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admiralty building, photo by Derren Hodson 

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Admiralty Building

The Admiralty was construction started in 1704 under the supervision of Peter the Great on the island between Neva and Moyka rivers. The Admiralty was thought as a main dockyard of Russian on the Baltic sea. That would be the center of shipbuilding. Its premises were the ship workshop

It  was the former headquarters of the Admiralty Board and the Imperial Russian Navy in Central St. Petersburg, Russia . And the current headquarters of the Russian Navy.

The edifice was rebuilt in the nineteenth century to support the Tsar’s maritime ambitions. The original design was a fortified shipyard . It was later surrounded by five bastions and further protected by a moat.

The Empire Style edifice visible today lining the Admiralty Quay . It was constructed to Andreyan Zakharov’s design between 1806 and 1823. The Admiralty was located at the western end of the Nevsky Prospekt.

The Admiralty with its gilded spire topped by a golden weather-vane . It had the shape of a small sail warship (Korablik). This is one of the city’s most conspicuous landmarks. The focal point of old St. Petersburg’s three main streets – Nevsky Prospect, Gorokhovaya Street, and Voznesensky Avenue

Until merger and relocation to the town of Pushkin in 1998 . The building housed one of the Soviet and Russian naval engineering schools. since 1927 was named after Felix Dzerzhinsky.

Here are the Top 10 Interesting Facts about Admiralty Building

1.The dockyard was built in the «U» form

It had the main façade was 425 meters long and side walls were 213 meters. The Admiralty also had a defending function: The fortress was surrounded by ditches and shafts. The forest around that area was cut down to create a glacis. That’s how the Admiralty meadow, later the Palace square appeared.

2.The building of the Admiralty and its surrounding territory was reconstructed numerous times

admiralty building, photo by Derren Hodson 

In 1732-1738 the stone building of the Admiralty was designed and built by the architect I.Korobrov. The ship-shaped weather-vane was raised at the height of 72 meters.

In the beginning of the 19th century, the complex was fully reconstructed under the supervision of the architect A.Zakharov. The building became three-stored and decorated with 56 statues, 11 bas-relief and 350 adornments.

The idea was to demonstrate and glorify the power of the Russian fleet and to strengthen the image of Russia as a naval power. By the end of the 19th century, the glacis in front of the Admiralty from the side of Nevsky Prospekt was transformed into a beautiful park with a large fountain in the center and sculptures of the outstanding sons of the fatherland. Later, the garden was named Alexander.

3.The Admiralty building suffered a lot from bombing and shelling

During the Great Patriotic War, the Admiralty was covered for safety measures, but it still suffered a lot from bombing and shelling. So it was restored with the help of city residents.

4. It has a symbol of rotating weather vane

At the very top of the Admiralty spire at a height of 72.5 meters. There is a favorite symbol of all the locals and guests of the city. The gilded boat, which acts as a rotating weather vane.

According to historians, the shape of the ship is very similar to the appearance of the very first ship, which entered the port of the city immediately after its construction.

5.The  Building was surrounded by a solid wall.

Admiralty St_Petersburg photo by Jennifer

It was reinforced by earthen bastions in the amount of 5 pieces. Also protected by a sufficiently deep fortress moat. They are several rows of sharp stakes were installed at the bottom instead of water.

The shipyard with the Neva River connected two canals – one external and the other internal. The place necessary for the shelling of enemy ships was freed by deforestation, and began to be called the Admiralty Meadow.

6.The modern Admiralty has two buildings in the form of letters P.

The main facade of the attraction attracts the sight of tourists with its solid columns, as well as an arch over which a tower in several tiers rises, decorated with a dome with a spire and a clock. The Main Admiralty has three floors, and its facade is decorated with 56 statues, 11 bas-reliefs and more than 300 different types of stucco.

7. The Admiralty building has been decorated with 56 statues, 11 bas-relief and 350 adornments

Sculptures on Admiralty Building in Saint Petersburg photo by Alex

The idea was to demonstrate and glorify the power of the Russian fleet and to strengthen the image of Russia as a naval power. By the end of the 19th century, the glacis in front of the Admiralty from the side of Nevsky Prospekt was transformed into a beautiful park.

It has a large fountain in the center and sculptures of the outstanding sons of the fatherland. Later, the garden was named Alexander in honor of the Emperor Alexander II.

8. It has 28 Sculptural allegories of fire, water

There are 28 sculptural allegories of fire, water, air, four seasons and astronomy muses above the colonnade. On top of the central tower you will see a golden dome with a clock and octagonal torch with a smaller dome that turns into a spire of 23 meters high. The restorations took place in 1928, 1977, 1997-1998.

9. Admiralty was a true monument of early classicism

admiralty building, photo by Derren Hodson

The Admiralty, being a true monument of early classicism, was at the origins of the Russian fleet, shipbuilding development and Russian naval success.

The premises of the Admiralty were occupied by the naval study units. Including the Naval Ministry, the Naval Headquarters, the school of ship architecture. Since 1925. It has housed the Dzerzhinsky Higher Naval College, and since 2012 the General Headquarters of the Russian Navy are located here. 

10. The Admiralty Building  currently serves as Naval college

The Admiralty was Russia’s Naval Headquarters until 1917. It now serves as a naval college. The gardens in front of the Admiralty are particularly beautiful in summer, and you might choose to walk through them on your way from the Hermitage to the “Bronze Horseman” and St Isaac’s.