Where is Vasilyevsky Island located? The main attractions of Vasilyevsky Island
Wanting to plunge even deeper into the atmosphere of St. Petersburg, we turned to Ruslan Bekurov, Associate Professor of the Department of International Journalism at St. Petersburg State University. It was small, but detailed guide on Vasilyevsky Island, where he lived for more than 10 years
Students, metaphysics, traffic jams and sunsets on the bay
On Vasilyevsky Island there is an Oblique Line. A typical factory street, where there is nothing except industrial institutions. Usually, before turning onto it from Bolshoy Prospekt, minibus drivers ask: “Does anyone get off at Kosoy?” In 99 cases out of 100, there are no takers, and the minibus travels further along the Bolshoi.
So, for me, the Oblique Line is a symbol of absolute worthlessness and uselessness brought to the point of absurdity. Half the people in my life are slash lines. Well, I myself, probably, for someone - an oblique line.
Vasilyevsky Island is metaphysical. Here you are tempted to think about the meaning of life and delve into yourself. Probably because there are many cemeteries here - both existing and already abandoned. The island is also crammed with chapels. Sometimes it seems there are more of them than .
Church of the Assumption of Our Lady. Photo: wikimedia.org"Vaska" is a student island. Here, perhaps, the biggest thing: here you have the St. Petersburg State University, and the legendary, and the Academy of Arts, and the North-Western Academy of Civil Service, as well as several large naval institutes.
The reluctance to conform to modern rhythm and trends is both the beauty and the trouble of “Vaska”. These endless traffic jams, not at all stardust and gopniks in tight sweatpants, are too painful to perceive.
Photo: s-pb.in On the other hand, I don’t want the cozy green courtyards, of which there are plenty at Vaska, to become a thing of the past; little ones with old ladies and their grandchildren; sunset and barbecue on the bay; houses on “chicken legs” on Primorskaya; icebreaker "Krasin" on the Lieutenant Schmidt embankment; quiet alleys near the University with scruffy bearded professors running to lectures; “wells”, in the windows of which you want to drown; Soviet canteens and wine bars scattered around Vasileostrovskaya, and many, many other attributes of MY island.
Conventionally, I would break it into four parts: the Primorskaya metro area to Gulf of Finland; metro area "Vasileostrovskaya" / "Sportivnaya"; industrial district and “academic” - where the Academy of Arts, Academy of Sciences, etc.
Photo: peterburgiprigorod.ru
The main part of the island is divided into three avenues: Big, Middle and Small. Hence the famous St. Petersburg joke: “I’ll go in a little way.” According to legend, Peter I planned to stuff “Vaska” with canals crossing these avenues. But as a result, instead of canals, streets appeared, the names of which were not particularly bothered with - lines and lines. There are more than twenty such lines-streets on the island.
Spend the night
If you are visiting St. Petersburg for a short time, Vasilyevsky Island offers many options for overnight accommodation. There are a lot of hotels on the island: from large chain hotels to tiny semi-legal hostels. On the shore of the Gulf of Finland near seaport The four-star hotel "" (Korablestroiteley St., 14) has opened like a book - one of the most famous in the city. They say that in the eighties, one of the “suites” was bought by Alla Pugacheva. She really liked the view from the window.
Photo: artuom.livejournal.com
Behind Pribaltiyskaya there is the Waterville water park, one of the largest and especially adored by children water entertainment complexes in St. Petersburg - its area is 14,000 square meters.
Not far from the Neva embankment on the 2nd line, 61 there is a five-star hotel "", and next to the university there is a hotel "" of the popular Finnish chain "" (Birzhevoy lane, 2). Another "" is located on the 8th line, 11.
Prices in these hotels range from 7 to 10 thousand rubles per day for a regular double room.
Photo: hotelspb.ru In this sense, the most suitable option, in my opinion, is mini-hotels between Sredny and Bolshoi Avenues and near Lenexpo. I recommend “Noteburg” (3rd line, 20), “Monet” (Morskaya embankment, 17), “Apriori” (Gavanskaya str., 9) and, of course, the famous “” (Bolshoy pr., 21), where visiting guest performers like to stay.
Prices range from 3 to 7 thousand rubles per night.
And if you’re really bad with money or simply don’t want to spend it on stupid apartments, go to Location Hostel (Birzhevoy Lane, 4) - there for 1500-2000 rubles per day there is an option to get a separate double room. On white nights, when the bridges are raised, we often stay there to drink until the morning in the small Edda bar on the ground floor.
Photo: static-trezzinipalace.hrabr.ru
Look
On the shore of the Gulf of Finland, not far from the hotel “,” there is an iconic complex of university dormitories (Korablestroiteley St., 20). I lived in one of the buildings for more than ten years. And perhaps it was best time in my worthless life. There is a lot of fun here and few bars - except for the rollicking KillFish and the respectable Gromov. Students mostly have fun on the shores of the Gulf of Finland: they eat barbecue, of course, drink and go to watch the sunrise on the road to the new Passenger Terminal, where ferries to Finland and Sweden come and go.
Passenger terminal. Photo: citywalls.ru By the way, according to a humorous legend, Eldar Ryazanov filmed “The Irony of Fate” (Korablestroiteley St., 37) in the apartment of the house opposite the hostel. And to this day, the owners of the apartment are happy to let in those who want to touch the bathroom in which Ippolit himself took a shower. Joke.
On the southwestern tip of the island in the historical area "Gavan" is located "Lenexpo" - one of the largest exhibition centers in Russia. As students, we loved to wander around the numerous agricultural exhibitions here: we tried free wine, gorged ourselves on vegetables and fruits. And Lenexpo is the traditional venue for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. During this period, a bunch of bigwigs arrive and, of course, they “close” half the island.
On the 29th line, 2 there is the largest private museum in Russia, which specializes in contemporary art. The museum is located in a typical Stalinist building, which was thoroughly rebuilt inside. Tours take place in the Museum Wing, which contains a permanent interactive exhibition. After passing through the large hall, you come to the first two rooms of U-space, which are dedicated to various topics and completely immerse you in a certain atmosphere. The waterfall made of balls in the “Cherry Orchard” room is especially popular.
Photo: nice-places.com The second also houses U-space rooms, and the third has two cinema halls where they show videos in which Erarta’s paintings come to life. You will find two more U-spaces on the fourth floor, which, by the way, has a lot of experimental paintings. On the fifth floor there are impressive installations. On the ground floor of the Museum Wing there is the Erarta Cafe restaurant with a cozy terrace. In the opposite Exhibition Wing there are also five floors, which are given over to large-scale temporary exhibitions. The large theater and concert hall on the 3rd floor hosts performances, concerts, lectures and film screenings.
Project "Cherry Orchard".
Photo: erarta.com
Cross art festival 2015. Photo: Facebook
Eat and drink
On the 1st line, it seems to me, a new urban restaurant cluster is emerging. What is more than strange is that the place is wildly impenetrable and crammed with low-income students and residents of communal apartments. On the side of the Tuchkov Bridge there are: the Belgian restaurant “Bruges” (Embankment Makarova, 22) with an endless beer list and, perhaps, the best mussels in the city; Scandinavian bar-liquor with the non-trivial name “Sandwich” (Embankment Makarova, 16); wine bar "Mark Victor" (1st line, 58-60) with New Zealand wine and a beautiful view from the second floor.
Wine bar "Mark Victor".
Photo: Vk.com
Photo: Vk.com
“” (Kadetskaya Line, 31) with knock-down homemade liqueurs and crazy dancing; student restaurant "Hegni" (1st line, 34) - the kingdom of craft beer; in the same building is the ridiculous Parachute pub, and opposite is the strange karaoke bar Fever; pretentious Italian restaurant “Trattoria” (Kadetskaya, 9); the favorite of journalism students is the Dolma canteen (1st line, 28) with Azerbaijani chefs; family Georgian restaurant “Alaverdi” (1st line, 6) with the best khachapuri in the world; mini-cafe Horosho (1st line, 8) - it’s unlikely that you will taste such wonderful espresso anywhere else in St. Petersburg.
Bar "Hegni".
Photo: Vk.com
Photo: Vk.com
In general, there are a lot of restaurants and bars on Vaska. But it’s mostly cheap wine bars, pubs and Georgian cafes that are taking root. Well, you can drink a good cocktail in the lobby bar of the Sokos Hotel on Birzhevoy Lane. It’s good to sit there, especially at night, when business travelers, Finns, SKA hockey players and their long-legged companions emerge from their “dens.” If you get bored there, go to the “Exchange Bar”, located in the next house. Not a bad place either.
The islanders are even more impressive than other St. Petersburg residents. And I understand them - they are in their place and time. Robinsons and Fridays, wandering in search of bread and circuses. They have nowhere to rush. Especially in the summer, when the mood is sunny and the yachts are rocking at the pier.
Line 6-7 near the Vasileostrovskaya metro station was once famous for its spontaneous flea market. Then the street was cleaned, covered with gray tiles and an alley with fountains and benches was laid out in the middle. Now it is a pedestrian street, which, according to officials, was planned as an island entertainment center with shops, restaurants and bars. But for some reason the “pedestrian” didn’t catch on.
Photo: Vasilievsky Island (St. Petersburg, Russia) - description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.
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Initially, Vasilievsky Island was designed as the center of St. Petersburg, within which all the most important government facilities would be located. However, it quickly became clear that the wrong thing had been chosen for such purposes. good place- although this did not stop many famous architects and sculptors from turning the island into one of the most beautiful places in St. Petersburg.
However, Vasilyevsky Island was still partially used for its original purpose. On Vasilyevsky Island there is the building of the Twelve Collegiums, where at the beginning of the 18th century the Senate and, in fact, the collegiums were located.
The building of the Twelve Collegiums faces the University Embankment, while all neighboring buildings are located facing it. The reason for this, according to legend, was the greed of Alexander Menshikov, who was entrusted with the construction of the building. Peter I thoughtlessly promised to give his favorite the remaining free part of the plot for the construction of his own mansion. And he, of course, ordered the building of the Twelve Colleges to be located so that it occupied as little space as possible. True, Menshikov’s selfish plans were quickly revealed, and he received significantly less than he expected.
On the island there is the Kunstkamera - a museum that is of almost greater interest to many than the Hermitage. In fact, it was built there completely by accident. Walking along the not yet fully developed Vasilyevsky Island, Peter I, who was already hatching plans to build a “museum of wonders,” suddenly noticed a pine tree of an extremely bizarre shape. The emperor immediately dubbed it a monster tree and decided that best place you can’t find one for the Kunstkamera in the city.
Located on Vasilievsky Island, Bolshoy Prospekt was supposed to become a through highway along which ships would travel from Strelka to the Gulf of Finland, but in the end it turned out to be simply one of the widest streets in the city - as much as 85 meters. The most narrow street St. Petersburg is located here - this is Repin Street and its width is only 6 meters.
St. Petersburg is unofficially called a museum under open air, and the most significant and interesting of its attractions are concentrated on Vasilyevsky Island. It’s interesting that when the city was just being designed, it was Vasilyevsky Island that was supposed to become historical and cultural center second capital.
The abundance of architectural monuments, houses of famous historical figures, museums and the amazing panorama of the city from the embankment make a walk along Vasilyevsky Island unforgettable and amazing. Locals affectionately and lovingly call the island Vaska.
Memorial sign "Arrow of Vasilyevsky Island"
The view from the spit of Vasilyevsky Island will give you an unforgettable experience. The arrow itself represents unique place, in which the Neva River is divided into two streams - the Big Neva and the Small.
In the cold season, this place is not very conducive to long walks due to the cold winds, but with the onset of the warm season, the popularity and attendance of these places goes through the roof.
Location: Exchange Square.
The famous building consists of twelve connected buildings. According to the idea of Peter the Great, which was implemented through the efforts of Domenico Trezzini, the first architect of St. Petersburg, it was understood that each block would have its own separate entrance. The premises housed higher authorities government controlled.
Location: Universitetskaya embankment - 7.
St. Petersburg is replete with various historical buildings that are also of architectural value. The local mansion, which belonged to the Brusnitsyn merchants, is a striking example of this combination. The external design of the building evokes admiration and respect for the work of the 18th century masters.
Modern directors often use this mansion as a backdrop for their films. The Brusnitsyn mansion is popular among tourists and excursions can be arranged here by prior arrangement.
Location: Tanning line - 27.
The beautiful and noticeable sights of St. Petersburg are the red columns, personifying the power and strength of Russia as a maritime power. Rostras can be seen on the columns. So called bow sailing vessel, which is a symbol of victory in naval battles. At the bottom of the columns are statues representing the various rivers that flow through Russia.
A large five-domed temple, with high ceilings and ancient icons, was transferred to a military port during Soviet times. At the end of the 30s of the last century, the premises were converted into sports halls. During the war, the interior rooms of the temple served as an air defense observation post and bomb shelter. Since the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century, the churches have completely returned to their former appearance and services have begun.
Location: Lieutenant Schmidt embankment - 27/2.
Mining Museum of the National Mineral Resources University "Mining"
An interesting place that will be educational for high school students. The museum halls display a huge number of exhibits dedicated to mineralogy and geology. The building itself in which the museum is located is a historical and architectural landmark.
Location: 21 line, house - 2.
The museum presents a rich collection of various examples of urban transport. Well-preserved exhibits will allow you to literally touch the history of the city. Don't neglect the opportunity to listen to the guide. Experienced masters of their craft will tell you many fascinating and little known facts about the history of the city and the development of its transport network.
While traveling and exploring the halls of the museum, you can see trams, buses, trolleybuses and other types of equipment. Some copies were used in the filming of feature films, such as the bus from the movie “Beware of the Car.”
Location: Sredny Avenue - 77A.
An amazing palace from the era of Peter the Great. Beautiful interior decoration and no less elegant appearance attract the attention of travelers from all over the world. In the premises of the palace you can see a collection of clocks and various lathes, one of which was used by Peter the Great.
Location: Universitetskaya embankment - 15.
One of the most famous attractions of the city on the Neva is the kunskamera. According to the idea of Peter the Great, it was supposed to collect as many exhibits as possible in this building to increase the level of education of the population, as a clear example of many wonders of nature. Even during the life of the Emperor, to popularize the museum among residents, admission was free.
Location: Universitetskaya embankment - 3.
Modern interactive museum, a visit to which will bring considerable pleasure not only to children, but also to their parents. The museum building also has a certain historical value and will be of interest to architecture lovers. It belonged to the Eliseev merchants.
Until recently, the museum premises housed the laboratories of the Optical Institute.
Location: Exchange Line - 14.
An unusual museum located near the Primorskaya station will tell and show the history of the city metro. You are allowed to touch many of the exhibits, so children will find the excursion especially interesting. The greatest impression is made by the model trains, which allow you to take interesting photographs. It is important that visits are only possible by appointment.
Location: Odoevskogo street - 29.
In an inconspicuous basement located in a building on Vasilyevsky Island there is a small, unusual museum dedicated to spices. The amazing aroma and atmosphere of this place will give you an excellent mood for the whole day. The museum's collection includes various types of spices. Visitors are invited to listen to a fascinating tour and also taste various seasonings. At the exit you can purchase the exhibits you particularly like.
Location: Bolshoi Avenue V.O. - 6.
The name is due to the fact that the buildings of the State University of St. Petersburg are located here. The walk will be a pleasure, but you need to remember about the harsh winds - the eternal companions that accompany tourists while traveling around the city.
Along the embankment there are many architectural monuments, historical sites, museums and just beautiful places, which will leave pleasant memories of visiting St. Petersburg.
We all know very well the cultural capital of Russia - St. Petersburg. But not everyone knows about its no less interesting part - Vasilyevsky Island. Once you are interested in this island, you will definitely want to visit it. So let's decide which attractions of Vasilyevsky Island are worth visiting first.
A short excursion into history
Vasilyevsky Island is the largest on the Neva. Peter 1, having seen the idea in Amsterdam, wanted to dissect the island with many canals. But he failed to bring the idea to life. There were many reasons for this, one of which was his closest associate, Alexander Menshikov. He prevented construction and erected a luxurious palace for himself. Despite the tsar's decrees, people did not move to Vasilyevsky Island. The canals were filled up. This is the only place in the world where every street has two names. Another important reason was the lack of a road to the island. But Peter 1 did not want to build bridges.
Bridges
Since 1727, they began to install a pontoon bridge twice a year. Now there is a memorial sign at this place. You had to pay to cross the bridge. The money raised was later used to build
After some time, the bridge was moved and the first Yablochkov lanterns were installed on it. Later the bridge was returned to its old location and kerosene lanterns were installed. Because of this, in 1916 it burned down.
By decree of Nicholas 1, the Blagoveshchensky Bridge was built in 1850. After the death of the emperor, it was renamed Nikolaevsky. The original name returned only in 2007. During Soviet Union it was called "Lieutenant Schmidt's Bridge". The bridge built next to him was called his "son". Now “the son of Lieutenant Schmidt” is called “Big Petrovsky Bridge”.
Now we know that the main historical attractions of Vasilyevsky are bridges. Now let's move on to the rest.
Troekurov's House
It is incredible how this small mansion has survived to this day - an example of buildings from the time of Peter 1. From this landmark of Vasilyevsky Island in St. Petersburg one can judge what the streets of the city looked like in the mid-18th century. The house was built in the 30s of the 18th century for the emperor’s steward, Alexei Ivanovich Troekurov. In 1969, the building was reconstructed. Now in the building of this landmark of Vasilyevsky Island there is an educational complex with its most popular hotel and parking in the city.
House of Academicians
After the opening of a scientific academy on Vasilyevsky Island, it became a center scientific life Russia. Academics, of course, wanted to live as close to work as possible. For this reason, a “communal house” was opened here. Many scientists left us from here, which is why the building was nicknamed the “Indian Tomb.”
Icebreaker-museum "Krasin"
The icebreaker-museum "Krasin" is a true monument to shipbuilding. In 1917, it was built in England to order for the Russian Maritime Ministry and named "Svyatogor". In February 1917, the icebreaker arrived in Arkhangelsk, and on August 1, 1819 it was scuttled. Until 1952, Krasin remained the most powerful ice drift in the world. Now the ship is one of the branches. Anyone can visit the “ship attractions” of Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg, photos of which you can see below. This is the wardroom, the captain's bridge, the chart room...
Church of the Three Saints
The author of this landmark of Vasilievsky Island, a photo of which you can also see below, is believed to be the author, but there is nothing left to confirm this fact. The Church of the Three Saints was built in 1760.
Church of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called
In 1780, this temple was built, located as close as possible to the Church of the Three Saints. There is an opinion that it was here that Ekaterina Dolgorukaya was buried. In 1917, the temple was looted and closed. In 1992 it was restored and reopened.
Sphinxes
In 1834, the main facade of the art academy was decorated with two Egyptian sphinxes.
Sphinxes are the most ancient sights of Vasilyevsky Island, more than three thousand years old. Once upon a time they stood in the avenue of sphinxes near the palace of Amenhotep 3.
The sphinxes were found during archaeological excavations under the command of Janis Atonazis in 1820. Since the English consulate sponsored the expedition, the sphinxes went to England. Nicholas 1 bought them for 62,000 rubles. In 1832, the sphinxes arrived in St. Petersburg and were installed in front of the art academy.
Exchange building
The Exchange building was built after the trade port was moved to the island. In 1730 a wooden building was erected. In 1780 they decided to make it of stone. In 1783 the plan was put into action.
The main facade of this landmark of Vasilyevsky Island faces Winter Palace. In 1889, the country's first industrial exhibition was held here, where only products from domestic manufacturers were presented.
Griffin Tower
You will not find this tower full of legends and fictions in any tourist guide, but it is a place that is definitely worth visiting. According to the main version, an alchemist once lived here, secretly breeding griffins. Some even saw their silhouettes at night.
Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. Photo by Pukkaras (http://www.panoramio.com/user/2045841)
The entire history of the Northern capital is concentrated here - from the old, still Peter the Great housing stock, to the modern passenger port and the Western High-Speed Diameter under construction; from the famous building of 12 Collegiums, in which St. Petersburg State University is located, to elite new buildings. Here is the westernmost metro station in Russia and one of the largest European ports. There are traffic jams and bad roads, here is science and industry, expensive restaurants and unoccupied communal apartments. Residents of Vasilievsky “walk not only along the Bolshoy and Small, but also along the Middle.” However, first things first.
The first mention of Vasilyevsky Island dates back to 1737. This is the most big Island in the Neva delta, located in the place where the Big and Small Neva flow into the Gulf of Finland. Strictly speaking, Vasileostrovsky district is not only Vasilyevsky, but also Serny Island and Goloday (Dekabristov) Island.
It was here that Peter I decided that “the city would be laid down in spite of its arrogant neighbor.” This, indeed, was the sea gate, and the area remains so to this day. The Tsar, in love with Holland and its charming capital, thought it would be interesting to copy the Amsterdam canals. This is how the Vasileostrovsky “lines” were born - initially they were planned as canals.
However, the idea failed. The wet and cold climate of the future capital of the Russian Empire made its own adjustments, and giving the island to the then favorite Menshikov was not the best idea. The only thing that the arrogant favorite of the tsar did was build on Vasilievsky luxurious palace for myself.
Menshikov Palace. Photo by tchugunihina.valia (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/tchugunihina-valia/)
The canal lines were narrow, dirty and non-functional: in winter they froze, and in summer they turned into a garbage dump. This continued until, finally, Catherine II decided to put them to sleep. The failed canals became streets, and the name “line” was finally assigned to them.
It should be noted that the “line” is not a street, but only one side of it. That is, for example, the 1st line and the Syezdovskaya (Kadetskaya) line are one street, the 2nd and 3rd lines are another street, and so on. Not so long ago, in order to ensure road safety, restrictions were established along the lines - most of them today are one-way. Those motorists who are unfamiliar with Vasilievsky Island can easily get confused.
Despite the fact that the leading architects of the time took part in the design of the “sea facade” of St. Petersburg: Trezzini, Mattarnovi, Toma de Tomona and others, the island looked heterogeneous from an aesthetic point of view: the building of the Exchange, the future University and the Kunstkamera were beautiful, but in the depths The oldest district of St. Petersburg looked unpresentable: mostly petty officials, townspeople, office workers and students settled here.
As soon as a person had career growth or financial well-being, he moved to the other side - to the more fashionable Petrogradsky district. Swampy terrain, poor communication with the “mainland”: for a long time the island was connected with the rest of St. Petersburg only by the Annunciation Bridge (Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge) did not contribute to the desire to settle here.
Aurora and Blagoveshchensky Bridge. Photo by volopas17 (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/volopas17/)
Vasilievsky Island has always been somewhat aloof from the events taking place in the “cradle of the revolution”: the October Revolution, the Great Patriotic War and the terrible days of the blockade, perestroika, the “dashing 90s” flashed over it, but it remained the same - restrained, contradictory and slow.
Vasileostrovsky district is relatively small in area - about 15 square meters. kilometers plus alluvial areas. The problem is that residents, investors, and city leaders are well aware that the island will no longer exist, and this is one of the problems with the high cost of land here and the slow development of infrastructure.
Middle Avenue of the Island. Photo by yperv602009 (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/yperv602009/)
The Vasileostrovsky district is connected to the city on the mainland by two metro stations: Vasileostrovskaya (the entrance to which during rush hour is the subject of jokes) and Primorskaya (the westernmost metro station in Russia). In the coming years, it is also planned to build the following metro stations: Bolshoy Prospekt, Shkiperskaya and Morskoy Facade. The stations are currently in the design stage.
Vasileostrovskaya station. Photo by Gepardikus (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/gepardikus/)
“Vaska” has no land borders with the city, only bridges: you can get to Petrogradka via the Builders Bridge or the Tuchkov Bridge, to the center - along the Palace Bridge and the Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge (Blagoveshchensky Bridge). Needless to say, during rush hour these bridges turn into a two- to three-hour trap for cars? In the summer, for several hours at night, the island generally becomes a “real island”, cut off from the rest of the city by raised bridges.
Climate and ecology of the area
The climate in “Vaska,” as St. Petersburg residents call the area, is cold. Straight “lines” and avenues are blown through by sea winds; it is humid and chilly here. In winter, especially during heavy snowfalls, the already narrow and inconvenient streets of the island create all the conditions for traffic jams and heavy traffic. Plus, the notorious “icicles” hanging from the roofs and old communications in the vast majority of residential buildings make living in the area not very comfortable.
Naturally, this does not apply to elite residential complexes near the Primorskaya metro station. Their creators tried to do everything to make the new homes spacious, comfortable, with beautiful views from the windows and developed infrastructure around them. However, not all projects managed to achieve this. Some residential complexes business class did not “take root” on Vasilyevsky. In general, according to realtors, the optimal class of housing for this area is “comfort” and “economy”.
From the point of view of environmentalists, the Vasileostrovsky district leaves much to be desired. There are still a sufficient number of enterprises operating on the island that produce harmful emissions into the atmosphere (12% of the total xylene emissions in St. Petersburg). The concentration of nitric acid in the atmosphere in the region exceeds the norm by 2-3 times. The cleanest air is in the western and northwestern sectors of the district, with the slight exception of the Nalichnaya-Korablestroiteley-Smolenka River embankment square, where there are also industrial zones.
Winds blowing across the island carry polluted air throughout the area. Also at Vaska, the soils are heavily polluted; in some areas, especially near the Harbor, the norm is exceeded 30 times. The danger here is also increased due to the fact that the soils in the Vasileostrovsky region are swampy, the island is located in a lowland, floods are frequent here, and all heavy metals and other harmful substances “float” to the surface due to this.
The last serious flood on Vasilievsky Island was in the middle of last year, the water stood at more than a meter, people fled from the natural disaster on the bars of the Rumyantsevsky Garden.
Fence of the Rumyantsevsky Garden. Photo by AT1953 (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/at1953/)
The aforementioned traffic jams also contribute to the island's atmospheric pollution. Despite the fact that the main transport artery of the area is considered to be Bolshoy Prospekt, stretching from the Syezdovskaya Line to the Harbor, the main traffic runs along Sredny and Maly Prospekts, as well as along the embankments of the island.
The situation is saved by the district's seaside location and extensive green areas: Shkipersky, Rumyantsevsky and Opochinsky gardens, the Smolensk cemetery, small squares, as well as green spaces along some highways.
The “Marine Façade” project, which is gradually being implemented in the alluvial areas in the west of the district, also involves some landscaping of the area, however, these plantings will be located on the private territories of elite residential complexes.
Population of the area
According to statistics at the beginning of 2014, about 211 thousand people live in the region, of which the working population is 58%, children and teenagers in the region are 16%, the rest are people of retirement age. The area is rapidly “aging”, which affects its development. The mortality rate significantly exceeds the birth rate, little new real estate is being built, and accordingly, the influx of young families with children into the area is small.
And, according to the results of numerous sociological surveys, St. Petersburg residents are in no hurry to settle on Vasilyevsky Island. Some exceptions are those who like luxury apartments with views of the Gulf of Finland, but, in general, everyone is well aware of the disadvantages of the area: isolation, problems with transport and pollution, and prefer to buy apartments in more convenient places. It is worth noting that luxury real estate “with a sea view” in the light of road construction is losing its attractiveness, turning into real estate with a view of the sea and the Western High-Speed Diameter.
The housing stock of the district is very heterogeneous: the old stock and communal apartments, “Khrushchev” and “Stalin” buildings, “ships” on Nalichnaya and Korablestroiteley, modern new buildings in the Primorskaya area. Visitors and immigrants willingly buy Vasileostrovsk real estate. Still, the area is considered central, from here it is close to the main attractions of the Northern capital, and prices for square meters here are not as high as in other areas of the city.
The social composition of the population is very heterogeneous. The overwhelming majority are old and new intelligentsia (concentrated on the island a large number of universities and research institutes), visitors, rare owners of elite new apartments and resettled communal apartments in the old stock, and students (there are several large “dorms” in the Primorskaya area).
Municipal division of the area and property prices
The district is divided into 5 municipal districts: districts No. 7, 8, 9 (Gavan), 11 and the Marine Municipal District.
Borders 7th municipal district Vasileostrovsky district pass along the Makarova embankment, Sredny Prospekt, along the 24-25th line to Bolshoy Prospekt and Detskaya Street, along the Oblique Line, Neva Bay, the Bolshaya and Malaya Neva embankments. This is one of the large municipal districts, mainly consisting of residential “old” stock and industrial zones. There are many unoccupied and, from the point of view of realtors, practically hopeless communal apartments in the area. Green spaces are represented by courtyard public gardens. You need to get to any of the two metro stations by additional ground transport. Only some residential areas located in the center of the island allow you to quickly, and sometimes simply on foot, get to the Vasileostrovskaya metro station.
The cost of a square meter of housing in the district ranges from 90 to 110 thousand rubles per square meter, however, apartments are bought here reluctantly - there are almost no “one-room offers”, and multi-room housing often needs very serious repairs and necessarily replacement of outdated communications. The resettlement of communal apartments has also stopped due to the crisis; it is becoming increasingly difficult for realtors to find people willing to live in the old stock, because many proposals for new luxury housing have appeared on the real estate market.
8th municipal district- This is mainly the Stalinist development of Bering Street, the western part of Maly and Sredny Avenues, Nalichnaya Street and the embankment of the Smolenka River. Here, real estate is more expensive, the air is cleaner, there is better transport and greenery - nearby is the Smolensk memorial cemetery, where it is quite pleasant to walk in the summer. The disadvantages of living here are also some distance from metro stations and inevitable traffic jams when trying to get to the mainland during the day.
Among the residential buildings here, Stalinist buildings and brick houses predominate. This is spacious, comfortable housing, with a convenient layout, quite promising for implementation. The cost per square meter on the secondary market reaches 120 thousand rubles per square meter. New housing of the “economy” and “comfort” classes is also being built in the same district. The offers are very diverse, from small studio apartments, which are in great demand among out-of-town students who are happy to settle close to their university, to 4-room apartments designed for large families. Since the real estate market is this moment is experiencing some difficulties, among primary housing in this district you can find offers from 90 thousand rubles per square meter.
Harbor or 9th municipal district- the territory bounded by Bering, Nakhimov and Korablestroiteley streets, as well as Morskaya Embankment, Nevskaya Guba, Europe Square and the western sections of Kosaya Liniya, Detskaya Street and Bolshoy Prospekt. This is the area of Gavan and Lenexpo in the Gulf of Finland, wedge-shaped deepening into the center of the island. The main industrial enterprises are located here, and residential development is represented by almost all types of houses - from the Peter the Great's foundation to modern new buildings.
The district has a convenient location relative to all routes public transport, individual blocks are within walking distance from the Primorskaya metro station. However, constant humid and cold winds from the bay, from which even the highest quality thermal insulation of residential premises cannot protect, can make living here somewhat uncomfortable. The price per square meter here depends on the type of residential development and the “status” of the house. On the real estate market there are offers for 80 thousand rubles per square meter, and for 150 thousand rubles and above.
Municipal district No. 11 includes Sulfur Island, western territories along the Smolenka River and Malaya Neva. This is the Primorskaya metro area with all its new buildings - “old” and new. It is the windiest, coldest and most expensive here. This is a modern development with developed infrastructure, mostly good transport links and no traffic jams. To the east there are industrial zones and areas occupied by various commercial premises, however, there is no sense of pollution here. The average cost per square meter here is 110-115 thousand rubles, but in “old” new buildings - series 137 - you can find it much cheaper, about 80 thousand rubles per sq.m.
This is a modern development with developed infrastructure, mostly good transport links and no traffic jams. To the east there are industrial zones and areas occupied by various commercial premises, but pollution is not felt here.
And the last district of the Vasileostrovsky district - Maritime District- located from Nalichnaya Street along Bering to Nakhimov, and further along Korablestroiteley to the Pribaltiyskaya Hotel, along Neva Bay to the Smolenka River and closes along Smolenka to Nalichnaya and Bering. This is also a relatively clean area, which is currently affected by large-scale construction." Marine facade" Today this is the most elite and promising residential sector on Vasilyevsky Island. The “Marine Facade” complex involves the construction of hundreds of thousands of square meters of “business class” and “comfort” class housing. According to realtors, the cost of housing here will reach 150-160 thousand rubles per square meter, and this is not the limit. However, there are also more economical offers. Living here is pleasant and convenient, the district is safe, with developed infrastructure. If again, it weren’t for traffic jams and wind, but this is a problem for the entire Vasileostrovsky district as a whole.
District infrastructure
If we talk about the infrastructure of the Vasileostrovsky district, then, first of all, it is worth mentioning transport communication on the island and its connection with the “mainland”. The latter is currently carried out through bridges. All residents of the area are really looking forward to the opening of the Western High-Speed Diameter, which will finally solve the main problem of the island - its isolation from the city and will allow citizens to easily get to the airport, Kronstadt, Lakhta, the center of St. Petersburg and its other districts. However, for now this is just a dream.
The total length of the district's streets is 90 kilometers. The main transport routes are Bolshoy, Sredny and Maly avenues, Nalychnaya street and embankments. Ground transportation here it is represented by trolleybuses, buses, trams and, of course, the ubiquitous minibuses. There are many neighborhoods that are inconvenient and unprofitable to get to; this is another obstacle to the development of the area.
Housing and communal services in “Vaska” are not much more expensive compared to other areas of St. Petersburg. Of course, everything depends on the square footage of the occupied living space and the “status” of the house. For cold water supply, according to data for 2012, residents of the area pay approximately 16-17 rubles per cubic meter, hot water will cost 65-68 rubles per cubic meter, and sewerage - 17 rubles. Utility bills also include heating: from 15 to 30 rubles (calculated using special coefficients), gas supply - 10-12 rubles, as well as various Additional services Housing and communal services, such as landscaping lawns, routine repairs of sidewalks and buildings, cleaning stairs and garbage, maintenance of elevators and others - in total, payment for this type of service ranges from 900 to 1,500 rubles monthly.
If you do not take into account the elite new quarters in the area of the “reclamation” and the Primorskaya metro station, then the territory of “Vaska” has only been partially improved. Bolshoy Prospect, the “pedestrian zone” near the Vasileostrovskaya metro station and the tourist Strelka station, looks good.
Pedestrian zone. Photo by Osya (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/osy52/)
There are several clinics and large hospitals located on Vasilievsky: the Ott Institute, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, and the Pokrovskaya Hospital.
Also in the district there are about 40 secondary schools, including the famous physics and mathematics lyceum No. 30, more than 45 kindergartens and other children's educational institutions. There are sports sections, swimming pools and various complexes of this kind. Here you can highlight the Sports Complex on Sredny, with a skating rink, swimming pools and a football field, as well as the famous Navy swimming pool.
A record number of higher educational institutions and research institutes of various fields are located on Vasilyevsky. In addition to the St. Petersburg State University, a fair number of whose faculties are located in the Vasileostrovsky district, there is the Repin Academic Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, the Mining Institute, the Makarov Maritime Academy and other famous higher educational institutions of St. Petersburg.
The building of the Twelve Collegiums - St. Petersburg University. Photo by ShabuninWV (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/shabuninwv/)
Here is also the Library of the Academy of Sciences - one of the largest institutions of this kind in the city, the Research Institute of the Arctic and Antarctic, the Institute of Russian Literature, the All-Russian Research Institute of Geology and many other scientific and educational centers with rich history, eminent professors and scientists.
In the Vasileostrovsky district there is the Pribaltiyskaya hotel, Marriott, five-star Sokos and hotels of a lower rank. Basically, accommodation in these hotels is intended for those guests of the city who arrived in St. Petersburg for business purposes, however, with the opening of the passenger cruise port Foreign tourists also appeared in the area.
Businesses and work in the area
Despite its small territory, Vasilievsky Island accommodates about 30 large industrial enterprises, 80% of which work for the defense industry, as well as about 6 thousand small commercial establishments of various specializations. It so happened historically, since the time of Peter I, that the Vasileostrovsky district is a special territory that gives its residents the opportunity to both live and work. However, in reality everything turned out completely differently.
Large enterprises here are represented by the ancient Becker piano factory, the Baltic Shipbuilding and Steel Mills, the Sevkabel, Elektroapparat, Northern Textiles factories, the Tannery named after. Radishchev, there is an Automobile Repair Plant, a plant named after. Kalinina, the famous Rot-Front factory throughout Russia and others.
Baltic plant. Photo by udva (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/udva)
Gavan also plays a great economic importance for the region and the city as a whole - recently the first stage of the “Marine Façade” project was implemented: the sea passenger port of St. Petersburg, intended for cruise ships, was put into operation. Thus, the port located on Vasilievsky Island acquired not only commercial, but also tourist significance.
In general, the “Marine Facade” project means a lot for the development of the area, significant investments have been attracted, and, despite all the warnings from ecologists about the inexpediency of creating such a number of alluvial areas, the project is gaining momentum.
There are several shopping complexes, selling clothing and footwear from leading European casual brands; hypermarket "Lenta" and St. Andrew's market.
Crime situation in the area
The criminal situation in the Vasileostrovsky district is relatively calm compared to some other regions of St. Petersburg. Of course, in the 90s, the proximity of the Harbor and the presence of expensive restaurants on the island’s embankment made the area to some extent attractive to bandits - they shot here quite often. Plus, the “old” new buildings in the Primorskaya area were places where drugs were sold and bought, but today the situation is much better.
A lot of crime in the area is associated with car and apartment thefts, as well as road accidents, especially at night. Not always sober reckless drivers, confident in their impunity, like to drive along empty embankments and avenues, and sometimes this ends tragically.
Attractions and leisure activities in the area
In fact, as in any central district of St. Petersburg, on Vasilyevsky Island in the old quarters - no matter what the house is, it is a landmark. Even nightclubs are sometimes located in houses where famous people lived and worked ( night club"Island" is located in the former house of the famous artist Bryullov).
And, of course, the “sea gate” of the Northern capital, the spit of Vasilyevsky Island, allowing residents and guests of the city to admire the Rostral columns, the majestic building of the Naval Museum, the Exchange, the Kunstkamera and the building of 12 colleges. These are excellent examples of architecture from the magnificent era of the heyday of the Russian Empire.
Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. Photo by Gnam (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/gnam/)
What else might interest you on Vaska? The famous sphinxes opposite the Academy of Arts, according to legend, fulfill the wishes of their guests. The main attraction of the island is the Palace of Prince Menshikov, on which the most famous and eminent architects of the 18th century worked.
You can visit the Zoological Museum, familiar to every St. Petersburg resident since childhood, with its mysterious skeletons of prehistoric lizards and a rich collection of birds, insects and animals from all over the globe. On Vasilievsky Island there is a museum-apartment of the great chemist D. Mendeleev, the St. Petersburg Puppet Museum, a museum dedicated to the history of the deepest metro in Europe - St. Petersburg, as well as many different interesting monuments, among which stands out the monument to the great navigator Ivan Fedorovich Krusenstern, located on the Lieutenant Schmidt embankment.
In the Vasileostrovsky district there are two Lutheran churches - St. Michael and St. Catherine, Orthodox cathedrals - St. Andrew's and Annunciation, the Chapel of Xenia the Blessed at the Smolensk cemetery - a place of pilgrimage for believers and many other places significant from a religious point of view. Like all churches in St. Petersburg, they fit wonderfully and harmoniously into the architectural ensemble.
Chapel of St. Xenia at the Smolensk Cemetery. Photo by owlat (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/owlat/)
Despite the compactness and somewhat “closed” nature of the Vasileostrovsky district, there is plenty to have fun here. The administration is doing everything to ensure that the island’s residents do not feel cut off “from civilization.”
The most famous entertainment complex on Vaska is, of course, the Waterville water park. This is the first and for a long time the only water park in St. Petersburg; all common water parks are presented here. water activities for children and adults, there is a developed system of bonus offers and discount cards.
Also interesting events and exhibitions are regularly held at the Lenexpo Exhibition Center on Nalychnaya Street. Rarely a St. Petersburg resident, even one who does not live on Vasilievsky Island, has never visited this place in his life. Exhibitions at Lenexpo are especially popular in the warm season, when a visit to the exhibition complex can be combined with a visit to the Chapel of St. Xenia at the Smolensk Cemetery and a pleasant walk around the island with access to the bay.
IN Lately, in connection with the construction of the alluvial areas of the WHSD and the Marine Facade, it is no longer possible to “go to the water”, and the views are not so beautiful, but a few years ago residents of the island and other areas of the Northern capital happily gathered for a picnic on the shore of the bay, alumni celebrations and wedding photo sessions took place here.
The island has many cafes and restaurants of varying status, a small but comfortable Neo cinema and several nightclubs.
Speaking about entertainment at Vaska, it is impossible not to mention the famous “floating” musical fountain, which delights all St. Petersburg residents in the summer months of the year. The fountain is located just opposite the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, from where it is very convenient to observe it.
And, of course, the holiday of graduates, famous throughout the country, “ Scarlet Sails", every year causing mixed feelings among the urban population, and especially among the parents of yesterday's schoolchildren. Although, what can I say, this is a great opportunity for teenagers to celebrate their entry into adulthood, and they take advantage of it.
Scarlet Sails. Photo by Irina (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/atardecer/)
