Observatoire de Saint-Pétersbourg

The Observatoire de Saint-Pétersbourg is located in the upper floors of the Kunstkamera building near the Neva River, rising roughly 10 meters above ground. The facility housed telescopes, sextants, pendulums, and globes used for astronomical observations and geographical measurements across the empire.

Peter the Great visited Greenwich Observatory in 1698 and later founded the Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg with its observatory in 1724. The facility quickly became instrumental in coordinating geographical research and astronomical measurements that helped map the vast Russian Empire.

The observatory became a meeting place for European scholars and scientists who gathered to share knowledge and conduct collaborative research. This attracted foreign experts to the city, making it a center where different scientific traditions and approaches came together.

The location in the upper floors of the Kunstkamera building offers an unobstructed view of the sky for observations. Visitors will find that the elevated position provides clear sight lines needed for effective astronomical work.

French astronomer Joseph-Nicolas Delisle arrived in 1726 to lead the observatory, bringing his brother and an artist named Vignon with him. This international team combined advanced scientific methods with artistic documentation of their observations and discoveries.

Elevation above the sea: 10 m

Website: http://kunstkamera.ru/exposition/4floor

GPS coordinates: 59.94167,30.30444

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:40