Guide to St. Petersburg: attractions and entertainment. Ho Chi Minh Trail, Big Rocks and Hawk Lake. Kronstadt attractions photo description

A large number of green parks and museums, the historical architecture of the monumental buildings of the cultural capital - getting to know all these places takes a lot of time. Most residents who have been living in St. Petersburg for more than a year have seen only a part of the interesting and fascinating places that this city has to offer. And so, we list the main attractions which are simply a must-see while in this amazing city.

Peter-Pavel's Fortress

Located on Zaychiy Island, Peter-Pavel's Fortress is historical symbol of the city of St. Petersburg, because it is this small island chosen by Peter the Great as the site for the new citadel, which became the cradle of the city. For more than one century, the fortress was used as a political prison, and today this wonderful architectural complex enters and occupies the most important part of the State historical museum St. Petersburg.

Interesting fact:
The Peter and Paul Cathedral became the tomb of the royal house of the Romanovs, as well as Russian emperors, starting with Peter I and ending with Nicholas II.

Winter Palace. Hermitage

Built by Catherine the Great in 1764, Winter Palace and now world famous Hermitage Museum, is one of the most famous sights of St. Petersburg and Russia, as well as one of the most impressive museums in Europe, and possibly in the world. The museum is rich in more than three million works of art representing different eras, styles and cultures, the Hermitage is considered one of the the greatest museums world of art, which has collected in Russia a huge collection of works of international art and culture. Required whole year to explore it all, but if you don't have much time, even a few hours will help you understand how unique this place is.

Interesting fact:
20 kilometers - that's how much you need to go to see all 350 rooms of the Hermitage. It will take almost 7 years to devote at least a minute of time to each of the 3,500,000 exhibits.

Kazan Cathedral

1 photo: Andrew Vasiliev on 500px
Kazan Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, is one of the most beautiful historical and architectural monuments of St. Petersburg. If you want to see a stunning masterpiece of Russian classicism, then you should not miss this famous cathedral located on Nevsky Prospekt.

Interesting fact:
Coincidentally, the Kazan Cathedral was opened just after Patriotic War 1812, and began to be perceived as a monument to the victory of the Russian people over Napoleon. The Supreme Commander, Mikhail Kutuzov, was buried in this cathedral in 1813.

Summer garden

Located on the left bank of the Neva, opposite Troitskaya Square and the Peter and Paul Fortress, Summer garden a beautiful imperial green oasis surrounded by magnificent fountains and marble sculptures. Recently refurbished, this is another must-see for those interested in Russian history or those who just want to relax. Here you can take nice walk, sit under old trees or visit a small summer palace Peter I.

Interesting fact:
The summer garden is surrounded by water on all sides. natural border the park from the north and east became the Neva and Fontanka rivers, from the south and west - the Moika and the Swan Canal. According to the plan of Peter I, a fountain system was arranged. About 50 water cannons decorated the garden. Water was supplied to them with the help of machines installed on a water tower built on the banks of the Fontanka.

Saint Isaac's Cathedral

1 photo: Venâncio Filho on 500px
Outstanding Saint Isaac's Cathedral- one of the most magnificent and important cathedrals in the city, also considered one of the the most famous sights of the city of St. Petersburg. The cathedral was decorated in the best traditions of the Russian visual arts 18th century, shown at their best. For nearly 200 years, St. Isaac's Cathedral was the fourth largest domed cathedral in the world and the largest in an imperial city.

Interesting fact:
St. Isaac's Cathedral has one of the largest domes in the world. Only the domes of St. Peter in Rome, St. Paul in London and Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence are larger than the domes of St. Isaac's Cathedral.

Catherine Palace rightfully one of the most popular places worth visiting. If you get to the place, you will certainly be quite impressed by its size, powerful spatial dynamics and picturesque Russian baroque decor.

Interesting fact:
In 1756, all the sculptural decorations of the palace were covered with gold. About 100 kilograms of pure pure gold were used for gilding

Church of the Savior on Blood

Impressive and wonderful Cathedral of the Resurrection(commonly known as " Savior on Spilled Blood”) is the most picturesque and most visited in St. Petersburg. Erected near the famous Nevsky Prospekt on the Griboyedov Canal, this unique architectural masterpiece was built on the site where Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded on March 1, 1881.

Interesting fact:
The mosaic collection of the Cathedral of the Savior on Blood in St. Petersburg is one of the largest in Europe. More than 7 thousand square meters of the temple building are covered with mosaics, and the production of these masterpieces delayed the completion of work on the temple and its consecration for ten years!

Russian Museum

With over 400,000 exhibits including paintings and sculptures, State Russian Museum is one of the most elegant buildings in St. Petersburg. Designed by the Italian architect Carlo Rossi, today it is considered a treasure trove of national art.

Interesting fact:
The years of the Leningrad blockade had almost no effect on the funds of the Russian Museum thanks to the selfless work of its employees - part of the collection was evacuated, part was preserved in the palace cellars, and part was buried for the duration of the war in the ground of nearby parks.

Peterhof

Gorgeous gardens and a huge beautiful Royal Palace built for Peter the Great, Peterhof remains one of the most important historical and architectural monuments of the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as one of the most famous sights of St. Petersburg.

Interesting fact:
In the palace and park ensemble of Peterhof there are 176 fountains that operate without a single pump. Water enters them by gravity through specially constructed channels from the springs of the Ropsha Heights.

Nevsky Avenue

photo: serg_degtyarev
From the beginning of the 19th century to the present day, Nevsky Avenue was the most attractive, overlooking the popular embankment of the city of St. Petersburg. Indeed, many songs, poems, stories and scene books have been written about this great highway.

Interesting fact:
Nevsky Prospekt is the warmest part of the city. The temperature difference with the suburbs in summer is 2-3 degrees; in winter it is 10-12 degrees higher.

The suburbs of the cultural capital of our state occupy the first places among the most visited places in the city of St. Petersburg. The great architectural creations of Rastrelli, Zemtsov, Voronikhin and other famous architects were born here, thanks to which the fame of St. Petersburg's beauty spread throughout the globe.

No matter how beautiful St. Petersburg looks with all its grandeur, but without visiting magnificent palaces and outlandish park areas located on the outskirts of the metropolis, your impressions will not be complete.

Peterhof palace and park ensemble attractions

Attractions in the suburbs of St. Petersburg are distinguished by an abundance of fountain complexes, of which there are about 200 in the entire park system. The most famous complex of fountains is the Grand Cascade, it was his project that Peter I personally developed after the war over the Swedes.

For more than two centuries, Peterhof was the residence of the entire Romanov dynasty. Grand Palace decorated with gilded statues of ancient gods and mythological heroes. In the museums of Peterhof, visitors have the opportunity to get closer to the drawings and sketches created by the hand of Peter the Great.

It is here that you can see the world-famous Samson tearing apart the mouth of a lion. This metaphorical plot embodies the Russian state, which won the war with Sweden.

During the war of 1941-1945. all palaces and park structures were destroyed, but in the post-war years, Soviet architects restored everything to its original form.

In this fabulous corner you can visit:

Grand Palace (300-600 rubles, children under 16 years old - free of charge),

More than 10 parks (free entry)

You should try to visit parks with fountains until mid-October, since after that they are turned off until spring. Entrance and photography is free.

We filmed 3 videos in Peterhof:

1. Opening fountains
2. Verniy park
3. lower park

Peterhof fountain opening video:

Peterhof Upper Park video:

Peterhof Lower Park video:

Official site:

http://peterhofmuseum.ru/

Peterhof on the map of the Leningrad region:

Gatchina attractions photo description

Gatchina is a whole museum complex, which includes palaces, monuments, parks. The area of ​​the complex exceeds even the Russian Museum.

The Gatchina Palace is unique for St. Petersburg, as it was built in the style of an old castle. The most famous and respected architects, artists, decorators of the world took part in the design of the castle, for example, Antonio Rinaldi, Vincenzo Brenna, Andrey Voronikhin, Roman Kuzmin.

Entrance fee to the Gatchina Palace: 300 rubles. for adults, 150 rubles. for students.

In addition to the Gatchina and Priory palaces, here you can take a walk in luxurious parks.

Gatchina Park is a huge area of ​​land relief, rich in a variety of conifers.

Boat trip along White lake will not leave indifferent even the most demanding tourist. From this side, magnificent views of the Chesme obelisk, the Eagle Pavilion, Love Island and the Humpback Bridge open up.

Thrill-seekers will be invited to enter the underground passages, where you can hear an amazingly long echo that echoes the last four syllables of the human voice.

Traditionally, in the summer, performances of symphony orchestras are held in Gatchina Park. open sky against the backdrop of the splendor of the royal palaces and landscapes. Some concerts are held as part of government programs and projects that do not require payment.

In Pavlovsky Park it will be interesting for both adults and children to find a way out of the tricky Labyrinth of bushes and narrow paths, walk along the coast of the Slavyanka River, take unforgettable selfies with the columns of Apollo or against the backdrop of the Centaurs Bridge.

There is also a great opportunity to get to the exhibition flower arrangements, enjoy the reading of poems by poets and participate in various creative workshops and thematic photo shoots.

Official site:

http://gatchinapalace.ru/

Gatchina on the map of the Leningrad region:

Strelna attractions

The oldest suburb of the cultural capital. The palace and park ensemble of Strelna is famous all over the world.

Konstantinovsky Palace is the current government residence Russian Federation. Its interior deserves special attention, as it combines symbiosis modern styles and styles of bygone eras.

The Marble Hall leaves an impressive impression with its power and grandeur, transferring visitors with all its originality to the atmosphere beautiful Italy. Two floors below we are waiting for the Dutch cuisine, executed in the Baroque style. Such an interior can only be compared with the royal halls of the Hermitage.

Wine cellars are waiting for connoisseurs and true gourmets of fine wine drinks. Thousands of collectible brands of wine are ready to appear on the court of those who wish to taste the sensations.

The cost of visiting the palace is 400 rubles. for adults, 200 rubles. preferential category.

Orchard

In Strelna you can visit the fruitful for the whole of Russia Orchard, founded by the first Russian emperor. It was in these orchards that the "earth apples" brought from abroad, which became known to us as potatoes, were first cultivated.

Official site:

http://peterhofmuseum.ru/objects/strelna

Strelna on the map of St. Petersburg:

Neighborhoods of St. Petersburg attractions names:

city ​​Pushkin St. Petersburg attractions

One of the most famous suburbs of St. Petersburg is the city of Pushkin, formerly called Tsarskoye Selo. Favorite palace and park ensemble of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

The main architect of this masterpiece of architecture was Rastrelli. The center and pearl of the ensemble is the Catherine Palace.

Catherine Palace

This estate was presented by the first emperor of Russia to his wife, and after that it became a favorite place of Russian empresses, who contributed to the development of its beauties and interior decorations, gradually turning not just into a solid residence, but into a genuine work of architectural art in the Baroque style.

Columns with gilding and mighty Atlantes complement the façade with sophistication. Catherine Palace giving an elegant look. The gilding of the domes of the church at the palace takes us to deep history state, showing the importance of religious traditions for the Russian people. It took about 100 kg of gold for the gilded jewelry alone.

Here you can also visit the world-famous Amber Room, which is overgrown with mystical traditions and legends.

Cost of visiting: 250-700 rubles.

In the Alexander Park in free access for visitors White Tower, which during the time of Emperor Nicholas I was given for teaching military sciences and honing the military skills of imperial children. Today, the White Tower is open and free for tourists to visit. observation deck, where our gaze opens from a bird's eye view all the grandeur and elegance of the parks of Tsarskoye Selo.

In the tower itself is child Center, where the child and parents are given the opportunity to try their hand at clay modeling, acquire skills in painting stained-glass windows, and paint wooden blanks.

Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum

The place where the great Pushkin A.S. lived, studied and creatively got on his feet. You can get acquainted with the life of students of that time, walk through the classrooms and rooms of teachers.

Cost of visiting: 50-150 rubles.
Pushkin Historical and Literary Museum

The museum is completely dedicated to Pushkin A.S. and is rich in paintings, documents and canvases of paintings that help to travel back to the era of Pushkin's years.

Cost of visiting: 20-40 rubles.

Bablovsky Park (free entrance)

At the behest of Catherine II, parks were founded and a reservoir was dug, which was formed from spring waters. The Empress considered this water to be healing and only ate it. Here is a large Tsar bath - a bathtub made of a whole piece of granite stone, with a capacity of 8000 buckets of water, since Alexander I was a fan of swimming in cool water. Here he met with his favorites.

Fedorovsky Cathedral (free entrance)

It was built for the royal officers. Nicholas II himself chose a place for construction and it was he who laid the first brick of the foundation. Next to the cathedral, Nicholas II raised an oak park to commemorate the birth of each of his children. Today, among the oak park, a monument to the emperor has been erected. The cathedral was seriously damaged during the war of 1941-45. and only by 1995 it was restored.

Official site:

http://www.tzar.ru/

Pushkin on the map of St. Petersburg:

Sights around St. Petersburg photo and name: VYBORG

The city center seems to take us to historical Russia 18-19 centuries. Here you will not feel the arrival of European civilization. Cobbled street Krepostnaya will give your walk a special flavor of historicism.

Sights in the suburbs of St. Petersburg are replenished with new buildings and restorations of old compositions.

Sculpture Alley is one such place. The alley has already grown in our time and it all began with four sculptures that personified the four seasons: "Flora", "Volcano", "Ceres" and "Bacchus". Gradually, the sculptures were replenished and delighted the old-timers and guests of the city with their dissimilarity and grace of forms.

Today, beautiful Roman Gods look at the provincial Vyborg with an evaluating eye, filling the alley with Italian notes of ethnic culture. The plans for the future include the construction of a new archaeological museum.

Vyborg attractions photo with description:

Vyborg Castle

reflects medieval atmosphere, especially emphasizes the night illumination. You can get to the castle through the bridge, as in terms of construction the castle is located on a small island.

For lovers of the history of the Middle Ages, the castle hosts various cultural events and original discos in the FortDans style. You will be given the opportunity to feel like Robin Hood, handing a bow and arrow into your hands. You can visit the exhibition of the Inquisitions and experience some of the instruments of torture of that time.

Admission fee: 40-100 rubles, children under 16 years old - free of charge.

St Olaf's Tower

As soon as you enter the city, you see the Tower of St. Olaf. The first mention of the Tower goes back to the 13th century. This tower has seen both victories and defeats in wars.

From the height of the tower, open spaces not only of Vyborg, but also the panorama of neighboring Finland. There is no elevator, so older people should be prepared to walk up the stairs.

Admission fee: 80-100 rubles, children under 16 years old - free of charge.

Vyborg City Hall

Is beautiful building Vyborg.

The house of the merchant Borchardt in the Neo-Renaissance style, the complex of Wolf's houses, united in one architectural composition and statues as a symbol of the Vyborg "Sea Trade" and "Industry", are always ready to enrich the culture and give an excellent mood to more and more connoisseurs of beauty.

Vyborg on the map of Russia:

Kronstadt attractions photo description

Many interesting sights of the suburbs of St. Petersburg are located in Kronstadt, which was originally built as a fortress city and had the role of a kind of shield from attacks from the warring parties of that era.

Naval Cathedral of Saint Nicholas

The attention of tourists is attracted by the Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas. Previously, the cathedral performed a special task: it served as a guide for sailors, a kind of lighthouse. The cross of the cathedral could be seen from a great distance in the sea.

The interior of the temple is made in a marine theme: the windows are similar to rounded portholes, decorations are replete with images of marine animals. The exterior decoration includes old ship anchors, gilded ropes and patterns emphasizing the nautical theme. Free admission.

Anchor Square showcases:

Monument to Admiral S.O. Makarov
Mass grave of those killed during the Kronstadt uprising
Wall of Glory
Stop anchors from the ship "October Revolution"

Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

Built in the 18th century, but suffered from a fire and only by the end of the 19th century. revived. In the 20th century it was blown up three times, only by a miracle the cathedral survived. All restorations have practically not changed its original appearance. Free admission.

Next to the Cathedral is a chapel built in 1870 and the burial place of Archpriest Vasily Saltykov, who made a significant contribution to the development and formation of this architectural structure.

Petrovsky park

The center of the park is headed by the monument to Peter the Great, and the Zimnyaya Pier with a breathtaking view of the ships of the Baltic Fleet opens up the composition of the promenade area.

petrovsky dock

This real monument mind and ingenuity of Perth the Great. The dock was built for the urgent repair of ships. The main task of the dock was to quickly drain and fill the canals with water. The emperor showed resourcefulness and surprised European scientists with his ingenuity, brought to life the original engineering experience. For more than half a century, the dock has served sailors in the repair of ships.

Museum of the History of Kronstadt

This museum contains exhibits from all over the world, which give an idea of ​​the fort and the structure of the city, highlighting the military history of Kronstadt, rich in colorful traditions and exploits. Peter I cunningly occupied the island of Kotlin from the Swedes, who owned it for 2.5 centuries, and hastily erected a fort in 2-3 months, which the enemies could no longer beat back.

Admission fee: 75-150 rubles, children under 7 years old are free.

Kronstadt Maritime Museum

Immersion in the historical development of diving skills. Tourists are allowed to try on diving suits, see a deep-sea telephone and feel like a real diver.

Admission fee: free admission by appointment (group up to 20 people)

Forts of Kronstadt

With an excursion you can visit the forts "Konstantin", "Milyutin", "Obruchev". Each has its own destiny and its own, different from others, architecture, showing not only the experience and mind of engineers, but also their will with love for the Fatherland. Visit the forts without fail should tourists who want to feel the spirit of the historical and complex flavor of the city.

Cost of visiting: excursion 1.5 hours - 400-550 rubles, boat trips with a landing on the fort 2000-6500 rubles. Viewing the forts from the outside is free.

The Summer Garden is an overgrown city park founded in the early 19th century. By visiting it, you will give yourself an indelible impression of calmness and tranquility, distract from everyday problems with landscape views of rich greenery, where every tree and brick on the pavement is saturated with the spirit of history.

Streets of Kronstadt

Kronstadt is ideal for walking along the city lanes and streets. The outskirts of the city can upset and disappoint the guests of the city with its clutter and garbage, but the historically significant city streets delight with their cleanliness and rich green vegetation.

Makarovskaya Street will show:
Blue bridge and footstock (water level gauge)
Monument to the blockade stickleback
Italian Palace (18th century)
Fountains "Arsenal"

Petrovskaya Street runs to the Summer Garden and Penkovy Bridge, and during the walk you will be accompanied by bypass channel with city buildings of buildings of the 18th century.

Sovetskaya Street welcomes visitors with its 19th-century-style fenced parks and leads tourists to Andreevsky Square and the Summer Garden along Gostiny Dvor.

Kitesurfing in St. Petersburg (Sestroretsk)

Kronstadt on the map of Russia:

Sights of the surroundings of St. Petersburg photo with names: LOMONOSOV (Oranienbaum)

An associate of Peter the Great - Alexander Menshikov - received from the emperor an estate for development and named it Oranienbaum (orange tree). In 1948 it was renamed to Lomonosov.

The Menshikov Palace is ready to compete with the luxury of Peterhof. Picture house, executed in the Baroque style of Peter the Great, country apartments of Catherine II, Chinese palace with picturesque panels and rich interior decoration, embroideries and drawings. The Glass Bead, Gold and Chinese Cabinets will not leave indifferent visitors to museums. A walk in the Lower Garden always attracts its visitors and does not let go of the intricate flower patterns on the square.

Petrovsky Park is visited not only by tourists, but also by local artists, who easily find inspiration in the image of the landscapes of the park, spread over 15 hectares of territory.

About 30 bridges and small bridges with various reservoirs add beautiful pictures to your photo albums.

Admission fee: Adults - 300 rubles, pensioners - free of charge, students, schoolchildren, children - free of charge, the first Thursday of each month - free of charge for all categories of visitors.

Lomonosov city Leningrad region on the map:

Komarovo Leningrad region attractions

Sights in the suburbs of St. Petersburg could not be ignored by the cultural intelligentsia of Russia. Komarovo was visited for relaxation and inspiration by Matilda Kshesinskaya and Carl Faberge. The province was built up with dachas of the first minds of Russia: artists and scientists, poets and musicians.

Museum of Kellomyaki-Komarovo

An ordinary library has turned into a significant museum for the suburbs, which brings us closer to the creative piggy banks of A. Akhmatova, I. Brodsky, D. Likhachev and other luminaries of science.

The House of Creativity of Writers will tell about the birth of great works of literature famous writers. Today you can visit the house of Leningrad writers, which is still functioning. The house of A. Akhmatova, who gave it the name "Green Booth" and dedicated her poem to it, is open to the public.

Complex Russian fishing

You will be asked to spend time fishing with a family. Upon request, your children can be looked after by a nanny who will entertain them with entertaining and instructive games. In the Cheburashka Territorial Park, you can feed tame raccoons and ferrets, geese, ducks, squirrels and other animals. Near the sculptures there will be a beautiful set of photographs in the trout fishing competition.

The country house of the composer D. Shostakovich, who lived and worked here in the post-war years on the “Poem of the Motherland” and the “Tenth Symphony”, is added to the whole set of sights of the suburbs.

In the "Necropolis" in Komarovo, visitors pay tribute to the burial places of famous writers and scientists, such as D. Likhachev, I. Gor, Vera Kitlinskaya. Here is the grave of A. Akhmatova in the form of a cross and a fragment of a wall, as a symbol of the prison, which left a deep spiritual wound in the soul of the poetess during the period of repression.

Here are the burial places of V. Zhirmunsky, A. Fok, scientist Yu. Linnik, V. Sochaev and many other personalities who made a great contribution and laid down their lives on the altar of science in their homeland.

Komarovo Leningrad region map:

Repino attractions

The history of the village is deeply rooted in the 14th century and is famous for its rich fish stocks and crafts. Previously, it was called Kuokkala - a fish hook, and this name fully justified itself. Under Peter I, craftsmen organized an arms factory here, and after the appearance of railway lines, plots in the village were bought up by cultural figures.

In the middle of the 20th century it was renamed Repino - in honor of the famous artist I. Repin.

Penates Museum estate of I. Repin

The artist was very kind to this place, where inspiration came to him when creating his masterpieces. He personally drew up a drawing and schemes for the construction of a country house, carefully approaching the issue of lighting the room with natural light. Repin lived here with his family since 1903 and often hosted such guests as Stasov and Mayakovsky, Kuprin, Mendeleev, Chaliapin, Yesenin. Today, the atmosphere of a working artist still reigns in the house with the preservation of the life of those years when the artist constantly lived and worked here.

Cost of visiting: 50-100 rubles. for citizens of the Russian Federation.

The artist's grave is also nearby. Repin workshops, a living room, a study and a veranda are open for inspection.

Along with art exhibitions, you can visit the cinema and listen to more detailed lectures about the sights of suburban Repino.

The dacha of K. Chukovsky is also available for visiting, where since 1912 he lived, worked and received his acquaintances, well-known visitors and like-minded people.

Repino Central Park

The water channel of the park passes into the Pond of Lovers, near which there are places for recreation and romantic dates youth and hiking for the elderly.

Repino Leningrad region map:

The suburbs of St. Petersburg amaze with their sights and cannot be unnoticed by true connoisseurs of Russian culture of different times and eras. This is a great opportunity to touch the history of the state in which we live, to experience together with silent witnesses of historical events what the great Russian people felt during the formation of Russia and its cultural heritage.

St. Petersburg has always been the main tourist center of Russia. Dozens of museums with the most valuable collections, palace and park ensembles of the heyday of classical architectural styles and the unique atmosphere of a secular ball await the guests of the city.

The glorious imperial past is reflected in the facades of the magnificent Winter Palace and the elegant spans of aristocratic mansions on Nevsky Prospekt. The graceful embankments of the city are dressed in granite, and the incomparable drawbridges over the Neva are a real architectural delight for many tourists.

The history of the country was created in St. Petersburg: the great achievements of Peter I, the brilliant victories of the Russian Empire and the first steps of the young Soviet Union. The northern capital of Russia is a harmonious synthesis of a glorious past and a dynamic future, the heart of the country and its eternal pride.

The best hotels and hostels at affordable prices.

from 500 rubles/day

What to see and where to go in St. Petersburg?

The most interesting and Beautiful places for walks. Photos and a short description.

The former imperial country residence, which was founded by Peter the Great at the beginning of the 18th century. This grandiose palace and park ensemble is called the "Russian Versailles". Over the three centuries of its existence, the appearance of Peterhof has changed quite a lot, and after the War of 1941-1945. it was restored literally from the wreckage. On the territory of the complex there are dozens of fountains, flower beds, walking alleys and pavilions that remind of the imperial era of Russian history.

The palace complex is located in the vicinity of St. Petersburg in the city of Pushkin. Until the beginning of the 20th century, it was called the Grand Palace of Tsarskoye Selo. The first royal house arose here in the first half of the 18th century. Expansion began in the 1750s. during the reign of Elizabeth under the direction of the architect Rastrelli. The palace was built in the classical baroque style, with rococo elements predominating in the lush interiors.

The largest museum in Russia, which, along with the Spanish Prado, the Louvre in Paris and the Vatican Museums, is included in the list of the most outstanding and valuable art collections in the world. The expositions of the Hermitage occupy 6 buildings, about 3 million exhibits are stored here. real pride museum - the building of the Winter Palace, where the residence of the royal family was located. This magnificent complex It was built by Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the Elizabethan Baroque style.

The main square of St. Petersburg is located in front of the Winter Palace. Its size is almost twice the capital's Red Square. The architectural ensemble with ideal geometric proportions was built in the 18th-19th centuries. In the middle of the square is the monumental Alexandrian Column, which is dedicated to the victory of the Russian Empire over Napoleon's army. The column was erected by decree of Nicholas I.

Palace and park ensemble, located on the territory of 600 hectares. Previously, these lands were royal hunting grounds. In 1777, the lands were transferred to the possession of Crown Prince Paul I, who decided to build a grandiose residence here for himself. In four years they built a palace and laid out a park. After the death of Paul I, his widow lived in the residence, who invested a lot of effort and money in expanding and decorating the complex.

The building on the banks of the Neva, which is located on the site of the first shipyard on the Baltic Sea. The building was built in the architectural style of the Russian Empire. The figure of the ship crowning the spire of the Admiralty is one of the symbols of the Northern capital. Under Peter I, there was a real fortress here, which protected the shipyard during Northern war. Since 2012, the headquarters of the command of the Russian Navy has been located in the Admiralty.

The first Russian drama theater for public visits, founded in the middle of the 18th century by decree of Elizabeth Petrovna. A few decades after the appearance of the first building, a restructuring was carried out under the guidance of the architect K. Rossi. At the theater in different time the most outstanding Russian directors worked: V. Meyerhold, G. Tovstonogov, G. Kozintsev, N. Akimov.

The main Petersburg opera stage, one of the iconic cultural places cities. The theater appeared in the middle of the 19th century by decree of Alexander II, who wished to give it a name in honor of his wife Maria Alexandrovna. The master Alberto Cavosa worked on the project. The productions of the Mariinsky are very popular with foreign tourists, many people come here with pleasure to listen to a real Russian opera.

The museum, created by decree of Peter I, where for more than 300 years samples of mutations, deformities, gene disorders, pathologies and man-made "ugliness" of nature and the human body have been collected. In the early years of the museum's existence, real dwarfs, giants and other people with "abnormalities" lived here. Throughout the three centuries of existence, interest in the collection has always been very high. To date, more than one million copies have been collected.

The first residential building in St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 18th century, where the emperor lived during the construction of the city. At the moment, the wooden structure has been moved to another place and covered with a stone frame for better preservation (the first frame appeared at the end of the 18th century). According to legend, the house was built in just three days by skilled carpenters. Since 1930, a museum has been operating on the territory, where you can see the personal belongings of the king.

The world's largest museum of Russian fine arts. Opened at the end of the 19th century. during the reign of Nicholas II. The collection was made up of donated exhibits from the Hermitage, the Alexander Palace, the Academy of Arts, as well as from private collections of some Russian aristocrats. The main exposition is located on the territory of the Mikhailovsky Palace. In the museum you can see the paintings of Bryullov, Repin, Aivazovsky and other masters.

Protective structure and historical center of St. Petersburg in the early 18th century, from which the construction of the city began. The fortress was never used for its intended purpose (it served as a prison). The architectural ensemble consists of fortress walls, bastions, front gates and administrative buildings. The Peter and Paul Cathedral on the territory of the fort was the main temple of the capital for a long time. It was built in the classical "Russian Baroque" style.

The majestic cathedral, the decoration of the city and the largest Orthodox church in St. Petersburg. The construction was carried out under the personal supervision of Nicholas I according to the project of O. Montferrand. The building of the cathedral is an example of the late classics with harmonious inclusions of neo-Renaissance and Byzantine style. The temple was named in honor of the patron saint of Peter the Great, St. Isaac of Dalmatia.

The main Orthodox church in St. Petersburg, where the icon of the Kazan Mother of God is kept. The cathedral was designed by the architect A. Voronikhin in the Empire style. The laying of the first stone took place in the presence of Alexander I. Internal interiors decorated with monumental colonnades and more reminiscent of a palace than a church. Icons for the temple were painted by famous masters O. Kiprensky, A. Ivanov and others.

Temple built by Alexander III on the site of the assassination of the reformer Tsar Alexander II. The height of the structure is 81 meters, which corresponds to the date of the tragic event - 1881. The cathedral was ready by 1907. Regular services were not held here, only services were held in memory of Alexander II. During the years of Soviet power, the temple was used as a morgue and warehouse. After renovations in 1997, a museum was opened in the building.

The temple was built on the site of the regimental sea yard in the middle of the 18th century. The cathedral houses a revered Christian shrine - the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with part of the holy relics. From the end of the 19th century, a charitable society worked at the temple, organizing a shelter for elderly women, a school and a hospital. Memorial services in honor of the dead sailors are regularly held in the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral.

An architectural complex designed by B. Rastrelli (commissioned by Empress Elizabeth). Another name for the monastery is Voskresensky Novodevichy Convent. The Smolny Monastery was built for 87 years, the work was constantly interrupted by wars and lack of sufficient funding. main cathedral never opened for worship. The entire interior of the monastery was removed during the Soviet period. A concert hall has been operating here since 1990.

The monastery was founded by decree of Peter the Great, who wanted to commemorate the victory of Alexander Nevsky over the Teutonic Knights in 1240. After the consecration of the Trinity Cathedral of the Lavra, the relics of Alexander Nevsky were brought here. The monastery operated a printing house, a seminary, an orphanage and a hospital. By the end of the 18th century, the monastery had become an important spiritual and Cultural Center Russian Empire and received the status of Lavra.

Monument dedicated to the founder of the city, Peter the Great, located on the Senate Square. The Bronze Horseman appeared at the request of Empress Catherine II. She planned to perpetuate the image of Peter in a majestic figure with a scepter, dressed in the clothes of a Roman emperor, but the sculptor Falcone thought differently. He represented Peter as a creator, a benefactor of Russia. The result was a monument where Peter patronizingly “extends his right hand” over the country.

The building is a striking example of St. Petersburg Art Nouveau. In it is located book Shop. All city lovers of literature gather here. At the beginning of the 20th century, the place belonged to the American company Singer, which planned to erect a high-rise building and place an office in it. Of the planned eleven floors, only seven were built, but still the structure stood out against the background of the surrounding landscape.

The most famous and picturesque street of the Northern capital, the front facade of the city. It stretches for 4.5 km. to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The avenue was designed as the main entrance to the city from Moscow. There are many architectural monuments here. Nevsky prospect is popular place with a special atmosphere, which is perfect for walking, meeting, shopping. The very "spirit of St. Petersburg" lives here.

The main waterway of St. Petersburg, one of the most major rivers Northwest Russia. According to one of the curious versions, the name comes from the Finnish word, which means “deep swamp” in translation. The city embankments of the Neva are an independent attraction of St. Petersburg. From here you can watch the bridges being drawn at night or just take a walk and enjoy the panorama of the city.

Place, where Vasilyevsky Island divides r. Neva into two parts and as if crashes into body of water. There are many buildings of different eras and architectural styles, which makes this place a real open-air museum. Special attention draw Rostral columns of red-brown color, decorated with ship prows. The structures served as lighthouses for ships until the end of the 19th century.

Drawbridge over the Neva River, a symbol of St. Petersburg. The construction connects Vasilyevsky Island with the central part of the city. The bridge started operating in 1916, but its famous curly lattices appeared only twenty years later. The bridge was reconstructed in 1967, 1977 and 1997. Until 1998, a tram line ran here. The weight of the cast-iron structure is 700 tons. Some elements of the drawbridge mechanism are over a hundred years old.

The city is located on an island in the Gulf of Finland. Over the 300 years of its existence, 17 sea ​​forts that surrounded the island from all sides and served to protect the port. Today Kronstadt is used as Trading port and a ship repair base. The historic center is included in the UNESCO heritage list. During a boat trip along the Gulf of Finland, you can see the remains of numerous fortresses.

A 1900 warship that took part in the Battle of Tsushima in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. After returning to the Baltic Sea, it was used as a training ship. In October 1917, a cannon shot fired from a cruiser became the signal for the storming of the Winter Palace and the beginning of the Bolshevik coup (October Revolution of 1917). Until 1940, the ship was used for its intended purpose, and since 1948 it left for the “eternal parking”, a museum exposition was placed inside.

The oldest city park of the 18th century, founded under Peter the Great. The first sculptures appeared here in 1707. During the years of the king's life, it was used as his summer residence. With each subsequent ruler, the garden grew and eventually turned into a picturesque example. park art. Under Elizabeth, the territory was open to the public (during the absence of the Empress).

Numerous sculptures of lions, of which there are more than 1000 pieces in the city. They are made from different materials and brought from different countries. Not only statues, but also lion bas-reliefs adorn the city facades. Lions began to appear on the streets and squares from the 18th century. The animals symbolize the guardians, who are called upon to protect the peace and inviolability of St. Petersburg.

One of the most interesting and popular excursions in St. Petersburg is a walk on the roofs of the city. From there you can see the city from a more picturesque perspective, meet the sunset or sunrise, and feel the city atmosphere more subtly. Experienced roofing guides know the accessible places from where you can get to the rooftops. During the tour, they will tell interesting and exciting stories from the life of the city.

Unique a natural phenomenon characteristic of the northern regions. It lies in the fact that summer time(June-July) the sun practically does not set, and the dark time of the day lasts only a couple of hours. White Nights in St. Petersburg is the most romantic and pleasant time when life in the city does not stop even for a minute. People walk along the embankments, watch the drawing of bridges, sit in cafes, have fun and enjoy life around the clock.

The city of white nights is a magnificent brainchild of the great Emperor Peter I, often called Russian Venice or Northern Palmyra. Indeed, only a few cities in the world can compare with the brilliant St. Petersburg. It is no coincidence that he is considered cultural capital Russia, because literally at every step the traveler is waiting for a meeting with the amazing and beautiful. In terms of the number of attractions per square kilometer of territory, the flourishing metropolis, spread out on the banks of the Neva, will not yield to the most popular tourist centers on the planet.

The sights of the beautiful city on the Neva are diverse, multifaceted, and delightful. Among the abundance of things to see in St. Petersburg, it is certainly worth highlighting several places, architectural, historical and cultural monuments that make North Palmyra recognizable all over the world.

• Address: Metro stations "Admiralteyskaya", "Vosstaniya Square", "Gostiny Dvor", "Alexander Nevsky Square".

Nevsky Prospekt, stretching for 4.5 km from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra to the Winter Palace, is Peter's calling card, his soul. Each of the 240 buildings, whose facades face the famous Peter's Perspective, is architectural monument. The avenue, sometimes narrowing to 20 m, sometimes widening to 60 m, crosses the Fontanka and Moika rivers, the Griboyedov Canal with magnificent bridges. Walking along Nevsky Prospekt, travelers can admire the majestic Kazan Cathedral, the colorful buildings of Gostiny Dvor and the Passage, fountains on Malaya Sadovaya and Kazansky Square, monuments to Catherine II, M. Kutuzov, A. Nevsky, B. De Tolly. Nevsky Prospekt is always crowded, because it is customary to start acquaintance with the amazing St. Petersburg from here.

• Address: Hare Island. Metro stations "Gorkovskaya" or "Sportivnaya".

The history of St. Petersburg, in fact, begins with the laying of the Peter and Paul Fortress in 1703 on Zayachy Island, which reliably protected the city for several centuries. The citadel, consisting of 6 forts connected by ravelins, was built according to the plan developed by the engineer Lambert and Peter I. At that time, it was considered almost impregnable. At different times, Tsarevich Alexei, Princess Tarakanova, F. M. Dostoevsky, Decembrists and Narodnaya Volya were imprisoned in the casemates of the citadel. Today it has been turned into a magnificent museum complex. In addition to the royal tomb and the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the fortress houses the Cosmonautics Museum, the Kunstkamera, the Military History Museum, and the Mint. According to a centuries-old tradition, which was not respected only in 1934-1957, a volley of cannon from the Naryshkin bastion notifies the inhabitants of the city about the onset of noon.

• Opening hours: daily, except Monday, from 10:30 to 18:00, Wednesday and Friday from 10:30 to 21:00.
• Ticket price: adult 400 rubles, students, schoolchildren, children of preschool age are admitted free of charge.
• Phone: +7 812 571-34-65.
• Website: http://www.hermitagemuseum.org
• Address: Palace Embankment, 34. Metro stations "Nevsky Prospekt" or "Admiralteyskaya".

The name of the museum, considered one of the largest in the world, is widely known outside of Russia. The Hermitage collection contains more than 30 million artistic masterpieces, artifacts belonging to various periods of human history - from the Stone Age to the present day. More than 5 million people who visit the museum every year can admire the creations of the greatest sculptors, painters, gunsmiths, and jewelers. Rarities from collections dedicated to history and culture ancient egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, seek to see travelers from all over the world. The expositions of the Hermitage, in addition to the Winter Palace, are located in the Menshikov Palace, the Exchange building, the eastern wing of the General Staff building.

• Address: Senate Square. Transport stop "Admiralteisky Prospekt".

Empress Catherine II, under whom Russian empire reached its peak, positioned itself as a successor to the glorious deeds of Peter I. It was she who ordered the construction of a monument in the capital worthy of the greatness of the reformer tsar, who laid the foundation for the power of the state. As a pedestal for it, a huge boulder was chosen - Thunder-stone, which was delivered for more than three months from the village of Konnaya Lakhta, located 8 km from St. Petersburg. In 1770, a bronze sculpture, cast according to a sketch by the Frenchman E. Falcone, took its place on the pedestal. The author managed to convey the expression of the moment. The emperor, crowned with a laurel wreath, tames a rearing horse that has trampled a serpent under its hooves. The monument strikes with expressiveness. It is no coincidence that the Bronze Horseman is sung in the poem of the same name by A.S. Pushkin.

• Opening hours: from Wednesday to Sunday inclusive, from 11:00 to 18:00.
• Ticket price: adult 400 rubles, preferential 200 rubles.
• Phone: +7 812 230-84-40.
• Website: http://www.aurora.org.ru
• Address: Petrogradskaya embankment. Metro station "Ploschad Lenina" or "Gorkovskaya".

The October Revolution can be treated differently. At the same time, it is impossible not to admit that the cruiser Aurora, which has become one of its main symbols, is a landmark of St. Petersburg. He became world famous after a single volley that gave the signal to storm the Winter Palace, where the Provisional Government met. Meanwhile in long history cruiser was a lot of other events. The ship took part in the Battle of Tsushima, retaining its buoyancy after being hit by 18 shells of various calibers. During the Second World War, he was part of the Leningrad air defense system, survived many bombings and shelling. Artillery guns taken from the Aurora rained down on the Nazis a flurry of fire and metal. After the end of the war, the ship, launched in 1900, was restored and assigned to eternal parking. In subsequent years, the cruiser was repaired several more times, and its underwater part was completely replaced.

Delightful churches of St. Petersburg

The splendor of the temples of St. Petersburg can easily compete with the most popular tourist centers on the planet. The creations of Russian and European architects delight with the diversity of architecture, amaze with the ideal proportions, grandiosity of designs.

• Working hours: from Thursday to Sunday inclusive, from 10:30 to 22:00, Monday and Tuesday from 10:30 to 17:30, closed Wednesday.
• Ticket price 250 rubles.
• Phone: +7 812 315-97-32.
• Website: http://www.cathedral.ru
• Address: St. Isaac's Square, 4. Metro station "Admiralteyskaya".

The ingenious creation of Montferrand can be enjoyed for hours, admiring its proportionality, grace, grandiosity. The construction of the majestic building, towering 101.5 meters above the ground and crowned with a gilded dome with a diameter of 25.8 meters, lasted 39 years. The exterior of the cathedral reflected all the best that architectural classicism is famous for - delightful porticos supported by columns, luxurious bas-reliefs decorating the pediments, beautiful sculptures of the apostles. The interiors of the temple are no less magnificent. Panels, stained-glass windows, painting of arches and walls, openwork stucco molding, statues amaze the imagination. The cathedral keeps revered Orthodox shrines - the image of the Tikhvin and Korsun Mother of God, a cross containing particles of the Tree of the Lord.

Of course, one of the symbols of St. Petersburg and its main attraction is the Winter Palace, the residence of the kings, and Palace Square with the dominant Alexandrian pillar, sung by Pushkin.

The palace was built in 1762 by the famous architect Rastrelli in the Elizabethan Baroque style, opulent and full of details and gilding. Now the main exposition of the State Hermitage is located here, the collection of which was started by Catherine the Great. They say that the entire collection of exhibits cannot be viewed even in 5 years, therefore, in order to fully enjoy at least a small part of it, it is better to set aside a whole day.

The most monumental, largest and famous cathedral Petersburg is St. Isaac's Cathedral. Many are associated with its construction. mystical stories, the most famous of them is that the clairvoyant predicted a quick death to the chief architect Auguste Montferrand after the construction was completed, so the construction dragged on. Coincidence or not, he died of an acute heart attack in the same year that the new cathedral was consecrated. For every guest northern capital you must definitely climb the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral, from where a stunning view of the city opens, and the interior of the cathedral impresses with its splendor, severity and solemnity. By the way, Petersburgers call Isaac the inkpot because of its shape, reminiscent of this stationery item.

Another hallmark of the city and one of the main attractions of St. Petersburg is the Church of the Savior on Blood, which is located on the Griboyedov Canal. The place was not chosen by chance - it was here in 1881 that an attempt was made on the life of Alexander II, who was mortally wounded as a result. The temple was built in the Russian style and looks like a painted tower, bright even in cloudy weather. The history of the temple is tragic - during the Soviet era, there was a warehouse of vegetables and decorations, a hospital, and during the war a landmine hit the building. In the nineties, a complete reconstruction of the temple began, which lasted for many years, and now the Savior on Blood is carefully guarded by the townspeople and is open to the public.

The most important landmark of the city is the Peter and Paul Fortress, the first building laid in the year of the founding of St. Petersburg. The fortress was planned as a military fortification, then barracks were located in it, as well as casemates, where the Decembrists, Tsarevich Alexei, and Princess Tarakanova were kept at different times. On the territory of the fortress there was also the Mint, which was moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg. In the Peter and Paul Cathedral there is a tomb of emperors with sarcophagi of all Russian emperors and tsars, starting with Peter I. Not so long ago, the remains of the last royal family were also transferred to the cathedral.