Peter and Paul Fortress in St Petersburg: Island, Cathedral and History

• The fortress was founded on 27 May 1703 on Hare Island in the Neva.
• The Peter and Paul Cathedral was built between 1712 and 1732 to a design by Domenico Trezzini.
• The cathedral houses the tombs of Russian rulers from Peter I to Nicholas II, with the exceptions of Peter II and Ivan VI.
• The museum has different visiting hours for the island, fortress walls, cathedral and Trubetskoy Bastion Prison.
• The path along parts of the fortress walls and the beach are closed during restoration work.

The Peter and Paul Fortress was established in 1703 on Hare Island, at the mouth of the Neva. Its founding is considered the beginning of St Petersburg. The fortress stands in the river and is linked to the rest of the city by bridges. The fortification is situated in the river delta.

The Peter and Paul Cathedral is the architectural centrepiece of the complex. Domenico Trezzini designed the building, which was constructed between 1712 and 1732. Its tall spire, topped by an angel and a cross, defines the skyline above the bastions. Inside is the Romanov dynastic burial vault. Russian rulers from Peter I to Nicholas II are buried here, with the exceptions of Peter II and Ivan VI; members of the imperial family are also interred here.

A walking tour can combine the Peter and Paul Cathedral with the bastions and the fortress museums. Nearby, the Aurora belongs to a different chapter of the city’s history.

The fortress served as a place of political imprisonment. Its prison history began in 1718 with the incarceration of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, the son of Peter the Great. Fyodor Dostoevsky was also imprisoned in the fortress. Among the prisoners in the 1880s was Alexander Ulyanov, the elder brother of Vladimir Lenin. Built between 1870 and 1872, the prison in Trubetskoy Bastion was designed to hold political prisoners; solitary cells and the enclosed layout shaped daily life in custody.

The tour of the prison takes visitors through the cells, corridors and rooms of the former Trubetskoy Bastion. In October 1917, after the Winter Palace was taken, ministers of the Provisional Government were brought to the fortress and held in Trubetskoy Bastion Prison. The site thus represents both political imprisonment under the tsars and the changes of power during the revolutionary year.

Information current as of 24 October 2026. Hare Island is open daily from 06:00 to 20:30; the island closes at 21:00. Entry to the fortress grounds is available daily from 09:50 to 19:30, and they close at 20:00.

The Peter and Paul Cathedral is open Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 18:00, until 17:00 on Tuesdays, until 17:45 on Saturdays, and from 11:00 to 18:00 on Sundays. It is closed on Wednesdays. Trubetskoy Bastion Prison is open from 10:00 to 18:00, until 17:00 on Tuesdays; it is closed on Wednesdays. Cathedral hours may change on days when services are held. Last admission to the prison is 30 minutes before closing.

While restoration work is under way, routes onto Hare Island use a temporary bridge; Kronwerk Bridge is closed to pedestrians. The path along Ioannovsky Ravelin and several Neva bastions, as well as Hare Island’s beach, are currently closed to visitors. Access to the island and the open museum areas is managed separately.

The daily noon cannon shot began at the Admiralty building in 1865; from 1873, Naryshkin Bastion became its permanent location. The tradition was suspended in 1934 and resumed in 1957. Because restoration work is under way on the granite embankment, the cannon is currently fired from Gosudarev Bastion; it is scheduled to return to Naryshkin Bastion by the end of 2026.

The Peter and Paul Fortress is part of the historic centre of St Petersburg in Russia. Across the Neva are Palace Square, Nevsky Prospekt and the Hermitage. The city’s museums offer more subjects to explore during your stay.

When choosing accommodation, consider the fortress, other days spent in the city and your return journey together. Getting there and transport also depend on bridges and riverside routes; travel preparation and language and communication can help with planning.

Who was the fortress’s first known political prisoner?

In 1718, Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, a son of Peter the Great, was imprisoned there.

How long was Trubetskoy Bastion Prison in operation?

The political prison was established in 1872 and served as a place of detention until 1921. Today, the museum tour takes visitors through the cells and other preserved parts of the bastion prison.

Which parts of the complex can visitors see?

The museum visit includes the cathedral and imperial burial vault, Trubetskoy Bastion Prison and other exhibitions. Their opening hours differ from those of the fortress grounds and the island.