Moscow Triumphal Gates in St. Petersburg

Earlier in the place where the Moscow Triumphal Gates are now, in St. Petersburg there was an outpost. This name is given because the road to the Russian capital started from this place. The Arc de Triomphe is of special importance for the whole country and St. Petersburg in particular, since its erection was marked by the victory of the Russian army over the Turkish and Persian troops.

Moscow Triumphal Gates in St. Petersburg: the history of the emergence

The initiator of the construction of this architectural structure was Nicholas I. himself. The emperor ordered such a need after the Republic of Poland successfully suppressed the uprising of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and completed military campaigns with Turkey and the Persian kingdom.

The installation of the gates on Moskovsky Prospekt was to take place even earlier. This began to think in 1773. Then the project was developed by two specialists: the architect Charles-Louis Clerisso and the sculptor Etienne Maurice Falcone. In 1781 they surrendered their construction plan to the emperor, but on a detailed study everything ended.

We returned to this issue only after exactly half a century. In 1831, Nicholas I examined two projects: the Russian architect Vasily Petrovich Stasov and the Italian specialist Albert Katerynovich Kavos. The plan of the last emperor considered too expensive, therefore, approved the development of the domestic architect. Moreover, by that time Stasov had already realized the Narva Gates - another one of his grandiose project.

The Moscow Triumphal Gates in the form of a pencil sketch Nicholas I approved in 1833. Nemełdi Vasilii Petrovich began to study the finer details, since only the facade was represented in the project. He consulted with experts in the field of casting, and together with them the architect decided to just cast the gate, and, in parts, according to the technology of the Greeks.

Preparation for the erection of the Moscow Triumphal Gates in St. Petersburg

In 1834 preparations began for construction. This year, Nicholas I determines the location of the erection of the monument, makes some corrections regarding the height of the upper part of the object and the width of the opening between the columns. The project is again affirmed, including its location, and the workers are starting the second preparatory stage.

It is worth noting such an important feature: in order to visually show the emperor how the Triumphal Gates will look, they created a wooden model. It had a natural size and width, in connection with which the emperor could identify shortcomings. But there were none. Therefore, Nicholas I only introduced some amendments and approved the draft.

Further, at the request of Stasov, a column is produced at the foundry. A total of 12 such elements are supposed to be created. The emperor again gives "good", the wooden structure is demolished, and they begin to prepare a place where the Moscow Triumphal Gates will stand.

It all began with the arrangement of the bottom of the excavation. At first it was very diligently tamped, then laid out almost 600 stone blocks that remained in place of the supposed, but not realized project of the bell tower on the territory of the Smolny Yard. After that, they started laying slabs, the total height of which was 4 m.

When the pit was ready, for the solemn laying of the gate invited important people and, of course, the emperor himself with the architect Stasov. The moments of different dignity were poured into the bottom of the pit and threw stones, where the names of those present were carved. This event occurred in early September 1834.

Start of construction

Since it was decided to cast the gates, the main work took place at the foundry. Stasov is there with the workers all the time, something prompted, corrected, in general, led the process, because the task was not easy. It was required to produce columns in parts, and each of them consisted of 9 blocks. This was a brilliant decision, because it was so much easier to work in the factory, directly on the construction site, and also transport the elements.

Here, copper was used to cast capitals adorning the Moscow Triumphal Gates in St. Petersburg. One such element had a weight of more than 16 tons, and one cast-iron column - almost 82. The total weight of the structure is about 450 tons. At that time it was the first cast-iron assembly in the world with such a huge mass.

The military decorations of the gate (symbols and high reliefs with images of the geniuses of Glory) was occupied by the sculptor Orlovsky. Also on the attic you can see the inscription from the overhead bronze gilded letters. The text was written and written by the emperor himself: "To the victorious Russian troops in memory of exploits in Persia, Turkey and at the suppression of Poland in 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829, 1830 and 1831" .

The solemn procession of the regiments under the gates passed in 1878 in the presence of the townspeople. As is often said in art, this project crowned the architect's career of Vasily Petrovich Stasov.

The image of the Moscow Triumphal Gates

The monument consists of 12 columns with a length of 15 m each. The total width of the building is 36 m, and the height is 24 m. Moscow's Triumphal Gate is crowned with a frieze with thirty geniuses of Glory mounted on it, holding the arms of the provinces of the Russian Empire. They were knocked out of sheets of copper and further emphasize the triumphant theme.

Disassembled landmark

Is it a coincidence? In 1936, in order to transfer the monumental gates to a new place (it was planned to shift the center of the city to the south) they were completely dismantled and cleaned. But with the advent of the Great Patriotic War, the plans were not destined to come true, and therefore the return of the landmark in the literal sense of the land was held only in 1961. Thus, without knowing it, St. Petersburg saved a metal monument.

Years of war and the period of restoration

When fierce battles were fought, cast-iron elements were used to equip structures against tanks. The blockades were installed at all entrances to St. Petersburg. After the end of the war, the found elements were restored, the lost parts were recreated (there were a majority of them), and in 1961 the Moscow Triumphal Gates were rebuilt again. The architects Ivan Kaptsug and Eugenia Petrova were engaged in this.

Since that moment the works connected with the arch were made once - in 2000-2001. So far, no more restoration work.

Reviews of tourists about the Triumphal Gates on Moskovsky Prospekt

Tourists and locals believe that visiting the monumental gates and even passing by gives a feeling of triumph, victory, extravaganza and just a holiday. No wonder they were created in honor of the victories of the Russian army over enemy troops. In the evening, the lights come on, and the gates begin to play with colorful multicolored lights. Some visitors of the northern capital call the backlighting not very good, saying that it could be better.

Petersburgers believe that every Russian, who is sensitive to history and honors the memory of the heroes who died in wars, must definitely visit this landmark.

Moscow Triumphal Gates in St. Petersburg: address

If you get to the monument by metro, you need to get to the station "Moscow Gate". Exit from the underground tunnel leads to the same area, where the attraction is located, in the center. It is difficult to approach it - from four sides active car traffic.

The Moscow Triumphal Gates in St. Petersburg, photos of which were presented in this article, give the city landscape a bit of harshness, because they are completely made of metal. On the other hand, they do not spoil the architectural appearance of the city, on the contrary, they harmoniously blend with the environment and attract attention to themselves. Being in St. Petersburg, you must always see the monumental gates that adorn one of the main avenues of the northern capital.