Birzhevaya Ploschchad
Bus: 7, 10, 47, K-47, K-128, K- 129, K- 147,
K- 187, K- 228, K- 252
Trolley: 1, 7, 10
The Rostral Columns are iconic architectural monuments located on the Spit (Strelka) of Vasilievsky Island in Saint Petersburg, Russia, at Birzhevaya Ploshchad (Stock Exchange Square). Erected in 1811, these 32-meter-tall, terra-cotta-red columns were designed by French architect Jean-François Thomas de Thomon as part of the Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange ensemble. Originally serving as navigational beacons for the city’s port, they symbolize Russia’s naval prowess and maritime heritage, drawing inspiration from ancient Roman rostral columns adorned with the prows of defeated ships. Decorated with bronze ship prows, anchors, and allegorical sculptures representing Russia’s major rivers, the columns are a striking feature of Saint Petersburg’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic center.
The Rostral Columns were conceived during the early 19th-century
redevelopment of Vasilievsky Island’s Spit, a strategic point where the
Neva River splits into the Bolshaya Neva and Malaya Neva. In the 18th
century, this area housed Saint Petersburg’s main port, established in
1733 to facilitate trade with Western Europe. By 1805, as the city’s
commercial and cultural ambitions grew under Alexander I, architect
Thomas de Thomon was tasked with designing a grand ensemble centered on
the Stock Exchange (now the Central Naval Museum). The columns,
completed in 1811, were integral to this vision, serving both practical
and symbolic purposes.
Practically, the columns functioned as
beacons to guide ships navigating the Neva’s channels during long, dark
nights and foggy conditions. Oil-filled braziers at their tops were lit
in the 19th century, with spiral staircases inside allowing access to
the lamps. By 1885, the port relocated to the Gulf of Finland to
accommodate larger vessels, and the beacons were decommissioned, though
gas torches replaced oil in 1957 for ceremonial use.
Symbolically, the columns celebrated Russia’s naval victories,
particularly in the Great Northern War (1700–1721) against Sweden and
the Russo-Turkish Wars (1768–1878), including the Battle of Chesme
(1770). Following ancient Roman tradition, where rostral columns
displayed the prows (rostra, Latin for “ship’s beak”) of captured enemy
ships, Thomon adorned the columns with bronze prows to signify Russian
maritime supremacy. This echoed Peter the Great’s vision of Saint
Petersburg as a great port city, a legacy the columns embody despite his
death in 1725, before their construction.
The columns were built
during a period of Russian imperial confidence, with the Stock Exchange
ensemble reflecting Greek Revival architecture inspired by the Temple of
Hera at Paestum. They were restored three times—in 1926–1928, 1947–1949,
and 1998–1999—to repair damage from the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945)
and weathering, with lost metal parts replaced by replicas. Their
enduring presence has made them a postcard staple, alongside landmarks
like the Palace Bridge and Winter Palace, and they even appeared on
Russian 50-ruble (1997) and 50,000-ruble (1995) banknotes.
The Rostral Columns are a pair of 32-meter-tall (105 feet) Doric
columns, constructed from brick coated with deep terra-cotta-red stucco,
a hue that shifts to yellow-orange under street lighting at night. They
sit on massive granite plinths, blending Greek Revival elegance with
Roman martial symbolism, and are positioned symmetrically on either side
of the Stock Exchange, framing a semicircular overlook onto the Neva
River.
Structure and Decoration: Each column is adorned with
eight bronze ship prows (rostra), arranged in four pairs, symbolizing
naval victories. The prows, cast by craftsmen Shapov, Vasiliev, and
Korolkov, are “fake” in that they represent no specific captured ships,
unlike Roman originals, but their copper construction enhances their
visual impact. Bronze anchors, seahorses, crocodiles, fish, and water
nymphs decorate the prows, adding mythological flair. The largest prows,
at the base, face the Neva and Stock Exchange, with one featuring a
river goddess and another a crocodile head.
River Allegories: At the
base of each column sit two monumental marble sculptures, carved from
Pudost stone (a limestone from Gatchina that hardens after extraction).
These allegorical figures, created by sculptors Jozef Camberlein
(Dnieper) and Jacques Thibault (Volga, Neva, Volkhov), with assistance
from Russian serf sculptor Samson Sukhanov, represent Russia’s major
rivers: the Volga (2,193 miles) and Dnieper (1,368 miles) at the
northern column (closer to Palace Bridge), and the Neva (46 miles) and
Volkhov (139 miles) at the southern column (near Exchange Bridge).
Thomon intended them as deities of sea and commerce, but local
historians later interpreted them as river allegories, reflecting
Russia’s vast geography.
Brazier Lamps: Atop each column, a 7-meter
(23-foot) metal tripod holds a bowl-shaped lamp, originally oil-filled
to serve as a beacon. Spiral staircases inside the columns lead to these
platforms, though public access is prohibited. Since 1957, gas torches,
fed by internal pipelines, are lit during holidays like Victory Day (May
9), Navy Day (last Sunday in July), and Saint Petersburg City Day (May
27), creating a dramatic spectacle visible across the Neva.
Surroundings: The columns are part of the Strelka’s architectural
ensemble, with the Stock Exchange’s neoclassical portico as the focal
point. The Neva’s embankment, with circular ramps descending to a jetty,
frames the columns, offering panoramic views of the Winter Palace, Peter
and Paul Fortress, and Hermitage. The adjacent park, with benches and
trees, is a popular photo spot, though modern elements like portaloos
occasionally disrupt the historical ambiance, as noted by photographers.
The columns’ Greek Revival style, with Doric simplicity and nautical
motifs, contrasts with the Baroque exuberance of St. Nicholas’ Naval
Cathedral or the Sheremetev Palace, aligning instead with the
neoclassical Tavrichesky Palace. Their terra-cotta hue, chosen for
visibility, makes them a vivid landmark, though wartime damage from
shell fragments required extensive repairs.
The Rostral Columns are more than architectural ornaments; they are
enduring symbols of Russia’s maritime power and Saint Petersburg’s role
as a naval and commercial hub. Their cultural and historical
significance spans several dimensions:
Naval Glory: The columns
celebrate Russia’s naval triumphs, from Peter the Great’s victories in
the Great Northern War to the Russo-Turkish War’s Battle of Chesme, a
high point of Russian maritime dominance. The bronze prows, echoing
Roman rostral columns like the Columna Rostrata C. Duilii (260 BC),
project imperial strength, instilling pride and deterrence, as noted in
sources comparing them to New York’s Columbus Monument or Bordeaux’s
Quinconces columns. Their placement near the Stock Exchange underscores
the link between naval power and economic prosperity, a theme Peter
championed.
Maritime Functionality: As 19th-century beacons, the
columns were vital to Saint Petersburg’s port, guiding ships through the
Neva’s treacherous channels. Historians debate whether they were
primarily lighthouses or symbolic monuments, given their urban river
setting rather than a coastal one, but their oil lamps were undeniably
practical until the port’s 1885 relocation. The gas torches, lit for
holidays, maintain this legacy, transforming the columns into a festive
spectacle akin to the Palace Bridge’s nightly draw.
Architectural
Ensemble: The columns are integral to the Strelka’s Greek Revival
ensemble, one of Saint Petersburg’s most elegant architectural
compositions. Thomon’s design, pairing the columns with the Stock
Exchange’s temple-like facade, creates a harmonious waterfront that
rivals Venice’s Piazza San Marco, as noted in UNESCO’s World Heritage
designation. Their visibility from the Neva, Hermitage, and Peter and
Paul Fortress makes them a defining feature of the city’s skyline,
alongside landmarks like St. Isaac’s Cathedral.
Cultural Icon: The
columns are a postcard staple, featured on banknotes and in media, from
Soviet propaganda to modern tourism campaigns. Their inclusion in the
Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage Objects underscores their
national importance. They evoke Saint Petersburg’s identity as a city of
water and power, complementing smaller monuments like the Chizhik-Pyzhik
and grand ones like the Alexander Column, though their naval focus is
unique.
Resilience and Restoration: The columns’ survival through the
Great Patriotic War, despite shrapnel damage, mirrors the city’s
endurance, seen in sites like Finland Station during the Siege of
Leningrad. Restorations in 1926–1928, 1947–1949, and 1998–1999 preserved
their integrity, though the use of copper replicas for prows raises
questions about authenticity, a debate echoed in the Blagoveshchensky
Bridge’s steel upgrades.
The columns’ dual role as beacons and
victory monuments distinguishes them from purely commemorative
structures like the Alexander Column, while their riverfront setting
ties them to Saint Petersburg’s canal-laden identity, akin to the
Literary Café’s Moika views. Their Roman-inspired design reflects
Russia’s aspiration to inherit classical imperial grandeur, a theme
Peter the Great advanced through the Kunstkamera.
As of 2025, the Rostral Columns are a public, open-air monument,
accessible 24/7 at Birzhevaya Ploshchad, Vasilievsky Island, with no
admission fee. Located near the Palace Bridge and Exchange Bridge, they
are a short walk from metro stations Vasileostrovskaya or Sportivnaya,
and easily reached from the Peter and Paul Fortress (1 km) or Hermitage
(1.5 km). Their central location makes them a staple of city tours, boat
excursions, and self-guided walks, particularly during the white nights
(late May to early July), when the Neva’s reflections enhance their
glow.
Visitors can photograph the columns from multiple angles:
close-up to capture the prows and river sculptures, or from across the
Neva for a panoramic view with the Winter Palace. The park around the
columns, with benches and river views, is a popular spot for photos,
especially during gas-torch lightings on holidays like Victory Day or
Navy Day, which draw crowds for their fiery spectacle. Boat tours along
the Neva, offered by operators like Astra Marine, provide a unique
perspective, passing directly beneath the columns.
Tripadvisor
reviews (4.5/5 from ~170 reviews) praise the columns’ “magnificent
scenery” and “historical meaning,” noting their visibility from afar and
the park’s photo opportunities. Some visitors find them “not a must-see”
unless paired with nearby attractions like the Kunstkamera (0.5 km),
Zoological Museum (0.3 km), or Central Naval Museum (in the Stock
Exchange). The lack of interpretive signage, a common issue in Saint
Petersburg sites like the Finland Station, can leave tourists unaware of
the columns’ history, though guided tours (~3,000 rubles, $30 USD) from
agencies like Guide For You Tours fill this gap.
The columns’
ceremonial torch lightings, managed by the city, are a highlight, though
an unauthorized lighting in 2011 by an unknown individual exposed
security vulnerabilities, quickly addressed by firefighters. The
columns’ integration into the Strelka’s ensemble, with the Naval Museum
and nearby Academy of Arts, makes them a cultural anchor, though their
open-air nature exposes them to weathering, requiring ongoing
maintenance. Tourism websites like visit-petersburg.ru and
saint-petersburg.com offer details on nearby events and tours.
The Rostral Columns are a masterstroke of architectural symbolism,
blending Greek Revival elegance with Roman martial tradition to
celebrate Russia’s naval might. Thomon’s design, aligning the columns
with the Stock Exchange’s temple-like facade, creates a cohesive
ensemble that elevates Vasilievsky Island’s Strelka to one of Saint
Petersburg’s most iconic vistas, rivaling the Palace Square’s Alexander
Column. Their dual function as beacons and victory monuments reflects a
pragmatic yet grandiose vision, echoing Peter the Great’s blend of
utility and ambition in sites like the Kunstkamera.
However, the
columns’ narrative is narrowly focused on naval triumphs, sidelining
broader maritime stories, such as civilian trade or ecological
challenges in the Baltic Sea, which could resonate with modern
audiences, as suggested for St. Nicholas’ Naval Cathedral. The
allegorical river sculptures, while impressive, are ambiguously
interpreted as deities or rivers, reflecting a lack of clear
documentation from Thomon, a gap that local historians have filled with
assumptions. The use of copper prows, rather than authentic captured
rostra, dilutes their Roman authenticity, though this artistic choice
enhances their visual impact, unlike the Alexander Column’s precise
historical tribute to 1812–1814 victories.
The columns’ practical
role as lighthouses is debated, with some historians arguing their urban
river setting made them symbolic rather than essential, especially
compared to coastal beacons like those in Vladivostok’s rostral columns.
Their high maintenance costs, noted as a reason for decommissioning in
the 20th century, highlight the tension between functionality and
symbolism, a challenge absent in purely decorative monuments like the
Chizhik-Pyzhik.
Restoration efforts, while preserving the
columns’ form, have introduced replicas, raising questions about
historical fidelity, a critique echoed in the Sheremetev Palace’s garden
losses. The lack of multilingual signage or an on-site exhibit, unlike
the Literary Café’s contextual displays, limits educational impact,
particularly for international visitors who dominate Saint Petersburg’s
tourism. The columns’ prominence in Soviet and post-Soviet imagery, from
banknotes to propaganda, reflects their adaptability to shifting
ideologies, but their imperial origins may alienate those critical of
Russia’s naval expansionism, a nuance rarely addressed in official
narratives.
The columns’ open-air accessibility is a strength,
democratizing their enjoyment compared to restricted sites like the
Tavrichesky Palace, but their exposure to vandalism (e.g., the 2011
torch incident) and weathering demands vigilant upkeep. Integrating
digital guides or augmented reality, as modern museums like the
Hermitage explore, could enhance engagement without altering the
columns’ physical integrity.