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In May 1703, after the surrender of Nyenschantz, Tsar Peter the Great decided to build a fortress at the mouth of the Neva River on Zayachy Island. The laying of a land fortress according to Peter the Great's plan took place on 16 (27) May 1703, in the Tsar's presence. This date is considered to be the day of St. Petesburg's birth. By October 1703, a fortress called Sankt-Peters-Burch (from the Dutch Sankt-Peters Burch, the fortress of St. Peter), was erected under the supervision of A.D. The name of our city changed three times: St.Peterburg, Petrograd, Leningrad, and then, in 1991 St.Petersburg again. By the world’s standards it is a very young city. We celebrated its 300th birthday in 2003. |
St.Petersburg is Russia’s second largest and the world’s northern most city with the population over one million. The population now is about 4.5 million people!
Petersburg is a mysterious city of the characters from Pushkin, Dostoevsky and Gogol’s books, and on the other hand, a huge outdoor theatre where rock and jazz festivals, classical concerts and traditional Russian ballets are staged. St.Petersburg’s 80 museums, 100 theatres, numerous art-galleries and music clubs give it the right to be called Russia’s cultural capital. Northern capital spread around 42 islands linked by over 300 bridges, St.Petersburg is particularly beautiful in summer – during the White Nights. Once you’ve seen the view of drawn-up bridges across the Neva.
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