The Peter and Paul Fortress

• Address: 197046, Sankt-Peterburg, Peter and Paul Fortress, 3
• Telephone: +7(812)640-02-28
  
• Working hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun: 10: 00-18: 00. Museum closed: Wednesday
• Price: 530 - 530 ₽

Show tickets

On May 27th 1703 the Russian Emperor Peter the Great ordered to erect the Peter and Paul fortress on the Hare Island. This date is considered the date of the foundation of Russian Northern capital, and the fortress began its life. These were hard times, Russia was having a war with Sweden, and the enemy was victorious. What was the Emperor’s idea when he decided to build a new capital here? There was no coincidence that he chose this island. Here he was planning to give Swedes a battle. The fortress arose from water, and it left no piece of land for the enemy to debark. At the same time, cannons could control enemy’s ships on the Neva river and fire them heavily. The fortress’ bastions had 300 cannons. Peter along with the French engineer L. de Guerin designed the project of the fortress – it was a stretched hexagonal star where each corner was a bastion. The ticket includes a visit to the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Grand Ducal Burial Vault and the Trubetskoy Bastion Prison. When visiting the museum, personal protective equipment (masks and gloves) are provided. Visitors without personal protective equipment are not admitted to the exposition of the museum complex.