- TURY.CLUB
- Tourist Objects
- Russia
- St.Petersburg
- Alexander Column
The Alexander Column is one of the greatest monuments in St. Petersburg, symbolizing Russia’s victory over Napoleon and the engineering genius of the 19th century. It stands at the very center of Palace Square, adding grandeur and harmony to the ensemble.
The column was erected by order of Emperor Nicholas I in honor of his brother, Alexander I, who defeated Napoleon in the War of 1812. Designed by the renowned architect Auguste de Montferrand, it was completed in 1834.
This monument is astonishing in its scale: the column stands 47.5 meters tall and is made from a single piece of red granite, quarried in Finland. Weighing approximately 600 tons, it is held in place purely by gravity, without any additional fastenings—an engineering marvel of its time. Atop the column stands a statue of an angel holding a cross, symbolizing peace and the triumph of good over evil.
The Alexander Column is not only a tribute to military glory but also an extraordinary feat of engineering. On the day of its installation, tens of thousands of spectators gathered to witness the monumental stone being raised with a complex system of pulleys and ropes—a momentous event in the city’s history.
Today, the Alexander Column is an inseparable part of St. Petersburg’s identity. It captivates visitors with its elegance and power, and its silhouette, mirrored in rain-slicked cobblestones or glowing in the evening light, remains one of the most iconic images of the city.
