←Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille

Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille

Photo of route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”
13 points12 km4 hours

Shlisselburg is an old town 50 kilometers (31 miles) from St. Petersburg. Its name means “key town,” and it has stood here for more than 700 years. That's reason enough to visit and see with your own eyes the “Russian Bastille” of Peter the Great's era, centuries-old canals, and a stunning sunset over the Neva. The route was designed especially for the BelkaCar car-sharing service.

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

  • 📜 Learn the city's history
  • 🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras

Route points (13)

  1. Ladoga Bridge — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    Ladoga Bridge

    🌉 Bridge

  2. Breakthrough Panorama Museum — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    Breakthrough Panorama Museum

    🏛️ Museum

  3. Museum of Shlisselburg History — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    Museum of Shlisselburg History

    🏛️ Museum

  4. Cathedral Square — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    Cathedral Square

    ⛲ Square · 🕍 Place of worship

  5. Annunciation Cathedral — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    Annunciation Cathedral

    🕍 Place of worship

  6. Old Ladoga and New Ladoga Canals — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    Old Ladoga and New Ladoga Canals

    ⚙️ Industrial site

  7. Four-Chamber Granite Lock — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    Four-Chamber Granite Lock

    ⚙️ Industrial site

  8. Monument to Peter I — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    Monument to Peter I

    🗿 Monument

  9. House of the Merchant Alexei Grigorievich Potashov — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    House of the Merchant Alexei Grigorievich Potashov

    🏟️ Architectural landmark

  10. “Echo of Great Battles” Open-Air Museum — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    “Echo of Great Battles” Open-Air Museum

    🏛️ Museum · 🌿 Public garden or park

  11. Oreshek Fortress — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    Oreshek Fortress

    🏯 Fortress remains · 📜 Historic site

  12. Memorial Complex — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    Memorial Complex

    📜 Historic site · 🗿 Sculptures

  13. Nevsky Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

    Nevsky Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant

    ⚙️ Industrial site

Four-Chamber Granite Lock in Shlisselburg

Point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

Four-Chamber Granite Lock — point on route “Shlisselburg: Venice of the North and Russia's Bastille”

Point 7

Four-Chamber Granite Lock

⚙️ Industrial site

Historical Background

In the 1820s a four-chamber lock was built at the head of the Old Ladoga Canal. The structure was designed by Pierre-Dominique Bazaine. Granite was used to build the lock, which maintained the necessary depth of the canal.

Today

After the New Ladoga Canal was built, the old one was abandoned. The lock fell into disrepair, but most of its granite structures have survived and look striking and picturesque.