Fortresses
Fortresses of the North-West of Russia are linked to key events in military and political history. They were built as defensive structures, protected trade routes, and became centers of power.
Peter and Paul Fortress marked the beginning of St. Petersburg. Oreshek Fortress controlled the access to Lake Ladoga. Vyborg Castle reflects the medieval European building tradition. Each belongs to its own era and has its own architectural features.
The region's fortifications allow tracing the development of defensive architecture from medieval walls to bastion systems of the modern era.