Observation platforms of St. Petersburg - overview and how to visit

You definitely want to see the beautiful city on the Neva from a bird's eye view. And this opportunity is provided by the observation platforms of St. Petersburg. Nicholas I also issued a decree limiting the height of houses - to build no higher than the level of the Winter Palace. Thanks to this, the observation platforms of St. Petersburg in the central part of the city allow you to take in all the main dominant features.

The highest observation deck in the historical part of the city is the belfry of the Smolny Cathedral, but this does not take into account the towers of the television center and Lakhta center. The most popular is the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral. And the most spectacular view, in my opinion, is the new observation deck of the Duma Tower.

Colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral - the main historical observation deck of St. Petersburg

Let's start with the most popular observation deck - the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral. The historical dominant of the city, which every tourist knows about. It is recommended for a mandatory visit and for good reason.

Colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral

Beautiful views of the central part of St. Petersburg. Review - 360 degrees: Vasilyevsky Island, Palace and University embankments, St. Isaac's and Palace squares, Winter Palace, Rostral columns, Kunstkamera, Peter and Paul Fortress, Admiralty, Mariinsky Palace, monument to Nicholas I. In the distance you can distinguish the Smolny Cathedral, the Savior on Spilled Blood, House of Books, Church of St. Catherine, Duma Tower, Kazan Cathedral and other attractions.

View from the colonnade of the Kazan Cathedral and the Duma Tower, where there is another observation deck

View from the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral to the Admiralty and the Peter and Paul Fortress, where there is also an observation deck on the bell tower

The height is 43 meters, approximately at the level of a 13-14 storey building. Climbing the 262 steps of a spiral staircase is like climbing to the 28th floor of a multi-story building. Why not on the 13-14 floor, the steps are narrow.

Best time for photos : The most beautiful view of the Neva embankment and towards the Admiralty and Palace Square is best illuminated from about 12:00 to 15:00 in the summer. At other times of the year it is better to arrive early and catch the sunny days.

Price : 200 rubles during the day and 400 rubles in the evening. You can stay there without any time limit. Streaming visit. Entrance and exit from different sides of the cathedral.

Opening hours : During the day from 10:00 to 18:00 from May 1 to September 30, seven days a week, from October 1 to April 30, closed on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Evening colonnade - from 18:00 to 21:30 from May 1 to September 30 daily.

How to get there : the nearest metro station is Admiralteyskaya.

Detailed review follow the link .

The official website of the museum is cathedral.ru .

Cathedral in the darkness of the 20th century

The October Revolution of the beginning of the century opened a tragic page in the history of the monastery. The revolutionaries unceremoniously ruled the territory . The fate of the Smolny Cathedral under Soviet rule became deplorable:

20s - the elegant building was turned into a warehouse.
1931 - the cathedral was closed by decision of the Bolsheviks, and church property was stolen.
1972 - the iconostasis was removed, the remaining items became the property of museums.
1990 - department of the city history museum.
1991—The concert hall began to function, the Chamber Choir was restored.

In the spring of 2009, a prayer service was held in the long-suffering cathedral for the first time in many years, and regular services began in April 2010. It was a solemn day with congratulations and gifts, the release of a commemorative medal and a celebratory envelope. In 2015, the temple came under the control of the Russian Orthodox Church, and its organ was dismantled. The chamber choir was abolished and deprived of its name. Finally, in the winter of 2016, the cathedral came into the free possession of the St. Petersburg diocese. The dramatic story was completed with the completion of the restoration of the domes, facades, roofs and crosses in 2016.

Duma Tower - observation deck with the most beautiful views

Observation deck of the City Duma tower . Many are of the opinion that this is the best observation deck in terms of the beauty of the views. There are no high fences or nets, a 360-degree view, it’s convenient to shoot with a professional camera.

Observation deck at the Duma Tower Observation deck at the City Duma Tower

The height of the tower, including metal structures, is 47.5 meters. The platform itself is slightly lower. The climb up the spiral staircase is 233 steps. Along the way there is an exhibition and an open mechanism of the Duma clock.

Due to limited space, 10 people per hour are allowed in. Therefore, during the season, tickets are sold out a week in advance.

View from the Duma Tower of Nevsky Prospekt and the Singer House (there is also an observation deck on the roof)

View from the Duma Tower to the Kazan and St. Isaac's Cathedrals (another observation deck on the colonnade)

Best time for a photo : the most beautiful side with a view of St. Isaac's and Kazan Cathedrals, as well as Nevsky Prospekt towards the Admiralty. It’s best when the sun is from the Moskovsky station, and this is in the morning - in the summer until 12-13:00.

Price : 350 rubles, no benefits. Tickets can be purchased online using this link .

Opening hours : only 10 people are allowed in every hour from 11:00 to 21:00, in summer on weekends from 10:00. Wednesday is a day off.

How to get there : Dumskaya st. 1-3. A stone's throw from the Gostiny Dvor or Nevsky Prospekt metro stations.

For a detailed review of the observation deck on the Duma Tower, please follow the link .

Changes of the 20th century

The cathedral was not spared the vicissitudes of the 1917 revolution. Everything that could be separated from the walls and floor was taken out of the buildings. Services stopped, and a warehouse was organized under the dome. The monastery courtyard was named after the architect - Rastrelli. The cells and other buildings were quietly destroyed, but in 2009 the monastery building was returned to the church. The first prayer service took place in May. Parishioners were again able to kneel in one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches in the world

It is important to emphasize that the monastery was not completely transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. One of the buildings still belongs to the city of St. Petersburg, its administration

The hall with unique acoustics hosts classical and organ music concerts, music festivals and painting exhibitions.

The belfry of the Smolny Cathedral is the highest observation deck in the historical center of St. Petersburg

This is the highest observation deck in the historical part of St. Petersburg. Height 50 meters, 278 steps.

Smolny Cathedral Observation deck at the belfry of the Smolny Cathedral

The view opens on three sides. Each story is told over a loudspeaker. The southwestern part is a view of the excavations of the Nyenschanz fortress, the Neva River and the Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge. The central part is Suvorovsky Avenue and the center of St. Petersburg. North-west - the Petrogradsky district, “Crosses” are clearly visible.

The main attractions are visible from afar, since the Smolny Cathedral is still not in the center. There is a free binocular with 20-35x magnification on site.

View of St. Isaac's Cathedral, where there is another observation deck

View of Suvorovsky Prospekt from the belfry of the Smolny Cathedral

View of Shpalernaya Street and the Peter and Paul Fortress from the belfry of the Smolny Cathedral

Best time to take photos : Come early in the morning or evening when the sun illuminates the central part of the city. During the day it will be aimed directly at you.

Price : 200 rubles, preferential 100 rubles. Tickets can be purchased inside the cathedral and cards are accepted.

Opening hours : Access to the observation deck is open from 7 am to 20:00.

How to get there : pl. Rastrelli, 1. The nearest metro station is “Chernyshevskaya”, then walk 30 minutes through the Tavrichesky Garden. Or by public transport from the metro from the “Kirochnaya Street” stop to the “Rastrelli Square” stop: minibuses K-51, K-76, K-90, K-163 and K-269; buses 22, 46, 105; trolleybus 15.

Information about excursions on the official website of the Smolny Cathedral following the link .

Architectural and cultural landmarks

The style of the entire Rastrelli complex can be described by the word “Baroque”, albeit with some admixtures. After all, the court architect was famous for his style in architecture, which is why the cathedral looks baroque, no matter where you look at it (in European buildings only one baroque façade was practiced). It is clear that thanks to the stucco and blue walls present everywhere, the architect managed to get rid of the oppressive atmosphere of Russian monastery buildings, his ideas brought lightness to the exterior of the cathedral. And the conversion of the cathedral into a five-domed one at the request of Elizaveta Petrovna is a tribute to Russian tradition, because in the minds of Orthodox believers there was an image of a five, consisting of Christ and 4 evangelists. The height of the Smolny Cathedral is quite a bit inferior to St. Isaac's Cathedral.
Bell tower of Smolny Cathedral attracts tourists with its views: you can see the Neva, the Smolny Institute, the Smolny Monastery, excavations on the site of the Swedish fortress Nyenschanz taken by Peter and other interesting things of St. Petersburg. Although the bell tower is tall, judging by Rastrelli’s museum model, it was planned to be 5-tiered and 140 meters high, that is, taller than all European buildings. Bells could hang in the three upper tiers, and a cross would crown the belfry. However, there were two “buts”: under martial law (the Seven Years’ War was going on), there was nowhere to get funds, and the architect realized that he had gone too far with his ambitions, and left the Smolny Cathedral as the tallest building of the monastery complex.
The garden of the Smolny Cathedral is, in principle, a square sandwiched between Rastrelli Square, Quarenghi Lane, Smolny Street and Smolnaya Embankment. It features 4 identical fountains, launched in 1934: two bowls in front of the cathedral building and two behind it. The fountains are separated by flower beds. Benches, alleys, cherry blossoms - everything is clean and well-groomed.

Bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral

A visit to the bell tower takes place as part of the excursion “Three centuries above the city ” . The observation deck is located at a height of 42 meters in the lower belfry. The height of the entire structure including the angel is 122.5 meters.

The observation deck on the bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral is located on the 3rd tier

Observation deck on the bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral

There are beautiful views of the Palace Embankment and the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.

View of the spit of Vasilyevsky Island from the bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral

View of the Admiralty and St. Isaac's Cathedral, where there is another observation deck

During your visit to the bell tower there is an interesting excursion. Your stay is limited in time, only as part of the excursion.

In the openings of the belfry on the observation deck there is a metal mesh installed, through which the camera lens does not pass, so professional filming will not work.

View from the bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral. There is a metal mesh installed on the observation deck; the camera lens does not pass through it

Best time for a photo : Since in the summer visiting sessions are only at 13:00 and 14:30, you don’t have to choose. But in winter, it’s better to come early in the morning or in the evening, while the sun illuminates the Palace and Mytninskaya embankments, the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island and Vasilyevsky Island itself, where the views open up.

Price : 250 rubles, reduced price 150 rubles. Tickets can only be purchased at the Bothny House (right in front of the entrance to the Cathedral). During the season they are sold out an hour before the visit. They admit 15 people per session, but there are only two sessions per day.

Opening hours : The bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral is accessible only twice a day: at 13:00 and at 14:30 from May 1 to September 30. In winter, you can go up for 2,500 rubles during museum opening hours at any time alone or in a group of up to 10 people (pre-order by phone, +7 (812) 232-94-54 or

How to get there : The nearest metro station is “Gorkovskaya”.

Read the detailed review at the link .

The official website of the Peter and Paul Fortress Museum is here .

Architecture Features

The height of the cathedral reaches 94 meters. Smolny Cathedral is made in the Baroque style, has pediments and lucarnes. If you look at the monastery from above, it is built in the form of a Greek cross (Smolny Cathedral in the center and 4 churches in the corners).

The five-domed structure of the cathedral is of great interest. Rastrelli wanted to build a single-domed cathedral, however, Elizaveta Petrovna insisted on five domes. The famous master designed the domes of the cathedral in such a way that if you look at the cathedral from afar, it creates the illusion that it is huge. However, if you come closer, the building seems to shrink, but does not lose its beauty and grandeur.

"Neva Panorama" on the roof of the wall of the Peter and Paul Fortress

“Neva Panorama” is a small walking route along the roofs of the walls of the Peter and Paul Fortress, the so-called Neva Curtain of the Sovereign and Naryshkin bastions.

Observation deck "Nevskaya Panorama" at the Peter and Paul Fortress

The height is small and some people think that the view is the same as from the embankment below. However, when you go up, you are convinced that here is one of the best panoramic views of the historical center of St. Petersburg: the Palace Embankment and the Winter Palace, the Admiralty and St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Palace and Trinity bridges and the Spit of Vasilievsky Island.

View of Palace Embankment from the Nevskaya Panorama observation deck

View of the Spit of Vasilievsky Island from the Nevskaya Panorama observation deck

And there are beautiful views of the Peter and Paul Fortress itself.

View of the Peter and Paul Cathedral from the Nevskaya Panorama observation deck

At 12 o'clock the daily midday shot is fired from the Naryshkin Bastion. Therefore, many try to get to the site by this time. Access directly to the cannons is closed, but they are clearly visible from the wall.

A midday shot from the Naryshkin bastion of the Peter and Paul Fortress can be observed from the Nevskaya Panorama observation deck

Staying on the observation deck is not limited in time.

Best time for photography : Most of the day the sun shines against the photographer, directly from the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. Therefore, it is better to come early in the morning or late in the evening.

Price : 400 rubles, reduced price 350 rubles. “Neva Panorama” is a commercial project and does not belong to the Peter and Paul Fortress museum; tickets are sold directly at the entrance, and not at the museum’s box office.

Opening hours : From 10:00 to 20:00.

How to get there : The nearest metro station is “Gorkovskaya”. The entrance to the “Neva Panorama” is on both sides from Naryshkin and from the Sovereign Bastions. There are also ticket offices where you can buy tickets.

Current state and activities of the parish

Today, the Church of the Smolensk Mother of God has three altars:

The first and main one was consecrated in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God.
The second is in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Merciful”.
The third is in honor of Saint Blessed Xenia of Petersburg.

Only the Nativity chapel of the church does not have a separate altar.

Interior of the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God (northern throne)

Clergymen try to help not only parishioners in the church. They go to the seriously ill, to those in prison and perform the Sacraments of Communion and Confession there.

There is a parish school for children at the church, where they are taught the Law of God, the Church Slavonic language and church singing. Adults can attend catechism discussions and learn about the history of the church. In turn, believers voluntarily help the temple in whatever way they can.

Salon of Karl Bulla on Nevsky Prospekt

This is the museum of the famous photographer Karl Bulla, who ran a photo studio here at the beginning of the 20th century. It is located on the top floor of the Demidovs' apartment building, where there is access to a safe roof and balcony.

Observation deck of the Karala Bulla salon

The observation deck, although small, is mesmerizing with its views. View of Sadovaya Street and Nevsky Prospekt towards the Duma Tower. Gostiny Dvor is in the center.

View of Sadovaya Street from the observation deck of the Karl Bulla salon

View of the Duma Tower (where another observation deck is located), Kazan and St. Isaac's Cathedrals (from the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral you can see both the Duma Tower and the salon of Karl Bulla)

Best time for a photo : Early morning or late evening, when the sun illuminates the perspective towards Sadovaya Street, where the observation deck opens.

Price : 100 rubles, tickets are sold at the entrance to the museum, payment only in cash.

Opening hours : From 10:00 to 20:00.

How to get there : Nevsky Prospekt 54, next to the Eliseevsky store, entrance from Nevsky Prospekt. The photo studio is located on the top floor. The nearest metro station is Gostiny Dvor.

Read the detailed review at the link .

Official website at the link .

Milestones of history

The creation began in 1748. Tsarina Elizaveta Petrovna chose the area where resin for the shipyard was produced at the beginning of the 18th century, and later she lived in the palace built here in her youth. The construction of the Resurrection Novodevichy Convent was entrusted to the court architect B.F. Rastrelli. The groundbreaking of the new facility was carried out with a pompous ceremony:

prayer service;
beautifully decorated platform;
more than 100 salvos from two dozen cannons.

The celebration ended with a festive treat for 56 people. In general, we started according to Russian custom, for health.

The work was carried out according to the model. The craftsmen built it on a large table in the order in which the original should be created. The architect's plan included the creation of a 5-tier bell tower, the height of which (140 m) would exceed the spire of the Peter and Paul Fortress. This plan did not come to fruition. The war, lack of finance, loss of interest in the Smolny Cathedral, and organizational difficulties slowed down construction.

Elizabeth envisaged the monastery's purpose in training girls of wealthy origin. Later, Catherine II founded the Society of Noble Maidens and a school for girls of the bourgeois class here. The Society's pupils subsequently began to study at the Smolny Institute, a magnificent classical-style building built by D. Quarenghi. The same one who, every time he found himself in front of the cathedral, respectfully raised his hat and said that this was a real temple!

Under Nicholas I in 1835, 87 years after the start, the construction of the cathedral was completed by V.P. Stasov.

Singer House - rooftop observation deck

The observation deck itself is located on the roof next to the dome of the Singer House. The views are magnificent. Officially, there is no museum here, so the climb is only possible as part of an individual excursion with a group of up to 5 people. The roof is safe.

Singer House Observation deck at the Singer House

You will not get into the dome itself, since there is a VKontaket office there, only for employees and their friends. But the views from the roof are better than from inside the dome.

There are views of Nevsky Prospekt, Kazan Cathedral, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Savior on Spilled Blood, the Duma Tower, Trinity Cathedral, the Admiralty, the General Staff, the Pillar of Alexandria, and of course the Lakhta Center tower, from where you can't see it.

The interiors of the Singer House are also impressive.

Price and opening hours : On days of group excursions . Price 1700-1800 rubles.

How to get there : The nearest metro station is Nevsky Prospekt, exit to the Griboyedov Canal.

You can climb to the roof of the Singer House as part of a group tour and at the same time climb the ancient stairs to the atrium and visit the courtyard with a glass roof. You can sign up for the tour using this link .

Artistic interior decoration

The decoration of the premises inside the Smolny Cathedral was carried out under the leadership of V.P. Stasov. He tried not to disturb the original plans of the great architect, but the rational classical style had already become popular. Only modeling, cast iron, exquisite colonnade capitals and dome decor were used. The laconic and solemn interior includes:

a spacious hall that can accommodate 6 thousand people;
iconostasis, richly decorated with marble;
crystal balustrade at the altars;
a platform of skillful workmanship.

In addition to this, two icons by the artist A.G. Venetsianov on the themes of the resurrection of Christ and the introduction into the temple became precious shrines. Choral music hearings are held in the concert hall.

Roof of the Loft Project Floors on Ligovsky Prospekt

The roof of the “Loft Project Floors” is a long-running public space on Ligovsky Prospekt. An art space that is fashionable among young people where there is entertainment for every taste: cafes, concerts, exhibitions of contemporary art, showrooms, sales of beautiful accessories, well suited for gifts.

On the roof of the “Floors” there is an open equipped observation deck overlooking Ligovsky Prospekt. The rooftop also houses the “Dog Cutter” exhibition. You can bring food and drinks with you. Children under 14 years old must only be accompanied by their parents.

The height of the site is 27 meters. The area of open space on the roof is 1200 sq.m. The views are across an array of roofs, but in a unique way. More suitable for an unusual holiday.

Photo: vk.com/loftproektetagi

Price and opening hours : Open all year round from 9:00 to 23:00, entrance ticket costs 200 rubles. Valid all day, you can log in and out an unlimited number of times.

How to get there : Ligovsky Prospekt, 74, not far from the Ligovsky Prospekt metro station.

Official VK group at the link.

Roof in the Berthold Center space

Berthold Center is a public space with many cafes, beauty salons, fitness clubs, and small shops with accessories. Great place to relax.

Observation deck on the roof of the Bertgold Center space

You can climb up the spiral staircase to the roof, where there is a small observation deck. The views are mainly of the rooftops. In the distance you can see the domes of St. Nicholas Cathedral and the tower of the Lakhta Center.

View of the courtyard of the public space from the roof of the Berthold Center

The entrance is free.

In addition, there is a Dead Poets restaurant on another rooftop with a separate entrance. Aesthetic bar with roof terrace. There are better views there.

How to get there : Grazhdanskaya street, 13-15, a few minutes walk from the Sadovaya metro station.

VK group - vk.com/bertholdcentre.

Improvement of the monastery territory

Architect Stasov, simultaneously with the redevelopment of the cathedral, completed the entire ensemble and landscaped the surrounding area. He created free passage to the cathedral and the city square, which was later named in honor of Rastrelli.

The architect covered the space around the monastery complex with a semicircular openwork fence, which became one of the most outstanding examples of highly artistic forging.

Colonnade

The entrance to the territory of Smolny is decorated with columns - propylaea. They connect the Proletarian Dictatorship Square and the garden adjacent to Smolny.

Their project was developed in 1923. The columns of a simple, laconic form are an example of Russian classicism. Two rows of five columns, each forming covered galleries - porticos, placed on both sides of the entrance to the central alley of the garden.

The Smolny Propylaea became the prototype for columns in Moscow's Victory Park and some other places.

Garden

After the founding of the Smolny Monastery, the area adjacent to it was initially empty; a garden was laid out here in 1810:

paved paths covered with turf
they poured fertile soil on which they planted trees
installed a wooden fence

Over the subsequent years of its existence, the garden suffered greatly. It was re-developed from the mid-20s to the mid-30s of the last century. On the destroyed empty area in front of Smolny, flowers were planted and four fountains were built.

Now this garden is a monument of landscape art. On its central alley, surrounded by red flowers, stand monuments to Marx and Engels. In 2013, sakura bushes were planted in one of the garden sections, donated by the Japanese royal family for the next anniversary of St. Petersburg.

Natural hills near St. Petersburg

Duderhof Heights

These are hills formed naturally. An anomalous phenomenon for St. Petersburg. Their origin is still unknown.

The Dudergof Heights consist of two “mountains”: Orekhovaya - 176 meters above sea level and Voronya - 147 meters. Next to them, a few kilometers away, there is another mountain, Kirghof - 170 meters.

Observation deck at Duderhof Heights

There is an eco-trail and several observation platforms on Orekhovaya and Voronya Mountains. The views are very beautiful. This is the highest point within the administrative boundaries of St. Petersburg.

For a detailed review and how to get there, read the link .

Pulkovo Heights and Pulkovo Observatory

The area on a hill where the Pulkovo Observatory and the Pulkovo Meridian are located.

Pulkovo meridian

The observatory is ancient, opened in 1839 according to the design of Alexander Bryullov. Admission to the territory itself is free, but entrance to the observatory museum is paid with a guided tour. There is a telescope and an open circular balcony. From the balcony, however, only the tops of the trees are visible. Therefore, you shouldn’t buy an excursion for the views, but if you want to look at the stars and learn about the observatory, then visit the museum.

Observation deck at the Pulkovo Observatory

The highest point is 75 meters above sea level, and the circular balcony of the observatory is another 21 meters higher. The best views open from the stairs of the Pulkovo Meridian and from the observation deck, which is located on the other side of the Pulkovo Highway. The site is not equipped in any way, just an entrance for transport. There is an underground pedestrian crossing from the observatory.

The place is interesting primarily for walks in the park; historical telescopes and other ancient observatory objects are located there.

The excursions consist of getting to know the museum and walking around the circular balcony. Sometimes an employee opens the doors of the dome and allows you to climb the stairs under the vault, where there is a higher point for inspection.

How to get there : Pulkovskoe highway 65, bldg. 1. Parking before reaching the Rosneft gas station if you come from St. Petersburg. In the direction of St. Petersburg, you can park at the observation deck, where the entrance is opposite the main entrance to the observatory.

Public transport: stop right at the entrance, where there is an underground pedestrian crossing. Buses: 90, 150, 155, 301, 431. Minibuses: K-100, K-18, K-18A, K-403, K-449.

Pearl of St. Petersburg

In 1764, Empress Catherine II established the Imperial Educational Society for Noble Maidens at the Smolny Monastery. In 1806, additional buildings were built to facilitate the education of pupils. In accordance with the original style, they were erected according to the design of the architect D. Quarenghi. Oh, the monastery cathedral was still not completed...

Only a few decades later the construction of the cathedral continued, and the construction was completed in 1835 by the Russian architect V.P. Stasov. These were the times of the reign of Emperor Nicholas I. The resumption of construction began in the 1820s on the personal instructions of the emperor. First, we had to audit the quality of the entire building and correct design flaws.

The result is a complete artistic ensemble of the Smolny Monastery, striking with its architectural composition, expressive appearance and richness of interiors.

The variety of shapes and details, the interesting play of light and shadow determine the sublime character of the premises and, at the same time, they look elegant and cheerful.

The stucco reliefs of the vaults and walls of the corner tower churches are of incredible artistic value. The combination of a thin and elegant flat relief with voluminous and expressive stucco molding makes these rooms a cultural heritage of world significance.

The Smolny Cathedral was consecrated on the significant day of July 20, 1835 in honor of the Resurrection of Christ. This architectural ensemble as a whole, in its expressiveness and perfection of proportions, was one of the pinnacles of world architecture.

Other places vying for observation decks in St. Petersburg

Observation platforms that have not yet opened or, on the contrary, closed. And also places where the views from a high point simply open up.

Tower in Nikolsky Rows

Temporary structure in the public space " Nikolsky Rows ". There are beautiful views of Kolomna. The tower was erected as a temporary structure, so it will most likely be dismantled soon unless they come up with a way to install it for a longer period.

Tower in Nikolsky Rows

Observation deck on the tower in Nikolsky Rows

View from the observation deck at Nikolsky Rows

Free admission. Climbing the tower costs 150 rubles.

For a detailed review of Nikolsky Rows follow the link .

How to get there : Sadovaya st. 62. The nearest metro station is Sadovaya. Nearby is St. Nicholas Cathedral and "Sevenity".

Ferris wheel at the Divo Ostrov amusement park

The Ferris wheel is located in the Divo Island amusement park. They move slowly and you can calmly admire the views. Access for visitors from 1.1 m, children under 1.1 m only accompanied by an adult with a ticket.

Ferris wheel at the Divo Ostrov amusement park (photo Instagram @lerik_lerik)

Entrance to the park is free on weekdays, 100 rubles on weekends.

wheel height : 55 meters;
Lap time : 7 minutes;
Booths : closed, tinted, but with ventilation slots through which you can take photographs without distortion;
Price : 250 rubles.

There are views of the WHSD and cable-stayed bridge, Lakhta Center, Gazprom Arena, yachts in the harbor of Petrovsky Island, Malaya Nevka, Grebnoy Canal, TV tower and the city perspective.

You can buy a single ticket for 2300 rubles, which is valid for all attractions except: Catapult, Booster, Rocket, Catamarans.

How to get there : a few steps from the Krestovsky Island metro station.

The official group on VK is vk.com/divoostrov.

TV tower

Excursions have not been held for a long time due to the openwork of the structures, aging metal and the lack of passenger elevators. Even those rare excursions that were previously carried out were associated with some danger.

The height of the tower is 326 meters and has changed several meters more than once due to the replacement of the antenna. For comparison, the height of the Eiffel Tower is now 324 meters.

Due to the fact that it is impossible to conduct excursions, the St. Petersburg TV tower is not included in the list of the International Federation of Great Towers (IFWF). This list was created in 1989 and unites more than 40 television towers and significant high-rise buildings from around the world.

The TV tower is the highest observation deck in St. Petersburg. But soon this place of honor will be taken by the Lakhta Center tower, when an observation deck accessible to everyone opens there.

How to get there: Petrogradskaya side, st. Academician Pavlova st., 3. Nearest metro station “Petrogradskaya”. Transport: trolleybus 31, minibus K10, bus 185.

Lakhta Center Tower

Lakhta Center Tower (Gazmprom Tower)
Lakhta Center Tower, or as it is called Gazprotower, is the northernmost skyscraper in Europe and the tallest building on the continent. Its height, together with the almost 100-meter spire, is 462 meters.

The tower got its name from the Finnish word lahti, which means bay.

We are waiting for the work to be completed.

Trinity Bridge

Trinity Bridge
Some public pages regularly reprint material about the observation deck from the Trinity Bridge. But it can hardly be called an observation deck, it’s just a beautiful view of the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.

It is located next to the Summer Garden on one side and the Peter and Paul Fortress on the other.

Roof of the second stage of the Mariinsky Theater

The panoramic platform is located on the roof of the Marinka-2 building. Access opens one hour before the start of the performance. Only those who came to the performance can visit the venue.

Roof of the second stage of the Mariinsky Theater

The height is approximately 6th floor. There is a view of Kolomna, Theater Square, and St. Nicholas Cathedral.

How to get there : st. Dekabristov, 34a, nearest metro station "Sadovaya".

Roof of the shopping complex "Gallery"

The observation deck is located on the roof of the Galereya shopping complex, next to the Moskovsky railway station.

The place belongs to the restaurant “Big Kitchen”, which is located on the 5th floor. Through the restaurant there is access to an open-air terrace, which can be accessed by anyone.

The observation deck is located just below the level of the buildings around, Vosstaniya Square and the area as a whole are clearly visible. Other sights can be seen through the rooftops.

How to get there : Ligovsky Prospekt, 30A, Ploshchad Vosstaniya metro station.

Story

Since ancient times, the Novgorod village of Spasskoye was located on the site of the now existing Smolny Monastery. After the founding of St. Petersburg, this place was used for cooking and storing resin for the Admiralty Shipyard. This is how the name Smolny stuck to it.

On the eve of her fortieth birthday, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna decided to leave the hustle and bustle and spend the rest of her days within the walls of the monastery. She ordered the construction of a monastery for one hundred and twenty girls from noble families. It provided separate apartments for each of the girls with a maid's room, a storage room and a kitchen. She ordered a separate house to be built for herself as the future abbess.

This place was chosen specifically. When she was young, Elizaveta Petrovna lived in the Smolny Palace located here. For this reason, the palace was also called the Maiden Palace.

In 1744, the architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli was appointed to lead the project. According to his idea, the monastery complex was to consist of a cathedral and residential buildings located around it. He decided to abandon the traditional fortress walls of that time. The dominant feature was the bell tower above the entrance gate. It was supposed to reach 140 meters and, accordingly, be higher than the bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral.

The foundation stone of the cathedral took place on October 30, 1748. The foundation stone was ceremoniously lowered into the foundation. The ceremony was crowned by 101 salvos from 20 cannons. The monastery was named Smolny, after the name of the place itself - the former Smolny courtyard.

Repeated changes to the project

In 1749, Catherine ordered the project to be remade. The cathedral was supposed to become a similarity to the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. According to the new requirements, the Smolny Cathedral was to have, in addition to the main massive dome, four small ones.

Before construction began, it was decided to create a working architectural model of the complex. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to rent “three chambers and one canopy” for 11 rubles a month. Six of the best carpenters worked tirelessly. The model exactly repeated the sequence of construction of the monastery. After completing the creation of the model, it was transported to a special “model room”.

Thousands of soldiers and artisans were recruited to build the monastery. They worked 14 hours a day. Elizaveta Petrovna was delighted with the scope and progress of construction. She ordered a huge bell to be cast for the bell tower. It was supposed to weigh 20,000 pounds and be more than 6.5 meters wide. With this bell she wanted to “outdo” the Moscow Tsar Bell.

During construction, Rastrelli revised the project several times. He increased the height of the bell tower from 140 to 167 meters, and moved the small domes to the central one. Admired by this project, the architect Savva Ivanovich Chevakinsky, when creating the complex of St. Nicholas Cathedral, partially repeated the design of Rastrelli’s bell tower.

Thanks to the originality of Rastrelli’s views, the Smolny Monastery was created in a non-standard interpretation of the Baroque - in contrast to European “facade” styles, the Smolny Monastery was intended to be viewed from all sides.

Construction intermittently

Due to the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1757, there was not enough money for construction. The project was not completed, and victory in the war over Prussia dispelled the empress’s desire to enter a monastery. In 1761, Elizaveta Petrovna died without ever seeing the consecration of the cathedral.

But after Rastrelli left for Italy in 1762, construction and finishing work continued. The latter were led by architect Yu.M. Felten before 1775. Soon, in 1764 and 1765, a temple in the name of St. was consecrated on the second floor of the northeastern tower. Vmch. Catherine, the consecration of the church in the name of St. right Zechariah and Elizabeth passed on the third floor of the northwestern tower.

The construction of the cathedral began already during the reign of Nicholas I in the 1820s. Architect Vasily Petrovich Stasov proposed his project for the revival of dilapidated structures and communications. He was involved in restoration, interior decoration and the addition of new service buildings from the main entrance.

On July 20, 1835, Smolny Cathedral was consecrated by Metropolitan Seraphim as the cathedral of all educational institutions. In honor of this, a bronze medal was struck with the image of the temple and Jesus Christ blessing the children. For his work, the architect Stasov received a remuneration of 2,000 silver rubles per year, paid to him over 12 years.

The Smolny Cathedral broke all construction records in St. Petersburg at that time - it took 87 years to build. The capacity of the church hall is about 6,000 people.

Restaurants with views

In the article we have collected places that are observation platforms, and not view restaurants. Panoramic restaurants are also interesting, but we’ll talk about them separately.

Restaurant HI-SO Terrace

Here we will only list restaurants with rooftop viewing platforms.

Restaurant "Floor 41" in the skyscraper of the Leader Tower business center. Constitution Square, 3/2. 10 minutes walk from Moskovskaya metro station.
Restaurant "Azimut Sky bar" on the top floor of the Azimut hotel building. The nearest metro station is Technological Institute. Lermontovsky prospect 43/1.
Respectable restaurant Bellevue Brasserie (Bellevue) at the Kempinski Hotel in the city center on the Moika embankment 22, 9th floor. He is at the same height as the angel of the Alexandrian Column. Its windows offer views of Palace Square.
Restaurant "Seventh Heaven" on the 7th floor of the glass building of the Expoforum Convention and Exhibition Center. Petersburg highway 64 k1 lit. A.
Restaurant "Good People of Romantics" on the 15th floor overlooking the Gulf of Finland and Lakhta Center. The building is on the territory of the residential complex “I am a Romantic”. IN. Vilkitsky Boulevard 4, building 1. Metro "Primorskaya".
Restaurant “Sails on the Roof” – on the 10th business floor. Petrogradskaya side, st. Leo Tolstoy 10.
Solid and respectable restaurant "Mansarda" overlooking St. Isaac's Cathedral. St. Pochtamtskaya 3-5. Entrance through the Mirror Courtyard.
Restaurant HI-SO Terrace overlooking St. Isaac's Cathedral, on the other side of the Attic. Located on the roof of the SO/St. Petersburg. In winter, the terrace works as an observation deck; you can buy a voucher and drink a glass of mulled wine there. Voznesensky prospect 6.
Restaurant "Terassa" near the Kazan Cathedral . One of the most popular view restaurants in the city from Ginza Project. On the roof of the building at 3A Kazanskaya Street.
The seasonal cocktail bar L Terrasa is located on the 6th floor of the Lotte Hotel and seats just over 60 guests. Antonenko Lane 2.
Inexpensive restaurant "R-terrace" with panoramic views of St. Isaac's Cathedral. Located at the Renaissance St. Hotel Petersburg Baltic Hotel. St. Pochtamtskaya 4.
Restaurant La Vue on the roof of the St. Petersburg Hotel overlooking the cruiser Aurora. Pirogovskaya embankment, 5/2.
Restaurant "Big Kitchen" in the shopping mall "Gallery" near the Moskovsky railway station, through which there is access to the observation deck of the shopping mall. Ligovsky Prospekt, 30A.
Restaurant "Nevesomost" on the 10th floor of the hotel "Vvedensky" on the Petrogradskaya side, Bolshoy Prospekt 37.

The article will be updated with the appearance of new observation platforms in St. Petersburg or changes in the rules for visiting existing ones. Write in the comments about your impressions, add if you find any inaccuracies, ask questions.

Interesting facts about the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ

To build a model of the temple at the site of its construction, it was necessary to cut down the walls in 4 rooms. The best carpentry masters were invited to construct the wooden model. The model was erected in the same sequence as the cathedral itself.
If the five-tier bell tower were built, the main bell would weigh 327 tons. The largest “Tsar Bell” is 200 tons.
During the restoration, secret passages were found leading to Chernyshevskaya Street.
The bomb shelter in the basements of the Smolny Cathedral was the first in Russia.
As you approach the temple, it may seem that it is decreasing in size. This effect was created thanks to the skill and skill of the architect.
The author of the Smolny Institute project saluted the architect Rastrelli all his life, each time taking off his hat in front of the Smolny Cathedral and giving him a respectful bow.
The cathedral seats more than 6,000 people.
Construction of the cathedral took 87 years. Services were carried out for 87 years. After the revolution, exactly 87 years passed before the first prayer service in the temple. Numerology interprets the number 87 as a shield and a sword.
Many eyewitnesses notice a certain silhouette of a lady in white walking through the territory of the Smolny Monastery.
In guidebooks, the name of the point is indicated as “Smolny Cathedral”, and not “Smolny Monastery”, this is due to the fact that many premises of the complex are still occupied by government agencies.
It was believed that the temple was cursed and it was for this reason that its construction took more than 80 years. During the construction of the complex, one of the assistants committed suicide right in the temple. The workers said that they saw his wandering ghost for a long time. And the temple needed to be cleansed after committing a sin, which is why the construction process took so long.
Smolyanki are girls studying at the Smolny Institute. They say that they often saw the ghost of a man with a business briefcase, most likely this is the same assistant to the architect. The ghost could simply stand in the corridor and then disappear into the wall.

Rastrelli created a lot of beautiful architectural creations in St. Petersburg, in addition to the Smolny Cathedral. Buildings and temples in the form of airy cakes or fairy-tale castles are quite normal for people of that time.

It is better to come to the city for at least 5 days in order to have time to enjoy all the works of famous architects, visit the parks and palaces of the former nobility, and feel at least for a minute as part of something great.

Everyone needs to visit the Smolny Cathedral and feel the atmosphere of the bygone times of St. Petersburg, when luxury reigned in the city and spiritual joy flourished.

Article design: Mila Friedan