The landscape of St. Petersburg is unimaginable without the golden spire of the Peter and Paul Fortress, which rises above the gray sky of the city. It is from this fortress, located at the mouth of the Neva River, that the history of St. Petersburg began. The date of its founding is considered to be May 16 (27), 1703, when the Peter and Paul Fortress was laid. Here are concentrated the most important symbols of the new Russia of Peter the Great: the Peter and Paul Cathedral, surpassing the luxury of Moscow buildings, the burial place of the Romanov dynasty, and a prison for enemies of the throne. The golden angel on the bell tower protected the city. Today, the fortress is one of the most popular museums among tourists and residents of the city.

History of the Fortress

The cannons of the Peter and Paul Fortress never fired at enemy ships, but it remains a unique monument of fortification art of the 18th-19th centuries. In the early 18th century, Peter I waged war with Sweden for access to the Baltic Sea. The fortress, located at the mouth of the Neva, was meant to protect the new capital of Russia from Swedish ships. Its star-shaped plan was developed by the emperor himself along with French engineer Lambert de Gerens. Construction proceeded quickly, and many fortress serfs died from diseases and hard labor in the swamps.

The fortress was built on Hare Island. According to legend, there were so many hares here that one of them jumped onto the emperor's hand to escape the flood. However, it is more likely that the name of the island comes from the Finnish word "Enisaari," meaning "island of hares." In honor of the first "inhabitants" of the island, a sculpture of a hare was installed under the bridge leading to the island for the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg. Metal hares can also be found in various places within the fortress.

Peter and Paul Cathedral

The Peter and Paul Cathedral, the heart of the fortress, is dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul. Italian architect Domenico Trezzini built it in the Baroque style, and it resembles Western European churches more than Russian Orthodox ones. The cathedral symbolized the grandeur of the new Russia. With its 122-meter spire and angel on top, it was the tallest building in Russia and dominated the city until the early 20th century.

Inside, the cathedral impresses with a 20-meter iconostasis created in honor of the victory in the Northern War. Since 2000, the church has been active again, and church services are held here.

Burial Place of the Romanovs

The Peter and Paul Cathedral is the burial place of the tsars of the Romanov dynasty, starting with Peter I and ending with Nicholas II and his family. Other members of the royal family are also buried here. According to one legend, the Bolsheviks looted the tombs after coming to power, but museum staff deny this. In the 1990s, to identify the remains of Nicholas II and his family, it was necessary to disturb the ashes of his relatives. One coffin in the burial place is empty: the ashes of Grand Duchess Alexandra Georgievna were sent to Greece in 1939. In the 1930s, the graves in the burial place were repeatedly desecrated, but no jewels were found in the coffins.

Guardian Angel

The weathervane in the shape of an angel on the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral is a symbol of St. Petersburg. Installed in 1724, it has survived many historical storms. In 1830, the angel lost a wing due to a hurricane but was restored by Peter Telushkin, who earned the right to free refreshments in any tavern for his work. The current angel, the fourth in a row, appeared after the 19th-century reconstruction and was damaged during the Great Patriotic War.

Structure of the Fortress

The six bastions of the fortress, connected by curtains, are named after Peter I and his associates. The fortress is protected by ravelins from the west and east. The thickness of the walls is 20 meters. The mint, established over 300 years ago, still mints coins. Every day at noon, a cannon fires from the Naryshkin Bastion, and in the summer, the ceremonial changing of the guard can be seen.

Tourists usually enter the fortress through the Peter's Gate, the first ceremonial gates of Russia. They are adorned with the coat of arms of the Russian Empire and sculptures of goddesses. The fortress served as a place for religious services, a burial place for kings, and a prison for high-profile prisoners. Decembrists and other famous inmates were held and executed here.

Modern Exhibitions

The fortress opened to visitors in the early 19th century. In 1954, it became part of the State Museum of the History of Leningrad. Today, it houses many museums, including the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Grand Ducal Burial Place, and the Museum of Cosmonautics. The Commandant's House presents the history of St. Petersburg. The Botany House displays a replica of Peter I's first Russian ship. From the Tsar's Bastion, one can walk through the underground passages.

On the main alley of the fortress, since 1991, there has been a bronze monument to Peter I by Mikhail Shemyakin. The fortress regularly hosts exhibitions, and it continues to live and develop alongside the city.