Arrow of Vasilyevsky Island, what has changed. Memorial sign "Arrow of Vasilyevsky Island". Interactive tour of the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island

The Spit of Vasilyevsky Island is an observation deck in the very center of the northern capital. The eastern tip of Vasilyevsky Island really resembles an arrow dividing the river into two branches - the Bolshaya Neva and the Malaya Neva.

Located at its “edge”, Exchange Square plays a vital role in the panorama of the city. Its facade depicts a sculptural composition headed by Neptune. In front of the exchange building, the architect installed Rostral columns, personifying the power and greatness of the Russian fleet. On the columns there are symbolic bows of the ships - “rostras”, symbolizing the defeated enemy ships, which served as beacons, marking the edges of the island in the fog for the ships. Nowadays, in honor of major holidays, fires are lit on the columns.


At the beginning of the 19th century, the architect J. Thomas worked on creating a square near the newly built exchange building. According to the project, a rounded embankment was made, granite embankments and descents to the Neva were installed. They say that the stone balls located on these slopes were cut out of the rock by the sculptor S.I. Sukhorukov without using any measuring tools.

In 1925, a square was laid out on the spit, according to the design of the architect L. A. Ilyin. For the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, a relief bronze plan of the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island appeared in the park.


Nearby there was another gift for the city's anniversary: ​​a real ship's anchor-cat, made in 1723 at the Olonets factory and found in 2001 on Vasilyevsky Island itself.

Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.

General information and attractions

One of the most inspiring and recognizable places in the Northern capital, where architecture and landscape harmoniously complement each other, is the Spit of Vasilievsky Island. This is the name of the eastern cape, which, cutting into the river, divides it into two branches: the Bolshaya and Malaya Neva. Vasilievsky Island itself became a place of concentration of culture and science: institutions, museums, architectural masterpieces, and the cape facing the sunrise became its majestic facade.

Spit of Vasilyevsky Island (top view).

Vasilievsky Island began to be actively developed during the reign of Emperor Peter I. At first, workers and artisans settled here, windmills and sawmills were installed. Then, on the southern bank, they rose: the building of the Twelve Colleges, and the palace of the Dowager Empress Praskovya Feodorovna, which was later transferred to the Academy of Sciences. The Kunstkamera was built nearby. On the northern shore, Gostiny Dvor and the house of the Stroganov barons were built. The city port was also moved here in the 20s of the 18th century. Almost simultaneously, construction of the exchange and customs buildings began in the central part of the cape.

However, the construction of the exchange was delayed - the unfinished building did not decorate the city and it was dismantled. Swiss architect Thomas de Thomon took upon himself further care of the design of the cape.

The architect managed to subtly feel the austere beauty of St. Petersburg and, inspired by classical examples of Greek and Roman architecture, he set to work. By 1810, a majestic building rose above the most prominent place on the eastern cape, which some dubbed the “Russian Parthenon.”

Thomas de Thomon also supervised the arrangement of the entire architectural ensemble. According to his plan, the famous semicircular square was created. To do this, soil was poured and strengthened, extending the cape by 123 meters, and the embankment was dressed in granite. At first they planned to build a ceremonial port here, but later it was decided to build a small square with vases and benches along the paths in this place.

Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.

The scale and harmony of the architectural ensemble were given by two Rostral columns, which at that time served as massive lanterns. The opening of the exchange, planned for 1812, was postponed by the Patriotic War; it took place only in 1816. The architect did not live to see this.

Since the 30s of the 19th century, the final appearance of Strelka was formed: the southern and northern warehouses stood on both sides of the exchange building. A customs building was built next to the northern one (now the Pushkin House). The southern one is now the Zoological Museum.

Exchange Square is a great place to relax and take photographs. From here there is a breathtaking view of the widest part of the Neva, which carries its waters to the sea. The Hare Island is visible at a glance. On the right hand lies the Palace Embankment. There are two memorial signs on Birzhevaya Square: almost at the very tip of the cape - a round sign with an image and a brief description of the main attractions of the Strelka; on the opposite side is an anchor from Peter's times, installed here in the year of the 300th anniversary of the city.

Where the square ends, on both sides of it there are Rostral Columns, one of the symbols of St. Petersburg. They are decorated with rostras (Latin rostra - bow of a ship). Thus, following the ancient Roman custom, the architect Thomas de Thomon wanted to show the greatness of Russia as a maritime power. Inside each of the columns there is a spiral staircase. In the 19th century, ministers climbed it to light hemp oil in giant lamps. Now there is gas lighting installed there, which is lit on especially special occasions.

Arrow, Rostral Columns and Exchange Building.

From the Exchange Square park, a wide pedestrian crossing leads directly to the Exchange building - compositional center of the architectural ensemble. Impressive 40-meter wide staircases lead to the building from the east and west. The huge building is raised on a granite stylobate. According to the plan, this elevation was intended to protect the building from flooding. The perimeter of the Exchange Building is surrounded by an impressive colonnade. Inside the building there is a spacious hall, the floor and walls of which are lined with marble. At one time the Naval Museum was located here, now the building has been transferred to the Hermitage.

There are many museums on Vasilyevsky Island. Some of them are on Strelka itself. It is located on the University Embankment in the Kunstkamera building. It contains more than a million exhibits illustrating the formation, development and diversity of various ethnic groups on our planet. Sculptural compositions and busts of great Russian scientists are used in the interior design of the museum.

Next to the Kunstkamera stands the largest Russian museum of this type. More than 15 million representatives of the animal world are represented here, belonging to 30 thousand species: fish and amphibians, animals and reptiles, invertebrates and birds. The magnificent collection of butterflies, skeletons of extinct animals, and the mummy of a baby mammoth, found in 1977 in the Siberian permafrost layer, enjoy constant success. Many exhibitions are made in the form of dioramas, which creates the effect of presence.

On the other side of the Kunstkamera is the Central Museum of Soil Science, which bears the name of Vasily Vasilyevich Dokuchaev, the great son of Russia, who created the doctrine of soil and developed the foundations of soil geography. The exhibition presents a collection of soil monoliths dating back to 1902. There are samples brought from different parts of the planet: from the Arctic to New Zealand.

On the Makarov embankment there is a Literary Museum, which is often called the Pushkin House. Its shelves display more than 300 thousand documents, works of art and household items that illustrate the development of Russian literature from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Separate exhibitions introduce visitors to the works of Pushkin, Derzhavin, Gogol, Zhukovsky, Turgenev, Dostoevsky...

Interactive tour of the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island

How to use the interactive tour window:
by briefly pressing the left mouse button on any of the white arrows in the tour window, you will move in the corresponding direction (left, right, forward, etc.), by pressing and holding down the left button - rotate the mouse in different directions: you can look around without moving from the spot. When you click on the black square in the upper right corner of the interactive tour window, you will be taken to full-screen viewing mode.

Another option, in our opinion more interesting: get to the Admiralteyskaya metro station, then walk through Palace Square, past the Hermitage, then cross the Palace Bridge - and you are there. There is also public transport from the Admiralteyskaya metro station to the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.

Numerous travel agencies and excursion routes bring hundreds of tourists every day to one of the most popular attractions of the city - to Vasilievsky Island, the Spit of which with the Rostral columns and the Exchange building we see on thousands of postcards. Regardless of the day of the week, at any time of the day, you can meet newlyweds here who are celebrating the beginning of a new life in the center of their beloved city.

Historical reference

Since the founding of the city, Vasilyevsky Island has played an important part in its life. Strelka (that’s the name of its eastern end) was initially supposed to be built up with houses according to the architects’ design. However, the plan was changed, as Peter the Great decided to make this site one of the centers of business and cultural life of the city. At his behest, the architect designed a new ensemble, which included the buildings of the Kunstkamera, the Exchange, and the Rostral Columns.

According to the idea of ​​Peter the Great, the city began with a building that was supposed to become a center of trade. But since it was quite small, the site of the main actions was moved to Vasilyevsky Island. The arrow played a big role not only in trade affairs, but also in the further development of the city. The Exchange building, customs, and warehouses were moved here, and Gostiny Dvor was erected here.

Exchange

The Exchange building flaunts at the top of everything. It is one of the business cards for which St. Petersburg is known throughout the world. The Spit of Vasilyevsky Island is one of the most important and beautiful sights of the city. It’s pleasant to be here at any time of the year; it offers a beautiful view of the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Neva delta.

The architectural style in which the Exchange building was built is classicism. The architect was J. F. Thomas de Thomon. The space in front of the building was divided into two squares - Kollezhskaya and Birzhevaya. After the construction of the Exchange building, according to the architects' plans, the space in front of it was increased by 100 meters. Thus, a contrast was created between the architectural components and space was created for the approach of ships. Gentle slopes decorated with granite balls lead to the water.

Rostral columns

Another symbol distinguishes Vasilyevsky Island. The arrow is decorated with two which were erected as lighthouses for ships. They were guided by their light when entering the port. The height of the columns is 32 meters. They were symbols of the greatness of the naval power of the state. Their decorations are the bows of ships, and the figures located at the foot symbolize the great rivers - the Volga, Dnieper, Neva and Volkhov.

Currently, one of the most interesting places to visit in the city is Vasilyevsky Island. Strelka offers such interesting museums to visit as Zoological, Soil Science, Literary, Kunstkamera and Central Naval. The Strelka of Vasilievsky Island invites you to see their exhibits and also enjoy the magnificent view. The address of these museums is known to many, so do not forget to visit them.

Located on the very banks of the Neva, the Spit of Vasilievsky Island has always attracted both residents of St. Petersburg and its guests. It is from here that the most picturesque view of the city opens. From the stone shore you can admire the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Hermitage and the Admiralty.

There is a tradition of holding weddings and memorable celebrations on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. And just recently there was another reason to explore this area. In 2003, a memorial sign was installed here in honor of the tercentenary of St. Petersburg, donated by the city customs service. The sign is a bronze circle with a diameter of 240 centimeters, located on a granite pedestal. The plate depicts the buildings that make up the architectural ensemble of the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.

The grand opening of the memorial sign took place on November 14, 2003. The main architect of the unique monument was Yuri Anatolyevich Nikitin, a historian and professor, author of several books on the history of architecture. The sculptors who brought the idea to life were Alexander Sergeevich Kunats and Dmitry Mikhailovich Nikitin. Alexander Vasilyevich Timofeev was chosen as the designer of the bronze bas-relief.

In addition to the three hundredth anniversary of the Northern capital, the memorial sign symbolizes another historical event. On November 12, 1703, the first merchant ship from Holland delivered a cargo of wine and salt to St. Petersburg. This date is considered the founding day of the North-West Customs Service.

The location for the installation of the bronze monument was not chosen by chance. It was in the buildings located on the Spit of Vasilievsky Island that at one time the customs service of St. Petersburg was located. Each building is captured and signed.

History of the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island

This architectural ensemble is located in the easternmost part of Vasilyevsky Island. Going down to the banks of the Neva, it harmoniously fits into the landscape and is a standard of architecture in St. Petersburg.

The history of the island begins in the twenties of the 18th century. It was then that Peter I decided to organize a business center of the city here. The Building of the Twelve Colleges and the Exchange were built according to the design of Domenico Trezzini. Also included in the chief architect’s plan were Gostiny Dvor and the Cathedral.

The building of the Twelve Colleges was made in the Peter the Great Baroque style and was intended to house the highest bodies of state power. Today it houses the St. Petersburg State University and Pedagogical Institute.

A separate building was built to house the city Exchange, but soon a Naval Museum was organized there, which existed there until 2010 and was then moved to the Kryukov barracks. Now the issue of using the former Exchange building has not been resolved. At the same time, buildings for the Kunstkamera and the Academy of Sciences were erected. On the northern bank along the Malaya Nevka River there were port services: customs, a warehouse and a trade exchange.

In the second half of the 18th century, the untouched territory of Vasilyevsky Island was designated for the construction of the northern warehouse, which became the main building of the Exchange building. Today the premises house the Museum of Soil Science named after Vasily Vasilyevich Dokuchaev. The author of the project for the northern warehouse was Giacomo Quarenghi, a member of the Imperial Academy of Arts.

In 1805, construction of the new Exchange building began. Main architector Jean-François Thomas de Thomon executed it in the antique style and decorated the area in front of it with two Rostral columns. At the foot of each of them there are statues symbolizing the great Russian rivers: the Neva, Dnieper, Volga and Volkhov. In front of the Exchange building, a square was laid out, consisting of an eastern and western part. The first of them is called Exchange Square, and the second is Kollezhskaya.

At the same time, Cape Strelki of Vasilyevsky Island was being developed. The built stone ledge above the water served as a ceremonial pier. For its construction, soil was poured into the Neva bed; the total height of the embankment was 123 and a half meters.

The flood that occurred in 1824 severely destroyed the Exchange building. To restore the structure, the northern and southern warehouses had to be rebuilt.

For a long time, the architectural ensemble of the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island remained untouched. But modern multi-story buildings gradually destroyed the harmony created several centuries ago. Development companies and local authorities are engaged in an irreconcilable struggle for the territory.

Rostral columns got their name from the ancient Greek tradition of decorating structures of this kind with a war trophy, in this case the bow of a ship, which translated into Latin sounds like “rostra”. This symbol personified the power and strength of the country.

While walking along Vasilyevsky Island, you can wander into the narrowest street of St. Petersburg - Repin Street. Its width is only 5 meters and 60 centimeters. Previously, it was called Pesochny and Solovyovsky Lane. The road appeared due to its advantageous location on a hill, where it was convenient to lay a path.

Another interesting fact is that the image of the Spit of Vasilievsky Island is depicted on the fifty-ruble banknote. On one side there is a statue of the Neva at the foot of the Rostral Column, on the other there is a view of the Strelka from the river. If you look closely at the sculpture's foot, you will notice the erroneously depicted sixth toe.

There are more than one legends around the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. Among them there is one that says that lions located near the descent to the river help to get married. In order for a girl to find a groom, she must kiss the animal's nose. And for those who have already found their happiness, a ring sticking out of the lion’s mouth will help strengthen their relationship. To do this, it is enough to hold on to it together.

You can see St. Petersburg from the most picturesque angle by walking along the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. There are a large number of historical museum buildings located here. Guests and residents of the city will certainly receive the best impressions.

Spit of Vasilyevsky Island in St. Petersburg. A beautiful and harmonious architectural ensemble on the eastern tip of Vasilievsky Island, formed by the Exchange, Rostral Columns, Exchange Square, customs buildings, southern and northern warehouses in the first half of the 19th century according to the design of J.-F. Thomas de Thomon and I. F. Luchini.

The territory of the present Strelka remained undeveloped for a long time, despite the fact that Vasilyevsky Island itself began to be actively developed at the beginning of the 18th century under Peter I. First, the city port was moved here, but later it was shifted to the north. The first plan for transforming the square was adopted in 1767, however, the first building - the majestic Bourse building - was erected by the architect J.-F. Thomas de Thomon only in 1805-1810, at the same time the Rostral columns appeared here. The buildings, spreading out with wings towards the Exchange, were built in 1826-1832, with their appearance the Strelka ensemble was finally formalized.

The famous semicircular ledge of the Strelka is of artificial origin - for its arrangement, soil was added to the river bed, increasing the length of the cape by 123.5 meters towards the river. Initially it was intended for the front pier of the seaport, but in 1894 it was decided to organize a small garden with vases, paths and benches on it. The modern park on Strelka was created in 1925-1926 according to the design of L. A. Ilyin.

The Spit of Vasilyevsky Island is one of the most favorite places for citizens and guests of the city; this beautiful place fascinates with its harmonious unity of water space and urban architecture. It is clearly visible both from the Peter and Paul Fortress and from the Trinity Bridge, as well as from pleasure steamers and boats. Panorama of Strelka is one of the most recognizable views of St. Petersburg.

During the Leningrad Siege, the crew of anti-aircraft batteries was located on Strelka.

The arrow of Vasilyevsky Island with the Exchange building is depicted on the Russian 50-ruble banknote.

In 2006-2009, the largest floating singing fountain in Russia operated near the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.

The St. Petersburg wedding tradition is also connected with the Vasileostrovskaya Strelka - the newlyweds must break a bottle of champagne on the quay wall so that the family voyage will be long and happy.

Note to tourists:

A visit to the Spit of Vasilievsky Island will be interesting for tourists interested in the architecture of the first half of the 19th century, and can also become one of the points of the excursion program while exploring the neighboring attractions that are part of the architectural ensemble - the buildings of the northern and southern warehouses (where the Central Museum of Soil Science is located, respectively). and Zoological Museum). In addition, next to the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island there are

 

It might be useful to read: