Admiralty Bridge or Bridge with Guardhouses

The Admiralty Bridge in Gatchina, or the Bridge with Guardhouses, is a beautiful example of architecture that adorns Gatchina. From the bridge, you can enjoy the most picturesque views of the White Lake in the Palace Park and the magnificent palace in the Priory Park.

All these structures are located where the main road of Gatchina – 25 October Avenue – “cuts” the Gatchina palace and park complex into two parts: to the south of the avenue lies the Priory palace and park ensemble, and to the north, behind a metal fence, spreads the magnificent ensemble of the Gatchina Palace. The bridge spans over a channel that connects Gatchina’s Black and White Lakes. The stone arch of the bridge frames a small cascade arranged underneath, thanks to which water flows from one lake to the other with noise and foam. Near the Admiralty Bridge, on the left bank of the channel, two stone guardhouses – cordegardias – are installed. Their architecture is deliberately strict and laconic: these square-plan structures are decorated with large rustication and covered with hemispherical stone domes. The domes of the cordegardias are topped with copper spheres. On the bridge in front of the cordegardias, a small square is arranged, framed by tall stone parapets of the bridge pavement. The parapets are profiled and, moreover, have an unusual pattern, “breaking” at the banks and in the middle of the bridge. The order to build the Bridge with Guardhouses was given on May 26, 1792. In the same year, in autumn, a contract was signed for earthworks at the site of the construction “at the Gatchina estate on the Great Porkhov Road (across the ravine of the Black Lake) of a stone slab bridge” with excavation of earth between the Black and White Lakes “in addition to the canal, with laying of banks with small stones and tamping, where necessary, with piles.” Builders began constructing the stone single-arch bridge in 1793 and completed their work in 1794. The exact author of the project is not established, but presumably, the authorship belongs to architect Vincenzo Brenna.

Besides fulfilling its direct functions, the bridge was also meant to serve as a checkpoint at the entrance to the palace grounds. For this purpose, on both sides of the bridge, on the left bank of the channel, two stone guard posts – cordegardias – were built. Thanks to these guardhouses, this beautiful structure received its name – “Bridge with Guardhouses.”

The second name – Admiralty Bridge – was given to the structure, as well as to the Admiralty Gates, due to its proximity to the Gatchina Admiralty.

In 1944, during World War II, the Admiralty Bridge was blown up, and only the guardhouses and remnants of the shore supports survived from the beautiful structure. Today, the bridge has been fully restored and adorns the Gatchina palace and park complex.

Sources:

https://spb-pearl.ru/Gatchina/Ansambl-Gatchinskogo-Dvorca/Dvorcovyi-Park/Admiralteiskii-Most/

https://peterburg.center/maps/gatchina-admiralteyskiy-most-most-s-kordegardiyami.html