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Anichkov Bridge

Anichkov Bridge was the first bridge across the Fontanka River, and combines a simple form with some spectacular decorations. As well as its four famous horse sculptures, it has some of the most celebrated ornate iron railings in St. Petersburg.

The first bridge was built in 1715-1716 by order of Peter the Great, and named after its engineer, M. Anichkov. The bridge was made of wood with several spans built on piles of supports lying just above the Fontanka River. Nothing remains of this first bridge.

As the city grew and river traffic increased, plans were unveiled in 1721 to create a new drawbridge. Anichkov Bridge was one of seven three-span stone drawbridges with towers built across the Fontanka River in the late 18th century, of which Lomonosov and Stary Kalinkin Bridges are the only two other bridges from that period which still survive. The bridge was an especially popular attraction on Nevsky Prospekt in this period, as well as a popular subject for illustrations and paintings.

But by the 1840's this design, especially its large towers, was already deemed unsuitable for the growing amount of traffic passing over Anichkov Bridge along Nevsky Prospekt. In 1841-1842 yet another bridge, which corresponded more with the width of Nevsky Prospekt and the design of the current bridge, was built on the site under the leadership of Lt. General Gotman. The new bridge was made of stone, and had three spans closed off with gently sloping arches. This simple, concise form corresponded well with the massive cast-iron fencing bordering Anichkov Bridge and stylish castings designed by German architect K. Shinkel. However, the bridge's stone arches were a continual source of problems, and in 1906-1908 the bridge had once again to be reconstructed and its arches reinforced.

The most impressive aspect of Anichkov Bridge is the group of four sculptures which embellish it. The sculptures, entitled "The Horse Tamer", were executed by Pyotr Klodt (who also produced the sculpture of Nicholas I on St. Isaac's Square) and are one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. They have an interesting history. Nicholas I gave two of them to Prussian King Fredrick William IV in 1842, and another two were sent to Italy as a sign of gratitude for the hospitality shown to the Tsar during his trip there in 1846. During the Second World War, the sculptures were taken down from their platforms and sheltered from German artillery in the Pioneer Palace garden. The bridge suffered serious damage during the war, but has been fully restored.

Millionnaya 27