The Hero-City of Leningrad

After Moscow St.-Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia. It occupies a territory exceeding 570 sq km. The population is nearly 4.5 mln people.

The city was founded in 1703 by Peter I on the banks of the Neva River and got the name of St. Petersburg. The Russian state obtained an exit to the northern trade sea routes, which was a factor of great importance: thus Russia became a naval power. In 1712 St Petersburg became the capital of Russia. In 1914 it was renamed Petrograd. In 1924, after Lenin’s death, the city was renamed Leningrad in his honour.

Leningrad suffered much during the Great Patriotic war. During the 900 days and nights of the siege enemy planes dropped 107,000 bombs on the city. Some 17,000 civilians were lost during these attacks. The city was left without light, water and without transport. Famine set in. More than 641,000 people died of hunger and privations in Leningrad during the blockade.

Despite all this, Leningrad continued to struggle. At factories and plants women, young boys and girls took the places of the men who had gone to the front. The people of Leningrad performed a glorious feat which went down in history. For this feat the town was awarded the Order of Lenin and called a Hero-City.

Not a single trace of war ruins can be seen in the present-day St. Petersburg – the city had been completely restored by 1948. Large new residential districts have been built all around the city.

St. Petersburg is an important industrial centre, the leading branches of the city’s industry are power-engineering, shipbuilding, instrument-making and radioelectronics.

St. Petersburg is one of the biggest scientific, cultural and art centres of Russia, the home of many colleges and Universities. It is famous for its science, industry, architecture, museums and theatres.

St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Kazan Cathedral, Peter-and-Paul Fortress, Rossi’s and Rastrelli’s ensembles are known all over the world. The Hermitage and the Russian Museum house the greatest masterpieces of Western, Oriental and Russian art. On the stage of the Mariinsky Opera House we can enjoy world-famous operas and ballets.