The Bypass canal of Kronstadt was dug in the period from 1787 to 1844. It starts at the Italian Pond and wraps around all the historical sights of Kronstadt with the letter «П». There is a path along the Bypass Canal, where tourists and locals like to walk.
The beginning of the construction of the Bypass Canal is connected with the decision of Catherine II to transfer the Admiralty from St. Petersburg to Kronstadt. In the 18th century, ships were made of wood, and this created a danger of fires. In 1783, a major fire occurred in the Admiralty of the northern capital. Next to it is the royal residence in the Winter Palace, and the palace could also burn down.
After this fire, Catherine II ordered to dig a Bypass Canal in Kronstadt to protect the city from fires when the Admiralty was moved to Kronstadt. The Bypass Canal also made it possible to deliver timber by water for the construction of ships to the workshops of the Admiralty.
The Bypass Canal was built until 1844. Its length is 3 kilometers. Such a long construction period was due to that the heir of Catherine II, Tsar Paul I, canceled the decision to transfer the Admiralty from St. Petersburg to Kronstadt. The urgent need for the construction of the Bypass Canal has disappeared, but many warehouses have been built on its banks.
They stored goods that were delivered from European countries or were being prepared for shipment to European countries. These goods were unloaded in the Merchant Harbor and then transported by small boats to warehouses in Kronstadt. On the western corner of the Bypass Canal in front of the Cathedral of St. Andrew, a Shopping Mall was built in the 19th century. The goods were also delivered there via the Bypass Channel.
The path near the Bypass Canal is laid along its western shore. You can start the walk at the Italian Pond. There is a beautiful Italian palace on its shore. Behind it are the buildings of warehouses and barracks made of red brick. Now they are in an abandoned state, but their reconstruction is planned in the future.
One of the beautiful sights of the Bypass Canal is the Sailing Bridge. It is located near the Naval St. Nicholas Cathedral. The metal structure of the pedestrian Sailing bridge was built in 1973.
