What building is not on the palace square. Palace Square

Winter Palace on Palace Square - the former royal residence, a symbol of architectural style Elizabethan Baroque, the largest palace in St. Petersburg. Since the first Soviet years, the most famous museum in Russia - the State Hermitage Museum - has been operating here.

Admiralty meadow

Palace Square originated as part of the glacis, an open space in front of the Admiralty, founded in 1704. Since then, there has been a meadow here, where cattle were often grazed. They called it the Admiralty.

Higher naval officials immediately began to settle near the shipyard. In 1705, at a distance of 200 yards from the Admiralty, according to the project of Domenico Trezzini, the house of Admiral General Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin was built. Two years later, Admiralty Adviser A. Kikin settled nearby. In 1712, the Apraksin house was rebuilt in stone, in 1716 the building was again altered, this time according to the design of the architect Leblond.

The western part of the meadow, near the route of the future Nevsky Prospect, has been occupied by the Marine Market since 1705. It arose at the request of local artisans, who complained to Governor A. D. Menshikov about the absence of an establishment selling food and drink in the Morskaya Sloboda. The market traded not only food, but also firewood and hay.

Near the market, on the site of the house number 55 on the Moika embankment, a typical project was built for the eminent house of the admiral, president of the Admiralty College, Cornelius Cruis. Different sources speak differently about the fate of this house. It either burned down in 1710, or was dismantled for the construction of the Petrovskoe Kruzhalo tavern.

After the execution of Kikin in 1718, the Naval Academy took over his mansion.

In the spring of 1721, an alley was planted on the Bolshaya Perspektivnaya road (Nevsky Prospect). She divided the Admiralty meadow into two parts. The western one later became Admiralty Square, and the eastern one gradually turned into Palace Square.

In 1728, according to the will, the house of Apraksin passed to Peter II. The young emperor never settled here, he moved with the government to Moscow. The house of Apraksin was empty all this time, since 1731 it began to be rebuilt under the residence of Empress Anna Ioannovna. It was designed by B.K.Rastrelli and his son. To accommodate new premises, a neighboring land plot belonging to the Maritime Academy was purchased. By 1735, the new Winter House of Anna Ioannovna was built here, with the main facade facing the Admiralty.

The square next to the Winter Palace was supposed to be surrounded by a colonnade, in the center of which a bronze statue of Anna Ioannovna by BK Rastrelli was to be installed. To do this, the area was cleared of random wooden buildings that appeared here right up to the alley. Only a few outbuildings were left near the southern end of the Winter Palace on the edge of the Admiralty Meadow. Among other things, a wooden arena built in 1732 according to the design of FB Rastrelli was moved from here. By November 10, 1738, it was opened "in the place shown from the bereiter Schiderer, near the stable hut houses" on the bank of the "new" Catherine Canal (section of house No. 28 on Nevsky Prospekt).

The Admiralty Meadow was used as a platform for parades and festivities. For example, on January 27, 1740, a review of the imperial guard took place here. The troops proceeded along Nevsky Prospect to the Winter Palace with music and fluttering banners. At the same time, a masquerade was arranged in the palace for the nobility, and for the common people, treats were put on the meadow - fried bulls, fountains of red and white wine.

The space next to the imperial residence required proper care. In 1750, the paving of the Admiralty Meadow began with turf and cobblestones. Since that time, "meadow" in the strict sense of this word has disappeared.

The final touch in the creation of the ceremonial appearance of Palace Square was the re-facing of the houses of the "card depot" and the Free Economic Society under a single facade with the General Staff building. This was done in 1842-1845 by the architect Ivan Chernik, who thus completed the plan of Carl Rossi.

Palace Square was part of the route of the morning walks of Emperor Alexander II. He alone, without security, walked along Millionnaya Street, Winter Canal and Moika Embankment, walked across the square to the Winter Palace. So it was on April 2, 1879. When the tsar turned from the Moika to the square near the Pevchesky Bridge, a tall man in an overcoat walked towards him with a brisk pace. Having caught up with Alexander II, he shot him with a pistol. The shot was unsuccessful. The Tsar deftly dodging, dodging further shots, ran towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The terrorist managed to shoot five times, after which he was knocked down by a gendarme who arrived in time. The person who attempted the life of Emperor Alexander II was Alexander Konstantinovich Solovyov, a member of the radical organization "Land and Freedom".

There is a garden at the western facade of the Winter Palace. In 1900, a highly artistic wrought iron fence was installed around it, which won the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Paris. The author of the fence was the architect Robert Melzer.

On January 9, 1905, in St. Petersburg, including on Palace Square, events took place that went down in the history of Russia as Bloody Sunday.

The cobblestone paving of Palace Square, of course, caused inconvenience both for passers-by and for carriages passing through it. In 1911, the St. Petersburg mayor invited the senior city gardener to consider the issue of arranging a flower garden on it. The following year, the Zodchiy magazine published the following article:

"More than 10 years ago, a project for the reconstruction of Palace Square came up in the Board, it was drawn up by the architect Melzer. It was supposed to asphalt this area, plant the line by the sidewalk with linden trees, break flower beds, put up fountains and, among other things, demolish the boulevard from the headquarters to the Palace Bridge, cutting off the rounding of Aleksandrovsky garden, and in this place to arrange a passage. The project received the highest approval, but so far it has not been started. At present, the project is being discussed again in the Administration, and the city gardener has made an estimate for the complete reconstruction of the area in the amount of 418 thousand rubles "[Cit ... by 1, p. 269].

Despite all these plans, under the tsarist regime, Palace Square remained with a cobblestone pavement.

Before the First World War, all buildings on Palace Square were painted in red-brick colors. The events of 1917 took place against such a background. In the 1940s, the buildings were again repainted in their characteristic light colors.

Palace Square after 1917

Immediately after the February Revolution of 1917, the Petrograd Soviet of Workers 'and Soldiers' Deputies approved the decision to "bury those killed in the days of the coup" on Palace Square. The architects were given the task to decide where exactly on the square the burial would be made and how the monument above it would look. The funeral was scheduled for March 10. Three days before this, Alexei Maksimovich Gorky spoke to the Council, who suggested leaving Palace Square alone and arranging a burial on the Field of Mars. This option caused controversy in the Council, in which even the idea arose to arrange a new "Freedom Square" on the site of the Alexander Garden, and to bury the dead there. But this idea was abandoned immediately, under pressure from the architects, Gorky's proposal was accepted. An additional argument was that many piles were driven around the Alexander Column and it would be extremely difficult to dig graves there.

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin spoke twice on Palace Square. The first time this happened was on May 1 (April 18) 1917, when, on behalf of the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party, he spoke about the significance of the proletarian holiday of May Day and the tasks of the Russian revolution. The second time Lenin spoke from the rostrum was on July 19, 1920, when a meeting was held on Palace Square on the occasion of the laying of the monument to Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. This monument was going to be installed in the garden of the Winter Palace, next to the temporary monument to Radishchev already located there.

After 1917, Gvardeyskaya Square became part of the Palace Square.

On August 30, 1918, the chairman of the Petrograd Extraordinary Commission, Moisei Solomonovich Uritsky, was killed at the entrance to the eastern building of the General Staff building. The killer was the Socialist-Revolutionary Leonid Kanegisser, who avenged his comrade by the Chekists. Already in October of the same year, Palace Square was named Uritsky Square.

In 1918, the fence of the Winter Palace garden was removed from the pedestal. During the May Day subbotnik of 1920, 7,000 workers, students and cadets cleared the western part of Uritsky Square from boulders and rubble left over from the pedestal destroyed a year ago. To help the workers, a narrow-gauge Railway, on which 100 trolleys moved. The fence was later erected around the park named after 9 January.

Since then, the labor motive will become the main one for all demonstrations on the main square of Leningrad. During Soviet times, demonstrations were held here on May 1 and November 7. For performances at such events by leaders of various sizes, a tribune was erected at the gates of the Winter Palace. In addition to the already mentioned Lenin, Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev and other Soviet leaders (Zinoviev, Kirov, Popkov, Kuznetsov, Tolstikov, Kozlov, Romanov) spoke with her.

In the summer of 1924, a unique chess game took place on Palace Square. The role of the white figures was played by sailors, the black ones by the Red Army. The horses were real. The moves were carried out on the orders of I. Rabinovich and P. Romanovsky, who gave them over the phone.

In the spring of 1932, Palace Square was asphalted. At the same time, new underground communications were laid under it.

On January 13, 1944, on the first day of the operation to lift the Leningrad blockade, the historical name was returned to the Palace Square.

For the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution (in 1977), it was decided to transform the paving of the Palace Square. Architects B.N.Buldakov, G.A. Boykova, F.K. Romanovsky and artist V.A. Pink granite was mined in the Vozrozhdenie quarry, and the series was mined from the Kamennogorsk quarry. A "grid" of 460 cells was formed on 17,000 square meters.

In 1994, a decision was made to determine the location of the Admiralteyskaya metro station lobby. To place it on the corner of Bolshaya Morskaya Street and Kirpichny Lane, it was necessary to resettle the house located there. Honored Architect of Russia Sergei Shmakov proposed an alternative. He drew up a project in which the exit from the metro would be organized in the Aleksandrovsky Garden and in the first floor of the General Staff building, next to Nevsky Prospect, from the existing granite portals. It would be much cheaper to rebuild the first floor of this house. But Shmakov's project was not accepted, the exit from the metro at the end of 2011 appeared where it was originally planned.

Since Soviet times, every New Year, On May 9 and on City Day (May 27), mass festive events... Since the 2000s, the "Scarlet Sails" holiday has been held here on a large scale.

On December 1, 2007, a commercial ice rink... His appearance here caused heated debate in the public. The main arguments of the opponents of the skating rink were: violation of the architectural ensemble of Palace Square and the inability to come close to the Alexander Column. The skating rink existed here throughout the winter season, but did not appear in subsequent years.

D Vortsovaya Square is undoubtedly the heart of St. Petersburg.
The square is surrounded by the Winter Palace, the building of the headquarters of the Guards Corps, the General Staff Building with the Triumphal Arch, the Alexander Column. Its size is about 8 hectares and it is four times the size of Red Square.

Initially, it was called "Admiralty Meadow" (it also included the territory of the modern Alexander Garden, given by the Admiralty Shipyard). This name existed until 1772.

An interesting document from April 29, 1743 has survived, when Empress Elizabeth ordered: “... meadow against the Winter Palace flatten and sow with oats ».

Until the 1760s, the Admiralty Meadow served as an auxiliary construction site for the Imperial Winter Palace. In the intervals between the rebuildings of the palace, the meadow was used for drill exercises of military units and for grazing court cattle.

The modern name "Palace Square" has been known since 1766 (given from the nearby Winter Palace, south facade which overlooks the square).

The project of the square got a closed, isolated character. The colonnade was not linked to the layout of the adjoining parts of the city. However, the central axis of the square (north - south), determined by the architect, passed through the main gate of the palace, led to Bolshaya Lugovaya, was preserved in all subsequent projects and was finally fixed by K. Rossi.

The original project of 1820, view from the Palace Square. Lithograph by K. Beggrov.

But it turned out even better. From a height of 36 m, at the top of the structure, widely visible from afar, a triumphal chariot soars, pulled by six horses. They are restrained by two warriors, dressed in Roman armor and armed with spears.

In the cart stands the winged Nika, extending the standard over the square with her left hand. In the right hand of the goddess is a laurel wreath. The sculptural composition reveals the essence of the monument, symbol military glory.

In 1830-1834, in the center of the square, according to the project of the architect Auguste Montferrand, the Alexander Column was erected (the figure of an angel was made by the sculptor B. I. Orlovsky).

Like the Triumphal Arch of the General Staff Building, the monument is dedicated to the victories of Russian arms in the war with Napoleon.

Parade at the opening of the Alexander Column in 1834. From a painting by Ladurner.

On December 17, 1837, the Winter Palace burned down ... but was rebuilt. The slackness of the servants led to the gift. There was a smell of smoke - ordered to eliminate. It turned out that the brickwork of one of the pipes of the palace had cracked and it was simply plugged with a washcloth, and covered with clay on top. The sponge, on occasion, naturally caught fire .. I have a separate post about the fire.

When the last Winter Palace was built, the square was a natural dump from the remaining building materials. The tsar was then prompted a good idea - to allow the townspeople to take whatever they want, and the square was cleared in one night.

Interior interiors of the Winter Palace ...

The parade of troops in the square.

Cabbies.

The area is beautiful both in winter and in summer.

With the advent of the Alexandrinsky pillar, the square acquired a modern look.

In an unscientific environment, it is believed that there is some similarity between the Angel and Alexander I, but this has not been proven ...))))))

There is a legend that in Soviet times, instead of an angel, they seriously planned to erect a monument to Lenin. It would look something like this)))

There is a legend that they did not put Lenin, because they could not decide in which direction Ilyich to extend his hand. Fortunately, the angel resisted ...

Hermitage building.

In October 1918, the square was renamed into Uritsky Square (in honor of M.S.

Boris Kustodiev. "Celebration in honor of the 2nd Congress of the Comintern on Uritsky Square" (1921, Russian Museum).

"On July 20, 1924, on Uritskogo Square (now the historical name Dvortsovaya was returned) in Leningrad, the Red Army (black) and the Red Navy (white) played a game. The paving stones were laid out into 64 squares, along which living figures were moving - sailors and infantrymen, kings with banners, queens in sundresses, horsemen, gunners with cannons. I wrote about this -

Before the break of the blockade of Leningrad, on January 13, 1944, a decree was issued on the return of 20 historical names, including Palace Square.

5 battery of the Red October Leningrad Higher Artillery School (LVAKU 1984). I am in the first row, eighth from the right in a cap pulled over my eyes))

In 2001, during new year holidays the sculptural group on the arch of the General Staff building caught fire. It was covered with scaffolding, which was ignited by a firecracker. At that time, I was filming the process ... they extinguished her quickly, but she still suffered. Alas, long time it was restored and it cost about 10 million rubles.

There is also an interesting perspective in which the General Staff Building looks like a wall. To do this, you need to go to

Palace Square (from 1918 to 1944 Uritsky Square) - the main square of St. Petersburg, architectural ensemble, which arose in the second half of the XVIII - the first half of the XIX century.

The square is formed by monuments of history and culture of federal significance: the Winter Palace, the Headquarters of the Guards Corps, the General Staff Building with the Triumphal Arch, the Alexander Column.
Its size is about 5 hectares (about twice the size of Red Square in Moscow). As part of the historical development of the center of St. Petersburg, the square is included in the list World heritage.

* Images are clickable

View of the square from the Winter Palace

Winter Palace.

The current building of the palace (the fifth) was built in 1754-1762 by the Italian architect BF Rastrelli in the style of the magnificent Elizabethan baroque. From 1732 to March 2, 1917, the official winter residence of the Russian emperors. December 29, 1837 in Winter Palace there was a fire. They could not extinguish it for three days, all this time, the property taken out of the palace was piled around the Alexander Column. In 1838-1839, the palace was restored according to the projects of architects under the direction of V.P. Stasov, A.P. Bryullov and others. From July to November 1917, the Winter Palace served as a meeting place for the Provisional Government. In 1918, part, and in 1922 the entire building was transferred to the State Hermitage.

The modern building in plan has the shape of a square with an inner courtyard and facades facing the Neva, the Admiralty and Palace Square. The splendor of the building is given by the magnificent decoration of the facades and premises. The main facade, facing the Palace Square, is cut through by the arch of the main passage. In the southeastern part of the second floor there was one of the Rococo monuments, the legacy of the fourth Winter Palace - the Great Church of the Winter Palace (1763; architect B. Rastrelli.

The original name Admiralteisky Meadow (also included the territory of the modern Alexander Garden) has been known since 1736. Given by the Admiralty Shipyard. The name existed until 1772.

Name history
The name Palace Square has been known since 1766. Given by the adjacent Winter Palace, the southern façade of which overlooks the square.
In October 1918, the square was renamed into Uritsky Square (in honor of M.S. Uritsky, one of the organizers of the storming of the Winter Palace in 1917, the chairman of the Petrograd Cheka, who was killed on August 30, 1918 at the entrance to the General Staff building).
On January 13, 1944, a decree was issued on the return of 20 historical names, including Palace Square.

The prehistory of the square is connected with the foundation of the Admiralty fortress-shipyard on November 5, 1704. According to wartime requirements, the Admiralty was surrounded by ramparts and a moat. Before him stretched a vast open space - the glacis necessary for the actions of fortress artillery in the event of an enemy attack from land.
Soon after its foundation, the Admiralty lost the function of a military fortress and with it the fortification significance of glacis gradually faded into the past. At first, its territory was used for warehousing and storage of shipbuilding timber, large anchors, and other admiralty supplies.
From about 1712 to 1717, on the part of the former glacis, the Sea Market was located, and the territory was overgrown with grass and turned into the Admiralty Meadow.

Admiralty prospect and near the lying buildings. G.A.Kachalov. 1753

In 1721, at the initiative of Peter I, the main planning scheme of St. Petersburg was laid in the form of a trellis emanating from the Admiralty.
Two beams (present-day Nevsky and Voznesenskiy avenues) appeared under Peter I, and the third beam (present-day Gorokhovaya Street) appeared in 1736-1737.
The rays of these three highways divided the huge Admiralty meadow into several parts. Since the reign of Anna Ioannovna, festivities with fireworks and folk festivals have been organized in this place at public expense. Amusing pavilions, palaces, wine fountains were erected in the meadow during the celebrations, according to the highest decrees, gigantic carcasses of bulls were fried, which were then given to be eaten by the people.
Until the 1760s, the Admiralty Meadow served as an auxiliary construction site for the Imperial Winter Palace. In the intervals between the rebuildings of the palace, the meadow was used for drill exercises of military units and for grazing court cattle.

On June 16, 1766, the famous Petersburg Carousel took place on Palace Square, which was distinguished by its special luxury, imagination and scope.
The participants of the Carousel were divided into four quadrille: Roman, Slavic, Turkish and Indian. Each group had appropriate outfits, horse harness, weapons, special chariots for the ladies participating in the competition, and even various musical instruments - all this was done specifically for the holiday.
According to Antonio Rinaldi's project, a five-tiered wooden amphitheater for several thousand spectators with separate boxes for Catherine II and the twelve-year-old Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich was built on the square, which at that time was a meadow overgrown with grass. Above there was a balustrade decorated with vases, and the barrier was decorated with garlands, military armor, and lion heads. The participants in the Carousel were in luxurious toilets.
Spectators saw an iridescent mountain of wealth and abundance in precious stones and cavalry and equestrian gold and silver attire, at a cost of many millions of rubles. Countess Natalya Chernysheva became the winners among the ladies, and Grigory Orlov, wearing the garment of a Roman soldier on a chestnut horse, among the cavaliers.

The emergence and development of the area

View of the Winter Palace from the Admiralty side. Divorce of the guard.
Watercolor by V.S.Sadovnikov. 1830s

“§ 113. The palace square in front of the winter palace is surrounded by three houses built by the EMPRESS in 1788, like an amphitheater. On one of them there are two pavilions with enclosures and benches made of wild stone under an iron roof, in which a fire is laid out in winter for the coachmen who stand in the street during the congress at the court. On this square, the guards are changing, entering on guard, and during great celebrations, fried bulls and fountains of wine are given to the people here. On solemn days from the guard and other teams, congratulations are made on this by music and drumming. " 1794 year.

The existing fifth Winter Palace (1754-1762, architect B. F. Rastrelli) became the basis for the development of Palace Square.
The facades of the Winter Palace face the Neva, the Admiralty and Palace Square.
The southern one, closing the square, is cut by an arch. In 1779-1784, four houses were erected along the southern border of the square, designed by Yu. M. Felten. In their place in 1819-1829 was erected an arched building of the General Staff (architect K. I. Rossi) with a triumphal arch. Two buildings, connected by an arch, cover the space of the square, giving its appearance solemnity and monumentality.
Rossi solved the urban planning problem by creating a composition within the complex plan of the site, set by Felten of the arcuate line of the border of the square and the acute angle of the square with the Moika River

* Parade at the opening of the Alexander Column in 1834. From a painting by Ladurner

In 1837-1843, on the eastern side of Palace Square, on the site of the Exerzirgauz (1797-1798, architect V. Brenna), a large building of the headquarters of the Guards Corps was built according to the project of architect A.P. Bryullov.
In 1830-1834, in the center of the square, according to the project of the architect Auguste Montferrand, the Alexander Column was erected (the figure of an angel was made by the sculptor B. I. Orlovsky). Like the Triumphal Arch of the General Staff Building, the monument is dedicated to the victories of Russian arms in the war with Napoleon.

From the southwestern side, until the 1840s, at the corner of Palace Square and Nevsky Prospect, there was the building of the Free Economic Society. In 1845-1846 a building was built on this site (architect ID Chernik), the façade of which is in harmony with the façade of the General Staff Building. On the northwest side, between the Admiralty and the Winter Palace, there was a Razvodnaya Square until the end of the 19th century. The square was used for the divorce of the guard, was formed after the destruction of the canal and the bastions of the Admiralty fortress.
In 1896-1901, a square with a fountain was laid out in its place in front of the palace (architects N.I. Kramskoy, R. Schmelling, gardener R.F.Katzer).
In the 1920s, the fence of the park was dismantled and used to decorate the park on Stachek Avenue. The fountain itself was reconstructed in 2007-2008 with the restoration of its historical appearance.

The Austin armored car of the first series of British production and a cadet on the Palace Square in Petrograd. The arch of the General Staff Building is visible on the back left. 1917
Juncker at Dvortsovaya. 1917

In the ΧΙΧ-early ΧΧ centuries, Palace Square was the venue for military reviews and parades. On January 9, 1905, a peaceful demonstration of workers was shot at Palace Square by the tsarist troops. In memory of this event Palace Embankment was renamed the Embankment on January 9th (until 1944).
On the night of October 25-26 (November 7-8), 1917, the decisive battle of the October armed uprising in Petrograd took place on Palace Square.

At the beginning of the 20th century Manezhnaya square was on the territory of the Admiralty police unit.

Before the First World War, all buildings on Palace Square were painted in red-brick colors, against which the events of 1917 took place. In the 1940s, the buildings were again repainted in their characteristic light colors.

Boris Kustodiev. "Celebration in honor of the 2nd Congress of the Comintern on Uritsky Square" (1921, Russian Museum)

In Soviet times, Palace Square was the venue for demonstrations and parades during revolutionary holidays. Since October 1918, Palace Square was officially called Uritsky Square (in honor of M. S. Uritsky, who was killed in the General Staff building).

In 1918-1921, the square hosted large-scale theatrical performances "Action on the Third International", "Mystery of Liberated Labor", "Towards the World Commune", "Taking the Winter Palace" (stage directors - Nikalay Evreinov, Yuri Annenkov and others).
On November 7, 1920, scenes depicting the events of the October Revolution were played out on Uritsky Square in front of 100 thousand spectators.
The performance was attended by 6 thousand people.

It is interesting that during the Great Patriotic War, in the fall of 1941, the option of placing a fighter aviation regiment on the airfield area was considered, while the Alexander Column was to be moved and the Admiralty Garden was cut down, but the idea was abandoned.

The historical name was restored on January 13, 1944. In 1977, significant reconstruction work was carried out on Palace Square and decorative paving was performed, the asphalt pavement was replaced with diabase paving stones, and 4 lanterns in its corners were recreated in their original forms.

On August 20, 1991, a spontaneous rally took place on Palace Square in protest against the actions of the so-called GKChP of the USSR. The rally was attended by about 100 thousand people.

During the restoration of Palace Square in 2001, archaeological research was carried out. As a result of the excavations, the foundation of Anna Ioannovna's wing was found.
At one time, it was a three-story palace, built according to the project of Rastrelli in 1746. In accordance with the restoration plan of the square, the foundation was examined, photographed and re-buried with earth. As one of the options, the idea was considered to leave a fragment of the foundation for viewing, covering it with thick durable glass.

In 2006, the restoration of the Alexander Column was carried out.

Concerts and social events have been held on Palace Square since the 90s of the XX century.

Square layout

Ensemble of the square

Palace Square is a single architectural ensemble. Northern border is the facade of the Winter Palace, the southern border has a semicircular outline formed by the General Staff building, two three-storey buildings of which are connected by a triumphal arch crowned with a chariot of victory. The Alexander Column is installed in the center. On the eastern side, the square is framed by the building of the Headquarters of the Guards Corps.

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The construction of the Winter Palace by B.F.Rastrelli in 1754-1762 laid the foundation for the architectural ensemble of Palace Square. K.I. Rossi made a huge contribution to the formation of the architectural appearance, bringing the ensemble to its logical conclusion. The erection of the General Staff building with a triumphal arch by Rossi in 1819-1829 emphasized the ceremonial character of the central square of St. Petersburg. The classical colonnades of the facades of the new building formed a compositional unity with the Baroque forms of the Winter Palace. Especially effectively Rossi calculated the perception of the palace facade from the side of Bolshaya Morskaya Street leading to the arch of the General Staff Building. The formation of the ensemble was completed by the construction of the Alexander Column in its center according to the design of O. Montferrand and the erection of the building of the Headquarters of the Guards Corps according to the design of A.P. Bryullov.

“I have erected a monument to myself not made by hands, The folk path will not grow to it, He ascended higher as the head of the rebellious Alexandrian pillar. "

19th century color photolithography

Erected in the Empire style in 1834 in the center of Palace Square by the French architect Auguste Montferrand by order of Emperor Nicholas I in memory of the victory of his older brother Alexander I over Napoleon in Patriotic War 1812

The project was approved by the highest in 1829, the monument was opened in 1834.
The sketches of the pedestal were made by O. Montferrand. The bas-reliefs on the pedestal of the column in allegorical form glorify the victory of Russian weapons and symbolize the courage of the Russian army; the casting was carried out at the plant of Ch. Byrd.
A monolith of pink granite was made in the Pyuterlak quarry near Vyborg in 1830-1832. With great difficulty, he was transported from the Puterlak quarry in 1832 on a barge specially designed for this purpose to St. Petersburg.
The monolith is not fixed and is held only by its own weight.
The monument is crowned with the figure of an angel by Boris Orlovsky.
In 1876, the architect K. K. Rachau added decorative lanterns at the column.

The column (often called the Pillar of Alexandria, according to the poem by Alexander Pushkin "Monument") is one of the most famous monuments of St. Petersburg.

Winter Palace.

In 1838-1839, the palace was restored according to the projects of architects under the direction of V.P. Stasov, A.P. Bryullov and others. From July to November 1917, the Winter Palace served as a meeting place for the Provisional Government.
In 1918, part, and in 1922 the entire building was transferred to the State Hermitage.

The building of the headquarters of the Guards Corps (houses 2-4)

*St. Petersburg. Palace Square, the Building of the Headquarters of the Guards Corps.

From the east, the ensemble of Palace Square closes the facade of the building of the former Headquarters of the Guards Troops, built in the late classical style by the architect AP Bryullov in 1837-1843. From the end of the 7th century on this place was the Exerzirgauz building, erected by V. Brenna. It stretched along Millionnaya Street. In 1827, a competition was announced for a project to build a theater near the Exerzirhaus, with a single "decent" facade. But then the plans were abandoned.

Bryullov was faced with the task of closing the gigantic perimeter, connecting the incompatible Baroque Rastrelli building with the classic Rossi building. And he found a solution by placing a 4-storey building that is both elegant and harmonious, but at the same time neutral.

Now the headquarters of the 6th Leningrad Red Banner Army of the Air Force and Air Defense is located in the building of the Headquarters of the Guards Corps.

General Staff building (houses 6-10)

* View of the General Staff building from Palace Square. Painted lithograph. 1822

From the south, the square is flanked by the General Staff building, built in the Empire style by the architect K.I.Rossi in 1810-1829. The building consists of three buildings (two in the eastern part and one in the western), which together make up an arc with a total length of 580 meters, connected by a triumphal arch, which is the compositional center and opens the main entrance to the square from the side of Bolshaya Morskaya Street. The arch is crowned with the victorious chariot of Glory (sculpture architects V.I.Demut-Malinovsky and S.S.Pimenov).

The buildings, in addition to the General Staff, housed the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance (in the eastern building). After the October Revolution, the building housed the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, and later a police station. Currently, part of the building belongs to the Leningrad Military District. In 1993, the eastern wing of the General Staff building was transferred to the Hermitage.

Transport

*St. Petersburg. Alexander Garden, Admiralty. Horse tram. 1900.

Near the Palace Square, the history of public transport in St. Petersburg began: on August 27, 1863, the 1st route of the horse-drawn railway was opened from the Nikolaevsky (now Moscow) railway station past Palace Square to the Spit of Vasilyesvsky Island.
Then the trams began to run from the Palace Square to the 6th line. Vasilievsky Island across the Nikolaevsky (now Annunciation) bridge.
The first run of the St. Petersburg land tram started on September 16 (29), 1907 from the Aleksandrovsky Garden, and on November 11, the first bus departed from there along the route Aleksandrovsky Sad - Baltiysky Station.

* Bus with the imperial at the Alexander Garden, 1907

After a long break under Soviet rule, on December 24, 1926, bus traffic was resumed from the square along the route Uritsky Square (Palace Square) - Zagorodny Prospect - Vosstaniya Square
As of January 1, 2010, no public transport does not pass through the square.

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Saint Petersburg and suburbs

One of the symbols of St. Petersburg and one of the most visited tourist places of this city - Palace Square. This architectural ensemble began to take shape in the second half of the 18th century, and its formation was completed in the first half of the 19th century.

The square is formed by several historical and architectural monuments- The Winter Palace (this landmark gave the name to the square), the Headquarters Building of the Guards Corps, the semicircular General Staff Building and, of course, the famous Alexander Column. The area is about five and a half hectares. In some sources, you can find information that its size is eight hectares, but this is not true.

The square is under the protection of UNESCO: it was included in the World Heritage List.

How it all began ...

In the early years of the 18th century, a shipyard fortress was founded in the city, surrounded by ramparts. Also, a moat was dug around the fortress, in front of which there was a space free from any buildings. Its dimensions were enormous. This space was necessary for defense purposes: in the event of an enemy attack on the fortress from the land side, it would help the artillerymen to repel the attack.

But a short time after the fortress was completed, it lost its military significance. And along with it, the open space behind the moat was also deprived of it. On this empty territory, they began to store lumber needed for various construction work. It also contained large anchors and other supplies related to shipbuilding. A part of the territory was occupied by the market. By that time, the space, which once had a defensive value, was overgrown with grass and became a real meadow. A few more years passed and the territory changed again: new streets passed through it in three beams. They divided the territory into several parts.

Then a new period in the history of the future famous square began. At this time, it was used as a place for folk festivities. Fireworks sparkled above it, fountains gushed on it, in which there was wine instead of water.

In the 40s of the 18th century, the tsar's command was issued, according to it, in the future area (which at that time was still a meadow) oats should be sown. Later, the court cattle grazed in the meadow. Sometimes soldiers were drilled here. At that time, the Winter Palace was being completed and rebuilt, and the open space in front of it was often used for construction purposes.

In the mid-60s of the 18th century, a kind of knightly tournament took place in this space. It was a grandiose celebration, especially for which a temporary round theater without a roof was erected from wood. The attire of the participants of the holiday was striking in luxury.

From meadow to parade ground

At the end of the 70s of the 18th century, at the behest of the Empress, the process of transforming the square began. A project competition was held, after the announcement of the winner, construction work began. At the end of the century, the square looked like this: a huge space was surrounded by houses on three sides and, according to the testimony of contemporaries, resembled an amphitheater.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the architect Anton Moduy proposed a plan for the redevelopment of the square. It is on this plan that the square for the first time takes on the outlines that are now so familiar to us. In the first half of the 19th century, the appearance of the square was gradually changing, transforming. In the 30s, a famous column was erected in its center. At the beginning of the 20th century (as well as the 19th century), military parades and reviews were often held on the square.

One of the darkest pages in the history of the square was the event that was later named “Bloody Sunday”. On the square, the procession of workers was dispersed, who carried a petition to the tsar with economic and political demands. During the dispersal of this demonstration, hundreds of people were killed: firearms were used against unarmed demonstrators.

In the early years of the 20th century, all buildings on the square were painted brick-red, which seemed to be a harbinger of the events of 1917. In the 40s of the XX century, the buildings were returned to their original appearance: their walls were repainted in light colors. Soon after the revolutionary events, a monument to the writer and philosopher Alexander Radishchev was erected on the square. The bust was made of plaster. After standing for about six months, he was overturned by a gust of strong wind and has not recovered since then.

In Soviet times, parades and festive demonstrations took place on the square. In the first post-revolutionary years, large-scale theatrical performances on a revolutionary theme were staged on this territory. In the early 30s, the square was reconstructed: the paving stones were removed, the space was asphalted; the granite pillars that surrounded the famous column have also been removed. In the 40s, the idea of transferring the column and device to the airfield area was considered. But this plan was not implemented. In the 70s, reconstruction work was carried out on the square again. The asphalt was replaced with paving stones. Lanterns were installed at the corners of the square.

Square in the XXI century

At the beginning of the XXI century, restoration work took place on the square, during which an archaeological find was made - the remains of an outbuilding that belonged to Anna Ioannovna. More precisely, the foundations of this building were found - once luxurious, which consisted of three floors. The archaeological find was carefully studied, many photographs were taken, after which it was again covered with earth. Several years later, the Alexander Column was restored.

On the territory of the square, social and sports events are often held, concerts of famous performers are organized. V winter time an attempt was made to turn the square into a skating rink with a paid entrance, but this caused the outrage of many public organizations and the skating rink ceased to exist. Relatively recently, a pavilion with mirrored walls was installed on the square, in which the entire architectural ensemble was reflected. This pavilion did not last long: it was destroyed by a gust of wind, and then dismantled.

The architectural ensemble of the square

Let us tell you more about those historical and architectural sights that make up the ensemble of the main square of St. Petersburg:

The Alexander Column was erected in memory of the victory of the Russian troops over the army of Napoleon. The author of this magnificent building in the Empire style is the architect Henri Louis Auguste Ricard de Montferrand. The design of the column, developed by him, was approved by the emperor at the end of the 20s of the XIX century, and in the mid-30s the grand opening of the monument took place. The column is made of pink granite in one of the quarries located near St. Petersburg. Transporting the convoy to the city became a daunting task. A special barge was even built for this purpose. Today the column is one of the main attractions of the city. Sometimes, recalling the famous poem of the classic of Russian poetry, it is called the "Pillar of Alexandria", but this is an erroneous name.

The Winter Palace is another important part of the square's ensemble. It was built in the middle of the 18th century. The author of the project is Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli. The palace was built in accordance with the canons of the Elizabethan Baroque (facades and rooms are distinguished by magnificent decoration). The building was originally the residence of the Russian rulers, where they spent the winter months. In the second half of the 30s of the XIX century, there was a terrible fire that could not be extinguished for several days. The property rescued from the palace was piled up around the famous pillar. In the late 1830s, the palace was restored. During the Soviet era, the building housed exhibitions of the State Hermitage.

In the eastern part of the square there is the building of the former Headquarters of the Guards Troops. The author of the project is the artist and architect Alexander Bryullov. The building was built in accordance with the canons of the late classical style. Thanks to its elegance and severity, it perfectly fit into the architectural ensemble, which was very difficult: on one side of the Headquarters there is a Baroque palace, on the other - an Empire-style building. The headquarters was built in about six years: construction work began in the second half of the 1830s and was completed in the early 40s. Several years before the development of the project and the construction of the building, there was an idea to build a theater on this site. This idea was never implemented.

WITH south side square, the General Staff building rises. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century. The author of the project is the architect Carl Rossi. Three buildings of the building form an arc, the length of which is five hundred and eighty meters. The buildings are connected by a triumphal arch. It is crowned with a sculptural group depicting the chariot of Glory. The architects of this group are Vasily Demut-Malinovsky and Stepan Pimenov. In pre-revolutionary times, the buildings of the building housed not only the General Staff, but also three ministries. In the first post-revolutionary years, the building housed the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR. Later, the usual police station was located here. At present, it houses the Headquarters of the Western Military District, which occupies part of the building. The wing, located on the east side, was transferred to the State Hermitage in the early 90s of the 20th century.

Palace Square is the main square of St. Petersburg. Some of the city's famous landmarks are located in and around the square. The most famous museum of St. Petersburg, the Hermitage, is located on the Palace Square. Various interesting events are often held here.
(View larger photo.)

Palace Square can be included in the list of places in St. Petersburg. As part of historic center St. Petersburg area is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The most significant buildings on the square are: "Winter Palace", the building of the headquarters of the Guards Corps, the General Staff Building with its famous Arc de Triomphe, the Alexander Column. A little to the north of the Palace Square is the "New Hermitage" with figures of Atlanteans at the entrance,. Passing from the Palace Square in a southern direction, you will get to the Admiralty, and further, through the "Alexandrovsky Garden", to the Senate Square and the monument (Distance from the Palace Square is about 750 meters.) You can also walk to the monument and the Cathedral from the Winter Palace along the embankment Not you. Speedboats on hydrofoils leave from the pier located not far from the square.

After visiting Palace Square, be sure to go to the Neva embankment. An excellent view of the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Spit of Vasilievsky Island. This is one of the most beautiful places in the town.

You can specify the location of Palace Square

How to get to Palace Square

The easiest way to get to the Palace Square in St. Petersburg. The nearest metro station "Admiralteyskaya" is located at a distance of about 200 meters from the square. Walk from the station along Malaya Morskaya Street to Nevsky Prospekt and turn left in the direction of the Admiralty. Palace Square will be on your right.

You can also walk to the square from the metro stations "Nevsky Prospekt" and "Gostiny Dvor" along Nevsky Prospekt (distance about 800 meters) and from the metro station "Vasileostrovskaya" across the Palace Bridge (distance about 2.5 kilometers).

Nearest metro station – .

Winter Palace

it oldest building on the Palace Square. The construction of the palace, designed by B.F. Rastrelli, began in 1754 and was completed in 1762. At that time, the Winter Palace became the tallest residential building in St. Petersburg. Then there were 1,500 rooms in the palace.
The palace has a simple rectangular shape. The richly decorated facade gives the building solemnity and recognizability. The facade of the palace is decorated with columns, carved window frames, statues. There are richly decorated rooms inside the palace. Currently, the largest one is located in the Winter Palace. The Hermitage Theater is also located next to the palace.

Alexander Column

The Alexander Column is one of the most famous monuments of St. Petersburg. It was installed in 1834 in the center of Palace Square by the architect Montferrand. The column was erected to commemorate the victory over Napoleon's troops.
The construction of the column was carried out from 1829 to 1834. The main part of the column was made of a monolithic piece of pink granite. The granite block was quarried in the Pyterlahti locality near Vyborg in Finland, and then delivered to St. Petersburg. The total height of the building is 47.5 m. At the top of the column is the figure of an angel holding a cross in his left hand.

The General Staff building is located on the southeastern side of Palace Square. Construction of the building lasted from 1819 to 1829. The construction was supervised by the architect Rossi. The central part of the building consists of two buildings, which together make up an arc with a total length of 580 meters.

The General Staff building is known for the most prominent part of the building - the Arch of the General Staff. Architect Rossi, designing the main square of the city, decided to connect the two wings of the General Staff building with a triumphal arch. The arch was built as the final detail in the composition of the Palace Square. At the same time, the Arch is a monument dedicated to the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812.

The arch is decorated with a sculptural composition consisting of a chariot harnessed by six horses. The horses are restrained by two warriors, dressed in Roman armor and armed with spears. The winged Nika is in the chariot. In her right hand, the goddess holds a laurel wreath. The sculptural composition is a symbol of military glory. The triumphal arch of the main headquarters was opened on October 24, 1828. The height of the Arch of the General Staff Building is 36 meters. Through the arch you can go to Nevsky Prospekt (along Bolshaya Morskaya Street).

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