The Fontanka Embankment (russian: Набережная реки Фонтанки) is a street in

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

that follows the course of the

Fontanka River The Fontanka (russian: Фонтанка), a left branch of the river Neva, flows through the whole of Central Saint Petersburg, Russia – from the Summer Garden to . It is long, with a width up to , and a depth up to . The Moyka River fo ...

from its origin as it diverges from the

Neva River The Neva (russian: Нева́, ) is a river in northwestern Russia flowing from Lake Ladoga through the western part of Leningrad Oblast (historical region of Ingria) to the Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland. Despite its modest length of , it i ...

up to its confluence with the

Great Neva The Great Neva or Bolshaya Neva () is the largest armlet of the river Neva. It starts near the Spit of Vasilievsky Island (easternmost tip of the island). The Great Neva is long; the width is from and the depth up to . Its tributaries are Font ...

. In 1762–1769 the general plan of city development was developed by the State Special Committee, headed by Aleksei Kvasov. Following this plan, in the 1780s the shores were imbanked in granite by architect

Giacomo Quarenghi Giacomo Quarenghi (; rus, Джа́комо Кваре́нги, Džákomo Kvaréngi, ˈdʐakəmə kvɐˈrʲenʲɡʲɪ; 20 or 21 September 1744) was an Italian architect who was the foremost and most prolific practitioner of neoclassical architectu ...

. The Fontanka Embankment was used as a border of Saint Petersburg central part. Nowadays the embankment serves as a motorway, it was reconstructed in the early 1990s, then in 2016–2019. It has a status of cultural heritage object. Total length of the left side embankment is 6.4 km, right - 5.7 km. Numerous palaces and historical sites are located on this street.

Landmarks and notable buildings

*The

Summer Garden The Summer Garden (russian: Ле́тний сад, ''Letniy sad'') is a historic public garden that occupies an eponymous island between the Neva, Fontanka, Moika, and the Swan Canal in downtown Saint Petersburg, Russia and shares its name w ...

. *

Saint Michael's Castle Saint Michael's Castle (russian: Миха́йловский за́мок, ''Mikhailovsky zamok''), also called the Mikhailovsky Castle or the Engineers' Castle (russian: Инженерный замок, ''Inzhenerny zamok''), is a former royal ...

, built in 1797-1801 by

Vasily Bazhenov Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov (russian: Васи́лий Ива́нович Баже́нов) (March 1 ( N.S. 12), 1737 or 1738 – August 2 (N.S. 13), 1799) was a Russian neoclassical architect, graphic artist, architectural theorist and educator. B ...

and

Vincenzo Brenna Vincenzo Brenna (1747Lanceray, p. 37, states birth year as 1745. Contemporary historians (Dmitry Shvidkovsky) agree on 1747 (Shvidkovsky, p. 293) – May 17, 1820) was an Italian architect and painter who was the house architect of Paul I of Russ ...

for Emperor

Paul I Paul I may refer to: *Paul of Samosata (200–275), Bishop of Antioch *Paul I of Constantinople (died c. 350), Archbishop of Constantinople *Pope Paul I (700–767) *Paul I Šubić of Bribir (c. 1245–1312), Ban of Croatia and Lord of Bosnia *Paul ...

. *No. 2 – the mansion of . *No. 3 – former

Ciniselli Circus Circus Ciniselli (Russian: ''Цирк Чинизелли'') was the first brick-built circus in Russia; it is situated beside the Fontanka in Saint Petersburg. The building, which still stands, was opened on 26 December 1877, with a large stage (1 ...

, built in 1876-1877 by

Vasily Kenel Vasily Alexandrovich Kenel (, 1834–1893) was a Russian Empire architect. Bibliography He studied in the St Petersburg Academy of Arts, where Konstantin Thon was his teacher. In 1860 he was sent by the academy abroad as a pensioner for 4 y ...

; currently the St Petersburg State Circus. *No. 6 – the

Imperial School of Jurisprudence The Imperial School of Jurisprudence (Russian: Императорское училище правоведения) was, along with the Page Corps, a school for boys in Saint Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire. The school for would-be ...

, rebuilt in 1835 by

Vasily Stasov Vasily Petrovich Stasov (Russian: Васи́лий Петро́вич Ста́сов; 4 August 1769 – 5 September 1848) was a famous Russian architect, born into a wealthy noble family: his father, Pyotr Fyodorovich Stasov, came from one ...

from senator 's mansion. *No. 16 – the building was constructed by

Auguste de Montferrand Auguste de Montferrand (; January 23, 1786 – July 10, 1858) was a French classicist architect who worked primarily in Russia. His two best known works are the Saint Isaac's Cathedral and the Alexander Column in St. Petersburg. Early ...

for chancellor

Viktor Kochubey Prince Viktor Pavlovich Kochubey (); ( – ) was a Russian statesman and close aide of Alexander I of Russia. Of Ukrainians, Ukrainian origin, he was a great-grandson of Vasily Kochubey. He took part in the Privy Committee that outlined Governmen ...

in the early 19th century. After his death the

Special Corps of Gendarmes The Separate Corps of Gendarmes (russian: Отдельный корпус жандармов) was the uniformed security police of the Imperial Russian Army in the Russian Empire during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its main responsibilitie ...

moved into the house. In the 20th century, after the

Russian Revolution The Russian Revolution was a period of Political revolution (Trotskyism), political and social revolution that took place in the former Russian Empire which began during the First World War. This period saw Russia abolish its monarchy and ad ...

, the building was used as a city courthouse. *No. 18 – Pashkov house, built in 1836 by

Alberto Cavos Alberto Cavos (Russified to Albert Katerinovich Kavos, russian: Альберт Катеринович Кавос, December 22, 1800 – May 22, 1863) was a Russian–Italian architect best known for his theatre designs, the builder of the Mariinsk ...

. *No. 20 – Nekludov house, built in 1787—1790 by architect Fyodor Demertzov. In 1812—1824 the palace served as a residence of

Alexander Nikolaevich Golitsyn Prince Alexander Nikolayevich Golitsyn (December 19, 1773 – December 4, 1844) was a statesman of the Russian Empire, in 1803–1816 he served as Chief Prosecutor, and in 1816–1824 he served as Minister of Education, an Active Privy Councilo ...

. *No. 21 – the

Naryshkin-Shuvalov Palace The Naryshkin-Shuvalov Palace (russian: Дворец Нарышкиных-Шуваловых), also known as the Shuvalov Palace, is a Neoclassical building on the Fontanka Embankment in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Once home to the noble Naryshki ...

, constructed in the late 18th century by

. *No. 34 – the Fountain House, built in 1712, later reconstructed several times by the leading Russian architects, such as

Savva Chevakinsky Savva Ivanovich Chevakinsky (russian: Савва Иванович Чевакинский; 1709 – aft. 1774) was a Russian architect of the Baroque school. He worked in Saint Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo. Chevakinsky was born into a noble famil ...

Andrey Voronikhin Andrey (Andrei) Nikiforovich Voronikhin (russian: Андрей Никифорович Воронихин) (28 October 1759, Novoe Usolye, Perm Oblast – 21 February 1814, Saint Petersburg) was a Russian architect and painter. As a representativ ...

Ivan Starov Ivan Yegorovich Starov (russian: Ива́н Его́рович Старо́в) (23 February 1745 – 17 April 1808) was a Russian architect from St. Petersburg who devised the master plans for Yaroslavl, Voronezh, Pskov, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, ...

. Since 1989 the

Anna Akhmatova Literary and Memorial Museum The Anna Akhmatova Literary and Memorial Museum is a literary museum in St Petersburg, Russia, dedicated to the poet Anna Akhmatova (1889–1966). It opened in 1989 on the centennial of Akhmatova's birth. The palace The museum is located in the ...

is located in the South wing. *No. 36 – the former . The

finishing school A finishing school focuses on teaching young women social graces and upper-class cultural rites as a preparation for entry into society. The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the education, wit ...

was established by Empress Maria Feodorovna in 1798 and initially housed in front of the

Tauride Palace Tauride Palace (russian: Таврический дворец, translit=Tavrichesky dvorets) is one of the largest and most historically important palaces in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Construction and early use Prince Grigory Potemkin of Tauride ...

. Later

Alexander I of Russia Alexander I (; – ) was Emperor of Russia from 1801, the first King of Congress Poland from 1815, and the Grand Duke of Finland from 1809 to his death. He was the eldest son of Emperor Paul I and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg. The son of ...

granted the Institute some lands on the Fontanka Embankment, where in 1804—1807

constructed the marvellous palace in Neoclassical style. *No. 39 – the

Anichkov Palace The Anichkov Palace, a former imperial palace in Saint Petersburg, stands at the intersection of Nevsky Avenue and the Fontanka River. History 18th century The palace, situated on the plot formerly owned by Antonio de Vieira (1682?-1745), ...

, built in 1741-1753 by

Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli (russian: Франче́ско Бартоломе́о (Варфоломе́й Варфоломе́евич) Растре́лли; 1700 in Paris, Kingdom of France – 29 April 1771 in Saint Petersburg, Russian Emp ...

for Empress

Elizabeth Petrovna Elizabeth Petrovna (russian: Елизаве́та (Елисаве́та) Петро́вна) (), also known as Yelisaveta or Elizaveta, reigned as Empress of Russia from 1741 until her death in 1762. She remains one of the most popular Russian ...

. *No. 42 (

Nevsky Prospekt Nevsky Prospect ( rus, Не́вский проспе́кт, r=Nevsky Prospekt (street), Prospekt, p=ˈnʲɛfskʲɪj prɐˈspʲɛkt) is the main street (high street) in the federal city of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg in Russian Federation, ...

, 41) – the

Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace Beloselsky Belozersky Palace (Russian: Дворе́ц Белосе́льских-Белозе́рских; also known before the Revolution as the Palace of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fyodorovna, the Sergei Palace, and the Dmitry Palace) is a Ne ...

, built in 1847-1848 by

Andrei Stackenschneider Andrei Ivanovich Stakenschneider (russian: Андрей Иванович Штакеншнейдер) (March 6 regorian 1802 – August 20 regorian 1865), also spelled ''Stackenschneider'' and ''Stuckenschneider'', was a Russian architect. His ecle ...

. *No. 54 – the

Tolstoy House The Tolstoy House is a well-known apartment building in St. Petersburg, located at 15-17 Rubinstein Street and 54 Fontanka Embankment. The building was constructed in 1910–1912 under the aegis of Major-General Count , nephew of the 1812 war he ...

, a former revenue house, designed and built in 1910—1912 by

Fyodor Lidval Fyodor Ivanovich Lidval (russian: Фёдор Иванович Лидваль, Swedish:Johan Fredrik Lidvall) (June 1 (June 13) 1870, St. Petersburg – 1945, Stockholm) was a Russian-Swedish architect. Life Lidvall was born in St. Petersburg into ...

. *No. 62 – the of the St. Petersburg Merchant Society architects , V. T. Tokarev, 1882, reconstructed in 1906 by . *No. 65 – the

Bolshoi Drama Theater Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater (russian: Большой драматический театр имени Г. А. Товстоногова; literally ''Tovstonogov Great Drama Theater''), formerly known as Gorky Bolshoi Drama Theater (russian: ...

, that in 1918 replaced the . The building was designed and constructed in 1876 by Ludovick Fontana for general . *No. 70-72 – the building of the Main Treasury — State Bank (architect D. M. Iofan, ), 1913-1915. *No. 74-78 – Loan office and barracks of the Ministry of Finance, management of State savings banks (architect ), 1898-1900. *No. 87A – Lebedev's house, 1809. Data on this building was lost in 1910, but according to prominent Russian historian

Igor Grabar Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar (russian: И́горь Эммануи́лович Граба́рь, 25 March 1871 in Budapest – 16 May 1960 in Moscow) was a Russian post-impressionism, post-impressionist painter, publisher, restorer and historian ...

it could be attributed to architect

Yury Felten Yury Matveyevich Felten (russian: Ю́рий Матве́евич Фе́льтен, german: Georg Friedrich Veldten) (1730–1801) was a Russian Imperial architect who served at the Empress's Catherine the Great court. Yury Felten was born Georg ...

. The mansion was built for

Vytegra Vytegra ( rus, Вы́тегра, p=ˈvɨtʲɪɡrə) is a town and the administrative center of Vytegorsky District in Vologda Oblast, Russia, located along the shores of the Vytegra River on Volga–Baltic Waterway, northwest of Vologda, the ...

merchant K. P. Galashevsky, but its modern name comes after last pre-revolutionary owner — lieutenant V. J. Lebedev. *No. 90 (

Gorokhovaya Street Gorokhovaya Street (russian: link=no, Гороховая улица) is a north-south thoroughfare in the Central Business District of Saint Petersburg. Gorokhovaya Street is one of central Saint Petersburg's major thoroughfares, extending from t ...

, 50A) – Kukanova-Klado house, 1831—1832, architect

Avraam Melnikov Abram or Avraam Melnikov (Авраам Иванович Мельников; 1784—1854) was a Russian Neoclassical architect associated with the late phase of the Empire style. His teachers at the Imperial Academy of Arts included Andreyan Zakhar ...

. The mansion was built for merchant's wife A. Kukanova and was designed as a part of a single ensemble with house No. 81 and Semyonovsky Bridge. *No. 97 — Olenin's mansion, here in 1820 young

Alexander Pushkin Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (; rus, links=no, Александр Сергеевич ПушкинIn pre-Revolutionary script, his name was written ., r=Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin, p=ɐlʲɪkˈsandr sʲɪrˈɡʲe(j)ɪvʲɪtɕ ˈpuʂkʲɪn, ...

first met

Anna Kern Anna Petrovna Kern (russian: Анна Петровна Керн, née Poltoratskaya (Полторацкая), name after second marriage: Markova-Vinogradskaya (Маркова-Виноградская); 11 February 1800 – 27 May 1879) was a Russ ...

. *No. 110 — House of architect , 1881. *No. 114 – the Saint Petersburg State Youth Theatre on the Fontanka. *No. 115 – the Yusupov Palace, 1770, architect

. *No. 118 – the , 1791—1793, architect . *No. 132 – the former . *No. 152 – the former , established in 1844 and named after Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mikhailovna. *No. 156 – the , architect M. Pasypkin, 1845-1853. *No. 166 – the , 1720, rebuilt.

References

Sources

* * * * * * *{{cite book , last=Giangrande , first=Cathy , date=2003 , title=Saint Petersburg: Museums, Palaces, and Historic Collections, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3G9uNdE-H84C&pg=PA64 , location=Boston , publisher=Bunker Hill Publishing , page= 64-65 , isbn=1593730004 , ref=Giangrande Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Saint Petersburg Streets in Saint Petersburg