Introduction

Not many cities were founded by the will of just one person, but St. Petersburg must be the only one where the founder himself, Tsar Peter I, not only chose the site in person, but drew the plans and took charge of the construction of the new city. It was all his own idea, but it was not long before his creation, like a living organism, was growing along lines of its own. Peter's city was not destined to become a cozy second Amsterdam nor - as originally conceived - another Venice. Petersburg formed its own unique image.

The city of St. Petersburg is relatively young if judged by Russian or European standards. Founded in 1703, St Petersburg will in 2003 celebrate its 300th anniversary. But despite being a young city it has a rich and exciting history. From the early days of Peter the Great’s “Paradise” and “Northern Venice” to the modern events of the 1991 Russian coup d’etat this city has been full of life. St. Petersburg has always been a city of myth and mystery: you can hardly find a young city which is wrapped in legends and stories in such a unique way.

Russia's 'cultural capital' tempts the visitor with a unique grandeur beneath its luminous northern sky: broad, tree-lined boulevards, huge public squares, ornate palaces, sparkling cathedral domes, grand facades reflected in the many waterways, graceful bridges. But the best way to discover this city's true charm is by strolling through it without hurrying.

Like many other cities, St Petersburg will unveil most of its history and legend only to a very careful eye. Come to see this city if you ever get a chance. Take a brief look at St. Petersburg history and come to see the White Nights weave their own mystery over the “Venice of the North”….

The beginning…

The lands along the Neva River have belonged to the Ancient Russian State since at least the 9th century. However, throughout history these lands have a mixed population of Slavs, Finns and other ethnic groups. Travelers on the ancient 'Viking route to Greece', linking Scandinavia and the Byzantine empire, had for hundreds of years already made use of the riches of the river Neva between Lake Ladoga and the sea. From at least the ninth century this area was part of Novgorod. Novgorod was an important center of international and domestic trade and craftsmanship. Novgorod merchants have traded with Western and Northern Europe and later with the towns of Hanseatic League. All the trade went through the Neva River and through Lake Ladoga. In 1240, when most of Southern and Central Russia was fighting the Mongol invasion, a Swedish force landed on the banks of the Neva River.

The Novgorod troops of Prince Alexander went out to meet the foe, and on July 15, 1240 fought the battle of Neva (Nevskaya Bitva). The Russians successfully launched a surprise attack and were victorious. This battle became a symbol of Russia’s dramatic fight for independence and Prince Alexander was given the name Alexander Nevsky (i.e. Alexander of Neva). Prince Alexander was then declared a Saint of the Russian Orthodox Church for his efforts to protect Russia and its Christian faith. (Later, in the 18th century, he was proclaimed the patron of St. Petersburg - Peter the Great’s “paradise” on the Neva). This is how the name Nevsky Prospect came to be used as the name for St. Petersburg’s main central street. The remains of Alexander Nevsky now lie in the grounds of the Alexandro-Nevsky Cathedral.

However, when a century later the Swedish king Magnus II's assault on Novgorod was repulsed, the treaty of Dorpat (1351) forced Novgorod to cede the territory of the Neva to Sweden. The other Russians cities were prevented from coming to the aid of their compatriots, since by then the conquering Mongols were holding most of the country in bondage.

When in the 16th century Novgorod was subdued by Moscow, the lands along the Neva River again became part of the centralized Russian state, Muscovite Russia. However, at the beginning of the 17th century serious unrest started in Russia, after the last tsar of the Ryurik dynasty, Feodor Ioannovich (the son of Ivan the Terrible), had died leaving no heirs to the throne. The new ruler, Vasily Shuisky, invited the Swedes to fight on his side. The Swedes realized how weak Russia was and decided to occupy a significant portion of North-West Russia instead. Even after the Romanov dynasty had been established in 1613, Russia had to admit some territorial losses. A new border between Russia and Sweden was set by the Stolbovo Treaty of 1617. Russia's internal weakness had enabled Sweden to occupy not only the Baltic provinces of Livonia and Estonia, but also eastern Karelia and Ingria (or Ingermanland). Here, beside the Neva, the Swedes built a fort called Nyenschanz ('new stockade'). For the reminder of the century the Neva River area became a part of Sweden, and the Swedes effectively cut the Russia from the Baltic trade.

By the end of the 17th century, this situation could no longer be tolerated. Peter the Great was keen on regaining the access to the Baltic sea and establishing strong ties with the West. In the hope of achieving these goals he had started the so-called Northern War with Swedes (1700-1721) in which Denmark, Poland and Saxony (Prussia and Hanover joined in later) were allied with Russia. Only the English and the Dutch took Sweden's side. In 1700, the Russians were severely beaten on the Narva. Learning from his own mistakes, Peter turned the tables in October 1702 by winning his first significant success, seizing Notebotg (an old Novgorodian fortress at the Ladoga end of the Neva, which the Swedes had occupied) and giving it the German name Schlusselburg, from the word meaning 'key' - 'a key that was to turn many a lock', wrote the Tsar later. Next, Nyenschanz was taken and razed to the ground, followed two days later by Peter's first success at sea. Eight Russian craft were able to board two Swedish warships of 24 guns. Peter was so heartened by this feat that he struck a special medal for all who took part, bearing the inscription 'Never Seen That Before'. The Russians now held the whole length of the river Narva, and the next task was to choose the site for a fortress that would secure the newly won territory.