History of Peter and Paul Fortress
Founded in 1703 as a military fortress during Russia’s involvement in the Great Northern War with Sweden, the fortress occupies a strategically located island at the mouth of the Neva River, allowing control over ships entering from the Gulf of Finland.
Historical records indicate that approximately 20,000 workers, including captured Swedish soldiers, participated in its construction. The initial design was created by the French engineer Joseph-Gaspard Lambert de Guerin. Made of earth and wood, the fortress proved vulnerable to flooding, prompting Tsar Peter the Great to order a stone construction.
In 1706, Peter the Great invited the renowned architect Domenico Trezzini to oversee the project. The walls were built with a width of 5-6 meters and a height of approximately 12 meters. Each bastion was armed with 50-60 cannons. Today, the fortress remains the only surviving fortified structure in Europe built strictly according to the bastion system.
Since the early 18th century, a midday shot has been fired from the Naryshkin Bastion of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Historically, these shots announced the start and end of work shifts, warned of floods, or signaled the arrival of guests of honor. The tradition of firing a midday shot continues to this day.
The fortress also served as a garrison and a prison for noble and political prisoners. Notably, "Princess Tarakanova" was held here before her death in custody. She falsely claimed to be the daughter of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and sought to claim the Russian throne. Some visitors believe her ghost still haunts the fortress.
In 1849, the famous writer Fyodor Dostoevsky spent eight months imprisoned here as a member of a political conspiracy.
Peter and Paul Cathedral
The main cathedral within the fortress is the Peter and Paul Cathedral, constructed between 1712 and 1733. Its bell tower, topped with a statue of Saint Petersburg’s Guardian Angel, stands at 122.5 meters—making it the tallest architectural structure in central St. Petersburg.
Russian emperors from Peter the Great to Nicholas II (excluding Peter II and Ivan VI) are buried in the cathedral. The most recent burials occurred in 1998 and 2006. In 1998, the remains of Nicholas II and his family were brought from Yekaterinburg and reinterred here. In 2006, the coffin of Empress Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark), the wife of Emperor Alexander III, was transported from Denmark and laid next to her husband’s tomb.
St. Petersburg Mint
Since 1724, the St. Petersburg Mint has operated within the fortress grounds. In the late 18th century, the government purchased equipment—including a rolling mill and a steam engine—from British industrialist Matthew Boulton to modernize the mint. These improvements significantly enhanced the quality and output of gold and silver coins.
Opening Hours:
Peter and Paul Cathedral: Daily from 10:00 to 18:00
Fortress Yard: Daily from 10:00 to 20:00
Note: From October 1 to April 30, the museum is closed on Wednesdays.
Please note that the schedule is subject to change without prior notice.
