Castle · Saint Petersburg, Russia
Peter and Paul Fortress
The original citadel of Saint Petersburg, a star fortress founded by Peter the Great in 1703. Built 1703.
Photo: Godot13 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Saint Petersburg, Russia |
|---|---|
| Type | Castle |
| Built | 1703 |
| Architect | Domenico Trezzini |
| Coordinates | 59.9500° N, 30.3170° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Peter and Paul Fortress is known for
The original citadel of Saint Petersburg, a star fortress founded by Peter the Great in 1703.
About Peter and Paul Fortress
The Peter and Paul Fortress is the original citadel of Saint Petersburg, Russia, founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and built to Domenico Trezzini's designs from 1706 to 1740 as a star fortress. Between the first half of the 1700s and early 1920s it served as a prison for political criminals. It has been a museum since 1924.
History
The fortress was established by Peter the Great on 27 May 1703, on small Hare Island by the north bank of the Neva River. From around 1720, the fort served as a base for the city garrison and also as a prison for high-ranking or political prisoners. During the February Revolution of 1917, it was attacked by mutinous soldiers and the prisoners were freed. The structure suffered heavy damage during the bombardment of the city during World War II, and it has been restored post-war.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Peter and Paul Fortress website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Saint Petersburg |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Pulkovo Airport (LED) |
| Distance from the airport | 9.9 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark's coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Pulkovo Airport (LED) · St. Petersburg, Russia · 10.5 miles away
- Lappeenranta Airport (LPP) · Lappeenranta, Finland · 105.7 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Russia
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Frequently asked questions
What is Peter and Paul Fortress?
The original citadel of Saint Petersburg, a star fortress founded by Peter the Great in 1703.
Where is Peter and Paul Fortress located?
Peter and Paul Fortress is in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Its coordinates are 59.9500° N, 30.3170° E.
How do I get to Peter and Paul Fortress?
The nearest town is Saint Petersburg, and the nearest airport is Pulkovo Airport (LED), about 9.9 miles away (straight line).
When was Peter and Paul Fortress built?
Peter and Paul Fortress was built 1703.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_and_Paul_Fortress — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q38646 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.spbmuseum.ru/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.