Moscow news
-
07-May-2008
Kronstadt Guardhouse at Sea
The to-do list of any visitor to St. Petersburg necessarily includes the city's obvious magnificent estates, like Pushkin and Peterhof. But how many know about Kronstadt? A small town on the island of Kotlin, Kronstadt, the Crown City, remains a functional fortress protecting the sea approaches to St. Petersburg with a huge artificial archipelago of forts.
Kronstadt was founded by the first Russian emperor, Peter the Great. Upon seizing the island from Sweden in 1703, he ordered the construction of defensive forts. The pace of the work was tireless, and by 1704 the Swedes were shocked to see a fort on an artificial island, as well as other fortifications on Kotlin island. They still considered it their territory, however, and Karl XII of Sweden commented that they should let the Russians build for awhile before the Swedes take it all back. Of course, that was not meant to be, and the new forts helped put an end to Sweden's claims to the area.
The first modest forts evolved and developed into one of the mightiest sea defense lines in the world.
Access to Kronstadt has long been quite restricted, but it has opened up some for tourists, especially after a dam connected it with the mainland. Driving along the dam you can see for yourself the scope of the fortifications. There is a row of small artificial islands making a line across the whole waterway, with a small strait between them.
The largest one grew on the largest Kotlin island and was named Kronstadt after the Crown. Kronstadt nowadays feels like a giant naval base. Even its streets and squares are named to commemorate admirals and historic events at sea. Moreover, being an island, Kronstadt managed to maintain its unique image and develop consistently while inviting the best engineers and scientists.
The central Yakornaya Ploshad (Anchor Square) of Kronstadt is marked by the huge Naval Cathedral, which nearly rivals St. Petersburg's famous Saint Isaac's Cathedral. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the Naval Cathedral could host up to 5,000 people and was used as a club, a concert hall and a cinema in Soviet times while still remaining a museum. However, there are now efforts to return it back to the Church.
The square itself is triangular, and one of its sides is lined with a cast iron road, perhaps the only such road left in the world. The square also features another newly erected symbol of Kronstadt, a monument to Admiral Makarov, who was killed in action during Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905. An eternal flame is also present in the square.
Take a walk across a nearby ravine with a hanging bridge and wander along old streets gazing from side to side at old buildings strict and square, pass Letny Sad (Summer Garden) and reach the Arsenal lined with old canons, and the quayside packed with warships of different kinds. Visit Petrovsky Park (Peter Park) adjoining the Arsenal to see another monument to Peter the Great, here as the founder of Kronstadt. The monument is interesting in its own way. Peter the Great is depicted as a stubby man of a regular physique. It was made intentionally in the 19th century on the order of Nicholas I. Actually, Peter the Great was very slim and spindly and it was the first time he was depicted with his whole body (before that only busts or horse monuments existed).
Walk further along the quay, pass the lighthouse and then head further to Peter the Great docks and canal, where a drawbridge is in place to move to the side to let ships in.
Don't miss the so called "Blue Bridge," with the modest sea level mark on the side, which marks the zero point for the Baltic system of elevations. This system is used all over Russia and in some countries of the former Soviet Union to measure heights and depths. An elegant yellow booth nearby is actually a deep well with a water level recorder keeping sea level statistics since it was installed in 1898. Those liking unusual monuments should definitely check out the small monument to the stickleback, a small fish that helped locals survive the German blockade during the World War II.
To get a full impression of Kronstadt take a walk along the bypass canal which flows though the central historical part of town with its barracks, administrative buildings and houses.
Among other attractions along the way is the Iron Tree standing on the canal's bank not far from the Blue Bridge. According to a newly hatched tradition, one should throw a coin into a nest of the tree and then whisper a devout wish.
Kronstadt is unique in the way that you can never get lost there, thanks to the military's strict town layout and the fact that it is an island. You can spend two or three hours in town and see all the sights, but on the other hand, you could also spend a whole day there without getting bored.
By Alexander Usoltsev
The central Yakornaya Ploshad (Anchor Square) of Kronstadt is marked by the huge Naval Cathedral, which nearly rivals St. Petersburg's famous Saint Isaac's Cathedral. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the Naval Cathedral could host up to 5,000 people and was used as a club, a concert hall and a cinema in Soviet times while still remaining a museum. However, there are now efforts to return it back to the Church.
The square itself is triangular, and one of its sides is lined with a cast iron road, perhaps the only such road left in the world. The square also features another newly erected symbol of Kronstadt, a monument to Admiral Makarov, who was killed in action during Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905. An eternal flame is also present in the square.
Take a walk across a nearby ravine with a hanging bridge and wander along old streets gazing from side to side at old buildings strict and square, pass Letny Sad (Summer Garden) and reach the Arsenal lined with old canons, and the quayside packed with warships of different kinds. Visit Petrovsky Park (Peter Park) adjoining the Arsenal to see another monument to Peter the Great, here as the founder of Kronstadt. The monument is interesting in its own way. Peter the Great is depicted as a stubby man of a regular physique. It was made intentionally in the 19th century on the order of Nicholas I. Actually, Peter the Great was very slim and spindly and it was the first time he was depicted with his whole body (before that only busts or horse monuments existed).
Walk further along the quay, pass the lighthouse and then head further to Peter the Great docks and canal, where a drawbridge is in place to move to the side to let ships in.
Don't miss the so called "Blue Bridge," with the modest sea level mark on the side, which marks the zero point for the Baltic system of elevations. This system is used all over Russia and in some countries of the former Soviet Union to measure heights and depths. An elegant yellow booth nearby is actually a deep well with a water level recorder keeping sea level statistics since it was installed in 1898. Those liking unusual monuments should definitely check out the small monument to the stickleback, a small fish that helped locals survive the German blockade during the World War II.
To get a full impression of Kronstadt take a walk along the bypass canal which flows though the central historical part of town with its barracks, administrative buildings and houses.
Among other attractions along the way is the Iron Tree standing on the canal's bank not far from the Blue Bridge. According to a newly hatched tradition, one should throw a coin into a nest of the tree and then whisper a devout wish.
Kronstadt is unique in the way that you can never get lost there, thanks to the military's strict town layout and the fact that it is an island. You can spend two or three hours in town and see all the sights, but on the other hand, you could also spend a whole day there without getting bored.
By Alexander Usoltsev
The central Yakornaya Ploshad (Anchor Square) of Kronstadt is marked by the huge Naval Cathedral, which nearly rivals St. Petersburg's famous Saint Isaac's Cathedral. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the Naval Cathedral could host up to 5,000 people and was used as a club, a concert hall and a cinema in Soviet times while still remaining a museum. However, there are now efforts to return it back to the Church.
The square itself is triangular, and one of its sides is lined with a cast iron road, perhaps the only such road left in the world. The square also features another newly erected symbol of Kronstadt, a monument to Admiral Makarov, who was killed in action during Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905. An eternal flame is also present in the square.
Take a walk across a nearby ravine with a hanging bridge and wander along old streets gazing from side to side at old buildings strict and square, pass Letny Sad (Summer Garden) and reach the Arsenal lined with old canons, and the quayside packed with warships of different kinds. Visit Petrovsky Park (Peter Park) adjoining the Arsenal to see another monument to Peter the Great, here as the founder of Kronstadt. The monument is interesting in its own way. Peter the Great is depicted as a stubby man of a regular physique. It was made intentionally in the 19th century on the order of Nicholas I. Actually, Peter the Great was very slim and spindly and it was the first time he was depicted with his whole body (before that only busts or horse monuments existed).
Walk further along the quay, pass the lighthouse and then head further to Peter the Great docks and canal, where a drawbridge is in place to move to the side to let ships in.
Don't miss the so called "Blue Bridge," with the modest sea level mark on the side, which marks the zero point for the Baltic system of elevations. This system is used all over Russia and in some countries of the former Soviet Union to measure heights and depths. An elegant yellow booth nearby is actually a deep well with a water level recorder keeping sea level statistics since it was installed in 1898. Those liking unusual monuments should definitely check out the small monument to the stickleback, a small fish that helped locals survive the German blockade during the World War II.
To get a full impression of Kronstadt take a walk along the bypass canal which flows though the central historical part of town with its barracks, administrative buildings and houses.
Among other attractions along the way is the Iron Tree standing on the canal's bank not far from the Blue Bridge. According to a newly hatched tradition, one should throw a coin into a nest of the tree and then whisper a devout wish.
Kronstadt is unique in the way that you can never get lost there, thanks to the military's strict town layout and the fact that it is an island. You can spend two or three hours in town and see all the sights, but on the other hand, you could also spend a whole day there without getting bored.
By Alexander Usoltsev
The Moscow News