Peter and Paul Fortress Holidays

Peter and Paul Fortress was laid down on 16 May 1703 on Zayachiy Island to secure Russia’s hold on the Neva
Delta. Named after the cathedral built on it’s territory, the little piece of land was called St Petersburg. Later, the name was given to the actual settlement that had started to grow rapidly around the fortress grounds. The fortress was first built in wood and was later replaced, section by section, in stone.

Its history is a gruesome one, since hundreds of forced labourers perished while constructing the fortress and it’s bastions were later used to guard and torture many political prisoners. Peter the Great’s own son - Alexei was one of the first in a long line of prominent political prisoners to be held there. On the fortress grounds are a number of museums and the magnificent 122.5 metre spired SS.Peter and Paul Cathedral.

The cathedral with its marbled columns, amazing chandeliers and incredible carved and gilded iconostasis creates a reverent setting for the tombs of the Romanov monarchs.