Beautiful Sunday on Stone Island

The day was sunny but cold. Despite the fact that spring is in full swing, it snowed during the night. In the afternoon, in the sunshine, the snow had almost all melted, but in some places the lawns were still powdered with white icing sugar. I decided to take a short walk round Stone Island. Stone Island was originally a country cottage, but gradually the boundaries of the city moved away, and the country estates became city mansions. Some of these mansions were built in the early 20th century in the popular Art Nouveau style, while others were built in the Classicism style, so a walk around Kamenny Island is an opportunity to admire the beautiful architecture.

I started my walk near the dacha of Prince Peter Oldenburgsky. This building has only recently been freed from scaffolding, and I have not yet seen it after renovation. The building was built in the early 19th century in the Classicist style, and was designed by famous architects. Now there is a hotel in the building. Not far away is a service wing, also built in the early 19th century and in a similar style. It is a greenhouse building.

The next building on the embankment seems similar, but only at first glance. It was built much later, in 1914. The most popular architectural style at this time was Art Nouveau, but many architects also imitated the creations of famous architects of previous eras. In this case, the architect was inspired by buildings in the style of classicism. The house was built for the famous scientist and doctor, the outstanding psychiatrist and neurologist Vladimir Bekhterev.

Stone Island is divided into sections by several canals and quiet streets. There is a park in the centre of the island. I walk along Birch Alley to come out to the Hauswald Dacha. It is a monument of wooden architecture in Art Nouveau style. The building has not only architectural but also cinematographic value, several films were shot in this mansion.

I continue my walk and stop a few more times to take photos of some Art Nouveau mansion. At the end of the walk I come to the far edge of Stone Island. A small footbridge leads to a narrow, elongated piece of land. This piece of land has no name; on maps it is labelled “Nameless Island”. There are boat sheds on the opposite shore, where the rowing department of the University of Physical Education, Sport and Health is located.