“Island of Forts”: The main naval museum of Russia opens in Kronstadt

A new cool object for tourists and history buffs has appeared near St. Petersburg - the historical park “Island of Forts” has been opened in Kronstadt. This is a huge open-air museum. It is dedicated to the Navy. From August 8, entry to the territory is free for everyone.

On an area of ​​nine hectares there are thematic areas - historical areas, places for walking, recreation and entertainment, a huge children's playground, etc.

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The central part of the park is the Alley of Heroes of the Russian Navy, which tells about more than three centuries of the history of the Navy. This also includes the Beacon of Memory with 200 names of heroic sailors, from the era of Peter I to the present day.

The new park, which was built in three months, is only the first stage of a large-scale project to reconstruct the entire Kronstadt. The entire “Island of Forts” will occupy more than 100 hectares of territory adjacent to the Coastal Harbor. There will be a new embankment, museums, cafes, hotels, an exhibition center, scientific facilities, etc.

The project was approved by President Vladimir Putin, who approved it a year ago.

“The center of concentration of naval history, both historically and logically, is Kronstadt. This is the first step taken towards the revival of history so that not only the younger generation, but all of us remember where the Russian fleet came from,” said Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Nikolai Evmenov, who was present at the opening.

“I really hope that this place will not only be a tribute to the memory of those who lived here, were born on this wonderful Kronstadt land, and with their lives, with their deeds, created glory for our Fatherland. I think that the youth sector will also be attracted, because this park will have new technologies and interactivity. Our wonderful youth will catch up, and thus learn the history of our country,” said the famous actor Konstantin Khabensky, who came to the ceremony.

“The idea of ​​creating a park is very timely and relevant, and Kronstadt is ideal for its implementation. Almost the entire history of the Baltic Fleet is connected with this city, and where, if not in it, the “Island of Forts” should be built.

Of course, it is worth making Kronstadt a center of attraction for tourists not only from all over Russia, but also from all over the world, since world history was made on its streets. And the city itself is a monument not only to the military glory of Russia, but also to architecture, and, of course, is worthy of representing the history of the Navy of our country,” Sergei Lipovoy, a member of the “Officers of Russia” organization, Hero of Russia, told PolitNavigator.

Deputy Chairman of the All-Russian movement “Strong Russia”, Hero of Russia Alexander Golovashkin agrees with him:

“The Russian army consists of different branches of the military; the Patriot Park near Moscow, unfortunately, does not have the opportunity to present a naval theme on a large scale, and Kronstadt is completely suitable both historically and territorially. Part of the naval parade dedicated to Navy Day takes place in Kronstadt, so the opening of the park is very timely and in demand. Kronstadt is our history, the history of the country and the history of the fleet, and I believe that the park will undoubtedly be in its place,” Golovashkin said.

Military historian Armen Gasparyan emphasized that the “Island of Forts” in Kronstadt will become a worthy continuation of the “Patriot” park near Moscow.

“Since the time of Alexander III and his famous words about Russia’s two allies, nothing has changed. But historically, for some reason, it turned out that the fleet has always received much less PR than it deserves. And the fact that this kind of park museum is appearing in Kronstadt is excellent. Because the traditions of the fleet must be passed on from generation to generation. Future sailors, people who will connect their lives with the Russian fleet, they must know the origins. Just as we have, conditionally, the Patriot Park, it’s great that the fleet will have one, where there are portraits of heroes, where there are stories about their exploits, where there are sacred relics of the Russian Imperial or Soviet Navy. So that people can look at it, thereby becoming imbued with this story. This is not propaganda, but the transfer of historical tradition from one generation to another,” explains Gasparyan.