“Promenade des Anglais”. Did you know that is what the French once called the English Embankment?
Today we are standing on the Petrovskaya Naberezhnaya. It is one of the oldest sections of St. Petersburg. After the city’s founding in 1703, the area around Trinity Square became its first center.
Here, along the Neva River, Peter the Great had his wooden cabin. Modest houses for his associates like Yakov Bryus were also nearby. This area was home to St. Petersburg’s first port. Legend says Peter himself steered the first foreign trade ship into the harbor.
The Cabin of Peter the Great is now preserved in a special pavilion. It is considered St. Petersburg’s first residential building. Inside, you can see Peter’s belongings and a boat he supposedly built. A bronze bust of Peter was erected near the cabin in 1872.
By the mid-18th century, the city center shifted. This area fell into neglect. Although grand development plans were proposed, they were never implemented. Only after the Trinity Bridge was built did the area revive. Grand Duke Nicholas, uncle of Emperor Nicholas II, moved here.
A palace and apartment house were built between 1907 and 1910. Later, institutions like the Brain Institute moved in. A granite embankment was built down to the river. In 1907, a sculpture from Manchuria was installed here. It depicts the Chinese mythological character Shi-tsza.
In the 1930s, two notable apartment buildings were constructed. The House of Political Prisoners and the House of the People’s Commissariat of the Navy. The first was for former prisoners. The latter was for veterans of the Soviet fleet. Both had modern amenities like laundry machines and a cinema.
Behind Peter’s Cabin, an apartment building called the “Noble Nest” was built in 1961-1962. It had large apartments and became home to cultural figures. These included Georgiy Tovstonogov and Evgeny Lebedev.
The Cruiser Aurora, a symbol of the Bolshevik Revolution, was docked here in 1948. It became a branch of the Naval Museum. Today, the Petrovskaya Naberezhnaya is a pleasant place for a walk. It offers views of the Neva River and Palace Embankment.
Take a moment to appreciate the blend of history and culture around you. The Petrovskaya Naberezhnaya offers a unique glimpse into St. Petersburg’s past. It shows its evolution from a humble port to a vibrant urban space.