←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

The Wounds of St. Isaac's Cathedral in Saint Petersburg

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

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

Point 9

The Wounds of St. Isaac's Cathedral

🕍 Place of worship • 🏟️ Architectural landmark

Historical Background

When the war began, the city authorities took active measures to protect St. Isaac's Cathedral from possible damage by aircraft and artillery: the dome was painted over with a special compound to hide the gilding, and the windows were blocked with sandbags. Despite this, the cathedral was still damaged. The first hit came in 1941, when a shell damaged the cathedral's north wall, columns, and windows. In 1942 a shell pierced the roof and exploded on the vault of a small dome. The third major damage occurred in 1943, when the blast wave from a bomb knocked out the stained glass by the altar. Because the utilities were not working, the cathedral's interior suffered from the weather and climate: high humidity and cold damaged the mosaics, paintings, and stucco work. There was also a city vegetable garden on St. Isaac's Square, where vegetables were grown to feed the city. Repairs began only after the Siege was lifted, and the restoration of St. Isaac's Cathedral took more than 20 years. A memorial plaque at the base of the building recalls the cathedral's Siege days.