St. Petersburg - the cultural capital of Russia
- Panna
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
I managed to get to Russia with my family before the war. I'm still very glad about that, because - political issues aside - it's a wonderfully beautiful country, and it was a great experience to look around the two most famous cities.
We bought multicity tickets and first traveled to St. Petersburg, then took a high-speed train to Moscow , and from there we finally flew home.
Let's take a look at the stops of our journey in order!
St. Petersburg
The history of St. Petersburg is as cinematic as the city itself: full of twists, drama, luxury – and of course, a few revolutions.
The city was founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great , who wanted to completely reform Russia. He wanted the country to finally connect with the West, not the East – and for this a new capital was needed, built in the style of Europe. He chose a marshy, almost uninhabited area at the mouth of the Neva, where only a few fortresses had previously stood – and here he dreamed of a “window to Europe”.
The work was brutal: tens of thousands of serfs and forced laborers built Petersburg over years, often in inhumane conditions. But the end result was breathtaking: palaces, churches, wide avenues, and canals weave through the city – like a baroque set come to life.
From 1721, St. Petersburg became the capital of the Russian Empire, and remained so until 1918. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the life of the elite took place here: the largest balls were held here, writers (such as Pushkin and Dostoevsky) created their most important works here, and the Tsarist family also lived here in the Winter Palace.
The 20th century, however, brought about major changes. In 1917, the Bolshevik Revolution broke out here, effectively overthrowing the Russian monarchy. The siege of the Winter Palace became one of the most famous revolutionary events in history. The city was renamed Leningrad in 1924, after Lenin's death, and remained so until 1991.
Among the monuments of the revolution, the Aurora definitely deserves mention.
The cruiser Aurora is one of the most recognizable symbols of St. Petersburg (and revolutionary Russia) – not just a ship, but a historical icon. On October 25, 1917 (according to the Julian calendar – November 7 according to our time), the legendary blank cannon shot was fired from this warship, which was the signal for the Bolsheviks to begin the siege of the Winter Palace. This shot became, in fact, the “starting gun” of Soviet history: it began the Great October Socialist Revolution, which overthrew the tsarist regime and completely rewrote the fate of the country. After the revolution, the Aurora began a new life as a museum ship, and today it is still anchored on the banks of the Neva, and can be visited from the inside.
During World War II, the city experienced another tragedy: it was blockaded by Nazi Germany for 872 days, and hundreds of thousands of people died from starvation and bombing. The Siege of Leningrad was one of the worst sieges in modern history – but St. Petersburg did not surrender.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, in 1991, the city regained its original name: it became St. Petersburg again. Since then, it has flourished again: museums, modern galleries, startup cafes, street art and cultural festivals alternate, and the old Tsarist splendor mixes with 21st-century creativity.
So St. Petersburg is not just a beautiful city – it is a place that has survived revolutions, wars, dictatorships, and yet has always managed to preserve its beauty and spirit. This is what makes it truly special.
St. Petersburg is often called the “Venice of the North” because of the canals, bridges and waterways that crisscross the city, giving it a special, romantic atmosphere – similar to the Italian city. Built on the Neva River delta, the city has over 90 river and canal sections and hundreds of bridges, including retractable bridges that open spectacularly at night in the summer to accommodate boat traffic. This water world not only defines the structure of the city, but also the rhythm of everyday life – especially during the White Nights, when boats glide along the canals, bridges open and the city almost floats in light.
St. Petersburg's churches are not only spiritual spaces, but also artistic and architectural masterpieces that reflect the city's historical diversity. The most famous of them is the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, which attracts attention from afar with its colorful onion domes - and inside, amazing mosaics cover the walls, ceiling and even the columns. This church was built on the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated.
The other iconic building is St. Isaac's Cathedral , which dominates the city's skyline with its monumental dimensions and golden dome - if you climb the 262 steps leading to the dome, you will be greeted by an unparalleled panorama.
The Kazan Cathedral is also special: its semicircular colonnade is reminiscent of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and it is an important center of the Russian Orthodox religion. The three churches each have a different atmosphere - but together they perfectly reflect the religious and artistic heritage of St. Petersburg.
Anyone who visits this city will definitely come across the name Hermitage, as it is not only one of the most famous and largest art museums in St. Petersburg, but also in the entire world.
The name “Hermitage” is of French origin (hence the pronunciation “Hermitage”) and means: a hermitage or a place of retreat. The name was given by Empress Catherine II to the museum’s original collection, which she initially created not for the general public but for her own private enjoyment in a secluded, quiet part of the Winter Palace. The Empress wanted to retreat here from the noise of public court life and spend her time surrounded by art. Later, as the collection expanded, the entire museum became known worldwide by this name.
The Hermitage's collection contains over three million works of art - including works by world-famous masters such as Leonardo, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Picasso and Van Gogh. Walking here, you will not only experience the great moments of art, but also the luxurious world of a bygone era.
Peterhof, also known as the “Russian Versailles”, is located about thirty kilometers from St. Petersburg, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, and is one of the most luxurious palace complexes in Russia. Tsar Peter the Great dreamed up the impressive Baroque-style residence overlooking the sea, which was later expanded by several rulers. The main attraction is the vast lower park and the impressive fountain system, which consists of more than a hundred water features, including the famous Grand Cascade and the gilded Samson statue. A special feature of the water system is that it does not require pumps to operate: it works by gravity with the help of artificially created aqueducts and levels.
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