Not every town with three hundred years of history can boast such a variety of architecture and culture, as Peter.And he owes his wealth to one person, which is common sense because the absurdity of the idea is often questioned.Museums, theaters and libraries, palaces and gardens, romance, art and originality - is the center of all the Leningrad region, which attracts guests from different countries.Today we talk about the glorious city with a rich history.You will learn many interesting facts about Peter.
Territory myths
City Saint Petersburg shrouded in lots of interesting and unusual legends.One of them talks about its base.According to the official version, the great emperor Peter realized that the country needs a seaport.This would help to establish contact with Europe.That is why there was a need to create an item that would become the center of the fleet and at the same time provide protection for the north-west of the country.Location corresponding to the above criteria, were selected on the coast of the Gulf of Finland.
May 16, 1703, the feast of the Trinity, the emperor arrived at Rabbit Island.This name he received because of the fact that at high tide is one of the rabbits hid from the king of the water and jumped in the boots, thus saving themselves.
inspecting areas that monarch conquered the Swedes, he suddenly stopped and said that there will be a long and glorious city of St. Petersburg.Then he took a shovel and began to dig a ditch.Later, he laid the foundation stone for the future of the fortress.At the time, the area was an impassable swamps and wastelands deaf.While the governor was walking, she accompanied him everywhere eagle - a symbol of success, strength and prosperity.
Disclaimer folk tales
In fact, almost all the legends - fiction.This also applies to the above myth.Researchers fully criticized such a fairy tale.Nevertheless, the history of St. Petersburg is still inseparable from the stories, and for a long time, people perceived them as the truth.
first fiction - the presence of Peter on Hare Island in May 1703.At this time, the Emperor followed the construction of ships in Lodeynoye field that was in 200 kilometers from the capital of the future.Moreover, the emperor's father rarely dropped in this region.Not imperial this business dig holes, lay the first stones, and running through the provinces.
There was an eagle and a nice, because in this area, they are not found.However, the forest where there were some really wild.For example, on Elagin Island, which today houses the park them.Kirov, inhabited by brown bears.
way, these animals are not well accepted fact of proximity to the people and constantly attacked the builders, which has led to large enough casualties.In the end, it was decided to destroy the bears.
Jungle with populations
This interesting facts about St. Petersburg does not end there.Stories about impassable, uninhabited swamps - as fiction.In fact, these lands to settle in even primitive people who were relatives of the Finno-Ugric peoples.In VIII-IX centuries the Slavs settled here.In the 1600s, these territories during the war had been reconquered by the Swedes, and belonged to them until 1721.At the beginning of the construction stood here about forty busiest settlements with churches, castles, houses.By the standards of the Middle Ages it was a fairly large settlements.But the power of the old buildings demolished and in their place to build new facilities.
Reject historians and the version that the king was guided in its policy interests of the people.His main goal was to create a new European country, which in the near future was to be Russia.St. Petersburg was built from scratch due to the fact that the monarch did not suit the then society.The new capital was to be not only the political but also the cultural center of power.
Mystery name
Besides the well-known legend, which tells of the founding of the city, the people formed a wrong stereotype about the name of the city.Many people believe that it is a direct reference to the name of its founder - Peter the Great.In fact, the emperor has no relation to this fact.The city is named in honor of St. Peter.King before the founding of the city wanted to pay tribute to the martyr, whose name was wearing, and named after him some edge.
History of St. Petersburg also says that Peter and Paul Fortress, which laid the emperor, is the so-called gateway to the country.But this is the patron responsible for the entrance to paradise.
It is worth noting that the very citadel with the king was not only a military facility, but also a kind town with apartments, pharmacies, shops.
first steps to a dream ruler
on the implementation of the plan worked emperor invited from abroad internationally renowned engineers and architects.But the construction work carried slaves, which "invited" from all over the country.
While the king built the city of dreams, suffered Russia.St. Petersburg was planned on the European model, and its construction had to a large number of stones.Therefore, at the time of the work on the Neva ruler prohibited to build houses of this material somewhere else.In addition, each worker had to bring not only tools, but also raw materials.With all those who arrived empty-handed, to collect taxes.The project attracted not only slaves, but soldiers (in their spare time, the war), prisoners and even prisoners.
truth and falsehood
Interesting facts about St. Petersburg can tell the story.Thus, many sources indicate that working conditions were terrible, and paid little reigned brutal regime.Indeed, the emperor kept the subjects in his fist.The construction of the peasants came to force.Families of those who escaped were taken to prison and was not released until the workers return.
But the salary they are paid and accounted for 1 ruble (the average wage at the time) worked only three (later two) months, and then are able to return home.There is information on the accident: according to various estimates, the figure is between 1 and 5%, that is, given the age, is quite low.
impaled fashion
scheme St. Petersburg for location of buildings at that time was closely linked with the maritime traditions.All objects are built almost on the coast.Constant floods and rigorous climate did not attract people.But from 1712, the city announced the capital.On the eve of the officials moved here, the Senate and the embassy.It also settled and the royal court.
want to live in the city was a little wild.The more people arriving at the whim of the monarch.In 1725 in St. Petersburg there were about 25-30 thousand people, while in Moscow eight times.Then the house of St. Petersburg were inhabited by peasants and workers who were engaged in the construction of new facilities.
But after Peter's death, in 1725, the development was stopped.Capital again transported to Moscow.The city on the Neva River was deserted.Local was not, as the population were peasants who had returned home.I went to the original place of residence and the intelligentsia.This is confirmed by the fact that the first stationary cemetery was founded only in 1738.
City emperors
House St. Petersburg are destroyed.Added two fire issues and the annual floods.It should be noted that the architectural gems that today boasts the city did not exist.Peter's emphasis on the military side.Structures were well fortified and ready to attack the enemy.
thing great reformer continued the queen Anna Ivanovna.By decree of 1737 created a committee whose goal - to restore the city's development plan.Opens a dozen schools.They later lead to the fact that the city has become a center of culture.
Interesting facts about St. Petersburg associated with the aforementioned Peter and Paul Fortress.View admired by tourists today - the work is not the first emperor and his daughter Elizabeth.That she did this military facility now an architectural marvel.
put a lot of effort and Catherine II.In fact, it was she who built the northern capital.Thanks to her, there was one of the most famous sculptures - Bronze Horseman.This figure gave the name of the poet Alexander Pushkin.In fact, a sculpture made of bronze.
Corrector stories
City, which left behind Peter was poor and simple.The only thing that Catherine II took the first project - a scheme of Saint Petersburg.Man built of wood and clay huts clearly on the line that was strange and incomprehensible to the then people.
Statistics show that during the life of the monarch was built only one stone house in a year.But the Empress made from a provincial town work of art.That it has established dozens of artifacts that allegedly belonged to Peter the Great.During her reign, the best were built palaces and planted lush gardens of St. Petersburg.Expands fountains and embankments.
Many legends the people ran Pushkin.Through his works the crowd learned about the City.
will not stop development and changes in regimes.Even before the First World War in the village had more than two million people.Residents of the northern capital had to go through three revolutions.
courage and strength has not changed them, and during the Great Patriotic War.The Siege of Leningrad proved that the St. Petersburg group - true patriots of their land.
record holder country
Today the city has to offer plenty of entertainment for even the most spoiled tourists.It involves not only the palaces, houses and gardens in St. Petersburg.Guests come for the atmosphere, which are rich in these places.Second crown (called the metropolis) - one of the most romantic cities in the world.
There is a fact that the former Leningrad holds the record for the number of bridges on the meter.In fact, despite the fact that 10% of the territory is water, this information - deception.The championship belongs to Hamburg, Germany, where they number 2300. In St. Petersburg, in different counting systems, their more than 1000.
According to statistics, this center visits for the year 2 million tourists.Each of them is honored to take a stroll and see the St. Petersburg at night.Especially popular this time of day in the period from late May to mid-July.It then merges with the evening and in the morning the city is immersed in white light.
fantastic atmosphere
Center intellectuals and culture is beautiful not only in the warmer months.Especially beautiful winter St. Petersburg.Russian always especially friendly to this season.Bitter cold and snow drifts people perceived as a gift of nature.Previously, when the weather was raging particularly strong, on duty in the streets bonfire to passers-by could warm up.Today the city is pleased with a warm cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a traditional dessert of the city - donuts.
Interesting facts about St. Petersburg can be driven indefinitely.This is an area of theaters, museums, art and extremely good atmosphere.
