WR2W+5R Petrodvortsovy District, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Next to the water pumping station, right on the shore of the bay, lies an unusual boulder. Steps are carved into it both from the shore side and from the bay side, and on the western edge, four deep holes are hollowed out. Nearby lies a flat granite slab, in which four recesses are also hollowed out. Posts supporting a canopy over the grandstand fit into these.
Judging by lithographs stored in the Hermitage by an unknown artist from the mid-19th century, this was the "Viewing Stone"; the slab served as the seat of a bench from which one could admire the Gulf of Finland. Unfortunately, this original structure has no protective status.
Despite its ruined appearance, the area has not lost its picturesque charm (moreover, the ruined look adds a certain romanticism). Pleasant natural views, "enhanced" by park builders, have been fairly well preserved. The glade is still planted with apple trees (although not the original generation—apple trees rarely live more than half a century). Therefore, this place still attracts walking enthusiasts.
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