Monument at the place of Decembrists' execution

The Monument at the Place of Decembrists' Execution is a 9-meter-tall granite structure located on the Kronverk embankment within the Peter and Paul Fortress. The solid base carries inscriptions that mark the exact location where five leaders faced their fate in 1825.

The monument commemorates the execution of five Decembrist leaders who rebelled against Nicholas I in 1825 and paid with their lives for their failed uprising. This event marked the first organized political resistance against tsarist rule in Russia.

The monument marks a turning point when military officers publicly challenged absolute rule for the first time in Russian history. The inscriptions on it tell the story of people who fought for political change and inspired later reform movements.

The monument is located within the Peter and Paul Fortress, which is easily accessible by public transportation to the Petropavlovskaya station. It is best explored on foot along the embankment where you can also discover other parts of the fortress.

The site was not originally marked with a monument and the story of the executions remained largely unknown to the public for many decades. It took more than a century before architect Vasiliy Petrov designed this memorial to honor these early fighters for freedom.

Location: Saint Petersburg

Architects: Vasiliy Aleksandrovitsj Petrov

Height: 9 m

Made from material: granite

GPS coordinates: 59.95330,30.31810

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:03