The Palace Bridge in St. Petersburg

The Palace Bridge in St. Petersburg

Also known as the Winter Palace Bridge, the Palace Bridge is a drawbridge over the Neva River in St. Petersburg. It is 260.1 meters long and 27.8 meters wide. The bridge connects Vasilevsky Island to the north and the Palace Embankment between the Winter Palace and the Admiralty Building to the south, leading to Palace Square. Like other bridges on the Neva River, it opens at night, making it almost impossible to walk between parts of the city after dark.

Nicholas I lifted Peter the Great’s ban on building bridges over the Neva River and constructed a temporary pontoon bridge about 50 meters downstream from the current bridge. The cast-iron bridge was built starting in 1912, designed by Andrey Pshenitsky. Its construction was delayed by World War I and it finally opened to traffic on December 23, 1916. The design was strictly controlled to prevent the bridge from blocking the view of buildings on Vasilevsky Island, such as the Imperial Academy of Arts, from the Palace Embankment. A year after its inauguration, the bridge was renamed the Republic Bridge, but it regained its original name in 1944.

In St. Petersburg, during the navigation season of the Neva River, there is the spectacular sight of drawbridges rising at night. In particular, the beautiful “blossoming” of the Palace Bridge at night is a moment many capture with their cameras. During the “White Nights” season, special “bus tours” are available for viewing the drawbridge spectacles—this is definitely a must-see attraction when traveling in St. Petersburg.

Palace Bridge

Reason to visit: The most beautifully designed drawbridge in St. Petersburg

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Russia[Russia]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Saint Petersburg Autonomous City [Saint Petersburg]

City where the attraction is located: Saint Petersburg [Saint Petersburg]