Ioannovsky Gate in Peter & Paul Fortress

The Ioannovsky Gate is the principal entrance to the Peter and Paul Fortress, built with thick stone walls and architectural details typical of early 18th-century fortification design. This passage connects the outer embankment area to the inner courtyard of the fortress complex.

The gate was constructed in the early 1700s as part of Peter the Great's fortification strategy for the new capital. It functioned as a controlled passage point for military operations and remained a key element of the fortress's defensive layout for centuries.

The gate is named after Saint John and reflects the Orthodox traditions that held meaning for the fortress community. The stonework visible today shows how military builders combined defensive design with local building practices.

The gate can be visited as part of walking through the fortress grounds, which are open to the public. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the entrance is not elevated, and the surrounding paths may be uneven.

The gate contains several hidden chambers and internal passages that allowed defenders to move unseen during emergencies. These concealed routes reveal how military planners cleverly integrated defensive tactics into the architecture itself.