Home › Tourist Attractions › The Bronze Horseman

The Bronze Horseman

Category: Tourist Attractions 👁 100 views

Introduction It is an iconic sculpture in St. Petersburg, located in Senate Square. This masterpiece created by the renowned sculptor Étienne-Maurice Falconet is mounted on a massive rock with the horse's front legs reared up. Tsar Peter the Great sits astride the steed, his eyes gleaming with determination as he gazes forward. The horse symbolizes Russia, while the snake beneath its hooves represents the forces that opposed Peter the Great's reforms and modernization at the time. The statue's artistic brilliance can be keenly felt from any angle. When you stand before the proud figure of the Bronze Horseman with its triumphant head held high, you are moved by an overwhelming sense of indomitable will and forward momentum. It feels as if the horse might gallop down at any moment, sweeping everything away... The sculpture was highly praised by the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, who wrote his most famous narrative poem, "The Bronze Horseman," inspired by it.

Overview Transport Tickets Specialties

The Bronze Horseman

Introduction It is an iconic sculpture in St. Petersburg, located in Senate Square. This masterpiece created by the renowned sculptor Étienne-Maurice Falconet is mounted on a massive rock with the horse's front legs reared up. Tsar Peter the Great sits astride the steed, his eyes gleaming with determination as he gazes forward. The horse symbolizes Russia, while the snake beneath its hooves represents the forces that opposed Peter the Great's reforms and modernization at the time. From any direction, the statue exudes strong artistic charm. When you stand before the proud figure of the Bronze Horseman with its triumphant head held high, you are deeply moved by the indomitable perseverance and unyielding spirit. It feels as though the horse is about to charge forth and sweep everything away... This sculpture was highly acclaimed by the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, who penned his most celebrated narrative poem, "The Bronze Horseman," in its honor.

Story: The model for the sculpture was a Russian general who bore a striking resemblance to Peter the Great. He rode a horse from the prestigious Orlov Stud. The general repeatedly charged up an artificially built hill, making the horse rear up so that Falconet could capture the stance.

Selecting a pedestal with the appearance of a cliff outcrop was a crucial task. Eventually, a 1,600-ton boulder was found in the suburbs of St. Petersburg. It had been struck by lightning and was thus called the "Thunder Stone." Hundreds of serfs struggled to drag it out of the swamp. It was then pulled to the Gulf of Finland using sledges with copper balls, and finally transported to St. Petersburg on rafts. The entire process took two years. Upon learning that the "Thunder Stone" had finally arrived at Senate Square, Catherine the Great ordered the issuance of a special medal to commemorate the event. The medal bore the inscription "Daring." Transport: Address: Nevsky Prospekt.

Transport: Take trolleybuses No. 5 or No. 7 from the metro station to get there.

St. Petersburg, Russia