The most unusual fountains in the world. The most beautiful fountains in the world

A 30-minute drive from the northern capital is the magnificent Peterhof - the world-famous palace and park ensemble. so numerous that we can safely say that he himself is one continuous attraction.

This is perhaps the most popular suburb of St. Petersburg among tourists - it is very crowded here in any weather and at any time of the year. Peterhof can compete in attendance only with excellent Catherine Palace, where the recreated famous is located.

World fame for Peterhof was brought by its luxurious fountains, cascades and numerous architectural masterpieces, reminiscent of the great past of our country. Today, 14 parks are available for visiting, stretching along the coast of the Gulf of Finland for 10 km.

However, in order to see all the sights of Peterhof, including museum expositions not even a month is enough. Let's talk about the main and most interesting of them.

• Peterhof was founded in 1710. The city status was granted in 1762.
• In January 1944 it was renamed Petrodvorets, in 1997 the former name was returned.
• In 1918, Peterhof became a museum - excursions began to be held here.
• In 1990, Peterhof was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• The population of Peterhof is about 83 thousand people.
• Peterhof is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, between the village and the city. The distance to the center of St. Petersburg is 53 km.

From the history of Peterhof

The first mention of the royal residence in Peterhof dates back to 1708 - then a small wooden palace appeared here, called by Peter I "Khoromtsy". Already in 1710, in its place, the construction of a palace and park ensemble, the project of which incorporated the best layouts of the most beautiful palaces in Europe, as well as the most advanced technical solutions for that time and features of the arrangement of parks and fountains.

Peterhof was erected in record time - already in 1725 there was Grand Palace, most of the fountains functioned, the Sea Canal was dug and the park was laid out. The palaces of Monplaisir and Marly were also built. Thanks to careful planning, the ensemble received two additional buildings - Artisan for the peasants and Cavalry for the courtiers.

Catherine I and Anna Ioannovna actively implemented the ideas of Peter the Great, but it was Empress Elizabeth who made great efforts to create here a luxurious example of the Baroque style, which we can still see today.

Under Catherine the Great, there were no large-scale transformations on the territory of Peterhof - the queen paid the main attention to the design of internal palace interiors. For a long time, no one was engaged in the residence - as a result, by the time of the coronation of Catherine's son Paul I, Peterhof and other buildings of Peterhof were in need of major repairs, which subsequently took years and a significant part of the state treasury. There was so much work that it was already completed in the 19th century, when the throne was taken by the son of Paul I Alexander. He ordered to rebuild the most unattractive, in his opinion, buildings. Improved, they were used as barracks for cavalry regiments.

Under Nicholas I, the territory of Peterhof expanded due to the acquisition of land to the east of the Lower Park. Under Alexander II, railway lines appeared here, linking Peterhof with the capital.

The life of Peterhof as a country residence of royal persons continued until 1917. In 1918 the ensemble was recognized national treasure Since that time, its reconstruction began, which lasted for a long 10 years. In 1926, the fountains of the Lower Park were repaired, and by 1930, the fountain pipelines were completely replaced and the abandoned Upper Garden was cleaned up.

During the war years, the architectural masterpieces of Peterhof were barbarously destroyed to the state of ruins, many art objects were stolen.

Immediately after the blockade was lifted, restoration work began, which took about 30 years. Only in the 70s of the XX century, thanks to the efforts of the most talented architects and builders, the ensemble managed to return to its original appearance. Today, there is not only a tourist center, but also an educational center. In addition, not so long ago the complex was given the status of a science city.

Sights of Peterhof

Grand Peterhof Palace

Big Peterhof Palace is the compositional center architectural ensemble. Under Peter, it was a modest building in the Petrine Baroque style, and its full-scale construction began under Elizaveta Petrovna, who paid great attention to every detail of this grandiose project.

Inside the palace there are 30 halls decorated with marble, gilding, carvings, stucco, expensive parquet. On the ceilings there are bas-reliefs in the European Baroque style. The light walls are decorated with floral ornaments - the atmosphere of spring, awakening, prosperity and prosperity reigns here. This is very much in keeping with the spirit of the times. Russian empire began to occupy leading place on the world stage.

Unfortunately, getting into Petrodvorets is still difficult - there are always queues, and the ticket office is open only a few hours a day. However, the interior of this place is worth a visit.

lower park

IN lower park there is the largest collection of fountains in Russia, including the famous Grand Cascade - a staircase with fountains, turning into the Sea Canal. It is she who can be seen so often in photographs, and it is for her sake that tourists from the most remote parts of the Earth go to Peterhof.

The water in the Grand Cascade beautifully descends the steps or spurts up from the sculptures. Also here you can see a fountain in the form of a pyramid, in the form of a chessboard, a fountain with lions and antique columns. There is a fountain with water disappearing at the base - children love to play here.

The lower park did not suffer significant damage during the war years. The trees on which squirrels live have been preserved here - they are happy to take treats from the hands of tourists. Of the innovations - living sculptures of bunnies, cubs. There is a statue of Neptune - there is a belief that if you rub his foot, while making a wish, it will certainly come true. There is also a bench installed in honor of Alexandra Nikolaevna, the daughter of Tsar Nicholas I.

upper garden

The Upper Garden is located behind Petrodvorets and has an ideal rectangular shape. There are labyrinths and tunnels made of specially trimmed bushes and trees. This amazing place with flower meadows and an abundance of sculptural elements.

There are also fountains here - goldfish swim in their tanks. There are usually many visitors here, but on such large area it's almost imperceptible. The Upper Park is a miracle of nature that has received such a perfect look through human efforts.

Initially, this was not even a palace, but a farm building, for which the animals were ordered from England. The U-shaped building with imitation thatch on the roof and columns had a traditional English style and rather resembled an English farmer's house. There were workers' quarters, a kitchen, animal stalls, a barn, and a storage room.

Later, the farm began to be rebuilt - a second floor appeared, rural elements were removed from the facade, and the cattle were relocated to another part of the park. The building was rebuilt again - after that it acquired the final features of the palace. Tsar Alexander II was very fond of spending time here - it was in this place that the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bgiving the peasants freedom was born in his head.

The Farm Palace was restored in 2005. Another 5 years lasted for the reconstruction of its interior decoration. Only 8 years ago he was able to open the doors to guests.

For a long time there was a wooded area in which representatives of the nobility liked to hunt. In 1825, it was decided to lay out an English-style park here - for this they even brought trees and shrubs that grow not only in Europe, but also in Siberia and the Far East.

The park is named so thanks to the works of Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky, who sang the mythical knightly country in his poetic ballads. The wife of Nicholas I also bore the name of Alexander. Today, the layout of that time has been completely recreated in the park.

Initially, it was called Elizabethan, but under Catherine II it was renamed. The building itself is small, but there are still the same luxurious interiors of halls and offices, a distinctive feature of which are art objects of unusual shapes. In the courtyard there is a fountain with water spouting from a bench.

Bath building

In the form in which it exists now, the Bath building was built under Elizaveta Petrovna. In the old days there were steam rooms, showers and bathrooms. A variety of bath utensils shows how important hygiene and cleanliness of the body were for a Russian person.

The bath building has been repeatedly re-equipped for the needs of each next ruler over the entire period of its existence. Today it is the second most popular place among tourists after Petrodvorets.

The sights of Peterhof are not only luxurious palaces and endless shady parks, but also numerous museums. One of them is the Museum of Imperial Bicycles, located in the oldest building in Peterhof. Unfortunately, it is not as popular as the famous Petrodvorets or the Grand Cascade, and visitors do not come here often. However, here it is no less interesting.

There are only 12 exhibits in the museum's exposition - these are bicycles that once belonged to children and adult members of the royal dynasty. The exhibition tells the whole history of this vehicle from its inception to the beginning of the 20th century. Most of exhibits - namely children's copies. The collection is complemented by various accessories - lanterns, horns, bicycle maps, etc. The exhibition will be of particular interest to connoisseurs of Russian history.

Rome is naturally endowed with abundant water. It is based on seven hills rising above a damp lowland. Numerous streams flowed into it, and springs gushed from the slopes. But this water was unpleasant in taste and almost undrinkable. Ancient Rome was famous for its aqueducts. They supplied fresh cold water from sources located sometimes tens of kilometers from the city.

Each river or spring was presented to the ancient Romans as a deity or its abode. The water delivered through the aqueducts was also the personification of these deities, each of which had its own cult. Water from different sources could not be mixed in one featureless water supply network. It would be just as blasphemous to block the free flow of water, so in Ancient Rome the water was never turned off. With the advent of the Renaissance, numerous fountains became one of the main decorations of the city.

At the end of the 16th century, by order of Pope Sixtus V, a group of four fountains was installed at once. Fountains are located in niches at the corners of houses that surround the intersection on four sides. The figures decorating the fountains represent symbolic images of the Tiber and Arno rivers, as well as the goddesses Juno and Diana. The Tiber symbolizes Rome and is depicted as a bearded man with a cornucopia. Nearby, a legendary she-wolf emerges from the thickets. Arno symbolizes another Italian city - Florence, and also appears as a strong man with a cornucopia and the lion Marzocco - the patron saint of Florence. Juno personifies female power, she is depicted with a goose. According to legend, the geese from the temple of this particular goddess saved the city from the Gauls. Therefore, Juno appears here as the protector of Rome. Diana in Roman mythology is the goddess of plants and animals. She was also revered as a guardian of the roads, so her images were traditionally placed at crossroads. The Arno, Tiber and Juno fountains were designed by the sculptor Domenico Fontana, while the Diana fountain was designed by the artist and architect Pietro da Cortona.

The Della Barcaccia fountain was installed in 1629 in the Plaza de España. This creation by Pietro Bernini was supposed to perpetuate the memory of the people who suffered during the flood of 1598. The fountain is a semi-submerged boat. The mirror of the fountain is on the same level with the square. A small flow of water gives rise to a melancholic and intimate feeling.

The Fountain of the Four Rivers is one of the most impressive fountains in Rome. It was built in the middle of the 17th century by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. In the center stands an obelisk, decorated with a bronze dove with an olive branch in its beak. The dove was on the coat of arms of the Pamphili family, from which Pope Innocent X came. The Pontifex announced a competition for the best fountain using an obelisk. According to legend, Bernini was not allowed to participate, but he presented the project anyway. Seeing the layout, the Pope canceled the competition and entrusted the work to Bernini. A rock rises in the center of the fountain. Wild animals emerge from its caves. Around are male figures representing the four cardinal points and the four great rivers: the Danube - Europe, the Ganges - Asia, the Nile - Africa and La Plata - America.

The Fountain of the Four Rivers is located in the center of the elongated Piazza Navona. It is flanked by two more compositions. On one side is the fountain of the Moor taming the dolphin, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. On the other hand, the fountain of Neptune fighting an octopus surrounded by sea horses and cupids by Giacomo Della Porta.

Remembering the sights of Rome, it is impossible to pass by the Trevi Fountain. Adjacent to the Palazzo Poli, the Trevi Fountain surpasses in size all the other numerous fountains in Rome. The name of the fountain, built in the 18th century, comes from the name of the square on which this ensemble is located and means “three roads”. The Trevi Fountain was built on the site where the Aqua Virgo aqueduct ended - the Water of the Virgin. It was built by Mark Vipsanius Agrippa in 19 BC. According to legend, the location of the source was indicated to the emperor's associate by a girl. This scene is depicted in one of the reliefs of the Palazzo Poli. On the other, Mark Vipsanius Agrippa explains to Octavian Augustus the importance of developing the water supply network of Rome. Below in the niches are female figures representing Health and Abundance. The author of the Trevi Fountain, Nicolo Salvi, placed in the center of the composition the colossal figure of the Ocean riding on a huge chariot-shell drawn by sea horses. IN ancient Greek mythology The ocean is the personification of the world river, washing the land and the sea. Majestic, he rises above the bowl of the grandiose fountain Rome, representing the whole sea with rocks, shells and marine inhabitants.

Fountains amaze the imagination with a beautiful play of two powerful elements - air and water.

In addition to the famous fountains of Peterhof, there are many other interesting fountains. We have collected information about a wide variety of fountains in the city - from the constructions of Peter the Great to modern water structures. Unique attractions are located in different parts of St. Petersburg. Each of them is unique and beautiful in its own way. But all of them serve as real decorations for the great city on the Neva.

The Grand Cascade is one of the largest fountain ensembles in the world, with over 60 fountains and over 250 statues and reliefs. This is a brilliant monument of baroque art. The cascade is unique in its size and expressiveness, abundant and powerful water system, richness of sculptural decoration, graphic variety of water cannons. Modern look the cascade took shape over a century.

The main jet of the fountain shoots up 21 meters from a sculptural group placed on a massive rock in the Grand Cascade basin. The composition impresses with its power and beauty of the main sculpture, which depicts Samson, who entered into combat with a lion. The prototype of the composition is the engraving “To Sampson of Russia, the roaring Lion of Svea gloriously tore to pieces”, dedicated to the Battle of Poltava.

Address: Petrodvorets, st. Adjustable, d 2.

Fountain complex on Lenin Square

On September 22, 2005, the grand opening of the renovated Lenin Square took place, the central place on which is occupied by fountain complex.

The fountain complex on Lenin Square consists of 20 separate bowls. The fountains are equipped with lighting and musical accompaniment. From the Finlyandsky railway station there are two octagonal bowls and one rectangular bowl. A large bowl is installed in the center, from which about 500 jets beat, equipped with four-color illumination and eight cascades. It is in this bowl that beautiful lights are created. music shows. The musical work for the fountain complex was written by the St. Petersburg composer Sergei Banevich - and it consists of 13 parts (“Leningrad Front. Confrontation”, “Dream Ship” and others). The fountain complex is flanked by eight rectangular bowls on each side.

Address: pl. Lenin.

Fountain "Omega"

The hi-tech fountain symbolizes the latest trends in urban planning - unity, integrity of space, conciseness and creativity. The building is called the word "Omega" - this is the name of the last letter of the Greek alphabet.

The fountain in the shape of the letter "Omega" was inaugurated in 2006. The unique architectural and water facility is located opposite the Omega House residential complex. The seven-meter building is tilted at an angle of 45 degrees. From the building jets of water escape, which fall into a bowl-pedestal with a diameter of 13 meters.

At night, the fountain is illuminated by spotlights installed directly under the frame. This gives the fountain a special charming look.

The author of the Omega fountain is the chief landscape architect of St. Petersburg Larisa Kanunnikova-Domracheva. Some elements of the building are also decorated with the letter "Omega": canopies over the entrance to the entrance, benches and even trash cans.

Address: Pesochnaya embankment, 40.

Fountain complex on Moscow square

On the largest square in Europe there is a new modern fountain complex. It consists of 11 fountains that operate both in static and in light and music modes. Light and music shows on Moscow Square are beautiful music, high jets dancing to the beat of sounds, and lighting play. Musical evening shows"singing fountains" fills the atmosphere with the magic of the water element and decorates the darkening city.

The grand opening of the singing fountains on Moscow Square (about 13 hectares) took place in 2006. Fountains work in summer time of the year.

Address: Moscow square.

The fountain impresses with the original shape of the pool, made of snow-white marble, and beautiful tiers of thin streams of water.

Fountain "Crown" in the Summer Garden

Fountain "Crown" is located in front of the former entrance to Summer garden- from the side of the Champ de Mars. Nowadays, the fountain is decorated with gilded mascarons, modeled after the mascarons found in the Summer Garden in the 1960s (at present, the items have been deposited with the Peterhof State Museum-Reserve). This is a multi-jet fountain, which forms a crown-like composition from water jets. The fountain pool is made of white marble. The composition of the fountain is favorably complemented by the landscaped lawn surrounding it.

The "crown" fountain was designed by architect Mikhail Zemtsov in 1725. During the flood of 1777, the fountain was destroyed, and in 1786 it was covered up. The fountain was restored already in 2010-2011 on the basis of iconographic materials and materials from archaeological excavations.

Address: St. Petersburg, Summer Garden.

"Dancing" fountain near Gostiny Dvor in Kronstadt

One of the few "dancing" fountains in St. Petersburg is located in the port city of Kronstadt. The fountain was installed in honor of the 300th anniversary of the city in the square near Gostiny Dvor and became one of the most beautiful light and musical compositions in St. Petersburg.

The extensive pool of the fountain (220 sq. m.) is lined with granite. A bowl is installed in the pool, repeating with its contours the Kronshlot Fort of Peter the Great. Herself water system fountain created by modern technologies using solenoid valves. Thanks to this, a unique moving pattern of water jets is formed. Water streams dance continuously, changing the height of the movement. Due to beautiful music and lighting, unique shows are created that captivate with their beauty and spectacle (especially in the evening).

Address: Kronstadt, Lenin Ave., 16.

The seven-tiered fountain "Pyramid" in the Lower Park of Peterhof reaches 8 meters in height. This is a sparkling obelisk made of water jets, made in the shape of a pyramid. The base of the fountain-pyramid is a granite pedestal with three steps, through which water flows into a shallow bypass channel (encircling the entire ensemble). The bypass pool is surrounded by a marble balustrade decorated with vases.

The water obelisk in the form of a pyramid was conceived as a monument to the victory of the Russian people in the centuries-old struggle for the independence of their cultural heritage.

Address: Petrodvorets, st. Adjustable, d 2.

Fountain "Glory" in the Moscow Victory Park

In the Moscow Victory Park there is a fountain with the speaking name "Glory". The fountain crowns the Alley of Heroes with bronze busts of Leningraders - heroes of the Soviet Union.

In a round granite bowl, decorated with wreaths of laurel and tulips, there are 12 water cannons, from which jets of water go in different directions, and the central jet goes up, rising up to 12 meters. In the center of the bowl is a granite tulip, from which a powerful jet of water also beats.

According to the design concept of the fountain, the main stream shows the desire for life, and the jets of water along the edge of the bowl bow before the feat of the Soviet people.

The opening of the park and the fountain took place on October 7, 1945, in honor of the Great Victory of the USSR over Nazi Germany. The park was designed by the architect E. Katonin and his student V. Kirkhoglani. The park is conceived as a hymn to life, and as a story about the exploits during the war, taking into account the traditions of domestic gardening art.

Address: Moscow Victory Park.

Fountains in the porter garden of Smolny

In a picturesque park Smolny Cathedral there are four identical fountains. They are made in the form of large round bowls, from which jets of water shoot up. Two bowls are located on one side of the Smolny Cathedral, they are separated by a large flower bed, two exactly the same fountains are placed on the opposite side.

The fountains were launched in 1934 and since then tirelessly adorn the architecture and landscape of the park.

Address: parterre garden of Smolny.

Fountain "Dandelion" in Zelenogorsk

The picturesque fountain in the shape of a dandelion, located in the square on Lenina Avenue in Zelenogorsk, is very popular with local residents and guest of the city. The spherical design of the fountain with many tubes resembles a fluffy flower - round, standing on a long stem. Jets of water pour from the fluff tubes and flow into the pool. The fountain creates a feeling of lightness and airiness, and on hot days it refreshes the surrounding area.

In the evening, the backlight turns on, due to which the composition becomes even more spectacular and interesting. The grand opening of the fountain took place in the summer of 2011.

Note that the Dandelion Fountain is also located at the Yubileiny JCC and in Strelna. All of them serve as an unusual decoration for the surrounding territories and are favorite places for walking the townspeople.

Address: Zelenogorsk, Lenin Ave., 15.

The Lion Cascade is one of the most significant fountain structures of the mid-19th century in Russia. It is made in the style of late classicism, due to which it stands out from the rest of the buildings of the Peterhof ensemble. The unique architectural and fountain composition consists of a pool, a colonnade (14 granite columns), 12 marble bowls, sculptures of lions and a statue of the Nymph Aganipa.

Address: Petrodvorets, st. Adjustable, d 2.

Fountain in the Alexander Garden opposite the Admiralty

The fountain became one of the most grandiose structures among fountains in the 19th century. Nowadays, the fountain still pleases numerous citizens and tourists walking along the alleys of the Alexander Garden.

The fountain consists of many water jets, beating high up. The basin of the fountain is a bowl of granular granite, installed opposite the entrance to the Main Admiralty and Gorokhovaya Street.

The first draft of the fountain was made by the architect I. Merz in 1872, but it needed to be redone. N. Benois took up the revision of the project in 1875. The architect A. Geshvend also joined the development of the new project, who finalized the details and drawings.

Work on the installation of this structure was entrusted to the merchant E.F. Ovchinnikov. In 1876, the construction of this fountain began on the site that had been left especially for it when planning the garden. The fountain was launched on October 13, 1879. The opening of a beautiful water facility in the Alexander Garden was a solemn spectacle.

The cascade was built according to the plan of Peter I, following the example of the cascade in the residence of the King of France. At the top of the cascade is a grotto surrounded by three figures of dragons, from whose mouths jets of water escape. On both sides of the cascade, stairs are built, decorated with white stone statues. Water flows down four ledges (black-and-white, "checkerboard" plateaus) into a round pool.

Address: Petrodvorets, st. Adjustable, d 2.

Fountains are another reason to come to the Northern capital. The fountains of St. Petersburg belong to different historical eras and events, they give strong positive emotions, make you feel the power and beauty of water.

Story

Park art began in the era of Peter I. In 1705, the city was built by masters invited from Europe. The European trend of that time - park and fountain ensembles - influenced architectural appearance future capital.

The first fountains appeared in the Summer Garden. There were about sixty of them, each representing an Aesop fable. Nearby stood a pillar, which described its interpretation. Until now, they have not been preserved, they were destroyed by the floods of 1777 and 1824.

In the 18th century, fountains began to appear in wealthy noble estates.

The history of fountains began in St. Petersburg

In the 19th century, interest in them resumed. Construction moved to yards, squares, gazebos.

In the last century, most of the cultural monuments were abandoned, only since 1996, the reconstruction of old and the construction of new fountains in St. Petersburg began.

fountain season

The opening of the St. Petersburg season traditionally begins in the spring. Fountains turn on in mid-April.

Interesting! In the 2018 season, 52 St. Petersburg fountains and 4 complexes are operating.

Among them are monuments of culture and art:

• "Samson" and "Big Cascade" in Peterhof;
• "Crown" and "Pyramid" of the Summer Garden;
• drinking fountain "Aquarius" at the Kazan Cathedral;
• fountain in the Alexander Garden.

Modern buildings:

• singing fountains in St. Petersburg on Lenin Square;
• "Ball" on Malaya Sadovaya;
• "Omega".

Peterhof

Museum-reserve Peterhof brought northern capital world fame.

Museum reserve

The first fountains started working in 1721 in honor of the opening of a new country residence of Peter.

During the Second World War, some of the fountains were destroyed. There was little time left to prepare for the evacuation. The Nazis entered Peterhof already on September 23, 1941. Many sculptures were taken out, the rest were hidden under the palace or buried in the ground.

Currently, the complex consists of 4 cascades and 173 fountains.

The Grand Cascade is one of the largest fountain structures in the world. It constitutes one architectural complex with the palace, coincides with it in width, consists of 60 fountains. It is decorated with 225 gilded bronze, lead and marble sculptures. During the holidays, he becomes part of the costume performances.

The central element of the cascade is "Samson tearing the lion's mouth". This is a three-meter statue-fountain, rising high up to 21 m. It depicts a mighty young man tearing the grinning mouth of the beast, from which a column of water escapes. The composition was installed in 1734 on the anniversary of the celebration of the Battle of Poltava.

Three Samsons have changed over the history of the Museum-Reserve. The first - cast from lead by the sculptor Bartolomeo Carlo Rastrelli in 1735, lost its luster over time, in 1802 it was replaced with bronze. This statue was lost during the years of occupation. In 1947, on the basis of archival data and photographs, it was restored.

The ceremonial launch of the Grand Cascade and the Samson Fountain takes place daily at 11:00 am to the anthem of St. Petersburg.

"Samson" is located in the Lower Park of Peterhof

• 10:00 to 18:00 Monday - Saturday;
• Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 19:00.

How much are the tickets

Note! The autumn holiday, which is called "The Closing of the Fountains" will be held on September 21 and 22. But the fountains will work until October 14, 2018.

Summer garden

The Crown Fountain is located next to the entrance to the Summer Garden from the side of the Champ de Mars. It was one of the first structures built at the beginning of the 18th century. Many jets of water form a crown-like composition. Its shape gave it its name. The Koronny pool is made of white marble.

Summer garden

Destroyed by a flood in 1777, "Koronny" was restored at the beginning of the 21st century during a large-scale reconstruction of the park ensemble based on materials from archaeological excavations. Among the recreated objects were the Pyramid and Octahedral fountains.

Address: Kutuzov embankment, 2.

Fountains in the center of St. Petersburg

In the very center of St. Petersburg, opposite the Admiralty in the Alexander Garden, there is a fountain of the 19th century. The construction was a hydrotechnical masterpiece of that time.

Petersburgers say that there are fountains in St. Petersburg that make wishes come true.

The one opposite the Admiralty is one of them. You need to stand with your back to the water, make a wish and throw a coin into the fountain and then immediately leave without turning around.

The granite fountain-drinker "Aquarius" near the Kazan Cathedral is an architectural monument of the early 19th century. It was installed on the way to Tsarskoe Selo for watering horses. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was moved to Leningrad, to Voronikhinsky Square, opposite the entrance to the Kazan Cathedral. Every spring, Aquarius is the first to open the fountain season.

"Aquarius" opens a new season

Modern fountain complexes

The complex on Lenin Square near the Finland Station is equipped with light and music. The fountains are placed in 20 bowls, which are illuminated in different colors and move to the beat of the music. The show is interesting to watch in the evening.

During public holidays fountains accompany theatrical performances.

In static mode, the complex operates daily from 10 am to 11 pm.

Fountains begin to "dance":

• on weekdays at 12:00, 21:40;
• on weekends and holidays 12:00, 20:00, 21:00, 21:40.

The program lasts 20-25 minutes.

Important! In the 2018 season, the second light and music complex on Moskovskaya Square is closed for repairs.

Ball fountain

Smooth stone ball weighing more than 700 kg rotates freely, it is worth touching it lightly with your hand. Strong water jets support its heavy weight.

The ball fountain is a copy of a copper ball created by M. V. Lomonosov during the reign of Catherine II. By changing the direction of rotation every hour, it showed the time of day.

Address: corner of Malaya Sadovaya and Nevsky Prospekt.

Omega

"Omega": night illumination

The fountain is made in the form of the Greek letter "omega". It is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees, the water flows in a circle, forming a water curtain. The height of the structure is 7 meters, the diameter of the ring is 13. The presentation of the structure took place in 2006.

Address: Pesochnaya embankment, 40.

Every summer, millions of tourists come to St. Petersburg - a city where amazing fountains are located. Guests of the city get acquainted with the architecture of palaces, the splendor of park and fountain complexes, throw coins into the fountains of St. Petersburg and come back again.