St Isaac's Cathedral

St Isaac's Cathedral is an orthodox building in Saint Petersburg that stands out for its neoclassical style and its large scale.

About this building

The Cathedral was commissioned by Tsar Alexander I and its construction was completed between 1818 and 1858. Auguste Montferrand, a French architect, was in charge of its design, giving it a neoclassical style. It was the fourth consecutive church to stand on this site.

The Cathedral is 105 metres large and 93 metres width, which makes it one of the largest religious buildings in Europe. Due to the building's dimensions, the dome was painted gray during World War II to avoid drawing the attention of enemy aircraft.

Since 1931 the Cathedral functions as a museum dedicated to religion and the history of the building. It only hosts services on special occasions.

Key Features

  • Architecture
  • Monuments
  • Interior features

Other nearby buildings

Choral Synagogue

The Grand Choral Synagogue of St. Petersburg is the third-largest synagogue in Europe and it is sometimes referred to as St. Petersburg Synagogue or Bolshaya Sinagoga. It was built between 1880 and 1888, and consecrated in December 1893. The building has a blend of neo-Byzantine and Moorish revival styles with Arabesque motifs.

Smolny Cathedral

Smolny Convent or Smolny Convent of the Resurrection, located on Ploschad Rastrelli, on the bank of the River Neva in Saint Petersburg, Russia, consists of a cathedral (sobor) and a complex of buildings surrounding it, originally intended for a convent. Smolny Cathedral was originally intended to be the central church of a monastery to house the daughter of Peter the Great, Elizabeth, after she was disallowed to take the throne and opted instead to become a nun. However, as soon as her Imperial predecessor was overthrown during a coup, carried out by the royal guards, Elizabeth decided to forget the whole idea of monastic life and accepted the offer of the Russian throne.

Wikimedia Commons/Tatu Kosonen

Vyborg's Old Cathedral

Vyborg's old cathedral is the oldest existing church building in Vyborg, having been built between 1435 and 1445. The original medieval appearance of the church is not known, as it has since been altered and destroyed quite extensively by fires and wars (Great Northern War and Winter War). The church had functioned as a Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran church. The church tower is still standing and has become one of the symbols of Vyborg next to the castle.