crown and is surrounded by military attributes - banners, halberds, drums. In the design of the eastern facade of the Ioannovsky Gate, the experience of decorative processing of the lower tier of the Petrovsky Gate was used. A little later, a similar composition was used in the construction of the Nevsky Gate. The restoration of the gate was carried out in the 1960s under the leadership of I.N. and Rotach A.L.

Kronverkskie gates

Kronverkskie gates. Peter and Paul fortress.

Until the 1730s, the Kronverkskie Gates were called the First Kronerkskie Gates. The gate was erected during the construction of the Kronverkskaya curtain of the fortress. In 1791-1792, the gate was altered and increased in width and height by the artel of the peasant Y. Stepanov. In 1826, overhaul was carried out over the gate. In 1829, the northern arch of the gate was decorated in the form of an archivolt. In 1836, a wooden bridge was erected near the gate, connecting the Peter and Paul Fortress with the glacis of the crownwork.

Nevsky gates

Nevsky gate. Peter and Paul fortress.

The Nevsky Gates were built in a tree in 1714-1716, together with the gates, a wooden pier was also built. In the early 1720s, the gate was rebuilt in stone under the leadership of Trezzini D. In 1731-1732, another rebuilding was carried out. This project has been preserved in the modern look of the gate from the side facing the Peter and Paul Cathedral: a four-meter arch with a keystone flanked by pilasters and crowned with a triangular pediment. The pediment is decorated with a relief composition depicting a shield, a banner and military armor. In 1746, another rebuilding of the gate was carried out and their facing with a powdery stone. In 1762-1767, a project was developed for a new granite pier to replace the wooden one by N. Muravyov and D. Smolyaninov. This project was implemented in 1777, under the leadership of R. T. Tomilov. a front three-arched granite pier with parapets, ice cutters and a platform with three staircases to the water was built. In 1780, the architect N. Lvov completed a new project of the gate, which was built in 1784-1787 and has survived to this day. The height of the new gates is 12 m, width - 12.2 m. They are placed on a plinth one meter high. To the right and left of the arch, there are double columns of the Tuscan order with diamond rustication, supporting a triangular pediment. The plinth, columns and pediment are made of polished silver-white Serdobol granite. The pediment is decorated with a relief image of an anchor with crossed palm branches and a fluttering ribbon (unknown sculptor after Lvov's drawing, alabaster). At the edges of the pediment are two bombs with tongues of flame. The gates are located in the southern part of the wall and create a unique panorama of the Neva and the Peter and Paul Fortress. Prisoners were taken out through the Nevsky Gates for execution or life imprisonment in Shlisselburg.

The Nevsky Gates were silent witnesses to the terrible pages of Russian history. Through them, prisoners were taken out of the fortress to be sent to execution or life imprisonment in Shlisselburg.

Nikolsky gate

Nikolsky gate. Peter and Paul fortress.

The Nikolsky Gate was built in 1729 according to the project of architects B.Kh. Minich and D. Trezzini; the gate served as the main entrance to the fortress from the north-west. Initially, the gates were called the Second Kronverkskie. In 1792-1793, according to the project of the architect De Rankroix F.O. on both sides of the gate were installed four-column porticoes: the southern portico at the end had a stepped attic with decorative bombs along its edges, the northern portico was crowned with a triangular pediment. In 1874, the gate was rebuilt and expanded, according to the design of A.A. Carbonier. After all the work, the height of the gate became 5.25 m., The width was 6.3 m. In 1966, the gate was overhauled according to the project of I.N. Benois.

Peter's gate

Peter's Gate. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The Peter's gate made in wood was built in 1708 and was rebuilt in stone according to the project of D. Trezzini in 1716-1717. The arch of the gate is crowned with an attic with a semicircular bow pediment, decorated with a carved wooden panel "The Overthrow of Simon the Magus by the Apostle Peter" by the sculptor Kondrat Osner. Regarding the panel, there are two versions: according to one of them, the panel was transferred from the wooden gate, according to the second version, the panel was made specifically for the stone gate. The panel symbolizes the victory of Russia in the Northern War. On the pediment of the attic there is a high relief depicting the blessing God of hosts. The niches contain statues created by the French sculptor N. Pino: in the left niche of the gate is a statue of Athena in the image of Poliada, the patroness of the city. She is wearing long clothes - peplos. In her hand is a snake - a symbol of wisdom. In the right niche there is a statue of Athena in the image of Pallas - a victorious warrior. In 1720, the Russian coat of arms was installed over the arch in the form of a two-headed eagle, cast from lead by master Vassu F. In 1723 by artist Zakharov A. and gilder Uvarov I. the eagle was painted black and the crown, scepter, orb and some details of the shield were gold plated. The sculptural group of the gates included seven more statues, but these statues have not survived to this day. During the Great Patriotic War, the gates were damaged and their reconstruction took place only in 1951 under the leadership of architects A.A. Kedrinsky and A.L. Rotach.

Bastions

The bastions are located clockwise according to the time of their laying.

Sovereign Bastion

Sovereign Bastion. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The sovereign's bastion from the inside. Peter and Paul fortress.

The sovereign's bastion was laid on May 16, 1703 on Hare Island. Peter I personally supervised the construction process, thanks to which the bastion got its name. The work was supervised by V.A. according to the project of Lambert J.G. (presumably) with the personal participation of Peter I. The sovereign bastion is one of two bastions located on the eastern side of the Peter and Paul Fortress facing the Neva. The sovereign's bastion is connected by the Nevsky curtain with the Naryshkin bastion and the Petrovsky curtain with Menshikov. On the east side, the bastion is covered by the Ioannovsky ravelin. In October 1703, after the completion of the construction of the earthen ramparts, the fortress keyser-flag was raised on the bastion. In 1704, the first lighthouse in the city was lit. In 1717-1732, according to the project of Trezzini D. and Burchard Christoph von Minich, the bastion was rebuilt in stone. Inside the bastion there were two-tiered battle casemates, which were converted into single-tiered ones in the middle of the 19th century. There was a postern under the bastions. In 1752 a ramp was brought up to the bastion. In 1782-1784, the Neva facade of the Tsar Bastion was faced with granite blocks. From 1726 to 1766 the boat of Peter I was kept on the territory of the Sovereign Bastion. In the 1920s, these premises were occupied by the services of the Leningrad Military District. During the Great Patriotic War, direction finders were installed on the bastion to detect enemy aircraft on the way to the city. In 1954, the Tsar's Bastion became part of the Museum of the History of St. Petersburg. In 1999-2003, the porch and footbridges "for the passage of sentries" were reconstructed from the spitz of the Gosudarev to the Naryshkin bastion. On May 27, 2003, a memorial sign "Three hundredth anniversary of St. Petersburg" was unveiled on the Tsar's bastion.

Naryshkin Bastion

View of Naryshkin Bastion and Nevsky Gate. Peter and Paul Fortress.

Naryshkin Bastion. Peter and Paul Fortress.

Naryshkin bastion was built in 1725-1728 under the leadership of Trezzini D. and Minich B. Controlled the construction process Naryshkin K.A., thanks to which the bastion got its name (as in the case of the Tsar's bastion). In the side (for frontal fire) and front walls there were two-tiered casemates, which were rebuilt into single-tiered in the middle of the 19th century. From that moment on, they were adapted for production and used as warehouses for the Mint. In 1780, the Neva façade was faced with granite blocks. In 1731, the Flag Tower was erected on the Naryshkin Bastion, on which the flag was raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset. This tradition was interrupted during the USSR, but in the 1990s it was resumed, however, now the flag is constantly on the mast. Every day at noon, a cannon shot is fired from the Naryshkin Bastion. Currently, Naryshkin Bastion is part of the St. Petersburg state museum stories.

Trubetskoy Bastion

Trubetskoy Bastion. Peter and Paul Fortress.

Trubetskoy bastion in wood was erected in 1703 under the leadership of engineer V.A. Kirshtenstein according to the project of Lambert de Guerin (presumably) with the personal participation of Peter I. and in the case of the Gosudarev and Naryshkin bastions). On May 13, 1708, Peter I himself was present at the laying of the stone Trubetskoy bastion. The construction of the stone bastion was carried out according to the project of D. Trezzini and was completed in 1709. The Trubetskoy Bastion became the first bastion of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The left face and flanks were equipped with two-tier casemates and a porch - a tunnel for safe communication between the casemates. The right face of the bastion was continued by the orilion - a ledge protecting its right flank, and under the cover of the orilion a sort was arranged - a secret exit for landing sorties. In 1711, the Keyser-flag was moved to the Trubetskoy bastion from the Tsar's bastion and into holidays standard (they rose over the bastion until 1732). The first prison premises of the Peter and Paul Fortress were organized on the territory of the Trubetskoy bastion. Since 1724, the Mint has been located in the bastion. It was originally equipped with a signal cannon for a midday shot. In 1779-1785, according to the project of Tomilov R.R. and under the direction of F. Bauer, the outer walls were faced with granite slabs. In 1869-1870, the valgang wall was dismantled in the Trubetskoy bastion, and a two-story pentagonal prison building was erected in the vacant place.

Zotov Bastion

Zotov Bastion. Peter and Paul Fortress.

Zotov Bastion on Google Maps. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The Zotov tree bastion was built in 1703. And in 1707-1709, the right side of the Zotovy Bastion was rebuilt in stone. The rest of the bastion was rebuilt and in stone in 1727 - 1729, led by Trezzini D. and Minich B.Kh. In 1752, a ramp was attached to the Zotovy bastion for lifting guns and ammunition, the ramp was designed by V. Sipyatin were rebuilt into one-story. In the 18th century, the casemates of the Zotov Bastion were used as detention facilities, in addition, it housed the services of the Garrison and Secret Chanceries, the workshops and forge of the fortress Engineering Team, the archive of the General Treasury, the archive of the Provisional Expedition, and then a warehouse of artillery weapons.

Golovkin Bastion

Golovkin Bastion on Google maps. Peter and Paul Fortress.

The Golovkin bastion was built in wood in 1703, the bastion was rebuilt in stone in two stages in 1707-1709 (the right side of the bastion) and 1730-1731 (the left side of the bastion). Like the rest of the bastions of the fortress, it is, in plan , a pentagonal structure with two front walls - facades and two side - flanks, intended for frontal and flanking fire. The bastion received its name, like the rest of the listed bastions, by the name of the associate of Peter I, who supervised the construction of the bastion, Golovkin. After the final restructuring under the leadership of B.Kh. Minich, during the time of Anna Ioannovna, the bastion was renamed into the Anna Ioannovna bastion (the original name was returned to it by the Bolsheviks). Three powder magazines were located in the faces of the Golovkin bastion. In the flanks there were two-tiered defensive casemates, which in the 19th century were rebuilt into single-tiered (as in the rest of the bastions), at the same time the walls are faced with new bricks. In 1752, according to the project of Sipyatin, a ramp was attached to the bastion. In the left Orleon there was a sort - an exit to the Kronver Strait. As in many bastions, there were chambers for keeping prisoners of the Camora (chambers) in the faces and under the ramp at the end of the 18th century - in the first half of the 19th century, they served as solitary cells for keeping prisoners. A cavalier was built in the gorge of the bastion in 1731-1733. Since 1920, the Golovkin bastion, like the rest of the bastions, was under the jurisdiction of the NKVD. Currently, the bastion houses the services of the Mint.

Menshikov Bastion

Menshikov Bastion, Peter and Paul Fortress, 1970s photo

The Menshikov Bastion was founded on May 16, 1703 and became the second bastion laid in the Peter and Paul Fortress and is one of the two bastions on the east side. Get your name, like other bastions of the Peter and Paul Fortress, after the associate of Peter I, who controls the construction process. The first St. Petersburg pharmacy was located on the territory of the Menshikov bastion. On May 30, 1706, the rebuilding of the entire fortress in stone began, and already in 1706-1708 the left side of the Menshikov bastion was rebuilt. The final reconstruction of the stone bastion ended in 1729, when the bastion was already named after Peter II (the bastion was renamed back by the Bolsheviks after 1917 (the exact date is not known, but in 1920 all the bastions already had their initial names)). In 1828, the walls of the bastions were faced with new bricks, in 1837-1860 the two-tier casemates were rebuilt into single-tier ones (which was done with all the bastions of the Peter and Paul Fortress), at the same time, iron roofs were made. At various times, the bastion housed the services of the Secret Chancellery, the Mint (left flank) and the workshops and forge of the fortress engineering team; in the 19th century, the premises were adapted for the placement of the Complete Battalion and the lower ranks of the artillery depot command, as well as for the premises of the 2nd company of St. -Petersburg artillery garrison. At the beginning of the 20th century, the bastion also housed the kitchen and dining room of the commandant's office clerks.

Ravelines

Alekseevsky ravelin

Botardo Alekseevsky Ravelin. Peter and Paul Fortress.

Alekseevsky ravelin. Peter and Paul fortress.

The Alekseevsky Ravelin was considered the most important prison of the Russian Empire, the heart of the Peter and Paul Fortress - the "Russian Bastille". The Alekseevsky Ravelin was built in 1733-1740 according to the project of B.K. Minich. The Ravelin was intended to cover the Vasilievskaya curtain and the gates located there. The Alekseevsky Ravelin got its name in honor of the father of Peter the Great, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The Alekseevsky ravelin was separated from the main part of the fortress by a moat filled with water at the end of the 19th century. There were window and doorways only in the valgang walls of the ravelin. In 1787, the counter-guard of the Alekseevsky ravelin, facing the Neva, was faced with granite slabs. Almost from the very beginning, the ravelin was used to house political prisoners. For the first time, a wooden prison house was built in the ravelin in 1769. In 1797, the wooden prison was destroyed and instead of it, according to the project of P. Yu. Paton, the "Secret House of the Alekseevsky Ravelin" was erected, a secret prison for the Russian emperors. The prisoners who got there were considered primarily as personal enemies of the Russian tsar. For imprisonment in the Alekseevsky ravelin, a court verdict was not required. Only one royal word was enough to be placed in the fortress or to be released from it. Prisoners were always brought to the ravelin at night. Once in the secret house, the prisoner was deprived of his name and surname. All his connections with the outside world were cut off. Meetings and correspondence with prisoners were allowed only with special royal permission. The Alekseevsky Ravelin performed prison functions until 1893, at the same time the fortifications of the Ravelin were dismantled to accommodate the buildings of the archives of the War Ministry. In the 1730s by coastline main shaft according to the project of B.Kh. was connected to the ravelins by the botardo system, which served as dams to maintain the required water level in the ditches and canals of the fortress and prevented the penetration of enemy ships from outside. The botardo walls (above-water part of the lintel) were originally made of cut slabs; the underwater part of each dam consisted of two semicircular water gates. In 1787, round turrets were faced with granite on the two southern botardos, and the wooden palisades of the botard were replaced with cast iron ones. The botardo turrets on the north side in 1794 were covered with a flaky slab. In 1862-1865 the wooden palisades of the botard were replaced with cast iron ones.

John's Ravelin

Botardo Ioannovsky Ravelin. Peter and Paul Fortress.

John's Gate and John's Ravelin (from the outside). Peter and Paul Fortress.

The Ioannovsky Ravelin was built in 1704 in a tree, but initially the Ravelin did not have its own name and was unnamed, it got its name in 1740, when it was rebuilt in stone (the rebuilding began in 1731). The ravelin was named in honor of the brother of Peter I - Ioann Alekseevich. The ravelin was separated from the fortress by a moat with water, which was filled up at the end of the 19th century (like the moat of the Alekseevsky ravelin). There were window and doorways only in the ravelin's valgang walls. In 1787, the counterguard of the Ravelin, facing the Neva, was faced with granite. In 1829, the walls of the rest of the ravelin were faced with new bricks. In 1894, on the left side of the ravelin, a one-story building was built for the emergency reserve of the Izhora reserve battalion, this building was rebuilt for the Gas-Dynamic Laboratory in 1932-1933. In 1908-1909, on the right side, a separate house was erected for the apartments of the commander and senior officers of the machine-gun company of the Semyonovsky Life Guards regiment, this house was transferred to the restaurant "Austeria" in the 1960s. Currently, the Ioannovsky Ravelin houses the Museum's box office, as well as the Museum of Cosmonautics and Rocket Engineering.

Curtains

Vasilievskaya curtain

Vasilievskaya curtain. Peter and Paul fortress.

The Vasilievskaya curtain got its name due to the fact that it faces Vasilievsky Island. In wood, the Vasilievskaya curtain was built in 1703 and already in 1709-1710 was rebuilt in stone under the leadership of Trezzini D. In 1834, the curtain walls were re-faced with new bricks. In the second half of the 19th century, the curtain was rebuilt and became one-story. In 1870-1872, several extreme casemates of the curtain were dismantled, this is due to the fact that the construction of the Prison of the Trubetskoy Bastion was carried out and free space was needed. On the left side of the curtain were the premises given to the Mint, in the 18th century on the right side of the premises were given to the services of the commandant's department, in the 19th century on the right side were the archives of the State Treasury, the Commandant's Office and the Audit Department of the War Ministry, together with the archives of the artillery department. V the given time the premises of the curtain were given to the Mint and the workshops of the Museum of the History of St. Petersburg are located there.

Catherine curtain

The Peter and Paul Fortress is the historical center of St. Petersburg, located on the Hare Island.

Peter-Pavel's Fortress founded on May 16, 1703 according to the plan of Peter I. Initially, the fortress was called Zancht-Piter-Burkh, in 1914-1917 - the Petrograd fortress.

The plan of Peter I implied the presence of 6 bastions, connected by curtains, 2 ravelins and a crownwork (originally wood-earthen, in the 30s-40s and 80s of the 18th century, dressed with stone).

In 1703, Zayachiy Island was connected to the Petrograd side by the Ioannovsky Bridge.

There are such animals on the island)

The Peter and Paul Fortress was never used for its intended purpose. It functioned as a prison for political prisoners.

On November 8, 1925, the Leningrad Council decided to destroy the Peter and Paul Fortress, and to build a stadium in its place. The decision was soon overturned.

The Peter and Paul Fortress has its own prototype - the Novodvinsk Fortress at the mouth of the Northern Dvina, near Arkhangelsk. It was built by Peter I a year earlier - in 1702. Today there is practically nothing left of her.

The Peter and Paul Fortress is a historically unique defensive structure with extraterritorial supporting defensive points

Today the Peter and Paul Fortress is part of the Museum of the History of St. Petersburg. From the Naryshkin bastion of the Peter and Paul Fortress, a signal cannon is fired every day at noon.

In 1991 on the territory Peter and Paul Fortress a monument to Peter the Great was erected by the sculptor Mikhail Shemyakin. Ugly monument))

Since the beginning of the 21st century, various entertainment events have been held on the beach of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

I will simply list the main attractions of the fortress, sometimes with brief description- otherwise the article will be too long and boring =) So, on the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress there are:

Kronverkskie