Walks on the rivers and channels of Petersburg, driving on boats in water areas of Neva and gulf of Finland, fascinating excursions!

The Copper Horseman

The monument to Peter Great, well-known "the Copper horseman", is one of symbols of St.-Petersburg. The monument was will erect under Ekaterina's decree II French sculptor Etenom Falkone. The huge block of a granite on which there is a statue, has been found in 1768 on coast of gulf of Finland, in a place under the name Horse Lahta. The monolith has received a name the Thunder-stone as has been long since split by a lightning.

There was a legend, that Peter the Great during Northern war rose on this rock to observe movement of armies. The weight the Thunder-stone made 1600 tons. First a stone transported on a platform with runners and bronze spheres which based on portable rails with trenches. After that a monolith delivered on specially constructed barge. Have delivered a stone to Petersburg only in 1770. Works on processing a monolith which have begun in a way, have considerably reduced its weight and the sizes. The stone was formed with rocks and waves simultaneously. In honour of such difficult transportation of a stone-giant even the gold medal with an inscription "similarly to challenge" has been beaten out.

Directly casting of a statue has begun on August, 25th, 1775, thus one of pipes has cracked, the fused metal floated and has arisen a fire. Fortunately, Yemelyan Khajlov supervised foundry works, has put out a fire and has closed up a crack. As a result it has received strong burns. Subsequently Yemelyan Khajlov has received for these merits from Ekaterina II officer grade. On the figure of the horseman created by Falkone, - an attire with elements of antique and Russian clothes, the head is topped by a laurel wreath.

To embody an image Peter I master used a wax mask from the face of tsar and well-known "the wax person" which were executed by sculptor K.B.Rastrelli. Work above a head of a statue has been charged to schoolgirl Falkone Mari-Ani Kollo. Later under Ekaterina's decree II he became a member of the Russian Academy of arts, and to him have granted lifelong pension. Thus for the first time the woman became the academician of the Russian academy of arts. Falkone endlessly drew from life sketches stopped on full ride horses to display necessary features in a monument. For this purpose the best racers of a court stable have been given to him. Opening of a monument took place in 1782 and was accompanied by populous celebrating with music, drumbeat, firing from guns and rise of flags by the ships.

After boards have been removed from a monument, to spectators bronze Peter I on a horse, promptly flied up on abrupt breakage of a rock was. The horse stopped by imperous will, back hoofs trambles down the snake – a symbol of a harm and resistance to Peter reforms. On a monument the inscription in Russian and latin languages is beaten out: to "Peter the Great from Ekaterina II". A monument to Peter the Great – one of the supreme achievements of a monumental sculpture of XVIII century. After opening a monument became fashionable to suit splinters of the Thunder-stone in precious metals and to carry as a medallion.