Piskaryovskoye Memorial CemeteryAbout Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery
Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery is a large commemorative burial ground on the outskirts of Saint Petersburg dedicated to the victims of the Siege of Leningrad during the Second World War. It contains mass graves and memorials honoring civilians and soldiers who died during the siege.
The cemetery comprises long burial pits, rows of markers and a central memorial to the dead; plaques and inscriptions record the scale of the loss and the names of many victims. The site functions both as a cemetery and as a place for annual remembrance ceremonies.
The cemetery was established in the immediate postwar period to inter the vast numbers of civilian and military dead from the siege and to provide a focal point for public mourning and commemoration. Maintenance and memorial architecture reflect its role as a principal site of remembrance for Saint Petersburg.
Geographically the cemetery is located to the northeast of central Saint Petersburg, in the Piskaryovka area, set within an urban fringe landscape of roads and housing.
- Siege memorial: Contains mass graves for victims of the Siege of Leningrad and commemorates military and civilian losses from 1941-1944; the site is a primary memorial to that period.
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Best Time to Visit Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery
Visit in late spring to early autumn for easier access and to avoid extreme cold; winter visits are powerful but demanding.
Weather & Climate near Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery
Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -10°C to 22°C. Moderate rainfall (637 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -10° - -4° | -13° | 40 mm | overcast | 98% | 3.8 m/s | 0.0 low | 6.7h |
| February | Poor | -10° - -4° | -12° | 31 mm | overcast | 98% | 3.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.0h |
| March | Poor | -5° - 1° | -6° | 34 mm | overcast | 94% | 3.3 m/s | 0.3 low | 11.6h |
| April | Acceptable | 1° - 8° | 1° | 31 mm | partly cloudy | 84% | 3.7 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 14.3h |
| May | Very Good | 6° - 16° | 11° | 38 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 3.2 m/s | 1.0 high | 16.8h |
| June | Very Good | 11° - 20° | 16° | 62 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 3.0 m/s | 1.3 high | 18.2h |
| July | Very Good | 14° - 22° | 18° | 77 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 3.3 m/s | 1.3 high | 17.5h |
| August | Good | 12° - 20° | 16° | 79 mm | partly cloudy | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 15.3h |
| September | Acceptable | 7° - 14° | 11° | 71 mm | overcast | 87% | 3.5 m/s | 0.5 low | 12.6h |
| October | Poor | 3° - 8° | 2° | 66 mm | overcast | 92% | 3.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 10.0h |
| November | Poor | -2° - 2° | -5° | 58 mm | overcast | 96% | 4.0 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.4h |
| December | Poor | -7° - -2° | -10° | 50 mm | overcast | 98% | 4.1 m/s | 0.0 low | 5.9h |
How to Get to Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery
Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery is southwest of central St. Petersburg. From the city centre take public transport toward Kupchino or use a taxi; local buses serve routes toward the memorial. Allow 40-60 minutes from central St. Petersburg depending on traffic.
Tips for Visiting Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery
- Go early morning to avoid crowds and to see the memorial guards in quiet procession.
- Bring comfortable shoes - the site is large and visits involve long walks between mass graves and memorials.
- Respect the site's solemnity; photography is allowed in many areas but avoid disruptive behaviour near memorial services.