For several generations of Soviet people, this place on the banks of the Neva was known as the Robespierre Embankment. Will it be renamed or not - the answer to this question was of interest to both native St. Petersburg residents and those who moved to the city on the Neva not so long ago. Today, this question has been answered in the affirmative. The embankment was returned to its original historical name. On June 23, 2014, she again became Voskresenskaya. Let's take a closer look at what is remarkable about the embankment and its surroundings.
From the history of St. Petersburg
This area of the city can not be attributed to the peripheral. However, it was built up in a later era, when the city center was already largely formed. The embankment got its historical name from the name of the Resurrection Church, which stood in the first half of the eighteenth century at the corner of Shpalernaya and Resurrection streets. Today, Voskresenskaya Street is known to Petersburgers as Chernyshevsky Avenue. In 1923, the embankment was named after a prominent figure in the French Revolution, Maximilian Robespierre. For the Soviet era, there was nothing unusual in such a toponym. But after the return to the city of its historical name in 1993, the phrase "St. Petersburg, Robespierre embankment" began to soundsomewhat strange. The public often drew attention to this circumstance, but changing the names of urban infrastructure facilities has traditionally been associated with significant financial costs and administrative difficulties.
Architectural features of the embankment
The Robespierre embankment began to acquire its current architectural appearance around the middle of the nineteenth century. The most important moment here was the construction of the granite embankment of the Neva. The total length of the retaining wall was 288 meters. Its construction was completed in 1852. The embankment had two stairs providing a convenient access to the water surface. This allowed for a long time to use it as an unloading platform for river barges and storage of building materials intended for the construction of city blocks. In its final form, the Robespierre embankment was formed already in Soviet times. Many of its buildings have features characteristic of Soviet architecture of the pre-war period. The last large-scale reconstruction took place here in 1967. It was associated with the construction of the Liteiny Bridge and approaches to it. The Robespierre embankment passed under the bridge.
Some attractions
Robespierre's embankment is not so rich in noteworthy places in terms of St. Petersburg. Until recently, St. Petersburg residents attributed house 32 to its undoubted sights. This residential complex is outwardly very characteristic of the Soviethistorical era. It was erected in 1950 for employees of the nearby Big House on Liteiny Prospekt, that is, the Leningrad Department of the KGB of the USSR. From its windows there was a magnificent view of the Neva, the legendary cruiser Aurora and the famous Kresty prison on Arsenalnaya Embankment. But this building did not survive its era for long, in the nineties it was recognized as emergency and demolished. It is also customary to include the only Coffee Museum in Russia at number 14, next to the pier.
Monuments
In recent years, the Robespierre embankment has been significantly enriched with sculptural works. In 1995, the memorial "To the Victims of Political Repressions" was opened here. Its author is the world famous sculptor Mikhail Shemyakin. The sculptural composition consists of two sphinxes mounted on granite pedestals. They face not only the embankment, but also the famous Kresty prison on the opposite bank of the Neva. Many of those to whom this memorial is dedicated passed through it. On the pedestals of the sculptures there are copper tablets with sayings of poets, thinkers and philosophers. Thematically and figuratively, the monument to Anna Akhmatova, located nearby, on Shpalernaya Street, echoes this memorial complex. He is exactly the same turned towards the "Crosses". Many poetic lines of Anna Akhmatova are devoted to this prison. At different times, her husband Nikolai Gumilyov and son Lev Nikolaevich visited herGumilyov. Anna Andreevna Akhmatova herself indicated the place for the monument to herself in one of her works, it was supposed to be placed near the famous prison "Crosses".
From a re altor's point of view
This bank of the Neva was the outskirts of the capital during the reign of Empress Catherine II. But at present, the answer to the question of a client of a real estate agency: "Robespierre Embankment … Which area?" may be unambiguous. This is the Central District of St. Petersburg. And real estate on this embankment is in great demand. This is one of the most expensive and prestigious areas of the city. The characteristic St. Petersburg housing of the old building is simply not here. Most of the buildings, both overlooking the Neva and in the depths of the quarters, underwent major repairs and redevelopment. The apartments meet the criteria for luxury real estate. The price per square meter of living space here is quite high, but high demand indicates that many St. Petersburg residents would like to settle on this embankment for permanent residence.
Robespierre Embankment, pier near the house 14
Every year walks along the waters of the Neva and the Gulf of Finland become more and more popular in St. Petersburg. Many have noticed that the architectural ensembles of the northern capital look most advantageous from the deck of the ship. But river boats are no less in demand as entertainment venues. It has become fashionable to celebrate birthdays, weddings and variouscorporate events. Against the backdrop of such a trend, a very significant element of the city's tourist infrastructure has become a pier near house number 14 on the Robespierre embankment. It is capable of receiving and servicing double-deck pleasure boats. The pier is convenient for those wishing to take a ride along the Neva due to its location in the city center, it is quite easy to get to.
