The Bronze Horseman in St. Petersburg

Just before we proceeded to visit the Winter Palace and Hermitage Museum on 18.09.2025 (Read here), we were taken on a short walk to explore some nearby attractions. Along the way, we were introduced to another statue of a man on horseback - a common sight in Saint Petersburg. This particular monument, known as the Bronze Horseman, is officially called the Monument to Peter the Great.

Unveiled in 1782 during the reign of Empress Catherine the Great, it honors Peter I, the founder of the city. The statue depicts Peter riding a horse, with his outstretched arm pointing forward. It is located in Senate Square, beside the Neva River, near the former Senate and Synod buildings, and close to Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, which we had visited two days earlier on 16.09.2025.

What fascinated me most, however, was the enormous stone base beneath the statue. Known as the Thunder Stone, this massive granite boulder is regarded as one of the largest stones ever moved by humans. It was originally discovered in the Lakhta area, near the Gulf of Finland, about 6 to 8 km from its present location. Partly buried in the ground and cracked by lightning, it earned its dramatic name. Before shaping, the stone weighed an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 tons. After carving and polishing on site, it still weighs more than 1,200 tons.

Transporting the Thunder Stone in the 18th century was an extraordinary engineering achievement. Workers used a specially designed system of metal rails and bronze ball bearings to move the stone on a sled. The journey took place mainly during winter, when the frozen ground provided greater stability. Hundreds of laborers pulled the stone slowly, advancing only a few meters each day. Once it reached the coast, it was loaded onto a custom-built barge and transported by sea and river to Senate Square.

Shaped into a wave-like cliff, the Thunder Stone symbolizes Peter’s triumph over chaos and obstacles.

The horse appears to balance only on its two hind legs, which was an extraordinary technical achievement for its time. For stability, the sculptor cleverly included a bronze snake beneath the horse’s hoof. This snake serves as a hidden third support while also symbolizing Peter’s defeated enemies and obstacles.