Fontanka, river

Categories / City Topography/Waterways and Currents/Rivers
Categories / City Topography/Urban Network/Embankments
FONTANKA (known as Bezymyanny Erik until 1712-14), river, a branch in the Neva river delta, which crosses the central part of the city. The river flows from the Neva on the left, beside the Summer Garden, and runs into the Bolshaya Neva north of Gutuevsky Island. The river assumed its name after the fountains of the Summer Garden were built. The Fontanka set the southern limit of the city until the mid-18th century. Its banks were built up with manors, Tsar Peter the Great's Summer Palace being the first of them (see Summer Palaces). In 1780-89, granite embankments were built, along with granite landfalls and approaches to the river (architect A.V. Kvasov); at the same time the channel of the river was straightened. The following bridges span the Fontanka River: Prachechny Bridge, Pestelya Bridge (former Panteleymonovsky Bridge), Belinskogo Bridge (former Simeonovsky Bridge), Anichkov Bridge, Lomonosova Bridge (former Chernyshev Bridge), Semenovsky Bridge, Obukhovsky Bridge, Izmaylovsky Bridge, Egipetsky Bridge (former Pokrovsky Bridge) and Staro-Kalinkin Bridge. House No. 6 used to accommodate the Law Collegium. Opposite the Summer Garden, the Particular Shipyard was situated; in the late 18th century salt and wine storehouses were located here (see Salt Settlement). The only remnant of the complex of the shipyrad is St. Panteleimon's Church. The embankment near the Pestelya Bridge provides a good view of the Mikhaylovsky Castle. The left bank of the river accommodates former Sheremetev Palace (house No. 34), the building of former St. Catherine Institute is located on the site of the former Italyansky Garden (house No. 36; 1804-07, architect G. Quarenghi), while at the intersection of the Fontanka and Nevsky Prospect is the former Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace (house No. 42). Among the notable buildings of the right bank of the Fontanka the former Shuvalov (Naryshkins') Palace should be mentioned (house No. 21). From 1918 to 1935, house No. 35, formerly the house of the Serebryanikov family (1802-12, architect G.C. Paulson) accommodated the Museum of Old Petersburg, which was enrolled in the Museum of the City as a department. House No. 25 used to belong to E.F. Muravieva, the mother of Decembrists A.M. Muraviev and N.M. Muraviev. House No. 55 (1863-65, architect R.E. Bergman) was occupied by actress E.P. Korchagina-Alexandrovskaya. The left bank of the Fontanka River below the Anichkov Bridge was built up in the second half of the 19th century. At various times, the house No. 38 was a place of residence for I.S. Turgenev (1854-56), actress M.G. Savina (1892-1910) and composer C.A. Cui (1891-1918). The semicircular Semenovskaya Square, located on the left bank of the Fontanka, with two arcuate houses forming its shape (Nos. 90 and 92), constitutes a single ensemble with the right-angled square on the right bank of the river, where the houses Nos. 79 and 81 (former Evmentyev's houses) are situated. The houses Nos. 97, 99 and 101 are known as the Poltoratskys' houses, as this area used to belong to M.F. Poltoratsky, the director of the Capella, in the late 18th century. House No. 106 houses Obukhovsky Hospital (the name of the hospital refers to the name of the neighbouring bridge). The area around the house No. 114 comprises the territory of former Izmaylovsky Garden (Bouffe Garden). The former palace of Prince N.B. Yusupov (the house No. 115), which occupies the area between the Fontanka and Sadovaya Street (rebuilt in 1790, architect G. Quarenghi) is located just after Moskovsky Avenue. In the 19th century the palace together with the neighbouring house No. 117 (1859-61, architect N.P. Grebenka) belonging to the Chief Administration of Transport Communications. House No. 118 belonged to G.R. Derzhavin (1780, architect G.P. Pilnikov). The right bank of the Fontanka River accommodates the ensemble of Lomonosova Square. Alexander Pushkin used to live here at No.185 in 1817-20, followed by architect C.I. Rossi who resided there in 1849. In the 18th-19th centuries, the area stretching beyond Kryukov Canal, between the Fontanka and the Moika River, was occupied by a suburban region of St. Petersburg, Kolomna. Illustrations see on page 911.

References: Ленинград: Путеводитель / Сост.: В. А. Витязева, Б. М. Кириков. 2-е изд. Л., 1988. С. 159-171; Канн П. Я. Прогулки по Петербургу: Вдоль Мойки, Фонтанки, Садовой. СПб., 1994. С. 7-126; Кудашев Б. М. Вдоль реки Фонтанной: (Восемь маршрутов по наб. Фонтанки): Путеводитель. СПб., 1997.

O. A. Chekanova. Bergman Robert Egorovich
Cui Cesar Antonovich
Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich
Evmentiev Alexander Fadeevich
Grebenka Nikolay Pavlovich
Korchagina-Alexandrovskaya Ekaterina Pavlovna
Kvasov Alexey Vasilievich
Muravyev Alexander Nikolaevich
Muravyev Nikita Mikhailovich
Muravyeva Ekaterina Fedorovna
Paulsen Gottlieb Christoph
Peter I, Emperor
Pilnikov Grigory Petrovich
Poltoratsky Mark Fedorovich
Pushkin Alexander Sergeevich
Quarenghi Giacomo
Rossi Carl Ivanovich (Carlo Giovanni)
Savina Maria Gavrilovna
the Beloselsky-Belozerskys
The Poltoratskys
The Serebryanikovs
the Sheremetevs
Turgenev Ivan Sergeevich
Yusupov Nikolay Borisovich, Duke
Fontanka River/Saint Petersburg, city
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 25
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 81
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 92
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 101
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 97
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 35
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 55
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 42
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 99
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 114
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 185
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 90
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 118
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 34
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 115
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 38
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 21
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 106
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 117
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 79
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 36
Lomonosova Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Moskovsky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city
Sadovaya St./Saint Petersburg, city
Semenovskaya Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Коломна
Ленинград: Путеводитель / Сост.: В. А. Витязева, Б. М. Кириков. 2-е изд. Л., 1988
Канн П. Я.. Прогулки по Петербургу: Вдоль Мойки, Фонтанки, Садовой. СПб., 1994
Кудашев Б. М. Вдоль реки Фонтанной: (Восемь маршрутов по наб. Фонтанки): Путеводитель. СПб., 1997 Summer Palaces (entry)
Law School
Particulyarnaya Shipyard
Solyanoy Settlement
St. Panteleimon Church
Sheremetev Palace
Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace
Shuvalov (Naryshkin) Palace
Museum of Old Petersburg
Obukhovskaya Hospital
1780
1789