“Is this the boundary?” a traveler once asked. Today, we stand before the Memorial Sign “Moskovskaya Zastava”. It marks a crucial point in Saint Petersburg’s history. This “young” monument commemorates the city’s southern boundary.
The Memorial Sign “Moskovskaya Zastava” was unveiled in May 2003. The unveiling celebrated the 300th anniversary of Saint Petersburg. It reminds us that in 1838, Emperor Nicholas I ordered the construction of the Moscow Triumphal Gates. These gates marked the city’s southern boundary at Moskovskaya Zastava.
The authors of this project were sculptor Ya.Ya. Neyman and architect V.M. Rivlin. The Memorial Sign “Moskovskaya Zastava” has a unique composition. It consists of two granite pillars. These pillars resemble old Petersburg lanterns. Two cannon barrels stand vertically between the pillars. Horizontally, a mortar secures them together.
Shields are attached to the pillars and mortars. The shields display images of the Russian and Saint Petersburg coats of arms. Beneath them, the inscription reads: “Memorial sign ‘Moskovskaya Zastava’. At this square in 1838, by order of Emperor Nicholas I, at the solemn opening of the Triumphal Gates, Moskovskaya Zastava, serving as the southern boundary of the city, was established.” The shields also feature images of the Russian and Saint Petersburg coats of arms. On the reverse side of the shield is the inscription: “Memorial sign ‘Moskovskaya Zastava’ established May 27, 2003. It marks the 300th anniversary of Saint Petersburg. It was built with funds from a city resident, Yuri Yurievich Zhorno.”
The sculptural elements of the memorial are made of metal. The total height of the memorial sign is three and a half meters. Moskovskaya Zastava was one of Saint Petersburg’s city districts. It emerged in the 18th century. It was located where Tsarskoye Prospekt intersected Ligovsky Canal. Tsarskoye Prospekt is now Moskovsky Prospekt. By 1838, Moscow Gates stood. They had customs and guard posts. Carriages could only pass between two columns in the center. These columns stood apart.
Gradually, the name “Moskovskaya Zastava” spread. It applied to the entire district near the outpost. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, it was a sparsely populated area. Later, it became a factory and industrial district. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several famous industrial enterprises appeared. These included “Siemens-Schuckert,” “Dynamo,” “Skorokhod,” and “Nevskaya Fabrika”.
The monument’s composition features granite pillars. They transform into lanterns. The weaponry is an artful “still life.” This “still life” rests on a rough foundation. It is surrounded by pedestals linked by chains. The weaponry is made of metal. It imitates the real thing. Yuri Yurievich Zhorno helped to establish the memorial.
The Memorial Sign “Moskovskaya Zastava” stands as a tribute to the city’s evolving borders. It reminds us of the historical context that shaped Saint Petersburg. As you leave, consider the layers of history beneath your feet. This place once marked the edge of a growing empire.