The Alekseyevsky Ravelin is a former triangular-shaped auxiliary defensive structure on the western side of the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg (Zayachy Ostrov), intended to cover two bastions, a fortress wall and a gate.
The ravelin was built in 1733-1740 according to the project of the military engineer B.-X. Minich and was intended to cover and strengthen the defense of the two bastions of the fortress - Trubetskoy and Zotov, and the Vasilievsky curtain (part of the fortress wall) with the Vasilievsky Gate. All of these structures in one form or another still exist today.
The ravelin was reinforced with U - shaped buildings-semi-concertgards, connected to it by blind walls-traverses. To lift the guns and ammunition on the wall of the fortification were three gentle ramps. Gateways were arranged in the facades. The Nevsky facade of the ravelin (facing the Neva River) in 1787-1797 was faced with granite slabs designed by engineer R.R. Tomilov.
In 1769, a wooden prison was built on the territory of the ravelin. In 1797, according to the project of the architect P.Y. Paton, a stone "Secret House" was built instead, where the most dangerous political prisoners, including the Decembrists, Petrashevites and Narodovoltsy, were imprisoned in 20 solitary cells. The ravelin's casemates served as a barracks for the warders. In 1893, the prison was demolished, the casemates were dismantled, and in their place was built the archives building of the War Ministry with two service officers ' wings.
The ravelin had a triangular shape and was located in front of the fortress water moat, which was filled in in 1892 and on the site of which today there is a courtyard.
The name "Alekseyevsky" ravelin was given in honor of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich-the father of Peter I and the grandfather of the Empress Anna Ioannovna. Tsarevich Alexey, the son of Peter I, has nothing to do with the name of the ravelin, since the tsarevich served his sentence in another part of the prison - in the Trubetskoy Bastion, which today houses the museum "prison of the Trubetskoy bastion".
To the Alekseevsky Ravelin, from the side of the Peter and Paul Fortress, lead the Vasilievsky Gate, located in the Vasilievsky curtain (fortress wall). Learn more about curtin and gates…
The area between the Alekseyevsky Ravelin and Vasilyevskaya Kurtina is now a pedestrian zone and is also used by guests of the fortress for walking.
Botardo of the Alekseevsky Ravelin
Botardo-stone dams with towers and a palisade, which were built in the 1730s according to the project of the military engineer B.-X. Minich.
They blocked the access of ships from the Neva River and the Kronverk Strait to the moat of the Alekseevsky Ravelin. The underwater part of the southern botardo, facing the Neva, had barred arches for the free flow of water. In the northern botardo, facing the Kronverk Strait, there is an opening closed by a lattice gate. In 1787, the southern botardo was faced with granite, and the northern one, in 1794, was lined with a bream slab. The wooden palisade was replaced with a cast-iron one. After filling up the moat in 1892, a passage was built on the site of the removed water gate.
From the southern botardo side, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Neva River, Trinity Bridge, The Palace Embankment with the Winter Palace, Palace Bridge and the Arrow of Vasilievsky Island.
You can also see the beach of the Peter and Paul Fortress on Zayachy Island.
Practical information
The Alekseyevsky Ravelin is located in the western part of the Peter and Paul Fortress.
Coordinates of the Alekseevsky ravelin: 59°56'55.0" N 30°18'39.0" E (59.948611, 30.310833).
The entrance to the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress is free (free of charge).
You can also visit the Peter and Paul Fortress with one of the excursions
Nearest metro stations: "Gorkovskaya" and "Sportivnaya".
All accommodation facilities in Saint Petersburg, including in the city center and near the Peter and Paul Fortress, can be viewed and booked here
