Hare Monument

The Hare Monument is a small bronze figure standing on a wooden post in the water near the entrance to the Ioannovsky Bridge by the fortress. Marks below the sculpture show the water levels reached during past floods that hit the city over the centuries.

The bronze figure was installed in 2003 and recalls the hares that lived on the island in the early 18th century when the city was founded. The small animal gave the island its name as the fortress walls went up.

Local legend says a hare leaped into the tsar's boot to escape drowning when Peter the Great first arrived at the island during a flood. This story explains why the small landmass is called Hare Island in Russian and why visitors now toss coins at the metal figure for luck.

The sculpture stands on a post in the water right in front of the fortress and is easy to spot from the bridge. Anyone wanting to toss a coin should try from the railing, as the distance to the water is quite short.

The figure stands just 58 centimeters tall, so you need to look carefully to spot it in the water. Visitors often try to toss coins so they land on the narrow platform or directly on the hare itself.