18th century plan of St Petersburg

This detailed map depicts St. Petersburg after the early stages of its construction had been completed. In 1703, Tsar Peter the Great selected a site at the head of the Gulf of Finland to build a new capital for the Russian Empire. A vast workforce was mobilized for the monumental task, with no expense spared. Renowned architects and artisans from across Europe were offered substantial wages to contribute to this massive project. French landscape architect Jean-Baptiste Alexandre Le Blonde, who had previously worked for Louis XIV, oversaw the design, with the Swiss architect Domenico Trezzini serving as his key collaborator.