The Peter and Paul Fortress is located in the Russian city of St. Petersburg (see photo below), on the right bank of the Neva River on Hare Island (see photo below). Because the Peter and Paul Fortress is the same age as the city of St. Petersburg, the fortress has a long history dating back to the distant founding of the city.
Overlooking Peter and Paul Fortress (1).
Overlooking Peter and Paul Fortress (II).
Overlooking Peter and Paul Fortress (III).
A bronze statue of a hare in "Hare Island".
During the Third Northern War between Russia and Sweden, Tsar Peter I ordered the construction of a military fortress on the "Hare Island" on the right bank of the Neva River in 1703 to defend against the invasion of the Swedes. Peter I and his ministers personally supervised the construction of the fortress. The builders of the fortress consisted mainly of ** soldiers, captured Swedes, ** peasants driven by order of the tsar, and criminals serving prison sentences. The construction environment was very difficult, with hunger, cold and epidemics taking the lives of countless builders. Fearing an attack by the Swedes, the construction of the fortress was particularly hasty and was officially completed in the same year.
Peter and Paul Fortress (1).
Peter and Paul Fortress (II).
The Peter and Paul Fortress used the latest technology of Western defense engineering, so it was a first-class example of military engineering of its time. The walls of the fortress were 9 meters high and about 20 meters thick, and were surrounded by water on all sides, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack, and there was not even a single piece of land for the enemy to land. The Peter and Paul Fortress was completed in 1703, and a solemn completion ceremony was held on June 15 of the same year, which is the day of birth of the city of St. Petersburg, so the origin of the Peter and Paul Fortress is in the city of St. Petersburg, it is a symbol of the rise and power of Russia, but at that time it had not yet decided to build a city in the region.
Fortress'sJohannofsky Gate
Floor plan of Peter and Paul Fortress
Although the Peter and Paul Fortress was built as a military defense, the fortress was given a strong political significance, symbolizing Russia's landmark victory on the Baltic coast, thus revealing its new status as a maritime power. In addition, during the reign of Peter I, the fortress was well equipped with churches, senates, treasury, barracks, warehouses and pharmacies.
EarlyPeter and Paul FortressSandbox model).
The fortress of the Peter and Paul Fortress was built of mud in the early days and was rebuilt from 1706 onwards with masonry. During the reign of Tsar Catherina, yellow granite was added to the outer side of the fortress as decoration. In addition, the buildings in the fort were civil structures in the early days, and were gradually replaced with masonry structures between 1730 and 1740 and in the 1780s. During the nineteenth century, the fortress was slightly enlarged, for example in 1806 with the addition of the building of the Mint (see picture below).
Mint (a).
Mint (II).
With the successive victories in the Northern War, the Peter and Paul Fortress gradually lost its military significance after 1717. The Tsar** set up the famous Trubetz prison inside the fortress (see photo below), which housed a large number of "political prisoners".
Trubetz Prison(a).
Trubetz Prison(b).
Trubetz Prison(c).
On the eve of the October Revolution of 1917, the Peter and Paul Fortress became the secret command of the rebel army. On the night of the October Revolution, a signal light hung on the fortress's fortress, and the cruiser Aurora (pictured below) received the signal and immediately shelled the Winter Palace, thus unveiling the wave of the uprising. **Temporarily*** After being arrested, he was imprisoned in the Trubets prison inside the fortress.
Cruiser Aurora
In 1924, the Peter and Paul Fortress was established as a revolutionary museum by the Soviet Union, so visitors to St. Petersburg should visit the Peter and Paul Fortress in addition to the Winter Palace. Tourists can not only trace the ancient ruins in the fortress, but also enjoy the breathtaking scenery on the banks of the Neva River.
of the thirtiesPeter and Paul Fortress
To be continued Peter and Paul Fortress (II).