NARVA GATE (MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY)

A branch of the Museum of Urban Sculpture

Ploshchad Stachek 198095 St.Petersburg
Temporarily closed Tel. 186-9782
Nearest metro station: Narvskaya

A museum commemorating the victories of the Russian Guards in the Patriotic War of 1812 is located inside the Narva Gate. This brick, copper-faced monument was built between 1827 and 1834 by Vasily Stasov to replace the previous wooden structure (1814, architect Giacomo Quarenghi) that stood by the city gate leading to the town of Narva (hence the name). The gate is crowned by a triumphant chariot, made of forged copper, on which stands the figure of Victory (sculptors Peter Klodt and Stepan Pimenov). Among those who contributed to its sculptural decoration were Vasily Demuth-Malinovsky, Mikhail Krylov, Nikolai Tokarev and Ivan Lippe. Engraved in gold on the Gate are the names of the sites of decisive battles fought between 1812 and 1814, from Borodino to Paris, and the names of the 18 regiments of Russian Guards that took part in these battles.

The museum, opened in 1987, describes the events of the 1812 War and the Russian army's foreign campaigns. The exhibits on display include portraits of military leaders, battle scenes and the authentic standards of the Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky and Yegersky Guards, as well as those of other regiments. Materials and documents relating to the construction of the Narva Gate are also to be seen. Such a display was the express wish of the architect Vasily Stasov.