Description:
Designed by A.N.Voronikhin and built in 1801-1811, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan (Kazan Cathedral) is an outstanding sample of classical architecture. It was supposed to house the ancient Icon of Our Lady of Kazan and was named after this icon. During the war of 1812 the cathedral was turned into the museum of Russian military glory. The captured flags and keys of seized fortresses are stored here, and in 1813 Kutuzov was buried in a crypt inside the cathedral. After the Revolution of 1917, in 1929 the Bolsheviks closed the cathedral for services, and since 1932 it has housed the collection of the Historical Museum of Religion and Atheism with numerous items of religious art. It is considered to be the biggest museum of this kind. The Cathedral has become one of the best- known and important cathedrals of St.Petersburg after the daily religious services were resumed.

Main attractions:
The gigantic slightly curved colonnade consists of 96 13- metre high columns decorated with compelling bas-reliefs. The unique bronze sculptures in the niches of the northern portico portray Alexander Nevsky and Prince Vladimir who brought Christianity to Russia.

The interior of the cathedral is amazing; it includes 56 red granite columns and has got an inlaid floor of multicoloured Karelian marble. Famous Russian artists worked at internal decoration of the cathedral.

Open:
Daily 10:00 – 19:00.