The Fontanka River is one of the symbolic waterways of St. Petersburg. Originating from the Neva and flowing into it, it flows through the very center of the city, giving a unique character to its architecture and life.
Near the Teatralnaya Ploshchad hotel, the Fontanka River acquires special significance, recalling the rich history and cultural heritage of the Admiralteysky district of St. Petersburg.
Despite the swampy terrain, these lands were inhabited by people even before the arrival of Peter.
In the area of the future Fontanka River there lived both Russian settlements and Finno-Ugrians. We assume that they were engaged in fishing and trade with neighboring regions. And the river was called Nameless Erik.
The Fontanka, like most of the city’s water bodies, was a small river, swampy and unkempt. It flooded the adjacent lands and made the construction and improvement of the new capital impossible.
Therefore, the first attempts to somehow change the appearance of Fontanka were carried out under Peter I, who actively built the Summer Garden and the areas closest to it.
So, during the 18th century, the Nameless Erik or Golodusha turned into a beautiful Fountain River, along the banks of which granite embankments were built. The waters of the river fed the fountains of the Summer Garden, hence its new name.
The reclaimed land along the banks of the river sparked rapid growth and infrastructure development in this area of the city. Noble houses, palaces and parks appeared near the Fontanka. Bridges were built every few kilometers connecting the two parts of the city.
The Fontanka River has become an integral part of the cultural life of St. Petersburg. On its banks there are theaters, museums, restaurants and architectural monuments, creating a unique historical space.
The most significant locations off the coast of the Fontanka:
- Mikhailovsky Castle;
- Anichkov Bridge;
- Faberge Museum;
- Sheremetevsky Palace and the Anna Akhmatova Museum near it;
- transition to Nevsky Prospekt (the main street of the city);
- new stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater;
and much more.
Today, the Fontanka River continues to personify the spirit of the city - the cultural and historical center of Russia. And the proximity of the Theater Square Hotel to the Fontanka River transforms your stay in St. Petersburg, allowing guests to enjoy its beautiful views every day.
