Kronstadt is a city of military glory located 30 kilometers from St. Petersburg, and is part of the Kronstadt district of the city. In 1703, Peter the Great ordered the construction of a fortress on Kotlin Island, where Kronstadt is located. Today, due to its convenient yet unusual location, the city attracts a large number of tourists visiting the Northern Capital. The city's population is relatively small compared to St. Petersburg, at 44,000 people.
How to Get There
For a long time, the only way to get to Kronstadt was by water. In 2011, a road connection was established via the dam, a complex of flood protection structures for St. Petersburg. The dam itself is a unique construction for Russia, built over 32 years, with a length of more than 20 kilometers.
From St. Petersburg, you can reach Kronstadt by bus No. 101 from the "Staraya Derevnya" metro station, or by marshrutkas 407 from "Prospekt Prosvescheniya" metro, and 405 from "Chyornaya Rechka" metro. The fare ranges from 35 to 40 rubles.
What to See
We used bus 101, which took us to Grazhdanskaya Street in Kronstadt. From there, we walked forward and turned onto Soviet Street. Here, you’ll find Catherine Park, separated from the Dockyard Admiralty by the Obvodny Canal. Interestingly, Catherine II wanted to move the Admiralty from St. Petersburg to Kronstadt after a severe fire in 1783. A whole complex of buildings was constructed for this purpose, but the plans to relocate were never realized. Thus, the Dockyard Admiralty appeared in Kronstadt. The Admiralty area includes all the territory surrounded by the Obvodny Canal.
Moving on, you’ll reach Anchor Square, which dates back to 1754 and was used for storing anchors at that time. Today, the architectural appearance of the square is defined by the Marine Nikolsky Cathedral, the Brotherhood Cemetery with an Eternal Flame for those who died in the Civil War, a monument to Admiral Makarov, and elements of the battleship "October Revolution."
The Marine Nikolsky Cathedral is particularly notable. It is perhaps the main decoration of Kronstadt. Built in 1913, it has survived many changes, including serving as a cinema and concert hall. Since 2013, it has once again functioned as a church.
Nearby is the Ovrazhny Park, which is more of a ravine with covered slopes. Water naturally flowed from the Petrovsky Dock to the Dock Basin through its bottom. From Anchor Square to Krasnaya Street, you’ll find the Makarovsky Suspension Bridge, built in 1913 and later reconstructed several times. The current project dates back to 1970.
Crossing the Makarovsky Bridge leads to the Summer Garden, the oldest and first public garden in Kronstadt. Unfortunately, we couldn't visit it as renovations are ongoing and expected to continue until July 2019.
Next, we headed to Petrovsky Park and the "Restless" Museum Ship.
In summary:
- A chance to feel the spirit of history;
- Excellent views of the historical part of the city;
- Ideal for a great photo session.
