7 Amazing Facts About Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg – this 6 million metropolis, certainly one of the most beautiful in the world, as the new capital of Russia, was founded in 1701 by Peter the Great, and at the same time the creator of a powerful state of the Russian people.

Changed name several times

Saint Petersburg is a relatively young city, originated at the beginning of the 18th century, after Russia won Ingria.

At the beginning of the First World War, the city was renamed to Petrograd in 1914, the name by which it was already known in other Slavic languages, because the name St. Petersburg sounded too German.

On 26 January 1924, three days after Lenin’s death, the city was renamed to Leningrad. The Soviet propaganda for decades glorified Leningrad as the “cradle of the revolution” and “the city of three revolutions”.

After the collapse of Soviet Union the first name came back on June 12, 1991.

872 days siege

During the Second World War, Leningrad was under the German siege from September 1941 to January 1944, or a total of 872 days. The siege of Leningrad was one of the longest, most devastating and most widespread sieges of major cities in modern history.

The city was cut off from most of the supplies except over the frozen Lake Ladoga, and more than a million civilians died, mostly due to starvation. Many others were evacuated or managed to escape themselves, and the city was mostly abandoned. In 1945, Leningrad became the first Soviet city to be awarded the title of the city “hero”.

City of power plant turbines

10% of all power turbines in the world have been produced in the Leningrad Metallurgical Institute (LMZ), which has produced more than two thousand turbines for power plants around the world.

Capital of beer

Saint Petersburg is the center of significant beer industry and distillery. It is known as the Russian “capital of beer” (for the quality of local water) with a share of 30% of beer production in the country with five large breweries, Baltic (the second largest European brewery) and Vienna – both owned by Carlsberg of BBH, Heineken and Stenka Razin Both owned by Heineken) and Tinkoff (SUN-InBev).

Copy of Paris and Versailles

Peter the Great, the founder of this city, especially appreciated the look of Paris and Versailles, and many buildings were built according to the Parisian model. The style of the Petrine Baroque, developed by Trezzina and other architects, illustrated by buildings such as the Menshikov Palace, Kunstkamera, Petropavlov Cathedral and the Twelfth College, became prominent in the city architecture at the beginning of the 18th century.

In 1724, Peter the Great founded the Russian Academy of Science, University and Academic Gymnasium in St. Petersburg.

City without skyscrapers

The center of St. Petersburg has no skyscrapers and is characterized by a relatively low line of horizons. The current regulations prohibit the construction of high-rise buildings in the center.

The 310-meter Sanktpeterburg television tower is the tallest building in the city, and the Petropavlovsk cathedral, with a tower high 122.5, is the second highest building.

More than 200 museums

St. Petersburg is “home” of more than two hundred museums, many located in historic buildings. The largest museum, and one of the biggest sights of the city, the famous Hermitage, which in the interiors of the former imperial residence contains a vast archeological collection from all over the world.

The museum, founded in 1764 by Katarina II. Large, is located in 6 large palaces including the Winter Castle.