“All aboard” echoes through time. We are standing before the Vitebsky railway station’s Imperial Pavilion. This pavilion once welcomed royalty. It saw foreign delegations arrive in style.
Vitebsky railway station is more than just a station. It is a landmark. It is Russia’s first railway station. It was initially named St. Petersburg-Tsarskoselsky station. The name came from its first line. That line went to Tsarskoye Selo. That’s the royal residence.
Imagine the year 1837. Emperor Nicholas I and his family board the first train. It departs from this very station. The destination is their summer residence. It was a momentous occasion.
The original station was a wooden structure. Konstantin Thon designed it. But it quickly became too small. A larger stone building replaced it between 1849 and 1852.
By the late 19th century, the station needed a complete overhaul. Construction of the current Vitebsky railway station started in 1901. It took three years to complete. Stanislaw Brzozowski designed the exterior. Sima Minash created the opulent Art Nouveau interior. Minash was only 25 years old.
The Vitebsky railway station was innovative for its time. It featured elevators for luggage and passengers. There were conveyors and electric lighting. The train tracks were located on the second floor. People admired this blend of design and engineering.
During the Soviet era, the station retained its elevated train shed. It also kept its luggage elevators. This made it a perfect film location. “Anna Karenina” and “Sherlock Holmes” were filmed here.
The station underwent careful restoration before St. Petersburg’s 300th anniversary. The original interior and Art Nouveau decor were revived. Today, you can see the station’s historical color. You can admire the stucco decorations. The Imperial Cafe has been recreated.
Look for the replica of the first Russian train. Don’t miss the detached pavilion for the Tsar and his family. A marble bust of Nicholas I is also present. The station connects St. Petersburg to Central Europe. It also connects to the Baltic States and Belarus. Trains also run to the southern suburbs. Pushkin and Pavlovsk are among them. The Pushkinskaya metro station is connected to the Vitebsky railway station.
The Imperial Pavilion is a reminder of the station’s rich history. It is a testament to its architectural beauty. It shows its cultural significance. Take a moment to appreciate this gem of St. Petersburg. It is a gateway to the past and present.