Kronstadt (district, fortress, and harbour) are located on Kotlin island, or Retusaari in Finnish, about 30 km from the centre of St. Petersburg and Neva river. The Vikings' routes across the Gulf of Finland used to pass this island. In the Middle ages it was listed as part of Vodskaya Pyatina, a Novgorodian administrative region. From 1323 onwards Kotlin marked the border between Russia and Sweden. Kronstadt consisted of 23 forts. There were three defence lines. The majority of 17 sea-forts were built on artificial foundations of wood, earth and granite, later also concrete and metal.

Early XVIII century During the Great Northern War Russians conquer Kotlin, which at the time belongs to Sweden. A humble temporary fort is erected to protect the future capital city. In May 1704 the construction of the fortress begins with the foundation of artillery tower Kronslott and two batteries. In 1705 there are already five batteries. The garrison town is planned and built from 1709. The first construction period (1714-1770) is largely the work of Domenico Trezzini, both fortification engineer and architect. In 1721 The Citadel (later called Fort Peter I) is founded.

1723 The foundations of the central fort called Kronstadt (The Crown Town) are laid in a celebration ceremony. The central fort is protected by 10 bastions and two half-bastions

Late XVIII century The bastion fronts are strengthened, waterways are furnished with more traps and defences, new forts are founded, Risbank among them. The Cadet School is transferred to Kronstadt in 1771. Soon the garrison is to become one of the most important centres of technical and military education in Russia.

1807 Yet new defences are constructed as the political situation between Britain and Russia becomes strained.

1824 Kronstadt suffers the worst flood of its history, with water level rising 3,5 m. Embankments of the first line are partly destroyed and washed away, and have to be razed to the ground.

Early XIX century forts are further modernized using brick and stone. Risbank (now called Paul I) and Peter I are reconstructed. The new fort Alexander is built. A typical structure of the time is a wall with housing casemates which connects several artillery towers. The infrastructure of the garrison town is developed.

Mid-XIX century The garrison of Kronstadt takes part in Crimean War, some temporary fortifications are erected. During the 1850s attention is mostly paid to the strengthening of the northern waterway, whereas in the next decade the southern waterway is under work.

Late XIX and early XX century The fortifications are once again altered. Concrete is in use for the first time. The construction of large Totleben and Obruchev forts is a particularly costly project. Fort Constantine is modernized and 11 low batteries are built. In 1899 Fort Alexander first houses a laboratory that investigates possible cures for plague. That's where the common nickname Plague fort (Chumnyj) comes from.

1917 Kronstadt is one of the cradles of Russian Revolution, but already in 1921 a group of seamen and soldiers revolt against the politics of Bolsheviks. The mutiny is violently suppressed. During World War II Kronstadt is constantly bombed.

Some fortifications have disappeared during later alternations. Thus, the dam construction project of the 1980s destroyed some forts. Among surviving forts Constantine, Rif and the particularly well preserved Chumnyj are considered to be the most important ones. Totleben is also mostly intact. At the moment the majority of structures in Kronstadt require restoration and reconstruction of surfaces, and the interiors of bastions and batteries need proper care. Some palaces and lighthouses of Kronstadt have also vanished before our times, but the Kronstadt of the late XIX century can still largely be observed and felt by a visitor. The north-eastern part of Kronstadt, however, is still closed from tourists.

The forts are protected by the government as monuments of architectural history.

Kronstadt is accessible by land or water. There's a road from St. Petersburg through Gorskaya and over the dam, or you can drive from Helsinki through Vyborg and Sestroretsk. You can take a boat from St. Petersburg, Vyborg or Peterhof.

For more information:
e-mail: arstat(at)yandex.ru