On this seemingly small piece of land, in all its diversity, with all its ups and downs, the history of the Russian state, starting from the time of Peter the Great, has been reflected. Every corner Vasilyevsky Island literally imbued with the spirit of those glorious years. Peter the Great, admiring the beauty of these places, even wanted to create a kind of Venice here, but the emperor's plan was not destined to come true due to a number of objective circumstances.

Vasilyevsky Island is indeed a very interesting, unusual place. Even if you set foot on its land for the first time, you will never get lost: the linear layout is impeccable, and this ingenious simplicity cannot but delight. He, like no other district of the Northern capital, is full of myths and mysteries. It is often referred to as "the island unsolved mysteries”, behind the veil of which tourists are trying to look, in large numbers coming here from Russia itself and other countries of the world.

The beauty, uniqueness and attractive power of Vasilyevsky Island is reflected in many works. Suffice it to recall the immortal lines of Joseph Brodsky: “I don’t want to choose either a country or a churchyard. I will come to Vasilyevsky Island to die. I won’t find your dark blue facade in the dark, I’ll fall on the asphalt between the faded lines.

Pavilion 6 "Lenexpo"

History and modernity

In ancient times, when chronicles were not compiled yet, there were pagan temples on this territory, where the Magi performed rituals of worshiping pagan gods and magical rites. It was in the local forests, it seems, that the legendary Finn comprehended witchcraft, which - remember? - helped Ruslan save Lyudmila from the spell of Naina and Chernomor. Vasilyevsky Island somehow attracted all sorts of mysterious and dark personalities who rushed here after the founding of St. Petersburg. Basically, they were magicians, sorcerers and soothsayers of all stripes.

Until 1715, the area was practically not built up. At the beginning of the XVIII century, its western side was turned into a real cemetery of the first builders of the Northern capital. Unable to withstand inhuman working conditions, they died by the hundreds and thousands, and this page is perhaps the most unattractive in the entire history of the island. Later, the Smolensk cemetery was founded on this site. The island itself was called the Smolensk field. Only by name is not a cemetery, but the Smolenka River.

The first solid building was built here in 1710-1720, and right on the banks of the Neva. They became the well-known today Menshikov Palace, which became the first stone building in the entire new capital. It was built specifically for Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, a favorite of Peter I and the first governor-general of St. Petersburg. Note, by the way, that he became the first Russian nobleman who received the title of duke from the tsar.

Wind sawmills were installed on the famous Vasilyevsky Strelka. Prior to that, there was an Artillery battery here, blocking the entire river navigable fairway with the guns of the St. Petersburg Admiralty. Later, the island of Kotlin (the city of Kronstadt) was made the center of naval defense.

The idea of ​​Peter the Great to turn the island into the "Venice of the North" was embodied in projects developed in 1716, 1718 and 1720 by the famous architect Domenico Trezzini. The subsequent development was based on the network of parallel canals (streets) and avenues crossing them, planned by the Italian. Subsequently, the creation of canal streets was abandoned, but the streets themselves are commonly called lines.

East End Vasilyevsky Island became the focus of the main buildings: both residential and public. They were also erected not far from the Bolshaya Neva embankment. The most famous buildings built at that time were the buildings of the Academy of Sciences, the Twelve Collegia and the Kunstkamera. In 1737, the island was first assigned to the Vasilyevsky part of the city, and then, on September 15, a separate Vasileostrovsky district of St. Petersburg was formed. In the 30s of the XVIII century, the port of St. Petersburg moved here. This “housewarming” predetermined, as it were, further, larger-scale development of the territory.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Strelka area became an important architectural ensemble. In addition to the capital's Academy of Sciences, almost all scientific and educational institutions are concentrated here: the Academy of Arts, the library of the Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg University, the Mining Institute and the Naval Cadet Corps. Subsequently, it was necessary to link Vasilyevsky Island with the side of the Admiralty. For this purpose, the Annunciation Bridge was erected, which became the first permanent bridge across the Bolshaya Neva.

The construction of residential buildings, actively begun in the 18th century, was continued in the second half of the 19th - early last centuries. At the same time, new public buildings appeared. The northern and southern sides of Vasilyevsky Island developed as zones where industrial facilities were concentrated. The largest factories of the then Russian Empire arose here: Baltiysky, Trubochny, Cable, Siemens-Halske, Siemens-Shuckert and a number of others. In the 20s of the last century, the reconstruction touched the western part of Vasilyevsky Island. In the 1950s, they continued to build up the Harbor area and reconstructed Bolshoy Prospekt.

At the end of the 1960s, a new district began to form on the alluvial territories in its western part, which became a kind of ceremonial maritime hallmark of St. Petersburg. The work was supervised by the architect S. I. Evdokimov, later the project was implemented by his colleagues V. N. Sokolov and V. A. Sokhin. The district includes the Sea Embankment, the center of the ensemble of the Square of Naval Glory, the Marine Station and the Pribaltiyskaya Hotel. New buildings grow as the alluvial territories appear and move to the west, which goes from Nalichnaya Street. Its name in meaning just corresponds to the concept of "embankment", although the street itself no longer goes directly to the sea.

In our time, the additional expansion of Vasilyevsky Island has by no means stopped: the government of St. Petersburg has set the task of increasing its area in the southwestern part by 30%. It is moving towards the Neva Bay. The first stage of the new Sea Passenger Port has already been put into operation, the capacity of which is used for passenger ferries plying between the capitals of the Baltic states, as well as cruise liners who are unable to moor on the Neva due to the large draft. Meanwhile, the public is concerned about plans to receive containerized automobile cargo from ferries here. The authors of the idea are guided by the need to achieve all-season profitability of the port. However, its opponents believe that this will complicate the transport situation, and may also have a negative impact on the environmental situation in neighboring residential areas.

origin of name

According to one of the widespread versions, Vasilyevsky Island got its name in honor of Vasily Korchmin, the closest associate of Peter I, who commanded the artillery battery located here. This person was both real and legendary. Being an entrepreneur, he was engaged in the construction of fortifications, defensive and culvert structures. Korchmin, in collaboration with Yakov Bruce, developed new gun systems. In addition, on behalf of the king, he carried out a reconnaissance mission in Europe. He also organized festive fireworks. And when his Majesty sent him written instructions, the envelope invariably read: "Vasily to the island."

This version of the origin of the name sounds very convincing and could hardly raise doubts, if not for one “but”: history itself refutes it. When in the 30s of the century before last they carefully studied the old Novgorod scribe books, then in one of them, dated as early as 1500, they found a list of villages, repairs and estates located on the Neva. Among them, Vasilev Ostrov is also mentioned. The name was written in this form, and it is believed that it arose on behalf of its manager, whose name was Vasily Selezen. As for the link with the name of Vasily Korchmin, this is simply a historical error, voluntarily or involuntarily made by Andrei Ivanovich Bogdanov, the first historian of St. Petersburg.

Meanwhile, Vasilyevsky Island changed its name several times. Since 1500 it has been Vasilev Island. Until the 18th century, it was also known as Hirvisaari (translated from Finnish - “ Moose Island"). In the early years of the existence of the Northern capital, it was called the Smolensk field. In 1710-1720, according to the title of Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, it was called Prince Island, and in 1725-1727 it was renamed Menshikov Island in his honor. From 1727 to 1729, on the orders of Peter the Great, it became Preobrazhensky, since the tsar planned to place the regiment of the same name here. From 1729 to the present day, the island has been called Vasilievsky.

Architecture and sights

Despite the fact that the architectural appearance of the island is diverse, its dominant feature is the style inherent in the buildings of the 18th-19th centuries. And, most importantly, many of them keep the stamp of Peter the Great, the bold aspirations of the first Russian emperor to modernize the country, to bring everything advanced, European into its development.

So, one of the notable structures of Vasilyevsky Island are two 32-meter Rostral columns located on the sides of Birzhevaya Square. They were built in 1810 by the French architect Jean-Francois Thomas de Thomon. Previously, they acted as beacons for ships entering the port. They, symbolizing the power of Russia as a maritime power, were decorated in the Roman style with anchors and ship rostra. At the foot are allegorical figures that personify the four great Russian rivers: the Volga, Neva, Dnieper and Volkhov. Internal spiral staircases allow tourists to get to the upper platforms of these magnificent monuments of antiquity. From here you have a stunning view of the Strelka and the sea.

At first, lighthouses were melted with coal and oil. Then electricity was brought to them, but soon they abandoned its use due to the high consumption and high cost. In 1957, when St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) celebrated its 250th anniversary, gas was brought to the Rostral columns and each was equipped with a powerful fire torch 7 meters high. After a recent restoration, they were lit again - at a solemn ceremony on the occasion of the completion of work.

Another famous landmark of Vasilievsky Island is the Gottorp Globe, installed under Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. However, in December 1747, it was destroyed by a fire that broke out in the building of the Kunstkamera. The very next year, they began to recreate it literally anew: the workshops of the Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg and everything necessary were made available to Russian craftsmen. In 1754, the globe was restored almost completely, and now this unique creation can be seen in the exposition of the Museum. M. V. Lomonosov. The latter is located in the building of the same Kunstkamera and is an independent department of the Peter the Great Museum of Ethnography and Anthropology located here.

Tourists do not ignore one of the oldest churches in St. Petersburg - the Church of the Three Hierarchs, founded at the beginning of the 18th century and being one of the oldest in the whole city. And the Menshikov Palace, already mentioned above, built for one of the closest associates of Peter I, is now under the jurisdiction of the State Hermitage Museum, excursions are held there daily. The interior of the palace is striking in its splendor, and this beauty must be seen by all means.

Do you like visiting exhibitions and shows? Then you will certainly be interested in the Lenexpo exhibition complex, located in the southwestern tip of Vasilyevsky Island. This is in the historic area of ​​Gavan, on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. There are nine pavilions and many conference halls, meeting rooms and a number of administrative buildings.

The arrow refers to the eastern tip of Vasilievsky Island. She represents the brightest architectural ensemble, bewitching even the most sophisticated connoisseurs of beauty, because here the city architecture and the unique landscapes of the Neva coast intertwined in amazing harmony.

The central place in the entire architectural ensemble is occupied by the Exchange building. It was built in 1805-1810 according to the project of the same Thomas de Thomon. Located on the then empty square, it conditionally divided it into two parts, which became separate squares - Birzhevaya and Kollezhskaya. The construction fully met the needs of the rapidly developing economy of the then Russia. The building is remarkable in itself: it is made in the style of an ancient temple. The rostral columns, which we have already mentioned above, are located just in front of the Stock Exchange.

Of the museums, in addition to the Zoological and Kunstkamera, on the Strelka there is also the Central Museum of Soil Science. V. V. Dokuchaev and the Literary Museum, better known as the Pushkin House or the Institute of Russian Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In 2006, on the Neva, just near the famous Strelka, a floating singing fountain was opened - the largest in our country. However, due to the impending financial and economic crisis, it was already closed in 2009. It is currently under conservation.

The historical appearance of the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island has been formed over the centuries. During this time, he settled down, became familiar, and when in 2008 in the area of ​​​​the House of Culture. Kirov began to build high-rise buildings, which, according to many experts, irreparably distorted the entire panorama. A whole scandal erupted. The construction was called by public activists only as an “urban planning crime”. The government of St. Petersburg could not ignore these sentiments in any way, so it proposed to the developer to reduce the number of storeys of the buildings under construction. The high-rise building "Financier", built near the Palace of Culture. The owners of the developer’s company, on their own initiative, nevertheless reduced Kirov by as much as 3.5 meters, which did not affect the views in any way, but reconciled them with the city administration.

Development plan for Vasilyevsky Island called "Marine Façade"

Transport connection

With the city center, namely Novo-Admiralteisky Island, Vasilyevsky is connected by the Blagoveshchensky and Palace bridges, and with the Petrograd side district - by the Birzhevaya and Tuchkov bridges.

Four bridges connect Vasilyevsky Island with the Decembrist Island. Under the governor V. I. Matvienko, it was planned to build the Novo-Admiralteysky bridge between the 16-17th and 18-19th lines. However, the project was not implemented due to financial reasons. In addition, in 2011 the city court of St. Petersburg canceled the decision of the city government, which approved the construction project. As an alternative, a 6-lane Betancourt bridge was built, which runs between the island of the Decembrists in the Vasileostrovsky region and Petrovsky island in the Petrograd region across Sulfur Island. The bridge was opened to traffic on May 13, 2018.

The Blagoveshchensky Bridge has been completely reconstructed. After the repair, it was decided not to return the tram tracks, which had not been used for several years before. The Palace Bridge was overhauled in 2013.

Where to stay?

Vasilyevsky Island is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful places in the Northern capital. Due to the specifics of its geographical location, it can hardly be called comfortable for permanent residence: it is cool here, winds often blow from the Baltic Sea. And yet, such features do not make it less interesting for tourists. On the contrary, travelers readily come here, walk with pleasure along its picturesque corners, visit sights and take a lot of pictures.

Of course, every foreigner, especially those who came to St. Petersburg for a short time, wants to rationally manage their free time and, as far as possible, spend it less on getting here. For accommodation, tourists are advised to choose inexpensive hotels located in the city center, closer to the subway. Getting off at the Vasileostrovskaya station, you can immediately start exploring these wonderful places.

Initially, Peter the Great wanted to make Vasilyevsky Island the center of the capital. At the beginning of the 18th century, the first stone building in St. Petersburg was built here - the Menshikov Palace for Prince AD ​​Menshikov.

The Rostral columns and the Exchange building located here serve as a reminder that the city's commercial port was once located here. Later, Vasilievsky Island lost its original purpose and became the center of intellectual life. It is here that the university and many museums are located, including the first museum in St. Petersburg - the Kunstkamera.

Most of the first houses and temples have survived to our time, only slightly changed. Here are such architectural monuments as the building of the Academy of Arts (authors - A.F. Kokorinov and J.-B. Vallin-Delamot), the building of the Mining Institute, the House of Academicians, in which 26 great Russian scientists lived at different times, the Gostiny Dvor building, two stone sphinxes looking at each other and others.

• interesting places 8 ,
• square 2,
• streets 1,
• palaces 1,
• museums 2,
• monuments 6

4 km, 162 m

The warehouses, simple in their architecture, perfectly complement the architectural ensemble of Strelka

The Birzhevaya Square ensemble acquired its current appearance at the beginning of the 19th century. First, a new building of the Stock Exchange was built according to the project of Thomas de Thomon. And in 1826, near the Stock Exchange, construction began on two buildings of warehouses intended for warehouses and exhibitions of goods, as well as the Customs building according to the project of arch. I.F. Luchini.

Warehouses that are simple in their architecture complement the ensemble; the simplicity of the end facades facing the square does not distract attention from the Exchange building itself. The front facades of the warehouses, decorated with columns, overlook the embankments of the Bolshaya and Malaya Neva.

The building of the southern warehouse houses the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, founded in 1930. The exhibition part of the institute is the Zoological Museum, the official opening of which took place in 1832. In the building of the northern warehouse there is a museum of soil science named after A.I. Dokuchaev.

The central structure of the architectural ensemble of the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island

The development of the project was entrusted to the architect Thomas de Thomon. In 1805-1810, the architect Thomas de Thomon built a new Stock Exchange on the square to meet the needs of the growing Russian economy. But the construction was not completed due to the war with Napoleon. The official opening of the Exchange took place only on July 15, 1816.

From 1939-1941, the building housed the Central Naval Museum. The history of the museum itself begins in 1709, when Peter I ordered to collect collections reflecting the history of the Russian fleet. The museum's collection contains more than 1700 models of ships, both ancient and the most modern, schemes and models of battles, battle banners, weapons. Among the exhibits is the "Grandfather of the Russian Navy" boat of Peter I.

At the turn of 2000-2010, a decision was made to transfer the Central Naval Museum from the Exchange building to a new site. It currently belongs to the State Hermitage.

In the 19th century, they served as lighthouses for the port of the northern capital

Architectural buildings in the center of St. Petersburg, on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. The rostral columns were erected in 1810 according to the design of the French architect Thomas de Thomon, who decorated them with the rostra of ships. This personification shows the power and greatness of the state’s navy, and also refers to the ancient Roman custom of decorating columns with rostra (lat. rostra, plural of lat. rostrum, the bow of the ship) of defeated (trophy) enemy ships. The statues at the foot of the columns were made by sculptors J. Kamberlen and J. Tib and represent the great rivers of Russia. The opening took place in 1815.

In the 19th century, the columns served as beacons for the port of the northern capital. Lighthouses were lit at night and in fog, and served until 1885. This was until 1896, when electricity was brought to the columns. In 1957, lighthouses began to be lit with gas for reasons of economy. Today, lighthouses are lit only on special occasions.

The embankment connects the spit of Vasilyevsky Island with the embankment of the Smolenka River

The Makarov Embankment is located on the banks of the Malaya Neva, in the northern part of Vasilyevsky Island. The development of the territory adjacent to it began in the 1720s, when a commercial sea port was transferred here.

This bank of the Neva received its first official name in 1776. The section of the highway from Tiflisskaya Street to the Kadetskaya Line in 1776 became known as Gostinaya Street, after the Gostiny Dvor located here.

After the transfer of the St. Petersburg commercial port, the organizations serving the port began to withdraw from the embankment. In 1952, the highway became known as the Makarov embankment in honor of the famous scientist and naval commander Stepan Osipovich Makarov.

Major repairs of the Makarov embankment took place in the 1960s. Then the highway was created almost anew. The project of the embankment was drawn up by architects L. A. Noskov, engineers A. D. Gutsait and B. B. Levin.

The first and largest national general literary museum

Historical building in the style of classicism, part of the architectural ensemble of the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. The customs house was built in 1829-1832 according to the project of I.F. Lukini on the site of the Lopukhins' mansion. Since 1927, the building houses the Institute of Russian Literature and the Literary Museum (Pushkin House). At the corners of the pediment of the building there are three copper statues: Mercury, Neptune and Ceres (ancient Roman gods - patrons of trade, navigation and fertility). The lions serve as a good decoration for the pier, in harmony with its strict classical style.

The construction of the building was caused by the development of the port, which at that time was located on the arrow of the VO.

Compare the building of the Customs with the building of the Kunskamera. It is believed that they have something in common with their appearance, emphasizing the symmetry of the ensemble of the Strelka of Vasilyevsky Island.

One of the largest multidisciplinary physiological institutions in the country

Institute of Physiology. I.P. Pavlov RAS, organized in 1925, originates from the Physiological Laboratory, created at the end of the 19th century. Academician I.P. Pavlov, the first domestic Nobel Prize winner, headed the Institute. The main task of the institute was to study the physiology of the cerebral hemispheres using the method of conditioned reflexes. In 1934, new departments were organized and the prerequisites were created for an in-depth study of the fundamentals of the physiology and psychology of the brain of animals and humans. On the initiative of IP Pavlov, research began in the field of neurogenetics.

In 1936, after the death of IP Pavlov, the Institute was named after him. The institute was headed by a student of I.P. Pavlov, Academician L.A. Orbeli (1936-1950). Studies of cell biochemistry and biophysics, evolutionary, comparative, developmental physiology, the physiology of the autonomic nervous system, and the physiology of the sense organs have been developed. During the years of the Great Patriotic War, the Institute staff developed applied problems. In the 50s. the institute became the largest physiological center.

At present, the Institute of Physiology. IP Pavlova is one of the largest multidisciplinary physiological institutions in the country. The main building of the institute is located in St. Petersburg, but most of it is located in the scientific town founded by IP Pavlov in Koltushi, near St. Petersburg. The Institute has one of the largest scientific libraries of the physiological profile, founded at the end of the last century in the Physiological Laboratory of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

One of the largest libraries in the world

It was founded by Peter I, although the decree itself has not survived to this day and September 1714 is considered the date of foundation - the beginning of the issuance of books from the library to readers.

The first public public library in Russia. The basis of its fund was the manuscripts and books of the Kremlin Tsar's Library in Moscow, the personal collection of Peter I in the Summer Palace, the Pharmaceutical Order, the Gottorpt Library of the Dukes of Holstein, the Mitava Library of the Dukes of Courland, as well as book and manuscript collections of associates of Peter I.

In 1901, due to the dilapidated heating system in the Library, a fire broke out, during which more than 1,500 volumes of valuable publications perished. This event accelerated the decision on the construction of a new building for the Library. In 1910, the government estimate for the construction of a new Library building was approved, in 1914 the construction was completed, but due to the outbreak of the First World War, it was transferred to the War Ministry, which placed the 166th consolidated evacuation hospital in it. The library moved into this building only in 1925.

A square in St. Petersburg, whose name is dedicated to academician A. D. Sakharov, a Soviet physicist, academician, politician, dissident and human rights activist. The square was named so in 1996, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the birth of A.D. Sakharov, there is also a monument to the academician.

Near the square there is the Building of the Twelve Collegia (now St. Petersburg State University), the Faculty of History of St. Petersburg State University, the Faculty of Philosophy of St. Petersburg State University, the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The building has survived to our times almost in its original form.

By the end of the 18th century, commercial buildings on Vasilyevsky Island, including the buildings of the old Exchange and Customs, were outdated. There was a need for new buildings. Under Paul I, a new development plan for the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island appeared, among the new buildings it was planned to erect the buildings of Gostiny Dvor and the New Exchange. In 1800, the construction of the building, designed by the architect D. Quarenghi, began. The building of the Novobirzhevoy Gostiny Dvor was built in the form of a closed quadrangle with a large courtyard.

Due to Russia's participation in the Napoleonic Wars, the construction of Gostiny Dvor proceeded at a slow pace, and subsequently completely stalled. In the second half of the 1800s, when Jean Thomas de Thomon began the construction of the New Exchange building, the building was completely dismantled. The resumption and completion of construction dates back to 1815.

In the XIX - early XX centuries, this Gostiny Dvor was used mainly for trade and technical purposes, mainly as a warehouse. After the revolution until the early 1930s, the building housed warehouses of the Leningrad police. Later, the building was transferred to the Faculty of History of Leningrad State University, which began work on September 1, 1934.

In 1936, a number of innovations were made. According to the project of Y. Ya. Ketcher, A. A. Zavardin and V. N. Pilyavsky, the interiors were radically changed. Before the war, in addition to the Historical building, the building of Novobirzhevoy Gostiny Dvor housed the philological and geographical faculties and the military department. During the war, the building housed a hospital.

Now the building houses the Medical College of St. Petersburg State University. Novobirzhevoy Gostiny Dvor on Vasilyevsky Island has survived to our times almost in its original form, it is protected by the state as an architectural monument of federal significance and serves as a vivid example of Russian classic architecture of the early 19th century.

The largest monument of Petrovsky Baroque

The building of 12 colleges is a building on the Neva coast of Vasilevsky Island in St. Petersburg, built in 1722-1742. to accommodate Peter's collegiums. The largest monument of the Petrine Baroque in size consists of twelve identical three-story sections. The overall project was made by Domenico Trezzini; the upper floors were designed by Theodor Schwertfeger. In the 18th century, the building was occupied by the highest bodies of state administration. After the collegiums were disbanded, they were replaced by the Main Pedagogical Institute and St. Petersburg University.

The construction of the building of the Twelve Collegia began in 1722 as part of the plan of Emperor Peter I to create an administrative quarter on Vasilyevsky Island. It was supposed that the Senate, the Synod and collegiums would be located here. Initially, construction was carried out under the leadership of Domenico Trezzini and Theodor Schwertfeger, and completed by Giuseppe Trezzini and Mikhail Zemtsov. The first meeting of the boards in the new building took place in 1732. The main building was completed by the mid-1730s. In 1737-1741, a two-story gallery was added to the west side of the building. In 1804, the Pedagogical Institute was located in the building, and in 1835 the building was transferred to St. Petersburg University.

In post-Soviet times, the building of the Twelve Colleges is considered the main building of St. Petersburg University.

One of the largest ethnographic museums world - the successor to the Petrovsky Kunstkamera, founded by Peter I in 1714.

Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. Peter the Great of the Russian Academy of Sciences is one of the largest and oldest ethnographic museums in the world. It is the successor to the first Russian state public museum, the famous Kunstkamera, founded by Peter I in 1714. The Kunstkamera was created to collect and study rarities created by nature and human hands.

Today the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. Peter the Great (Kunstkamera) RAS is not only an academic museum, but also one of the leading research centers of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The traditions of the great Russian ethnographers and anthropologists of the 18th - 20th centuries continue here.

The priceless ethnographic, anthropological and archaeological collections kept in the Museum are among the most complete and interesting in the world. They number more than 1.2 million exhibits, reflect the diversity of cultures of the peoples of the Old and New Worlds and are part of the cultural heritage of all mankind.

The Academy building is an architectural monument of strict classicism

The site to the west of the Kunstkamera was transferred to the Academy of Sciences in 1783. At the same time, the architect D. Quarenghi created a corresponding project, the house was built by 1787. The building of the Academy of Sciences has become a symbol of the classical style in the architecture of St. Petersburg. The internal arrangement of the building of the Academy of Sciences was completed only by the centenary of this scientific institution, that is, by 1824. By this time, a conference hall, board committee rooms, a physical office, apartments for academicians and employees of the academy, a newspaper expedition and other services were located here.

The length of its building facade is 100.97 meters. The activities of such scientists as P. L. Chebyshev, M. V. Ostrogradsky, A. M. Butlerov, I. P. Pavlov, A. P. Karpinsky, A. N. Krylov were associated with this building. In 1826, a development project for the quarter behind the building on the embankment was approved. Here, by 1831, a museum wing of the Academy of Sciences was built (Birzhevoy proezd, house No. 2). In 1828, the Physics Cabinet was transferred from the Kunstkamera to the building of the Academy of Sciences, which was transformed at the beginning of the 20th century into the Physics Laboratory. On the basis of this laboratory, the Mathematical Cabinet and the Seismic Commission, the Institute of Physics and Mathematics was formed in 1921. He was transferred to Moscow in 1934 following the Academy of Sciences. Gradually, changes were made to the appearance of the building of the Academy of Sciences. In 1881, the wooden fence between the columns of the portico and on the descents of the main staircase, made according to Quarenghi's drawing, was replaced by a metal grill. The small conference hall of the building of the Academy of Sciences is associated with the activities of V. I. Lenin. Here, in the spring and autumn sessions of 1891, he took exams at the law faculty of St. Petersburg University. Several rooms in 1913-1922 were occupied by "Pushkin House". In preparation for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Academy of Sciences in 1925, a mosaic painting "The Battle of Poltava", created by Lomonosov in 1764, was placed on the top platform of the main staircase. In 1934, the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences was transferred to Moscow, where they left the archive and library, the Leningrad Scientific Center of the USSR Research Institute. In the building on the banks of the Neva in the 1930s, the Institute of Language and Thinking named after N. Ya. Marr worked. From 1937 to 1945, the apartment of the mathematician and shipbuilder A. N. Krylov was located here.

For a long time, the building of the Academy of Sciences housed the Administrative and Economic Department of the Leningrad Institutions of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The Institute of Theoretical Astronomy of the USSR Academy of Sciences worked in the Museum Wing in the 1950s and 1960s. Currently, the Nauka publishing house, the Research Institute of the History of Natural Science and Technology, and a polyclinic work here. A marble plaque was fixed on the base of the building, showing the rise in the water level in the Neva during the flood of 1924.

The monument is located near St. Petersburg State University

This place for the opening of the monument was not chosen by chance, because Mikhail Vasilyevich was a student of this educational institution, and years later he was appointed rector. The grand opening of the monument took place on November 21, 1986, on the day of the 275th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Vasilyevich.

The figure of Lomonosov is made of bronze and mounted on a red granite pedestal. The height of the monument is 3 m. The monument is made in the traditional classical style.

The building that exists now was built by order of Alexander Danilovich Menshikov for his pupil, the future Emperor Peter Alekseevich (Peter II). Currently, the oriental and philological faculties of St. Petersburg State University are located in the former palace of Peter II.

Alexander Danilovich Menshikov wanted to acquire kinship with the royal family, so his daughter was betrothed to the still young Peter Alekseevich. It was on this occasion that on June 11, 1727, a palace was laid on this site for the future Tsar Peter II. The laying ceremony was attended by the author of the project of the building Domenico Trezzini and Peter II himself. Domenico Trezzini proposed a project for a spacious palace on the site of the house of Fyodor Solovyov, the butler of His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov, who was taken from him after being imprisoned for non-payment of state duties. This rebuilt house formed the eastern wing of the new palace.

Traces of the original decoration of the building have not survived, but today you can still see part of Solovyov's house - in the basement of the eastern wing of the palace, the old masonry of the vaults has been preserved. The remaining premises of the palace were rebuilt many times. In addition, Peter II himself never lived here, since in 1728 he moved to Moscow with the government. And soon the young emperor died of smallpox. After the death of the tsar in 1730, construction on Vasilyevsky Island was suspended. Subsequently, the buildings went to the military college, whose representatives settled in the building of the former palace of diplomats and merchants from the East.

Only in 1761 the palace complex was completed and handed over to the first cadet corps. The architect I. Borchard worked on the reconstruction of the palace. At the end of the 18th century, the building on the University Embankment housed the noble bank and the coffee house of the British merchant Gray.

Subsequently, the Institute of History and Philology, the Institute of Literature and History, and the Pedagogical Institute were located here. Now it houses the Oriental and Philological faculties of St. Petersburg State University.

Currently, the so-called "Park of Modern Sculpture", located in the courtyard of the building of the Eastern and Philological faculties, is one of the attractions of St. Petersburg. Here you can see the monuments to Joseph Brodsky, Anna Akhmatova, Antioch Cantemir, academician Joseph Orbelli, Alexander Blok and other prominent people. In addition, in the courtyard of the former palace there are sculptures, legendary among the students, "The Little Prince", "Dachshund" and "Hippo".

The Manege is located on the territory of the former estate of Prince AD ​​Menshikov. In 1734, a wooden arena building for the Cadet Corps was built here according to the project of I. Ya. Blank. The building quickly fell into disrepair, and it was decided to build a new building. It was built in 1756-1759 according to the project of architects I. G. Borchard and I. Ya. Schumacher. The building of the arena consists of two buildings located in the shape of the letter "T".

Wishing to plunge deeper into the atmosphere of St. Petersburg, we turned to Ruslan Bekurov, Associate Professor of the Department of International Journalism at St. Petersburg State University. He made a small but detailed guide on Vasilyevsky Island, where he lived for more than 10 years

Students, metaphysics, traffic jams and sunsets on the bay

On Vasilyevsky Island there is an oblique line. A typical factory street, where there is nothing but industrial and industrial establishments. Usually, before turning onto it from Bolshoy Prospekt, minibus drivers ask: “Does anyone go to Kosoy?”. In 99 cases out of 100 there are no applicants, and the minibus goes further along the Bolshoy.

So, for me, the Oblique Line is a symbol of absolute worthlessness and uselessness brought to the point of absurdity. Half the people in my life are oblique lines. Well, I myself, probably, for someone - Oblique line.

Vasilyevsky Island is metaphysical. Here one is drawn to think about the meaning of life and delve into oneself. Probably because there are many cemeteries here - both existing and already abandoned. The island is also crammed with chapels. Sometimes it seems there are more of them than.

Church of the Assumption of Our Lady. Photo: wikimedia.org

Vaska is a student island. Here, perhaps, is the largest: here you have St. Petersburg State University, and the legendary, and the Academy of Arts, and the North-Western Academy of Civil Service, as well as several large naval institutes.

In the unwillingness to correspond to the modern rhythm and trends - both the beauty and the trouble of "Vaska". These endless traffic jams, not at all stardust and gopniks in tight sweatpants are perceived too painfully.

Photo: s-pb.in

On the other hand, I don’t want the cozy green courtyards, which are in bulk on Vaska, to become a thing of the past; little ones with old women and their grandchildren; sunset and barbecues on the bay; houses on "chicken legs" on Primorskaya; icebreaker "Krasin" on the Lieutenant Schmidt embankment; quiet lanes near the University with scruffy bearded professors running to lectures; "wells", in the windows of which you want to drown; Soviet canteens and wineries, scattered around Vasileostrovskaya, and many, many other attributes of MY island.

Conventionally, I would break it into four parts: the Primorskaya metro area to the Gulf of Finland; metro area "Vasileostrovskaya" / "Sportivnaya"; industrial area and "academic" - where, the Academy of Arts, the Academy of Sciences, and.

Photo: peterburgiprigorod.ru

The main part of the island is divided into three avenues: Big, Middle and Small. Hence the famous St. Petersburg joke: "I'll go a little." According to legend, Peter I planned to fill Vaska with canals crossing these avenues. But as a result, instead of channels, streets appeared, the names of which were not particularly bothered - lines and lines. There are more than twenty such lines-streets on the island.

spend the night

If you stopped in St. Petersburg for a short time, Vasilyevsky Island offers many options for overnight stays. There are many hotels on the island: from large chain hotels to tiny semi-legal hostels. On the shores of the Gulf of Finland, not far from the Seaport, a four-star hotel "" (Korablestroiteley St., 14) is one of the most famous in the city. They say that in the eighties one of the "suites" was bought by Alla Pugacheva. She really liked the view from the window.

Photo: artuom.livejournal.com

Behind the "Pribaltiyskaya" is the water park "Waterville", one of the largest and most beloved by children water entertainment complexes in St. Petersburg - its area is 14,000 square meters.

Not far from the Neva embankment on the 2nd line, 61 there is a five-star hotel "", and next to the university - the hotel "" of the popular Finnish chain "" (Birzhevoy per., 2). Another "" is located on the 8th line, 11.

Prices in these hotels range from 7 to 10 thousand rubles per day for a regular double room.

Photo: hotelspb.ru

In this sense, in my opinion, the most suitable option is mini-hotels between Sredny and Bolshoy avenues and near Lenexpo. I recommend Noteburg (3rd line, 20), Monet (Morskaya emb., 17), Apriori (Gavanskaya st., 9) and, of course, the famous "" (Bolshoy pr., 21), where visiting guest performers like to stay.

Prices in - from 3 to 7 thousand rubles per night.

And if it’s really bad with money or you just don’t want to spend it on stupid apartments, go to the Location Hostel (Birzhevoy per., 4) - there for 1500-2000 rubles a day there is an option to get a separate double room. On white nights, when the bridges are being drawn, we often stay there to drink until the morning in the little Edda bar on the ground floor.

Photo: static-trezzinipalace.hrabr.ru

Look

On the shores of the Gulf of Finland, not far from the hotel "", there is a cult complex of university dormitories (Street Korablestroiteley, 20). I lived in one of the buildings for more than ten years. And perhaps it was the best time in my worthless life. There is a lot of fun and few bars - except for the rollicking KillFish and the respectable Gromov. Students mainly have fun on the shores of the Gulf of Finland: they eat barbecue, of course, drink and go to meet the dawn on the road to the new Passenger Terminal, from where ferries come and go to Finland and Sweden.

Passenger terminal. Photo: citywalls.ru

By the way, according to a playful legend, Eldar Ryazanov filmed The Irony of Fate (Street Korablestroiteley, 37) in the apartment of the house opposite the hostel. And until now, the owners of the apartment are happy to let in those who wish to touch the bathroom, in which Ippolit himself took a shower. Joke.

Lenexpo, one of the largest exhibition centers in Russia, is located on the southwestern tip of the island in the historic district of Gavan. As students, we liked to wander here through numerous agricultural exhibitions: we tried free wine, gorged ourselves on vegetables and fruits. Moreover, Lenexpo is a traditional venue for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. During this period, a bunch of "bumps" come and, of course, "close" half of the island.

On the 29th line, 2 is the largest private museum in Russia "", which specializes in contemporary art. The museum is located in a typical Stalinist building, which has been thoroughly rebuilt inside. Guided tours are held in the Museum Wing, which contains a permanent interactive exhibition. Passing through the large hall, you exit to the first two U-space rooms, which are dedicated to various topics and completely immerse you in a certain atmosphere. The balloon waterfall in the Cherry Orchard room is especially popular.

Photo: nice-places.com

On the second floor there are also U-space rooms, and on the third floor there are two cinema halls, where videos are shown in which Erarta's paintings come to life. You will find two more U-spaces on the fourth floor, which, by the way, has a lot of experimental paintings. On the fifth floor there are impressive installations. On the ground floor of the Museum Wing there is the Erarta Cafe restaurant with a cozy terrace. In the opposite Exhibition Wing there are also five floors, which are given over to large-scale temporary exhibitions. The large theater and concert hall on the 3rd floor hosts performances, concerts, lectures and film screenings.

Cherry Orchard project. Photo: erarta.com
Cross art festival 2015. A photo: Facebook

Eat and drink

On the 1st line, it seems to me, a new urban restaurant cluster is emerging. What is more than strange - the place is wildly impassable and stuffed with poor students and residents of communal apartments. From the side of the Tuchkov Bridge there are: the Belgian restaurant "Bruges" (Makarov Embankment, 22) with an endless beer list and, perhaps, the best mussels in the city; a Scandinavian liquor bar with a non-trivial name "Sandwich" (Makarov Embankment, 16); wine bar "Mark Victor" (1st line, 58-60) with New Zealand wine and a beautiful view from the second floor.

Wine bar "Mark Victor". A photo: vk.com
A photo: vk.com

"" (Kadetskaya line, 31) with knocking down homemade tinctures and crazy dances; student restaurant "Hegni" (1st line, 34) - the kingdom of craft beer; in the same house is the ridiculous Parachute Pub, and across the street is the quirky Fever karaoke bar; pretentious Italian restaurant "Trattoria" (Kadetskaya, 9); the favorite of students of the faculty of journalism is the canteen "Dolma" (1st line, 28) with Azerbaijani chefs; family Georgian restaurant "Alaverdi" (1st line, 6) with the best khachapuri in the world; mini-cafe Horosho (1st line, 8) - hardly anywhere else in St. Petersburg you will try such a wonderful espresso.

Bar Hegni. A photo: vk.com
A photo: vk.com

In general, there are many restaurants and bars on Vaska. But mostly cheap wineries, pubs and Georgian cafes take root. Well, you can drink a good cocktail in the lobby bar of the Sokos Hotel on Birzhevoy Lane. It's good to sit there, especially at night, when businessmen, Finns, SKA hockey players and their long-legged companions come out of their lairs. Get bored there - go to the "Exchange Bar", located in the next house. Also a good place.

The islanders are even more imposing than the rest of the Petersburgers. And I understand them - they are in their place and time. Robinsons and Fridays wandering in search of bread and circuses. They have nowhere to hurry. Especially in summer, when the mood is sunny and the yachts are rocking at the pier.

Line 6-7 near the Vasileostrovskaya metro station was once famous for its spontaneous flea market. Then the street was cleaned, covered with gray tiles and an alley with fountains and benches was laid out in the middle. Now it is a pedestrian street, which, according to the plan of the officials, was planned as an island entertainment center with shops, restaurants and bars. But for some reason, the "pedestrian" did not take root.

A photo:

Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. Photo by Pukkaras (http://www.panoramio.com/user/2045841)

The entire history of the Northern capital is concentrated here - from the old, still Peter's housing stock, to the modern passenger port and the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter under construction; from famous building 12 Collegiums, in which St. Petersburg State University is located, to elite new buildings. Here is the westernmost metro station in Russia and one of the largest European ports. Here there are traffic jams and bad roads, here there is science and industry, expensive restaurants and unsettled communal apartments. Residents of Vasilyevsky "walk not only along the Bolshoy and the Small, but also along the Middle." However, first things first.

The first mention of Vasilyevsky Island dates back to 1737. This is the largest island in the Neva Delta, located at the point where the Bolshaya and Malaya Neva flow into the Gulf of Finland. Strictly speaking, Vasileostrovsky district is not only Vasilevsky, but also Sulfur Island and Golodai (Decembrists) Island.

It was here that Peter I decided that "the city would be founded in spite of the arrogant neighbor." This, indeed, was the sea gate, and the area still remains with them. The Tsar, in love with Holland and its charming capital, found it interesting to copy the Amsterdam canals. This is how the Vasileostrovsky "lines" were born - initially they were planned by channels.

However, the venture failed. Wet and cold climate future capital Russian Empire made his own adjustments, and giving the island to the then favorite Menshikov was not the best idea. The only thing that the arrogant favorite of the tsar did was to build a magnificent palace for himself on Vasilyevsky.

Menshikov Palace. Photo by tchugunihina.valia (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/tchugunihina-valia/)

The canals-lines were narrow, dirty and not functional: in winter they froze, and in summer they turned into garbage. This went on until, finally, Catherine II decided to cover them up. The failed canals became streets, and the name "line" was permanently assigned to them.

It should be noted that the "line" is not a street, but only one side of it. That is, for example, the 1st line and the Syezdovskaya (Kadetskaya) line are one street, the 2nd and 3rd lines are another street, and so on. Not so long ago, in order to ensure security traffic, restrictions were set along the lines - most of them today are one-way traffic. It is easy for those motorists who are unfamiliar with Vasilyevsky Island to get confused.

Despite the fact that the leading architects of that time, Trezzini, Mattarnovi, Thomas de Thomon and others, took part in the design of the "sea facade" of St. Petersburg, the island looked heterogeneous in terms of aesthetics: the building of the Stock Exchange, the future University and the Kunstkamera were beautiful, but in depth the oldest district of St. Petersburg looked unpresentable: mainly petty officials, petty bourgeois, employees and students settled here.

As soon as a person had career growth or financial well-being, he moved to the other side - to the more fashionable Petrogradsky district. Marshy terrain, poor communication with the “mainland”: for a long time the island was connected with the rest of St. Petersburg only by the Blagoveshchensky Bridge (Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge) did not contribute to the desire to settle here.

Aurora and Blagoveshchensky bridge. Photo by volopas17 (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/volopas17/)

Vasilyevsky Island has always been somewhat aloof from the events taking place in the "cradle of the revolution": the October Revolution, the Great Patriotic War and the terrible days of the blockade, perestroika, the "dashing 90s" swept over it, but it remained the same - restrained, contradictory and slow.

Vasileostrovsky district is relatively small in area - about 15 square meters. kilometers plus alluvial areas. The problem is that residents, investors, and city leaders are well aware that the island will no longer exist, and this is one of the problems of the high cost of land here and the slow development of infrastructure.

Middle avenue of the island. Photo by yperv602009 (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/yperv602009/)

There are two metro stations connected with the city on the mainland of Vasileostrovskiy district: Vasileostrovskaya (there are jokes about the entrance to which at rush hour) and Primorskaya (the westernmost metro station in Russia). In the coming years, it is also planned to build metro stations: Bolshoy Prospekt, Shkiperskaya and Morskoy façade. Stations are currently in the design stage.

Vasileostrovskaya station. Photo by Gepardikus (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/gepardikus/)

Vaska has no land borders with the city, only bridges: you can get to Petrogradka via the Builders Bridge or the Tuchkov Bridge, to the center - along the Palace and Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge (Blagoveshchensky Bridge). Needless to say, during rush hour, these bridges turn into a two to three hour trap for cars? In the summer, for several hours at night, the island, in general, becomes a “real island”, cut off from the rest of the city by raised bridges.

Climate and ecology of the area

The climate on "Vaska", as the Petersburgers call the area, is cold. Straight "lines" and avenues are blown through by sea winds, it is humid and chilly here. In winter, especially during heavy snowfalls, the already narrow and uncomfortable streets of the island create all the conditions for traffic jams and heavy traffic. Plus, the infamous "icicles" hanging from the roofs, and old communications in the vast majority of housing stock buildings, make living in the area not very comfortable.

Naturally, this does not apply to elite residential complexes near the Primorskaya metro station. Their creators tried to do everything to make the new dwellings spacious, comfortable, with beautiful views from the window and developed infrastructure around. However, this has not been achieved in all projects. Some business-class residential complexes did not "take root" on Vasilyevsky. In general, according to realtors, the optimal class of housing for this area is "comfort" and "economy".

From the point of view of ecologists, the Vasileostrovsky district leaves much to be desired. There are still a sufficient number of enterprises operating on the island that emit harmful emissions into the atmosphere (12% of the total xylene emissions in St. Petersburg). According to the concentration of nitric acid in the atmosphere, the region exceeds the norm by 2-3 times. The cleanest air is in the western and northwestern sectors of the district, with the small exception of the Nalichnaya-Shipbuilders-Smolenka River Embankment square, where there are also industrial zones.

The winds that blow across the island carry polluted air throughout the area. Also on Vaska, soils are heavily polluted, in some areas, especially near the Harbor, the norm is exceeded by 30 times. The danger here is also increased due to the fact that the soils in the Vasileostrovskiy district are swampy, the island is located in a lowland, floods are not uncommon here, and all heavy metals and other harmful substances therefore “float” to the surface.

The last serious flood on Vasilyevsky Island was in the middle of last year, the water stood for more than a meter, people were fleeing the natural disaster on the railings of the Rumyantsev Garden.

Fence Rumyantsev garden. Photo by AT1953 (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/at1953/)

The aforementioned traffic jams also contribute to the pollution of the island's atmosphere. Despite the fact that the main transport artery of the area is considered to be Bolshoy Prospekt, which stretches from the Congress Line to the Gavan, the main traffic runs along Sredny and Maly Prospekt, as well as along the embankments of the island.

The situation is saved by the coastal position of the district and vast green areas: Skipper, Rumyantsev and Opochininsky gardens, the Smolensk cemetery, small squares, as well as green spaces along some highways.

The Sea Facade project, which is gradually being implemented in the alluvial areas in the west of the district, also involves some planting of greenery in the area, however, these plantings will be located on private territories of elite residential complexes.

District population

According to statistics at the beginning of 2014, about 211 thousand people live in the district, of which 58% are able-bodied people, 16% are children and teenagers, and the rest are people of retirement age. The area is rapidly "aging", which affects its development. The death rate significantly exceeds the birth rate, little new real estate is being built, and accordingly, the influx of young families with children into the area is small.

And, according to the results of numerous sociological surveys, St. Petersburg residents are in no hurry to settle on Vasilyevsky Island. Some exceptions are those who like luxury apartments overlooking the Gulf of Finland, but, in general, everyone is well aware of the shortcomings of the area: isolation, problems with transport and pollution, and prefer to buy apartments in more convenient places. It is worth noting that the luxury real estate "with a view of the sea" in the light of road construction is losing its attractiveness, turning into a property with a view of the sea and the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter.

The housing stock of the district is very diverse: the old fund and communal apartments, "Khrushchev" and "Stalinka", "ships" on Nalichnaya and Shipbuilders, modern new buildings in the Primorskaya area. Visitors and immigrants willingly buy Vasileostrovskaya real estate. Nevertheless, the area is considered central, from here it is close to the main attractions of the Northern capital, and the prices for square meters of living here are not as high as in other areas of the city.

The social composition of the population is very heterogeneous. The overwhelming majority is the old and new intelligentsia (on the island a large number of universities and research institutes), visitors, rare owners of elite new apartments and resettled communal apartments in the old fund, and students (there are several large "hostels" in the Primorskaya area).

Municipal division of the area and real estate prices

The area is divided into 5 municipal districts: districts No. 7, 8, 9 (Harbour), 11 and the Marine Municipal District.

Borders 7th municipal district Vasileostrovsky district pass along the Makarov Embankment, Sredny Prospekt, along the 24-25th line to Bolshoy Prospekt and Detskaya Street, along the Oblique Line, the Neva Bay, the embankments of the Bolshaya and Malaya Neva. This is one of the large municipal districts, mainly representing a residential "old" fund and industrial zones. There are many unsettled and, from the point of view of realtors, almost hopeless communal apartments in the district. Green spaces are represented by yard squares. You need to get to any of the two metro stations by additional ground transport. Only a few residential areas located in the center of the island allow you to quickly, and sometimes just on foot, get to the Vasileostrovskaya metro station.

The cost per square meter of housing in the district ranges from 90 to 110 thousand rubles per square meter, however, apartments are reluctant to buy here - there are almost no “one-room offers”, and multi-room housing often needs very serious repairs and obligatory replacement of outdated communications. The resettlement of communal apartments has also stopped due to the crisis, it is becoming more and more difficult for realtors to find those who want to live in the old fund, because a lot of proposals for new elite housing have appeared on the real estate market.

8th municipal district- this is mainly the Stalinist building of Bering Street, the western part of Maly and Sredny avenues, Nalichnaya Street and the embankment of the Smolenka River. Here, real estate is more expensive, the air is cleaner, better with transport and greenery - nearby is the memorial Smolensk cemetery, where it is quite pleasant to stroll in the summer. The disadvantages of living here are also some distance from the metro stations and the inevitable traffic jams when trying to move to the "mainland" during the day.

Among the residential buildings here are dominated by "Stalinka" and brick houses. This is a spacious comfortable housing, with a convenient layout, quite promising for implementation. The cost per square meter in the secondary market reaches 120 thousand rubles per square meter. In the same district, new housing of the "economy" and "comfort" classes is also being built. The offers are very diverse, from small studio apartments, which are in great demand by non-resident students who are happy to settle near their university, to 4-room apartments designed for large families. Since the real estate market is currently experiencing some difficulties, among the primary housing in this district, you can find offers from 90 thousand rubles per square meter.

Harbor or 9th municipal district- the territory bounded by the streets of Bering, Nakhimov and Shipbuilders, as well as the Sea Embankment, Nevskaya Guba, Europe Square and the western sections of the Oblique Line, Detskaya Street and Bolshoy Prospekt. This is the area of ​​the Harbor and Lenexpo in the area of ​​the Gulf of Finland, wedge-shaped deepening into the center of the island. The main industrial enterprises are located here, and residential development is represented by almost all types of houses - from the Peter's fund to modern new buildings.

The district is distinguished by a convenient location with respect to all public transport routes, some quarters are within walking distance from the Primorskaya metro station. However, constant wet and cold winds from the bay, from which even the best thermal insulation of residential premises cannot save, can make living here somewhat uncomfortable. The price per square meter here depends on the type of residential development and the "status" of the house. There are offers on the real estate market both for 80 thousand rubles per square meter and for 150 thousand rubles and more.

Municipal District No. 11 includes Sulfur Island, western territories along the Smolenka River and Malaya Neva. This is the Primorskaya metro area with all its new buildings - "old" and new. Here it is most windy, cold and expensive. This is a modern building with a developed infrastructure, for the most part good transport links and no traffic jams. To the east are industrial zones and areas occupied by various commercial premises, but pollution is not felt here. The average cost per square meter here is 110-115 thousand rubles, however, in the "old" new buildings - the 137th series - you can find much cheaper, about 80 thousand rubles per sq.m.

This is a modern building with a developed infrastructure, for the most part good transport links and no traffic jams. To the east are industrial zones and areas occupied by various commercial premises, but pollution is not felt here.

And the last district of the Vasileostrovsky district - Maritime District- located from Nalichnaya Street along Bering to Nakhimov, and further along Korablestroiteley to the Pribaltiyskaya Hotel, along the Neva Bay to the Smolenka River and closes along Smolenka to Nalichnaya and Bering. It is also a relatively clean area, which today affects the large-scale construction of the "Marine Façade". Today it is the most elite and promising residential sector on Vasilyevsky Island. The Marine Facade complex involves the construction of hundreds of thousands of square meters of business class and comfort class housing. According to realtors, the cost of housing here will reach 150-160 thousand rubles per square meter, and this is not the limit. However, there are also more economical options. It is pleasant and convenient to live here, the district is safe, with a developed infrastructure. If, again, there were no traffic jams and no wind, but this is a problem for the entire Vasileostrovsky district as a whole.

District infrastructure

If we talk about the infrastructure of the Vasileostrovsky district, then, first of all, it is worth mentioning transport communication on the island and its connection with the "mainland". The latter is currently carried out through bridges. All residents of the district are looking forward to the opening of the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter, which will finally solve the main problem of the island - its isolation from the city and will allow citizens to easily get to the airport, Kronstadt, Lakhta, the center of St. Petersburg and its other districts. However, this is just a dream for now.

The total length of the streets of the district is 90 kilometers. The main thoroughfares are Bolshoi, Sredny and Maly avenues, Nalichnaya street and embankments. Ground transport here is represented by trolleybuses, buses, trams and, of course, the ubiquitous minibuses. There are many neighborhoods that are inconvenient and unprofitable to get to, this is another obstacle to the development of the area.

Housing and communal services at Vaska are not much more expensive than in other districts of St. Petersburg. Of course, it all depends on the footage of the occupied living space and the "status" of the house. For cold water supply, according to data for 2012, residents of the district pay about 16-17 rubles per cubic meter, hot water will cost 65-68 rubles per cubic meter, and sanitation - 17 rubles. Also, utility bills include heating: from 15 to 30 rubles (calculated using special coefficients), gas supply - 10-12 rubles, as well as various additional housing and communal services, such as lawn improvement, maintenance of sidewalks and buildings, cleaning of stairs and garbage, maintenance of elevators and others - in total, the payment for this kind of service ranges from 900 to 1500 rubles per month.

If we do not take into account the elite new quarters in the "alluvium" area and the Primorskaya metro station, then the territory of "Vaska" is only partially ennobled. Bolshoy Prospekt, the “pedestrian zone” near the Vasileostrovskaya metro station and the tourist Strelka look good.

Pedestrian zone. Photo by Osya (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/osy52/)

Several polyclinics and large hospitals are located on Vasilyevsky: the Ott Institute, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, and the Pokrovskaya Hospital.

There are also about 40 general education schools in the district, including the well-known Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 30, more than 45 kindergartens and other children's educational institutions. There are sports sections, swimming pools and various complexes of this kind. Here you can highlight the Sports Complex on Sredny, with a skating rink, swimming pools and a football field, as well as the famous Navy pool.

Vasilievsky has a record number of higher educational institutions and research institutes of various kinds. In addition to St. Petersburg State University, a fair number of faculties of which are located in the Vasileostrovskiy district, here is the Repin Academic Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, the Mining Institute, the Makarov Maritime Academy and other famous higher educational establishments St. Petersburg.

The building of the Twelve Collegia - St. Petersburg University. Photo by ShabuninWV (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/shabuninwv/)

The Library of the Academy of Sciences is also located here - one of the largest institutions of its kind in the city, the Research Institute of the Arctic and Antarctic, the Institute of Russian Literature, the All-Russian Research Institute of Geology and many other scientific and educational centers with a rich history, eminent professors and scientists.

In the Vasileostrovsky district there is a hotel Pribaltiyskaya, Marriott, a five-star Sokos and hotels of a lower rank. Basically, accommodation in these hotels is intended for those guests of the city who arrived in St. Petersburg for business purposes, however, with the opening of the passenger cruise port foreign tourists also appeared in the area.

Businesses and work in the area

Despite its small territory, Vasilyevsky Island hosts about 30 large industrial enterprises, 80% of which work for the defense industry, as well as about 6 thousand small commercial establishments of various specializations. It so happened historically, since the time of Peter I, that the Vasileostrovsky district is a special territory that gives its residents the opportunity to live and work. However, in reality, everything turned out quite differently.

Large enterprises here are represented by the old Becker Piano Factory, the Baltic Shipbuilding and Steel Rolling Plants, the Sevkabel, Electroapparat, Severny Textile factories, the Tannery named after. Radishchev, there is a car repair plant, a plant named after. Kalinin, the famous throughout Russia factory "Rot-Front" and others.

Baltic plant. Photo by udva (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/udva)

Gavan is also of great economic importance for the region and the city as a whole - recently the first stage of the Marine Façade project has been implemented: the sea passenger port of St. Petersburg, intended for cruise ships, has been put into operation. Thus, the port, located on Vasilevsky Island, acquired not only commercial, but also tourist significance.

In general, the Sea Facade project means a lot for the development of the region, significant investments have been attracted, and, despite all the warnings of environmentalists about the inexpediency of creating such a number of alluvial territories, the project is gaining momentum.

There are several shopping malls selling clothing and footwear from leading European casual brands; hypermarket "Lenta" and Andreevsky market.

Crime situation in the area

The criminal situation in the Vasileostrovsky district is relatively calm compared to some other areas of St. Petersburg. Of course, in the 90s, the proximity of the Harbor and the presence of expensive restaurants on the island's waterfront made the area somewhat attractive to bandits - they shot here quite often. Plus, the “old” new buildings in the Primorskaya area were a place where they sold and bought drugs, but today the situation is much better.

A lot of crime in the area is associated with car and apartment thefts, as well as traffic accidents, especially at night. Not always sober scorchers, confident in their impunity, like to drive along empty embankments and avenues, and sometimes this ends tragically.

Attractions and leisure in the area

In fact, as in any central area Petersburg, on Vasilevsky Island in the old quarters - every house is a sight. Even nightclubs are sometimes located in the houses where they lived and worked famous people(the night club "Ostrov" is located in the former house of the famous artist Bryullov).

And, of course, the “sea gates” of the Northern capital, the spit of Vasilyevsky Island, which allows residents and guests of the city to admire the Rostral columns, majestic building Naval Museum, Exchange, Kunstkamera and the building of 12 collegiums. These are fine examples of the architecture of the magnificent era of the heyday of the Russian Empire.

Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. Photo by Gnam (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/gnam/)

What else might be of interest at Vaska? The famous sphinxes opposite the Academy of Arts, according to legend, fulfill the wishes of their guests. The main attraction of the island is the Palace of Prince Menshikov, on which the most famous and eminent architects of the 18th century worked.

You can visit the Zoological Museum, familiar to every Petersburger from childhood, with its mysterious skeletons of prehistoric pangolins and a rich collection of birds, insects and animals from all over the globe. On Vasilevsky Island there is a museum-apartment of the great chemist D. Mendeleev, the St. Petersburg Museum of Dolls, a museum dedicated to the history of the deepest metro in Europe - St. Schmidt.

In the Vasileostrovsky district there are two Lutheran churches - St. Michael and St. Catherine, Orthodox cathedrals - Andreevsky and Annunciation, the chapel of Xenia the Blessed at the Smolensk cemetery - a place of pilgrimage for believers and many other places significant from the point of view of religion. Like all churches in St. Petersburg, they fit wonderfully and harmoniously into the architectural ensemble.

Chapel of Xenia the Blessed at the Smolensk Cemetery. Photo by owlat (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/owlat/)

Despite the compactness and some "closeness" of the Vasileostrovsky district, there is where to have fun. The administration is doing everything to ensure that the inhabitants of the island do not feel cut off "from civilization".

The most famous entertainment complex on Vaska is, of course, the Waterville water park. This is the first and for a long time the only water park in St. Petersburg, where all common water activities for children and adults are presented, there is a developed system of bonus offers and discount cards.

Also, interesting events and expositions are regularly held at the Lenexpo exhibition center on Nalichnaya Street. A rare Petersburger, who does not even live on Vasilyevsky Island, has never visited this place in his life. Expositions at Lenexpo are especially popular in the warm season, when a visit to the exhibition complex can be combined with a visit to the chapel of Xenia the Blessed at the Smolensk cemetery and with a pleasant walk around the island with access to the bay.

Recently, in connection with the construction of the alluvial territories of the WHSD and the Marine Façade, it is no longer possible to “go to the water”, and the views are not so beautiful, but a few years ago, the inhabitants of the island and other districts of the Northern capital were happy to gather for a picnic on on the shore of the bay, there were festivities of graduates and wedding photo shoots.

There are many cafes and restaurants of various statuses on the island, a small but comfortable Neo cinema and several nightclubs.

Speaking of entertainment on Vaska, it is impossible not to mention the famous "floating" musical fountain, which pleases all Petersburgers in the summer months of the year. The fountain is located just opposite the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, from where it is very convenient to observe it.

And, of course, the country-famous holiday of graduates " Scarlet Sails”, which every year causes mixed feelings among the urban population, and especially among the parents of yesterday's schoolchildren. Although, what can I say, this is a great opportunity for teenagers to celebrate the exit "to adulthood", and they use it.

Scarlet Sails. Photo by Irina (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/atardecer/)

The largest island in the Neva delta, between the Bolshaya Neva and Malaya Neva. Area 1090 ha. In the west it goes to the Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland, from the north it is separated from the island of the Decembrists by the river. Smolenka. The greatest length from north to south is 4.2 km ... St. Petersburg (encyclopedia)

Vasilyevsky Island- Vasilyevsky Island. Vasilievsky island. 6th and 7th lines. On the right is the Andreevsky market, behind it is the bell tower and the dome of the Andreevsky Cathedral. St. Petersburg. Vasilyevsky Island, the largest island in the Neva Delta, between the Bolshaya Neva and Malaya ... ... Encyclopedic reference book "St. Petersburg"

Vasilyevsky Island- Vasilyevsky Island is the largest of the islands of the Neva Delta. Its area is more than 1000 hectares. It is washed by the waters of the Bolshaya and Malaya Neva, the Smolenka River, and from the west by the Gulf of Finland. Long before the founding of the city, this island, along with the Finnish ... ... Why are they so named?

Vasilyevsky Island- ist. area of ​​St. Petersburg: the largest island in the delta of the river. Neva, separated by the Bolshaya Neva from the left bank of the Admiralty part and the Malaya Neva from the right bank of the Petrograd side; the western part of the island goes to the Finnish Hall. The origin of the name is unknown... Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary

The largest island (1050 ha) in the Neva delta, the historical district of St. Petersburg. Academy of Arts, St. Petersburg University, Kunstkamera, architectural ensemble of the Strelka of Vasilevsky Island (Exchange building, Rostral columns). * * * VASILIEVSKY… … encyclopedic Dictionary

Vasilyevsky Island- Vasily Ilyevsky Island (in St. Petersburg) ... Russian spelling dictionary

One of the islands in the delta Neva, within the city of St. Petersburg (see this next) ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Vasilyevsky Island (Finnish: Hirvisaari Losiny Ostrov) is the largest island in the Neva River delta. The greatest length: from north to south 4.2 km, from west to east 6.6 km. Area 1090 ha. It rises above the water level (ordinary) up to 3.5 m. Included ... Wikipedia

Mini-hotel Vasilievsky Island- (St. Petersburg, Russia) Hotel category: 3 star hotel Address: 7th line … Hotel catalog

Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Vasilyevsky Island, St. Petersburg) Orthodox Church Church of the Resurrection of Christ Country Russia ... Wikipedia

Books

• Love and other adventures of Giacomo Casanova (set of 2 books), Giacomo Casanova. The memoirs of the famous adventurer Giacomo Casanova (1725-1798) are an extremely frank self-portrait of an adventurer who did not constrain himself with any prohibitions, and give ...
• Fire Dog and Vasilievsky Island. Collection of short stories, Marina Lugavtsova. Representatives of the family of the hero of the book have been living on Vasilyevsky Island for 300 years. We meet Leonid Zasulich, his parents and friends under incredible circumstances. The action takes place in…