THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PETER AND PAUL

THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PETER AND PAUL

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

St. Peter and Paul's fortress is the birthplace of St Petersburg.  It was originally constructed in timer over 3 summer months during the Great Northern War with the Swedish Empire (1700-1721).  The fortress was rebuilt in stone in the 1730's to act as a military fortification, but was never actually been used for this purpose.  The site later became a political prison. The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul situated on the grounds of the Fortress is the burial place of many Russian emperors starting with Peter the Great (1689-1725) and ending with Nicholas II (1894-1917).  The remains of the last Russian Tsar and his family were buried beneath the cathedral on July 17, 1998.