The Alexander Column gave Palace Square in St. Petersburg a harmonious and completed look that remains forever in memory. This soaring monument, dedicated to the Russian people and Emperor Alexander I, was erected by the decree of Nicholas I in honor of the victory over Napoleon. The column is the tallest in the world, made from a granite monolith, and its construction in the 1830s was a spectacle of unprecedented scale.

Ironically, the author of the Empire-style column, erected in honor of the victory over the French, was the Frenchman Auguste Montferrand. Nicholas I, who decided to immortalize the memory of his brother who led the Russian troops, chose Montferrand, who had already made a name for himself in the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral. Montferrand proposed to use granite from the Pyuterlak quarry in Finland, where scaffolding for the columns of Isaac had already been built. Despite the skepticism of many, Montferrand convinced the emperor of the possibility of carving and delivering such a large piece of granite to St. Petersburg.

Interestingly, Montferrand himself served in the Napoleonic army and was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor. Military campaigns shaped him as a person and artist, and he always regarded Napoleon with respect. However, after meeting Alexander I in Paris, he came to St. Petersburg, where he found recognition and a second homeland. His candidacy for the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral was proposed by Augustin Betancourt, and although the cathedral was completed under Alexander II, Montferrand died shortly after.

Initially, Montferrand wanted to erect an obelisk in the center of the square, but Nicholas I insisted on a column. Ultimately, the Alexander Column surpassed its prototypes in Paris, Rome, and Alexandria in size. Its height is 47.5 meters, and its weight is about 700 tons.

The construction of the column was the result of the coordinated work of many talented people. The contract for the foundation and granite processing was awarded to merchant Vasily Yakovlev, who handled the task brilliantly. A huge piece of granite was hewn from the rock and delivered to St. Petersburg on a specially built ship, the 'Saint Nicholas.' The unloading of the column involved 640 workers, and each stage of construction turned into an unforgettable spectacle.

The Alexander Column stands slightly offset towards the Winter Palace. Montferrand used a foundation installation method developed by Betancourt. The pedestal was a stone weighing 400 tons, quarried near the Pyuterlak quarry. A box with commemorative coins and medals was laid in the foundation.

The solemn installation of the column took place on August 30, 1832, with about 10,000 people attending the ceremony. The operation involved 2,500 people and took 100 minutes. After the successful completion, Nicholas I told Montferrand, 'You have immortalized yourself!'

The date of the column's installation was not chosen by chance; it coincided with the day of the transfer of the relics of Alexander Nevsky. The unveiling of the monument took place two years later, after polishing and the installation of the angel at the top. The ceremony was attended by the emperor, diplomats, and troops.

The angel on the column, designed by Boris Orlovsky, resembles Alexander I. The pedestal is adorned with bas-reliefs depicting allegories of Victory, Peace, and others. The fence around the column was replaced with a metal one featuring the coats of arms of Russia and lanterns.

The Alexander Column is often referred to as the Alexandria Pillar due to lines from Pushkin. However, some philologists doubt that the poet meant this monument.

The Soviet government wanted to cover the angel, but Lunacharsky defended it. During the war, the column sustained damage, which was repaired in 2003. The historical fence around the monument was restored, but it faced vandalism.

Today, the Alexander Column is an integral part of Palace Square, and the angel at its top continues to watch over the city on the Neva.