In the heart of St. Petersburg, at the intersection of Malaya Morskaya Street and Kirpichny Lane, lies the fascinating Model Museum “Peter the Great's Water Area.” Here, at a scale of 1:87, you can see the landmarks of St. Petersburg from the mid-18th century. Spanning 500 square meters, the museum features over 1,000 historical buildings, around 25,000 characters, and more than 1,000 miniature vehicles.
How to Get There
The museum is conveniently located right next to the Admiralteyskaya metro station. After exiting the metro, turn left. A few meters ahead, you will see the entrance to the Admiral shopping and entertainment complex. Enter the complex, and to the right, you will find an elevator that goes directly to the museum entrance.
The price for an adult ticket is 450 rubles (2018). The museum is open daily until 10:00 PM, with the ticket office closing at 9:20 PM.
Museum Tour
As the name suggests, the museum is a massive model of historic St. Petersburg. It is divided into several zones, each dedicated to the most famous city landmarks and districts: the Admiralty, the Peter and Paul Fortress, Oranienbaum, Vasilievsky Island, New Holland, and more. The museum features a total of 8 thematic zones.
In each zone, you can see the historical appearance of well-known buildings and extensive displays related to them. For example, numerous ships are located by the walls of the Peter and Paul Fortress, public festivities take place at the Grand Palace in Peterhof, and residents of St. Petersburg from around 300 years ago leisurely dine at the Menshikov Palace on Vasilievsky Island.
Around the perimeter of the model, there are many buttons that, when pressed, bring tiny figures to life, depicting scenes from the past. For instance, you can witness winter pastimes of St. Petersburg residents, the work of lumberjacks, or the process of building a lighthouse.
The model is in constant motion. Small ships move in the center, while toy carriages travel across the land area of the display. The drawbridges are particularly impressive. The mechanism is set so that a carriage waits for the bridge to fully lower before crossing, just like in real life.
Periodically, the tiny city experiences a transition from day to night. The lighting gradually dims, while the lights in the windows of the buildings become brighter. The night is quite short, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
During our visit, we attended a free overview tour. The guide provided a one-hour explanation of the model’s features and life in St. Petersburg during that era. Such tours are conducted at the beginning of each hour, but it's best to check the exact times in advance.
By the way, this is not the only model museum in St. Petersburg. In the Moscow district of the city, you can find the “Grand Model Russia.” Also, not far from the Peter and Paul Fortress, there are several miniature city landmarks located outdoors.
In summary:
- An unique and interesting museum;
- Convenient location and excellent hours—suitable for almost any tourist or local resident;
- The tour combines viewing the model with a detailed historical explanation from the museum staff.
