St. Petersburg is often called a museum city. In the Northern capital of Russia, an incredible number of historical sights and recognized masterpieces of architecture. You can argue about which place in the city on the Neva is the most beautiful, endlessly. Promenade des Anglais in St. Petersburg is one of the most interesting parts of the historical center. Perhaps this place is not the most beautiful in the whole city, but it definitely deserves attention!
Historical reference
At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Promenade des Anglais in St. Petersburg was considered one of the most prestigious areas of the city. According to the original development plan, there was supposed to be an industrial zone. In 1710, A. Menshikov miraculously received permission to build a residential building in this place. After a while, Peter I personally began to distribute land plots for development to influential and wealthy residents of St. Petersburg. The English embankment in St. Petersburg, according to the plan of the emperor, was to become the hallmark of the city. The thing is that it was this area that was first seen by foreigners sailing on ships.
Peter the Great was demanding on the architecture of buildings being erected on the embankment; he personally checked the progress of development. In addition, the lucky owners of land in the area were required to improve the coast at their own expense.
Why is the Promenade des Anglais?
Throughout its history, this stretch of the Neva coast has changed 22 names. The most famous among them are: Galernaya, Nizhnyaya Shore, Isaakievskaya and the Red Fleet embankment.
In 1935, Russia entered into an agreement with Great Britain providing for favorable conditions for the acquisition of real estate in Russian cities for the British. It was at that time that the Promenade des Anglais in St. Petersburg was once again renamed. Many residents of the UK moved to Petersburg. The embankment has become a real English quarter - with a national church, an English club and a theater.
And yet, after a while, indigenous Petersburgers began to settle again in this quarter. The name of the embankment changed, the historical - "English" - was officially returned in 1994.
Sights and the most interesting buildings
Houses on Promenade des Anglais form a “solid facade” - this is not only a fashionable solution for its era, but also practical. The location of neighboring buildings close to each other allowed to save expensive land in prestigious areas of the city. In this area you can admire the buildings in various styles, there are also baroque, and classicism, and eclecticism, and modern. One of the most famous on the embankment is the mansions of wealthy and noble people of a bygone era: the Naryshkin house (No. 10), the house of Baron Stieglitz (No. 68) and the mansion of Count Rumyantsev (No. 44) - it houses a museum.
The Wedding Palace is also located in a unique historical building : St. Petersburg, 28 English Promenade, which is its exact address. The mansion was built by Derviz and for some time was used for permanent residence.
The Senate building, in which the Constitutional Court is located today, cannot be ignored - this is house No. 2, and the house of the College of Foreign Affairs.
Today the Promenade des Anglais in St. Petersburg, the photo on which you can make quite interesting, is a favorite place for walking guests and residents of the city. In this area of the Northern capital, every tourist will find a sufficient number of catering establishments and cultural and entertainment facilities. A walk will not be boring!