Three thousand three hundred and fourteen souls. That’s the population of Bolshaya Izhora in the 2010 census. Can you imagine life in this urban-type settlement?
Welcome to Bolshaya Izhora a place where history whispers from every cobblestone. Located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland it’s practically a neighbor to Saint Petersburg. But Bolshaya Izhora is more than just a suburb. It’s a blend of several settlements. The selo of Bolshaya Izhora itself the village of Sagomilye and the suburban settlements Primorsky Khutor and Pilnaya. These once separate communities merged to form the Bolshaya Izhora we see today.
Pilnaya the oldest of these settlements boasts a history stretching back to the 17th century. A mill and a sawmill stood there then. The Pilnaya Estate a grand structure arose in 1774. Anastasiya Bibikova widow of General Alexander Ilyich Bibikov built it. Her son Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Bibikov a military officer inherited the estate. The land surrounding Bolshaya Izhora had illustrious owners. Alexander Menshikov held it once. Later in the 19th century Grand Duke Michael brother of Tsar Nicholas I owned it.
The area remained relatively unpopulated until the arrival of the railway in 1864. Then Bolshaya Izhora transformed into a popular summer holiday destination. Imagine the bustling activity the boat connections to Kronstadt each summer until 1918.
The early 20th century saw Bolshaya Izhora as part of Petergofsky Uyezds in the Saint Petersburg Governorate. The name changed to Petrograd in 1914 and then Leningrad in 1924. In 1923 Petergofsky Uyezd merged with Detskoselsky Uyezd to create Gatchinsky Uyezd. Gatchina became Trotsk and Gatchinsky Uyezd became Trotsky Uyezd. This was in honor of Leon Trotsky.
Uyezds disappeared in 1927. Oranienbaumsky District emerged with Oranienbaum as its center. Bolshaya Izhora became part of this district. Okrugs vanished in 1930. Districts became directly subordinate to the oblast. In 1939 Bolshaya Izhora received urban-type settlement status.
The Eastern part of the district including Bolshaya Izhora played a crucial role during World War II. It formed the Oranienbaum Bridgehead. This protected Leningrad from German troops for nearly three years. In 1948 Oranienbaum was renamed Lomonosov. The district followed suit becoming Lomonosovsky.
The Soviet era saw Bolshaya Izhora’s economy based on military installations. These are now a joint-stock company employing a portion of the settlement’s population. Access was once restricted. In 2013 81% of Bolshaya Izhora’s land belonged to the Defence Ministry. The settlement lacked industrial enterprises. Most people commuted daily to Saint Petersburg for work. Tourism held promise but lacked infrastructure development.
Two railway stations serve Bolshaya Izhora. They’re on the line connecting Saint Petersburg’s Baltiysky Station to Veymarn Bolshaya Izhora and Dubochki. The A121 highway the Krasnoflotskoye Highway runs along the Gulf of Finland’s southern shore connecting Saint Petersburg and Sosnovy Bor. It’s also the northwestern end of the A120 highway encircling Saint Petersburg from the south. Frequent bus connections to Saint Petersburg exist.
Bolshaya Izhora’s cultural heritage includes two sites. They’re World War II soldiers’ graves. So as you stand here today remember the layered history of Bolshaya Izhora. It’s a story of mills and estates of war and resilience of quiet suburban life and dreams of tourism. It’s a story that continues to unfold.