Memorial sign "arrow of Vasilyevsky Island". Memorial sign "spit of Vasilyevsky island" Where is the arrow of Vasilyevsky island
The arrow of which is one of the brightest impressions, is remembered for a long time. For local residents, it is also a very popular place for recreation and walking. Very often you can see parents walking here with their children. Newlyweds especially love the “arrow”. On weekends, wedding photo shoots are constantly arranged here. A reasonable question arises: why is this place so attractive?
History of creation
This place has a very rich history. The spit of Vasilevsky Island was built during the reign of Peter the Great himself, he personally planned the planning of his "brainchild" - St. Petersburg, and it was the tsar who approved the initial version of the square, resembling a trapezoid from above, which should be surrounded by houses. In general, the idea belonged to the then eminent talented architect Domenico Trezzini. It is not surprising that the project was entrusted to an Italian, because it is known that Peter the Great was supportive of scientists, artists and other fields of knowledge from Europe. To approve the plan, Peter approved, but with minor amendments of his own. It was decided to make this square the real business center of the city. Therefore, on Vasilyevsky Island you can now see the Gostiny Dvor, the stock exchange, the building of the twelve colleges, the cathedral. In 1720, it was here that the buildings of the Kunstkamera and the Academy of Sciences were laid.
The buildings
And since Vasilyevsky Island, the arrow of which is located on the northern bank of the Neva River, has always been considered a port area, it was convenient to place customs, aport, and storage facilities here. These relatively simple buildings were complemented by magnificent residential buildings that belonged to the Demidovs, Naryshkins, and Lopukhins. And all these are buildings of the eighteenth century with their unique architecture, which perfectly fit into the design of the city.
Under Elizabeth Petrovna, conditions were created here to place the Gottorp Globe. At the same time, the area of Vasilevsky Island turns from a trapezoid into a horseshoe-shaped one, becoming the way our contemporaries already know it. For those who visit St. Petersburg, the arrow of Vasilyevsky Island is often almost the most direct association with the city.
Architectural appearance
The St. Petersburg Stock Exchange is a building on the spit of Vasilyevsky Island, which in its structure is very reminiscent of an ancient Greek temple with massive columns, a portico, a frieze, a pediment, etc. Laconic, but grandiose, it very beautifully complements the appearance of the "spit". The stock exchange is decorated with two large columns, which, according to the author's idea, were supposed to symbolize the powerful Russian rivers: the Neva, Volga, Dnieper and Volkhov. Descents to the water go from the stock exchange on both sides and look very symmetrical. They are decorated with two gigantic stone balls, each of which is erected on a special pedestal.
Transfiguration
Already in the nineteenth century, it was decided to supplement this magnificence with one more refinement - this is a garden, work on which was entrusted to the court gardener I. Wiese. In addition to magnificent plants, it was supposed to house classical sculptures (in order to harmonize with the antique appearance of the exchange) by D. Jensen. Parts of the fence and benches for the convenience of walking citizens are also very remarkable in their shape; they were made at the F. San-Galli factory on a special state order.
In the twentieth century, Vasilievsky Island, the arrow and the garden located on it continued to take shape. In 1916, the Palace Bridge was built here, which performed a very necessary function: it connected the northern bank of the Neva on Vasilyevsky Island with the southern one. Until now, people got to the desired side in this place with the help of the crossing. It should be noted that at that time the square was called Birzhevaya and was a place for all kinds of rallies, demonstrations, etc.
In 1937, the square was renamed Pushkinskaya, in honor of the centenary of the death of the great Russian poet. And during the Great Patriotic War, anti-aircraft batteries were located on the arrow of Pushkin Square in besieged Leningrad.
After the war, the appearance of the arrow was supplemented by another bridge - Birzhevy, structurally exactly the same as the Palace. In 1989, the square was returned to its historical name.
Our days
In the twenty-first century, some innovations regarding this place continue. For example, a new monument appeared at this place. This is a real anchor, which was found nearby during the cleaning of the Neva channels. Vasilyevsky Island, whose arrow is supplemented by a plan of the entire square, made of bronze (it shows in detail the name of each building adjacent to the square and the name of the architect who created it), is also attractive from an educational point of view. Many excursion routes of the city include this object.
This place has undergone many changes, but its purpose has never changed: to please tourists and residents of the city with its appearance. And if you are lucky enough to visit the northern capital of Russia, then do not neglect a visit to the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.
Address: Birzhevaya Square, St. Petersburg, Russia, 199034
Coordinates: 59.944101, 30.306671
Nearest stations: Admiralteyskaya, Gorky, Vasileostrovskaya
How to get there
From Art. metro station Admiralteyskaya. When exiting the metro, turn left to Malaya Morskaya st. and to the right to Nevsky Prospekt. Further to the left to Palace Square and further to the Palace Bridge. Across the bridge to Birzhevaya Square. Approximately 14 min walk.
From Art. metro Gorkovskaya. When exiting the metro, turn left through Aleksandrovsky Sad to Kronverskaya emb. Further to the right along the embankment to the Birzhevoy Bridge. Across the bridge to Birzhevaya Square. Approximately 27 min walk.
From Art. metro Vasileostrovskaya. When exiting the metro, turn right along Sredny pr. to nab. Makarov. Further to the right along the embankment to Birzhevaya Square. Walk approximately 22 min.
Description
Spit of Vasilyevsky Island - a historical architectural ensemble of St. Petersburg. One of the most recognizable symbols of the city and its popular attractions.
The arrow ensemble is made in the Neo-Greek style, i.e. in classical Greek style. Here are such famous sights as: the Stock Exchange Building, the Rostral Columns, the Kunstkamera, the Zoological Museum, etc.
The Spit of Vasilevsky Island is an observation deck in the very center of the northern capital. The eastern tip of Vasilyevsky Island really resembles an arrow dividing the river into two branches - the Bolshaya Neva and the Malaya Neva.
Birzhevaya Square, located on its “edge”, plays an important role in the panorama of the city. Its facade depicts a sculptural composition headed by Neptune. In front of the exchange building, the architect installed Rostral columns, embodying the power and greatness of the Russian fleet. On the columns there are symbolic bows of the ships - "rosters", symbolizing the defeated enemy ships, which served as beacons, marking the edges of the island in the fog for the ships. Now, in honor of the big holidays, a fire is lit on the columns.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the architect J. Thomas worked on the creation of the square near the newly built exchange building. According to the project, they made a rounded embankment, arranged granite embankments and slopes to the Neva. It is said that the sculptor S. I. Sukhorukov carved the stone balls located on these slopes from the rock without using any measuring instruments.
In 1925, a square was laid out on the arrow, designed by the architect L. A. Ilyin. By the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, a relief bronze plan of the spit of Vasilyevsky Island appeared in the square.
Nearby is another gift for the anniversary of the city: a real ship's cat anchor, made in 1723 at the Olonets plant and found in 2001 on Vasilyevsky Island itself.
Tell me, what could be more beautiful for a traveler than a wonderful summer day in a stunningly beautiful city?
I remember how during my stay in Cyprus, one of our native acquaintances, showing some ruined piece of antiquity, repeated with a solemn smile: “This is nice!” (i.e. "That's cute"!).
We looked at fragments of the mosaic, the remains of columns and nodded our heads in understanding. And then I thought that in St. Petersburg there are incomparably more similar and much more grandiose “nice”! But do we look at them with the same unfeigned love and talk about them with the same enthusiasm as our swarthy friend? I would like you to have a meeting with one of the amazing places in our city on the Neva - with the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.
It's not just "nice"! And, as I think, that Cypriot would put it - "super nice." I myself adore this place and I will try to convey to you a piece of my admiration for it.
Story
Peter I was very fond of Vasilyevsky Island and assigned him the role of the cultural, commercial and business center of St. Petersburg in the future.
origin of name
How did this magnificent “nice” that I want to tell you about get its name?
If you look at the map, then here is the Neva (2) is divided into a major (3) and Malaya (4) . From here, its embankments separate - Universitetskaya and Makarova (named after the famous scientist and naval commander). Here is the name "Arrow" (1) and determines the bifurcation of the Neva.
First conversions
This sector of Vasilyevsky Island is located on a hill. Immediately after the conquest of these lands, saw mills appeared here from the Swedes, where wooden blanks were made for the construction of the Admiralty shipyard.
I note that in 1707 Vasilyevsky Island was promised by Sovereign Peter to his colleague, Prince Menshikov, but already in 1714 he returned to the city (Menshikov got only the estate).
And Strelka was divided into plots for the possessions of those close to the imperial court, among them - the sister of the Great - Natalya, Tsarina Praskovya Feodorovna, the Stroganov princes and other "historical persons" ... Soon, by 1716, palaces and mansions of some of them appeared here.
But all of them were erected without a definite unifying plan. The houses of Stroganov and Demidov turned out to be the most representative. The approval by Tsar Peter of the first project for the development of Vasilyevsky Island took place in January 1716. It belonged to Domenico Trezzini.
In 1717, the architect Leblon, who arrived in Russia from France, made his own adjustments, but they did not satisfy the emperor. The case was again entrusted to Trezzini. The approval of the final project took place in April 1722.
Previously, in 1718, a building was laid on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.
After the Sovereign approved the Trezzini plan, the construction of the Mytny and Gostiny yards, as well as the building of the Twelve Collegia, is underway.
I know that this architect also intended to erect a cathedral on Strelka. But somehow it so happened that a suitable sketch for the temple was not found. As a result, the cathedral did not appear here. It also "did not grow together" with the installation of a monument to the founder of the city, Peter the Great, who created Rastrelli. Today it is located at the Mikhailovsky (Engineering) Castle.
After the commercial sea port was transferred to Strelka in the 20s of the 18th century, in its northern part there appeared: a wooden building of the Exchange, Customs (today - the Museum of Russian Literature - Pushkin House).
Ships moor here, and a lively trade in foreign curiosities takes place on the square, including even rare animals - parrots, monkeys, reptiles.
Among the luxury goods here, according to the writer N. I. Novikov, it was possible to purchase “French swords of various kinds, lace snuff boxes, fringes, cuffs, ribbons, and all sorts of haberdashery items; Dutch feathers in bunches, pins and other fashionable goods; and from St. Petersburg they were already loading hemp, iron, lard, candles, linens, etc. ” Also, several buildings were allocated for port needs on the Strelka.
After the fire that broke out in the Kunstkamera in the middle of the 18th century, a new small pavilion was built opposite the building of the Twelve Collegia for the recreated famous Gottorp Globe. The area formed on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island since 1753 was called Kollezhskaya on the plans of the city.
New stages of transformation
The next project for the development of the Spit of Vasilievsky Island was partially implemented by the architect Quarenghi. A young building of the Academy of Sciences appeared near the Kunstkamera.
By the end of the 18th century, the still insufficiently organized view of the area did not fit into the general landscaped panorama of the capital. To eliminate this shortcoming, a joint architectural project of the Frenchman Thomas de Tolly and the Russian architect A.D. Zakharov was approved.
In addition, a "Commission for the construction of the stock exchange building and the laying of stones on the banks of the Neva" was formed. By 1810, this organization was modernizing Cape Strelka. Its newly artificially formed oval ledge served as the main port pier. On the sides of the resulting square, Rostral columns were installed - symbols of the maritime glory of St. Petersburg. The new building of the Stock Exchange became the architectural center of the Strelka.
To the west of it was Kollezhskaya Square, to the east - Birzhevaya Square. Here the Strelka was lined with granite with descents to the Neva, decorated with large balls of stone resting on pedestals.
I read that their creator, the stonemason Samson Sukhanov, did not use any measuring devices besides his eye.
Since by the middle of the 19th century ships with a deep draft were no longer able to pass along the Neva, the port was moved to Gutuevsky Island in 1885.
Arrow at the dawn of the 20th century
The Gostiny Dvor fell into disrepair and was dismantled. Now in the museum "Petrovskaya Akvatoriya" we can only see its layout (you can learn more about the exhibition).
In the same period, Kollezhskaya Square also disappears. It was replaced by the building of the Clinical Institute. A garden is being organized at Cape Strelka (a sketch by I. P. Vize). The sculptural compositions were performed by D. I. Jensen. And the fence and benches were made at the enterprise of F.C. San-Galli. A significant event also took place in 1916, when the left bank of the Neva was intertwined with the Strelka by the solid Palace Bridge.
In the pre-revolutionary years of the 20th century, Strelka had seen and heard a lot of various agitations and speeches. In April 1917, Stalin orated in front of the Stock Exchange (even earlier there was a memorial plaque on it in honor of “this fragment from the life of the father of nations”).
Spit of Vasilyevsky Island under the USSR
The Soviet period began for the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island with ... festivities and theatrical performances. The famous production of "Towards a World Commune" took place here on July 19, 1920. It was attended by 4,000 actors and extras. At the same time, the central hall of the Exchange was allocated for dressing rooms and dressing rooms. Other performances were "from the same opera." For example, The Mystery of Liberated Labor.
After a wave of entertainment events, a garden was developed on Strelka. He helped the townspeople a lot in times of famine. But in 1924, this innovation, as well as the public garden, were destroyed by a flood. A modern small park on Strelka appeared already in 1926.
Powerful granite pedestals with chains now acted as a fence. After another 10 years, the cobblestone pavement on Birzhevaya Square was replaced with asphalt. In the same period, in 1937, Birzhevaya Square was renamed Pushkin Square (on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the poet's death and because of the immediate proximity of the Pushkin House).
I note that during the blockade of the city during the Great Patriotic War, several anti-aircraft batteries were located on the Strelka: on the cape and near the Rostral columns, which were badly damaged by enemy shelling.
The modern appearance of the Strelka was formed in 1960, when a brother identical to the Palace one, the Birzhevoy Bridge, was thrown across the Neva.
The original name of the square (Birzhevaya instead of Pushkinskaya) returned in 1989.
Our days
I want to list for you those “surprising things” and “interesting things” that you can visit and just look at while walking in this area of St. Petersburg today.
Good traditions
I want to tell you about the interesting traditions that have developed around this wonderful place:
How to get to the Strelka of Vasilyevsky Island
You can get here from several metro stations, which I mostly use myself. I really don't like traffic jams and waiting for ground transport in bad weather in the wind. Therefore, I will offer various routes, and you choose:
Finally
So I told you about one of the "Nices" of our city, or rather, about its precious gem. And we have them - not just one magic necklace, but a whole fabulous treasury!
So come and choose what you like best.
It is such unique places as the Strelka of Vasilyevsky Island that enrich us culturally and delight us with the variety of their treasures. And now, the right word, takes pride in our country and its heritage, which today is admired by people all over the world - our "supernics".
It is from the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island that you will see, perhaps, the most beautiful panorama of St. Petersburg.
Just do not forget about the umbrella, the weather is too capricious for us.
Spit of Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg. A beautiful and harmonious architectural ensemble on the eastern tip of Vasilyevsky Island, formed by the Exchange, Rostral columns, Birzhevoy Square, customs buildings, southern and northern warehouses in the first half of the 19th century according to the project of J.-F. Thomas de Thomon and I. F. Luchini.
The territory of the current Strelka remained undeveloped for a long time, despite the fact that Vasilyevsky Island itself began to be actively built up at the beginning of the 18th century under Peter I. At first, the city port was moved here, but later it was shifted to the north. The first plan for the transformation of the square was adopted in 1767, however, the first building - the majestic building of the Stock Exchange - was erected by the architect J.-F. Thomas de Thomon only in 1805-1810, at the same time the Rostral columns appeared here. The buildings, radiating wings away from the Stock Exchange, were built in 1826-1832, with their appearance, the Strelka ensemble was finally completed.
The famous semicircular ledge of the Strelka is of artificial origin - for its arrangement, soil was poured into the riverbed, which increased the length of the cape by 123.5 meters towards the river. Initially, it was intended for the front pier of the seaport, but in 1894 it was decided to organize a small garden on it with vases, paths and benches. The modern square on Strelka was created in 1925-1926 according to the project of L. A. Ilyin.
The Spit of Vasilevsky Island is one of the most favorite places for citizens and guests of the city, this beautiful place fascinates with the harmonious unity of water space and urban architecture. It is clearly visible both from the Peter and Paul Fortress, and from the Trinity Bridge, as well as from pleasure steamers and boats. Panorama Strelka is one of the most recognizable views of St. Petersburg.
During the years of the Leningrad blockade, the crew of anti-aircraft batteries was located on the Strelka.
The arrow of Vasilievsky Island with the Stock Exchange building is depicted on the Russian banknote of 50 rubles.
In 2006-2009, Russia's largest floating singing fountain operated near the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.
The St. Petersburg wedding tradition is also associated with the Vasileostrovskaya Strelka - the newlyweds must break a bottle of champagne on the quay wall so that the family voyage is long and happy.
Note to tourists:
A visit to the Strelka of Vasilievsky Island will be of interest to tourists interested in the architecture of the first half of the 19th century, and can also become one of the points of the excursion program while exploring neighboring attractions that are part of the architectural ensemble - buildings, northern and southern warehouses (where the Central Museum of Soil Science is located, respectively). and the Zoological Museum). In addition, next to the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island there are
