Inasmuch as Prussia has been colonized by Germany - yes. St. Petersburg has been started with mainly Dutch/German influences and later got significant contributions from French/Italian architects. Czars wanted capital with European feel, particlularly its founder Peter the Great, Catherine II the Great (of German origin) and Pavel (big fan of German/ Prussian customs). Authentic Russian architecture is engraved in its mostly German fabric.
I heard a story, do not know if its true, beleive it if you wish. As the city has been neglected during Soviet times, it delapidated so much that in 1990s when some film companies needed settings showing WWII destruction in German cities - it was easier to shoot these scenes in St. Petersburg.
Due to restorations of the last about 10 years - at least facades look good.
A lot remains to be done, moreover, to keep the city of this size in good shape in this difficult climat - it needs continuos attention.
Inasmuch as Prussia has been colonized by Germany - yes. St. Petersburg has been started with mainly Dutch/German influences and later got significant contributions from French/Italian architects. Czars wanted capital with European feel, particlularly its founder Peter the Great, Catherine II the Great (of German origin) and Pavel (big fan of German/ Prussian customs). Authentic Russian architecture is engraved in its mostly German fabric.
Well, Prussia is (part of) Germany. Prussia and Russia are completely different places. But yes, I had heard that the Tsar sought to "Europeanize" Russia and this is why he built the new capital of St. Petersburg and invited Germans to settle. So the similar appearance isn't surprising, I just haven't had the opportunity to visit and see it for myself.
Well, Prussia is (part of) Germany. Prussia and Russia are completely different places. But yes, I had heard that the Tsar sought to "Europeanize" Russia and this is why he built the new capital of St. Petersburg and invited Germans to settle. So the similar appearance isn't surprising, I just haven't had the opportunity to visit and see it for myself.
Well, Prussia does not exist anymore. Eastern part is absorbed by Poland and Russia, and Western part does not exist as a state. Today at least, it is only a part of Germany's past, although we can never be sure about future.
I do not doubt that Prussia was part of Germany and never suggested that Prussia and Russia were the same thing or place.
I just do not have a good feel for how Prussian architechture is different from Bavarian, Saxon or Austrian (all of them German to me in a greater sense), so to me a lot of St Petersburg architechture looks German but not specifically Prussian. Maybe it is Prussian after all.
I just do not have a good feel for how Prussian architechture is different from Bavarian, Saxon or Austrian (all of them German to me in a greater sense), so to me a lot of St Petersburg architechture looks German but not specifically Prussian. Maybe it is Prussian after all.
Ahh, well there were certainly regional differences in architecture and still are today, just as northern & southern Italy don't look the same and villages in Normandy look quite different from villages in Provence.
Anyway, nice photos. I'd love to visit some day but haven't made it that far east. Need to do my Baltic Sea tour...
So far we have scratched the surface of the topic of historic St Petersburg center. However, if we continue, some people may get impression that nothing has been built in the city in the last 150 years. It is not true.