Pl Dekabristov (Decembrists’ Sq)

Centred on the famed statue of the Bronze Horseman, pl Dekabristov (Decembrists’ Sq) is named after the first attempt at a Russian revolution – the Decembrists’ Uprising of 14 December 1825. The Decembrists were young officers who were inspired by radical ideas from France during the Napoleonic campaigns and wanted to introduce constitutional monarchy. Ineptly, they set up their protest on the same day as the swearing-in ceremony of the new tsar, Nicholas I. After repeated attempts by Nicholas’ ministers to reason with the rebels, they were fired upon. Many officers and bystanders died as a result. Most of the leaders later ended up on the gallows or in Siberia. The dominant feature of pl Dekabristov is the immense façade of St Isaac’s Cathedral. Most of the west side of the square is occupied by the Central State Historical Archives in the former Senate and Synod buildings, built by Carlo Rossi between 1829 and 1834. These institutions were set up by Peter the Great to run the civil administration and the Orthodox Church.