Lenfilm, the cradle of Russian cinema
The visit begins at Lenfilm, just five minutes from Gorkovskaya metro station. As the oldest studio, its formal founding dates to 1934, yet Lenfilm traces its roots to the Military Cinematography Department of the Skobelevsky Committee, established in 1914 at the Nikolaev General Staff Academy on Suvorovsky Prospekt, 32B. Between 1914 and 1934 the studio wore numerous names to reflect shifting political and economic realities: Petrograd Film Committee, Sevzapkino, Leningradkino, Lensovkino, Lensoyuzkino, Lenrosfilm, and Lensoyuzfilm.
Each rename mirrored Russia’s changing era, yet Lenfilm consistently stood out as a forward-looking brand. The studio’s corporate logo, the Bronze Horseman, was adopted in 1965, designed by artist Marina Bologavskaya and cinematographer Edgar Shtyrtskober.
Beyond the sweeping lore, Lenfilm is known for hosting hundreds of landmark productions, including Chapaev and Old Man Hottabych. The catalogue also features the adaptation of Hamlet by Grigory Kozintsev, celebrated in Russia, and a television series about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The studio’s influence extended beyond its borders, while its internal evolution mirrored decades of film history.
In 1929 a pivotal moment occurred on the grounds of the former Aquarium theater garden, where Lenfilm merged with the venue. There the first public screening in Russia took place, foreshadowing the advent of sound cinema. That event featured live performers accompanying Anton Rubinstein’s opera The Devil, based on a Lermontov poem, illustrating an early blend of music and film that prefigured modern cinema. This milestone marks a transition toward what would become a more modern era of film and performance.
Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, 10. Nearest metro station: Gorkovskaya
“The Master and Margarita”: Turgenevskaya Square
The thread from the earlier history continues here, as Bulgakov began his celebrated novel in the late 1920s. The film adaptation by Vladimir Bortko appeared in a later era, during the turn of the 21st century. Bortko’s series captures scenes filmed in this cityscape, a transformation from the Moscow of the 1930s to Saint Petersburg as a cinematic stage. Earlier, in 1987, Bortko directed Heart of a Dog at Lenfilm.
The Moscow of Bulgakov’s time gives way to the modern city as Saint Petersburg takes the lead. The Patriarch’s Ponds sequence, where Berlioz, Bezdomny, and Woland intersect, was actually filmed on Turgenev Square. The era’s trams, previously limited to Bulgakov’s Moscow, inspired by Chistye Prudy, were translated into cinema here with care. The filmmakers navigated a delicate historical moment and brought the imaginary Patriarch’s Ponds to life on screen.
Turgenev Square sits in Saint Petersburg’s Admiralteysky district, at the crossing of Sadovaya Street and English Boulevard. Locals often call the square Pokrovskaya, and its history includes an intended Church of the Assumption by Empress Anna Ioannovna, followed by the Church of the Intercession funded in part by Pushkin’s family. Under Soviet rule the square became a memorial space, and in 2000 a stone marker by architect Skryplev replaced a demolished church.
Visiting here offers a chance to trace Bortko’s film crew footsteps and to uncover broader strokes of Russian history.
Turgenev Square. Nearest metro stations: Sadovaya, Tekhnologichesky Institut, Baltiyskaya
“Master and Margarita” again: Forestry Academy Park and Vasilyevsky Island
Margarita’s aerial flights and the witches’ Sabbath unfold in the Forestry Academy Park in Saint Petersburg’s Vyborg district. The Moscow Arbat Lanes, a familiar backdrop for Bulgakov’s work, are reimagined in Saint Petersburg for this production, underscoring the city’s central role in the storytelling and its cinematic portrayal by local hands.
Vasilyevsky Island, another key site, stands among Saint Petersburg’s richest reservoirs of memory. The island’s Pelya Pharmacy, the city’s oldest apothecary, harbors urban legends and a museum with hundreds of exhibits, including an alchemy laboratory and a World War II bomb shelter. The area evokes a sense of history embedded in the urban fabric.
Forestry Academy Park, a culture and recreation space, is located at Institutsky Lane, 5, with the nearest metro stop Lesnaya. Vasilyevsky Island is served by Vasileostrovskaya station.
“Streets of Broken Lanterns”: Bolshaya Monetnaya Street, 20
The late 1990s and early 2000s brought a beloved television series to life under Alexander Rogozhkin. Vladimir Bortko also contributed to this project, credited as Yan Khudokormov. The show’s artistic flair shone through even on a modest budget, delivering authentic, relatable moments that resonated with audiences.
The narrative follows a gang of investigators in a real building, the former 43rd police department of the Petrograd region, located at Bolshaya Monetnaya Street, building 20. The setting remains a vivid backdrop for the crew’s relentless pursuit and its occasional detours into darker corridors of crime drama.
Bolshaya Monetnaya Street, 20. Nearest metro stations: Petrogradskaya, Gorkovskaya
“The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”: Matilda Kshesinskaya’s Mansion
The oldest part of Trinity Square frames Saint Petersburg, offering a scenic view of the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Matilda Kshesinskaya Mansion at the start of Kronverksky Prospekt. The structure stands as a hallmark of Art Nouveau and has hosted scenes from Soviet television, including the series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. The same mansion later became a setting for Bortko’s productions, where Margarita, played by Anna Kovalchuk, once resided before her fate intertwined with the Master.
Matilda Kshesinskaya Mansion, Kuibysheva Street, No. 2-4 / Kronverksky Street, No. 1. Nearest metro station: Gorkovskaya
“War and Peace”, James Bond: Winter Groove channel
In the heart of the city, the Winter Canal—linking the Neva and Moika near the Winter Palace—serves as a visual signature of Saint Petersburg’s European character. It also hosted the opening scenes of a post–Cold War James Bond film. The area has featured in various projects, from GoldenEye with Pierce Brosnan to episodes of the TV series War and Peace, where Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov walked the canal set, reflecting on life and war.
The Winter Canal area has long attracted filmmakers, including Martha Fiennes’ Onegin and Igor Maslennikov’s Queen of Spades. The waterfront and embankments exemplify the city’s cinematic identity and its enduring charm.
Winter Canal embankment. Nearest metro stations: Admiralteyskaya, Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky Prospekt
The overview above only scratches the surface of Saint Petersburg’s vast historical and cultural wealth. For a broader look, the city offers the New Touristic Geography project, spearheaded by the Saint Petersburg Tourism Development Committee. This initiative helps strengthen tourism and modern urban experiences by weaving new places into the classic map of the city.
The city invites themed excursions spanning two to three days, designed to minimize information overload and reveal a fresh perspective. Saint Petersburg invites visitors to savor the city at a relaxed pace, from a premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre to a quiet moment in a cafe along the Neva, soaking in the atmosphere and stories that shape this remarkable place.
Timeless trips through Saint Petersburg can become a cherished tradition. The city welcomes gatherings around theatre openings, book festivals, sports events, or a romantic stroll along rivers and canals. A personal route can be crafted to include the city’s major landmarks and the evolving tourist geography, inviting visitors to truly experience Saint Petersburg.