Hare Island (Saint Petersburg)

Hare Island (Zayachy Island) is a small island in the Neva River at the heart of Saint Petersburg and is the site of the historic Peter and Paul Fortress, founded in 1703 during the city’s creation by Peter the Great. The island and fortress mark the original nucleus of the city.

The fortress complex contains defensive walls and bastions, museum exhibitions about the founding of Saint Petersburg and guided routes around the ramparts. The Peter and Paul Cathedral within the fortress is open to visitors and is notable as the burial church of the Russian imperial family.

Peter the Great established the fortress in 1703 to secure the Neva estuary and the new capital; it functioned as a military stronghold and later as a high-security prison for political detainees. Over time the site moved from military use to preservation and public museum functions.

The island sits in the Neva River within central Saint Petersburg, near government and historic districts on the city’s northern riverbank. It is connected to the central city by bridges and is a short walk from other central landmarks.

• Noon gun tradition: A traditional noon cannon or gun salute is fired from the fortress on select days as part of the site's historic ceremonial program.
• Imperial burials: The cathedral serves as the burial place for many members of the Romanov dynasty and is an important site for those studying imperial Russian history.

What to See #

• Peter and Paul Fortress: Historic fortress complex founded on the island that includes bastions, curtain walls and visitor pathways around the defensive works.
• Peter and Paul Cathedral: Cathedral within the fortress complex where many members of the Russian imperial Romanov family are buried; notable for its tall gilded spire and historic interior.
• Trubetskoy Bastion (prison): A former bastion area used historically as a prison for high-profile detainees; preserved sections illustrate the fortress's military and penal roles.