The port city of Kronstadt is located on the island of Kotlin in the Gulf of Finland. The city of military significance was closed for a long time and it was possible to reach it only by water. Currently, the island is connected to the shores of the Gulf of Finland by a dam along which the St. Petersburg Ring Road passes. Kronstadt is surrounded by many forts, which served as a defense of the city in many wars and battles. The sights of Kronstadt attract many tourists and visitors to the city, many of them have important historical significance.
The history of the city began in 1704, when a fortress was erected on the island, which later became the main base of the Baltic Fleet. The sights of Kronstadt have been threatened more than once, the massive fire of 1764 and the flood of 1824 caused heavy damage to the city. Kronstadt has long been a closed city, it housed garrisons and the military lived, now the city is an important historical monument and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Sights of Kronstadt begin to be examined from the Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The beautiful and magnificent building is practically a copy of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. As conceived by the architect, the cathedral was to be an identification mark for sailors arriving by ship in Kronstadt. The sights of the city are mainly related to the history of the Navy and historical events. A monument to Admiral Makarov is located on Anchor Square, and services for the health of sailors are still being held in St. Nicholas Cathedral.
A map of Kronstadt with attractions will show the most interesting places, of which there are a lot in the city. In the center is the building of the Small Gostiny Dvor, which is a small copy of the building in St. Petersburg. After the fire, the building was completely destroyed, but was later restored. After Gostiny Dvor, it is worth taking a walk along the banks of the Obvodny Canal. Behind it you can see old red brick buildings - former warehouses. All bridges across the canal were previously bred, at the moment there is only one drawbridge in the city - across the Petrovsky Dock canal. On the territory of the city one of the oldest footstocks is installed. It is along it that the measurement of depths and heights throughout Russia takes place.
Makarovsky Bridge will certainly see every guest of the city of Kronstadt. This attraction is paid attention during the excursions, be sure to tell the story of its occurrence, associated with the visit of the Emperor Nicholas II to the opening of the monument to Admiral Makarov. Currently, wooden bridge structures have been replaced with steel ones, and the appearance of the bridge has been preserved. On the territory of the city you can see the gallery of modern art and unusual monuments, for example, the monument to the Blockade stickleback.
The forts surrounding the city are also the main attractions of Kronstadt. Many of them are open to visitors, some are almost destroyed. Forts of Kronstadt can be visited during excursions; independent entry into their territory is prohibited due to a threat to life and health.