St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Russian Tsar Peter the Great to bring an unwilling Russian nation into the fold of Europe. Unlike some cities, it was not created by a process of gradual, graceful development but was forcibly constructed, stone by stone, under the force and direction of Peter the Great, for whose patron saint the city is named. When it was nine years old, it became the capital of Russia and retained this status until 1918. Even now, it is referred to as the "Northern Capital" of Russia. World-class architects participated in the building of the city and today it remains an imperial city of golden spires and gilded domes, of pastel palaces and candlelit cathedrals. St. Petersburg is a fascinating place which dazzles the eye of a visitor with numerous architectural landmarks, museums, palaces, parks, wide avenues, spectacular bridges and stylish monuments. Born in the heart of an emperor, St. Petersburg is Russia`s adopted child. So unlike the Russian cities that came before it, St. Petersburg - with its strict geometric lines and perfectly-planned architecture - is almost too European to be Russian. And yet it is too Russian to be European. St. Petersburg is situated on 44 islands in the Neva river`s delta and is famous for its embankments, museums and, of course, for its magical summer White Nights, which begin at the start of June and last to the middle of July.

During the season of White Nights, St. Petersburg is undoubtedly the most beautiful city in the world. The space needed to describe all the beauty of this city would fill unlimited pages. The world- famous Hermitage museum, St. Isaac`s Cathedral - the second-largest basilica in the world - and the Peter and Paul Fortress, resting place of the last Russian Tsar Nicolas II, are only three of the main architectural beauties to be seen and admired. In the summer, notably during the White Nights, you can enjoy the wonderful parks and gardens with their statues and fountains.

There are 313 bridges in St. Petersburg, some of them considered to be unique architectural constructions. The population of St. Petersburg is about five million people. This is the second-largest city in Russia after Moscow, and the 19th in the world.

For two centuries, St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia. The Russian Navy, the Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Arts, the first museums and the first theatres were all built on the banks of the river Neva. St. Petersburg is one of the biggest cultural and scientific centres in the world, a city with a rich history, tradition and a promising future. There are about 120 museums, 40 theatres and 50 universities. St. Petersburg is also the home of a world-famous ballet-school, whose performances satisfy the highest of expectations. "The most abstract and intentional city on earth," quoting Fyodor Dostoyevsky, became the birthplace of Russian literature, the setting for Dostoyevsky`s Raskolnikov, and Pushkin`s Eugene Onegin. From here, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev and Rimsky-Korsakov went forth to conquer the world with Russian music. It was here that great architects were summoned by 18th-century empresses to build palaces that transformed the city into a symphony of marble, malachite and gold. St. Petersburg is not just about its fairy-tale setting, however, for its history is integrally bound up in Russia`s dark side, too, a centuries-long procession of wars and revolutions. In the 19th century, the city witnessed the struggle against tsarist oppression. Here, the early fires of revolution were kindled, first in 1825 by a small band of starry-eyed aristocratic officers, the so-called Decembrists, and then by organised workers`movements in 1905.

The full-scale revolutions of 1917 led to the demise of the Romanov dynasty, the foundation of the Soviet Union, and the end of the city`s role as the nation`s capital. But the worst ordeal by far came during World War II, when the city then known as Leningrad withstood a 900-day siege and blockade by Nazi forces. Nowadays, St. Petersburg is a modern city, playing an important role in Russia`s political, scientific, and cultural life. For more information about excursions provided by Reisebuero WELT, please turn to EXCURSIONS and TOURS at this site. CONFERENCES AND EXHIBITIONS has information about trade fairs and shows at Moscow`s business centres.