Ioannovsky Ravelin

The Ioannovsky Ravelin is a bastion structure on the eastern side of the Peter and Paul Fortress with a triangular shape and stone walls. It contains multiple gun positions and underground chambers that once served to defend the harbor.

The structure was built in the early 1700s under Peter the Great as part of Saint Petersburg's defense system. It became an important military installation during Russia's expansion period toward the Baltic Sea.

The gun embrasures and casemates show how soldiers lived and worked daily inside this fortification. You can still experience today how life functioned within a military structure of that period.

You reach the structure through the Ioannovsky Gate, accessible from the main fortress entrance. The path leads from Gorkovskaya metro station to the primary access point of the complex.

The former dry moat surrounding the structure has been transformed into a green garden, creating an interesting contrast with the stone architecture. Inside the vaulted chambers beneath the fortification sits a restaurant that serves visitors.

Location: Saint Petersburg

GPS coordinates: 59.95100,30.32240

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:00