The Nicholas Naval Cathedral can undoubtedly be considered the most remarkable building in Kronstadt. Both figuratively and literally—its dome is clearly visible when approaching the city via the dam, and moreover, on sunny days, the golden spire can even be seen from places such as Peterhof.
How to Get There
The cathedral's address is: Kronstadt, Yachornaya Square, 5. You can reach Kronstadt by car or public transport. On my last visit, we took bus #101 from the stop at the "Stara Derevnya" metro station. The journey, including traffic, took about an hour. The walking distance from the final bus stop in Kronstadt to the cathedral is approximately 15 minutes.
Admission to the cathedral is free, but they offer a paid guided tour inside.
A Bit of History
The first wooden church in Kronstadt for sailors was built in 1731. After a century, the building fell into disrepair, and at that time, the question of constructing a large church arose. A new stone church was built in 1862, but its space was also insufficient for the needs of the clergy and parishioners.
In 1897, a building committee was formed, and funds were raised to construct a new cathedral. The location chosen for the future building was Yachornaya Square, in the eastern part of the island. The area got its name because of the storage of anchors and anchor chains there.
The cathedral’s design in the Byzantine style was developed by architect Vasily Antonovich Kosyakov, whom I have mentioned in my article about the Assumption Cathedral on Vasilievsky Island. The site for the construction of the Naval Cathedral was consecrated in 1902, and a year later, in the presence of the imperial family, the ceremonial laying of the foundation walls took place. The work was completed in 1909.
The cathedral’s building is truly monumental: its height exceeds 70 meters, and the diameter of the dome is nearly 27 meters. The total cost of construction was almost 2 million rubles, 280,000 of which were donated by private individuals and employees of the Naval Ministry.
The Kronstadt Naval Cathedral is the main cathedral of the Baltic Fleet and one of the most popular landmarks of the ancient city. I visited the cathedral on my own, without a guided tour, but online you can find many enthusiastic reviews of guided tours of this building. As part of a tour group, you can even go under the dome of this majestic structure.
To read about other architectural landmarks, check out my selection.
Have a nice trip!
