←Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege”

Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege”

Photo of route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””
12 points7 km3.5 hours

The Siege left an indelible mark on Leningrad, firmly inscribed in the history of this unbending city, yet few people know that the spirit of those hard times lingers on literally every corner. On this route you will be able to spot the fleeting details of the Northern Capital that still hold the memory of the Siege. Many traces of those years have already dissolved in time, but some can still tell us about those fateful 872 days.

Photo of route author Leonid Kruglov

Route author

Leonid Kruglov

Things to do

  • 📜 Learn the city's history
  • 🗺️🎒 Themed route
  • 🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras

Route points (12)

  1. Field of Mars — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    Field of Mars

    ⛲ Square

  2. Siege Substation — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    Siege Substation

    ⚙️ Industrial site

  3. Monument to the Leningrad Ice Hole on the Fontanka — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    Monument to the Leningrad Ice Hole on the Fontanka

    🗿 Monument

  4. Anichkov Bridge — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    Anichkov Bridge

    🌉 Bridge

  5. Monument to the Leningrad Loudspeaker — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    Monument to the Leningrad Loudspeaker

    📜 Historic site

  6. Musical Comedy Theater — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    Musical Comedy Theater

    🎭 Theater

  7. “Planet of Memory” Monument — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    “Planet of Memory” Monument

    🗿 Monument · 🎨 Art installations

  8. Shelling Warning Signs — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    Shelling Warning Signs

    🖌️ Street art

  9. The Wounds of St. Isaac's Cathedral — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    The Wounds of St. Isaac's Cathedral

    🕍 Place of worship · 🏟️ Architectural landmark

  10. Monument to the Mothers Who Perished — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    Monument to the Mothers Who Perished

    🗿 Monument · 🗿 Sculptures

  11. Siege of Leningrad Sundial — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    Siege of Leningrad Sundial

    🎨 Art installations

  12. Tanya Savicheva's Apartment — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

    Tanya Savicheva's Apartment

    🕵️ Urban legend · 📜 Historic site

Musical Comedy Theater in Saint Petersburg

Point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

Musical Comedy Theater — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””
Musical Comedy Theater — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””
Musical Comedy Theater — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””
Musical Comedy Theater — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””
Musical Comedy Theater — point on route “Route “Phantom Monuments of the Siege””

Point 6

Musical Comedy Theater

🎭 Theater

The Siege Theater

The theater opened on September 17, 1929, and it is the only theater in the city that worked throughout the entire Siege. In 1941 all of Leningrad's companies were evacuated; only the Musical Comedy Theater stayed in the city and kept performing. Its first wartime concert was given on June 23 for soldiers leaving for the front. From September 1941 the staff's schedule changed completely: between performances the actors took military training courses, learning to use a rifle, give first aid, and put out incendiary bombs. The company also stood watch on rooftops and helped residents clear rubble. The theater's management paid great attention to keeping up the morale of the soldiers, so it organized not only classic productions but also regular concerts for the city's defenders, both in the Musical Comedy Theater building and at the front line. A morgue was set up at the theater for actors and audience members who died. People died backstage, on stage, and in the auditorium from various causes: exhaustion, wounds, bombing, and shelling.

Fun Facts

Over the whole Siege, the Musical Comedy Theater staged 15 premieres, 6 of them in the first six months of the blockade. At the start of the war the company numbered 291 people, and 100 members of the theater's staff died at the front or of hunger. During the war the theater was attended by 1.3 million people.