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Vyborg Clock Tower  Vyborg Castle |
In the northeast of the Karelian Isthmus, at the Finnish border, on the picturesque coast of the Gulf of Vyborg, there's the town of Vyborg, over 700 years old, fonded in 1293. Vyborg is located 130 km from St. Petersburg. Its area is about 7000 sq.km.
The ancient inhabitants of the Karelian Isthmus were Karelians. One of the Karelian trade settlements was located not far from present day Vyborg. In the 13th century the area was occupied by Swedes who built a fortress, called Vyborg from which they made raids to Russia. Around the fortress a medieval town formed. The Swedes were dominating in the westen part of the Karelian Isthmus for over four centuries. These land were returned to Russia only in the course of the Northern War (1700-1721). By that time Vyborg had become one of the powerful fortresses. From 1710 till 1811 Vyborg was part of the Russian Empire. The town grew and new forts were constructed. In the 19th century Vyborg was one of the cultural centres of Finland. The architectural face of the city was taking shape for over seven centuries. The following architectural monuments survive: the round tower on Market Square, a Dominican Monastery Cathedral, the city tower, the Hyacinth church, the Parcelax bastion, the commandant's house, etc. In the Old Vyborg quarters there are also monuments of the 14th - 17th century civil architecture and narrow cobbled streets. Vyborg is also famous for its architectural and natural museum reserve Monrepos Park. |
Little-visited
Gatchina is one of the country's finest palace and park complexes. The picturesque relief and abundance of spring lakes have allowed creating here a unique palace and park ensemble in the second half of the 18-th century. The unusual palace built in the style of early classicism has ten towers and an underground passage, that leads to the coast of the Silver Lake and introduces the note of mystery in the romantic image of the palace (it carries the name "the Grotto of Echo").
Kronstadt
 The famous Kronstadt Naval Cathedral  Kronstadt is marked with a star
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Kronstadt is located at the Kotlin island in the Gulf of Finland, 29 km North-West of St.Petersburg. The length of the island is 12 km, maximum width is 2 km, it is 15 sq. km in area. The civic population of the town of Kronstadt is about 50,000 people. A Navy base of the Russian Baltic Fleet occupies about one half of the island. Due to the presence of the Navy base a special security regime used to be established for the inhabitants and visitors of Kronstadt: no visitor (foreign or domestic) could enter Kotlin island without a written permission of the civil or military administration. Nowadays Kronstadt is open for visitors and I invite You to explore this little town that used to play a very important role in the history of Russia. In the ancient times this small town on the isle of Kotlin in the Gulf of Finland was one of the multiple towns located along the great trade water route. This town was marked of the maps of "Hanse" where navigators of Novgorod the Great were located. The fort of Kronshlot was sanctified on the 7 (18) of may 1704. This day can be marked as the beginning of the history of this sea-fortress which is considered to be one of the most celebrated creations of Peter the Great. The history of Kronstadt is tightly linked with the history of St. Petersburg. Created and built by the genius of great masters, experienced and skillful builders and fortification engineers, this town has become a stronghold in the way of those who tried to enter Kronstadt by force but it has always been hospitable to those who came with peace and good will. Fortifying and building-up the town have always considered the matters of the utmost importance. Being built as a fortress it was later considered by Peter the Great to be part of the capital of Russia. That is why Kronstadt like St. Petersburg developed according to the detailed plans. Many associates of Peter the Great as well as other celebrated people of that time lived and created their pieces of architectural and fortification art in the city. Nowadays you can count more than 300 monuments of history, engineering and culture in Kronstadt. Among them one can find such unique ensembles, hydrotechnical and fortifications buildings as the Kronstadt Fort, the architectural ensemble of province cottages of the beginning of the XVII-th century, the self-draining channel - dock of Peter I which was built in the period between 1719 and 1752 and was the first building of this kind in the world, the full size model of a military settlement of the XVII-th century, the Naval Cathedral of the beginning of the XX-th century and many other monuments making up an inimitable in its variety architectural image of this town-fortress-port. |
Smolny museum is different from the previous sights - it's located in the heart of the city yet far from all citizens of St. Petersburg know it exists.
 Smolny
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The historical memorial museum "Smolny" is located in one of the most famous buildings of our country.
The building of Smolny created in 1806-1808 by the Italian architect Giacomo Quarenghi
for Institute for noble girls and it was one of the most prestigeous schools for more than 100 years. After the February revolution in 1917 the building became the heart of exciting political life in the city and in Russia. After the October revolution Smolny became the residence of the first Soviet Government, which worked in this building till the 10th of March, 1918, when the capital was moved to Moscow. During World War II Smolny was the heart of the sieged Leningrad - the headquarters of the city defence and the Military Council of Leningrad were located there.
Nowdays Smolny houses the Municipal Administration. You will visit the following expositions: "The history of the women's education in Russia. Smolny Institute for noble girls" - devoted to the history and development of the first state school for girls in Russia The Memorial Lenin's Museum in Smolny - it includes Lenin's study and the room where Lenin lived 4 months (from November 10, 1917 till March 10, 1918). |
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