Kronstadt is a beautiful city with a rich history. It's worth visiting to experience the romance of coastal life, take a stroll through cozy gardens and parks, and explore unique historical sites. Among these are the numerous fortifications surrounding Kotlin Island, where the city is located. Today, I will share a story about Fort Konstantin, which has been transformed into a large and fascinating recreational area.
How to Get There
If you're not traveling by car, the first step is to get to Kronstadt itself. Buses to the city depart from metro stations such as "Stara Derevnya", "Prospekt Prosveshcheniya", and "Chyornaya Rechka," as well as from Lomonosov.
Once in Kronstadt, free buses depart for the fort. You can find the schedule and routes on the fort's website. On a nice day, we simply walked to the entrance from the "Kronstadt Highway, 38" bus stop, which took about 30 minutes.
There are several options for visiting Fort Konstantin: you can take a leisurely walk around the area, join a guided tour, or choose to visit the museums located there. We bought a ticket that included a visit to the "Lighthouse Service Museum," which cost 400 rubles (autumn 2021).
A Bit of History
The first fortifications designed to defend Saint Petersburg from the Gulf of Finland date back to Peter the Great’s era. The first such structure, Fort Kronshlot, was laid down in the winter of 1703–1704, almost immediately after the founding of the city on the Neva River. The history of Fort Konstantin began in the 19th century.
In the winter of 1807, Emperor Alexander I signed an order to strengthen the Kronstadt Fortress. The first defense structure, known as the "Double Southern Battery," was built here at that time, although it was made of wood. The modern name, honoring the son of Emperor Nicholas I, was given to the fort in 1834. The complex was reconstructed in stone fifty years after its founding.
The fort participated in battles during the Great Patriotic War. Interestingly, after the war, two cannons were moved from here to the cruiser "Aurora." In the 1950s, the fort and others in the Kronstadt Fortress began to be disarmed.
Today, the fort has been transformed into a large recreational area, where visitors can enjoy a walk along the Gulf of Finland while learning about the history of the area. Near the entrance to the complex, there are two exhibitions — the "Pushkar" Museum and the "Lighthouse Service Museum." If you visit the latter, you’ll see models of various lighthouses, learn about their equipment, and discover how they operate. I can honestly say I would give this tour a solid five out of five.
In addition to exploring the history, visitors can also view the remains of fortifications, take a boat ride, or even spend the night here — the complex has a hotel and "campers on wheels." These are converted buses with beds and showers inside.
To conclude our virtual journey, I must mention other defensive structures I have visited in the suburbs of Saint Petersburg — the forts Ino and Rif. The latter, by the way, is located here in Kronstadt.
Have a nice trip!
