“Gloomy wilderness” is quite a description. Welcome to the Volkovskiy Canal. It’s more than just a waterway. The Volkovskiy Canal has a history steeped in legend and, shall we say, a rather dark reputation.
The Volkovskiy Canal area, located near the Volkovskaya metro station, wasn’t always known for its cheerful disposition. The area got its name from the Volkovka River. That river got its name from a village. That village’s name meant “wolf’s place”. Even in the 1700s, locals documented wolf packs attacking people in this area. The dark reputation stuck.
The Volkovskiy Canal has a rather curious past. The point where the Volkovka River meets the Obvodny Canal has been considered cursed. Back in 1833, workers rioted during the Bypass Canal’s construction. They refused to continue building because they thought it was cursed.
There are legends about murders and suicides happening every ten years, in 1913, 1923, and 1933. Locals say ancient Karelian temples ruined by the Swedes back in 1300 caused the dark reputation. Granite slabs and burials were discovered during heating main laying in 1923.
The Volkovskaya metro station above us reflects this gloomy wilderness. Its decorative panels capture the spirit and style of this place. The Volkovskiy Canal is part of a landscape filled with history, mystery, and perhaps a touch of the supernatural.
The Volkovka River, which feeds into the Volkovskiy Canal, has a history dating back centuries. It was mentioned in annals of 1500 as the Setuy River. The Volkovka River was once a left tributary of the Neva River. It flowed from the Pulkovo Heights. It passed through Kupchino, Volkovo, and Yamskaya Sloboda. Then, it flowed into the Neva. It did so where the Monastyrka River is today. The river was originally 17 km long.
Under Peter the Great, they called the river the Chernaya River. That translates to Black River. Many rivers in the Prinevskaya lowland had that name. When they constructed the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, they renamed it Monastyrka.
In the 19th century, after the Obvodny Canal’s construction, they split the river into two parts. The part around the Alexander Nevsky Monastery kept the name Monastyrka. The part south of the Obvodny Canal became the Volkovka. In the years 1972-1973, they filled in most of the Volkovka River bed. They cut the straight Volkovsky Canal. It runs from the Kupchino railway station along Belgradskaya street to Salova Prospect.
The Volkovskiy Canal area also has cemeteries nearby. The Volkovskoe Cemetery is one of the oldest in St. Petersburg. It functions today. Founded in 1756, it was originally for the poor. Later, all classes used it. “Writer’s Walkways” is a museum part. It preserves historical burial places.
So, as you gaze upon the Volkovskiy Canal, remember its intertwined history with the river, the metro station, and the surrounding area. It’s a place where legends linger. It is a place where history and mystery converge. It offers a unique perspective on the city’s rich and complex story.