Peter and Paul Fortress

Peter and Paul Fortress is located on the Neva River in the city center and is an iconic ancient building in St. Petersburg. The fortress was laid by Peter the Great on Rabbit Island in 1703, where Peter the Great broke ground earlier to build St. Petersburg, and has stood for more than three centuries. The Peter and Paul Fortress has buildings such as Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Bell Tower, St. Peter's Gate, Peter the Great's Boathouse, the Mint, the Arsenal, the Kronwerk Fortress, and the December Revolutionary Monument. The most famous of them is the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which has a solemn appearance and a magnificent interior, with copper-plated chandeliers and colored crystal chandeliers. The interior walls of the church are decorated with 43 intricately carved woodcut statues. The church houses the tombs of the Russian tsars from Peter the Great to Alexander III, and many princes are also buried here. The gleaming spire of the church's tall bell tower is a symbol of Russian domination on the Neva River and the Baltic Sea Territory. First pass through the Ivanov Gate. The gate leading from the square to the fortress castle is called Petrov Gate, and it is decorated with a double-headed eagle in relief. The rear wall surrounding the fortress is 12 meters high and 2.5 to 4 meters wide, and there are also 6 bastions. Among them, the Nafushkin Fortress facing the Neva River will launch an empty shell into the air at noon every day to announce the time to the residents of the city. On the south side of the fortress are several military-related buildings, which have now been converted into museums. The St. Petersburg History Museum is also located here. This is a large-scale and rich museum that displays historical materials in the area from the Stone Age. It also uses small models, videos, etc. to display, which is very interesting. In addition, scattered along the battlements of the fortress is also a good way to visit the Peter and Paul Fortress, with amazing views of the Neva River and the cityscape on the opposite bank.