Photo from https://pilothub.ru/
On an island looking out onto the expanse of the Gulf of Finland lies Primorsky Victory Park, founded in honour of the Soviet triumph in the Second World War. Whether you want to explore its rich woodland by foot, bicycle or skis, relax or play volleyball on the sandy beach, or admire the scenery from a row boat, a visit to Primorsky Park provides the perfect peaceful interlude to your city break.
Krestovsky Island has for centuries been a place of relaxation and leisure. In imperial times members of royal and aristocratic families established their summer homes on the secluded island, and the first park was laid in the 18th century. In later years festivals and sporting events took place there. Following the October Revolution, Krestovsky was designated as part of the ‘Green Belt of Leningrad’, a garden zone in the west of the city.
The 1930s ushered in a boom of cultural and recreational spaces in Soviet Russia (among them Gorky Park and Sokolniki Park in Moscow), and in 1931, the government founded a huge park on Krestovsky Island. In contrast to its sister islands – Yelagin with its quiet regal park and Kamenny with its elite dachas and sanatoriums – Krestovsky was intended for mass festivities and sports events, a place for joyful activity for Soviet citizens. However, various setbacks meant that construction did not commence for a decade – at which point, Nazi Germany invaded the USSR. Krestovsky Island was terribly damaged during the War, its imperial-era palace destroyed and the verdant landscape torn up by shells. But the plan for a great park was not abandoned.
On 9th May 1945, Soviet Russia celebrated victory over Nazi Germany. To mark this, two victory parks were proposed in Leningrad: Moskovsky and Primorsky. Krestovsky Island was selected as the site for the latter, and the Primorsky Victory Park was founded on 7th October 1945, dedicated to the naval victories of Russia during the War (primorsky means ‘seaside’ in Russian).
Did you know? The city’s inhabitants – survivors of the 900 day Siege of Leningrad – were instrumental in the park’s creation. They volunteered to clean up the area and planted nearly 100,000 trees and shrubs, transforming the scarred island into a place of peace and beauty. Their efforts are immortalised in Anna Akhmatova’s poem Primorsky Victory Park:
Not far away, there lies a flattened spit,
black and despondent in the Neva Delta
just as it had been in the time of Peter,
covered in moss and washed by icy brine.
…
One early morning though, the Leningraders
came out in crowds towards that lonely shore,
each of them carrying a sapling to plant
upon that spit, all desolate and marshy,
in memory of the mighty Day of Victory.
Photo from https://pilothub.ru/
Over the next decades, Primorsky Park bloomed into a beautiful and popular destination. The ‘Friendship of Cities Alley’ was created in 1966, and delegates from St Petersburg’s sister cities – among them Manchester, Dresden and Bombay – planted oaks and laid granite stones along the alley in honour of their international partnership. The Kirov Stadium was constructed at the western end of the parks’ central artery, and hosted the 1980 Olympic Games.
Photo from https://fotostrana.ru/
Photo from http://pppark.ru/
In terms of the richness and diversity of its flora, Primorsky Victory Park ranks second in St Petersburg after the Botanical Gardens, and is home to fifty different types of trees and shrubs including jasmine, lilac, oak, maple, Siberian cedar, fir and apple trees. Visitors can stroll along the triple alley of linden trees, running for two kilometres through the park and crowned with a magnificent fountain at its centre, or lose themselves amongst the woodland paths. Aside from its rich arboretum, Primorsky Park is adorned with ornamental flower beds of daffodils, tulips and more.
Did you know? One tree holds particular importance: the ‘Tree of Friendship’, dedicated in honour of the 12th Congress of the World Federation of Twin Cities, held in Leningrad.
6 large ponds are dotted around the park. Visitors can enjoy a stroll around their shores, spend the afternoon on a row boat admiring the scenery, or even join paddle-board yoga classes. The pond known as ‘Swan Lake’ is home to unique flock of swans, and a historical rotunda perches on its shore. Relaxing amongst the woods and on the lawns is encouraged, and there is a special picnic area in the centre of the park.
Photo from https://photosight.ru/
Primorsky Park remains a place to get your heart rate going in all seasons. It is possible to rent bicycles, roller-skates and skateboards, or sleds and skis to explore the woodland and tree-lined glades.
Photo from https://mnogo-deti.ru/
Russia’s northern capital might seem a strange place to catch some rays, but Primorsky Park is home to a popular beach which looks out onto the Malaya Neva. If sunbathing doesn’t appeal, then you can enjoy paddle-boarding, beach volleyball, or use the shoreside workout zone. Connected to the beach is a modern wooden embankment equipped with sun-loungers, from where you can admire a magnificent seaside sunset.
Photo from https://nevnov.ru/
Staying true to its roots, a rich programme of events are held in all seasons at Primorsky Park – from summer festivals and food markets, to masterclasses and art exhibitions, to kids’ quests and concerts.
Photo from http://www.svetskyspb.ru/
Photo from http://fotokto.ru/
Divo Ostrov: People of all ages will enjoy this amusement park next to Primorsky Victory Park, which is ranked among the best theme parks in Russia. There are extreme rides for thrill-seekers (including a 10-loop rollercoaster!), as well as a Ferris Wheel, bumper cars, and pedal boats.
Photo from https://saintpetersburgcb.com/
Gazprom Arena: This futuristic stadium was erected on the site of the former Kirov Stadium, at the western edge of Krestovsky Island. It is the home of Zenit football team.
Yelagin Island and Park of Culture and Recreation: A picture-perfect leafy oasis in the bustling metropolis, Yelagin Island is home to a gorgeous park with boating lakes, a treetop adventure park, and museum of applied arts and interiors from the 18th - 20th centuries.
Photo from https://fotostrana.ru/
Moskovsky Victory Park: Though not nearby, Moskovsky Victory Park is Primorsky’s twin sister, and is located in southern St Petersburg. The site has a tragic wartime history but has been transformed into a large city park with fountains, monuments, lakes, and tree-lined alleys.
Address and contact details
Primorsky Victory Park, Krestovsky Avenue, 23, St Petersburg, 197110
Website: http://pppark.ru/
Email: hi@pppark.ru
Phone: +7 (812) 640 17 00
Nearest metro: Krestovsky Ostrov, located opposite the park entrance
Opening hours and tickets
Open 24/7. Entrance is free!
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