The Legend of the Ghost of Peter I
Locals say the spirit of Peter the Great still roams the streets of the city, guarding his property and watching over the sites where his legacy is strongest. Some claim they’ve glimpsed him near the Peter and Paul Fortress or along the Neva embankment.
Even in life, Peter I faced fierce opposition, with many labeling him the Antichrist. Years after his passing, whispers spread that his ghost appeared to people, a tale carried in anecdotes from Catherine II and Paul I. Legend has it that the phantom of Peter once guided Pavel Petrovich, strolling by the Neva with Prince Kurakin and their retinue, to a square beside the Senate and pointed to the spot, saying, “Paul, goodbye, you will see me here again.” This tale reached Catherine II, who decided to place a monument at that very location. Thus the Bronze Horseman arose, spawning more legends and secrets. The area itself was long regarded as uncanny, and some claim the block on which the statue stands sits atop stone from an ancient pagan temple.
Soon after, belief grew that dark nights were best avoided near the statue. Police records from the 19th century reportedly describe decapitated bodies found near the Bronze Horseman each morning. The legend also weaves into the famous Pushkin poem bearing the same name.
Legend of Underground Passages
Whispers persist of a labyrinth of subterranean corridors beneath the city, connecting diverse districts. Some accounts claim these passages were built for covert meetings and swift movement during Paul I’s reign.
Paul I was known for his secrecy and suspicion of conspiracies. The Gatchina Palace is said to embody this mindset: legend claims architect Antonio Rinaldi designed an underground network so the emperor could move unseen within the fortress. Only fragments of this lore have been confirmed to date—one tunnel at the palace site exists, and its origin remains unclear. It’s suggested that Pavel used the tunnel to slip out quietly and emerge on the shore of Silver Lake within minutes, the passage measuring roughly 120 meters.
There are also tales of tunnels under the Mikhailovsky Castle. Built as a fortress, it is said to house hidden routes below and above. Although official confirmation is lacking, whispers persist that one tunnel led straight to the Vorontsov Palace, while others speculate about additional connections yet to be proven.
Legend of the Sphinx
From the University Embankment, the stone sphinxes stand as enduring symbols of St. Petersburg. Local lore holds that they were brought from Egypt to safeguard the city along the Neva bank.
In ancient Egypt, Pharaoh III supposedly revered witchcraft, and Amenhotep is said to have inscribed spells on the bases of the Theban sphinxes. In 1833, these two sphinxes reportedly reached St. Petersburg and were placed opposite the Academy of Arts along the Neva embankment. Since then, the statues have inspired countless mystical stories.
Some believe the sphinxes helped shield the city from floods; before 1833, Neva flood levels rose roughly every decade, but after their installation, the next major flood did not come until 1863 and recurred only 31 years later. It’s also said that drowned souls were drawn to this corner of the river where the sphinxes stood.
Another popular legend warns against meeting the eyes of the sphinxes at dawn or dusk, claiming the gaze can subjugate or drive a person to madness. A more uplifting belief survives too: if a visitor caresses the head of a nearby Griffon, grasps the sphinx’s right tooth with the other hand, and looks into the sphinx’s eyes, a wish may come true. Morning visits are said to be gentler, while danger is more likely to loom at sunset.
It is also said that the griffin statue nearby guards the sphinxes and that the numbers etched into the bricks conceal a path to immortality. The secret, according to legend, will reveal itself to those who visit the tower at midnight on a designated day.
The Tale of Griffin Tower
On the Vasilyevsky Island’s seventh line, at house number 17, stands a distinctive brick chimney known as the griffin tower or the tower of immortality. The dwelling once housed a pharmacy rumored to double as a secret laboratory.
In 1858, a pharmacy opened at number 17. Legend says it was discovered by Wilhelm Pohl, a pharmacist who dabbled in alchemy. He is said to have used the tower to conduct experiments in turning base metals into gold and to seek a formula for wishes. The story holds that he numbered the bricks to encode a powerful sequence, and that the numbers keep shifting in ways that could unlock a wish for the right person.
Another striking element of the tower is its griffin statues. Legends claim these creatures protected the hidden laboratory, lifting off at night to observe passersby. The brick inscriptions are said to conceal the key to immortality, guarded by griffins. According to lore, the answer would appear to those who visit the tower at midnight on a specific day.
Belief in Hidden Treasures
Many tales circulate about buried riches around St. Petersburg. The oldest claim treasure lies deep in nearby forests from the era of the Swedish war. Some say the Swedes hid a great amount of jewelry within the city, including a legendary golden chariot and even the royal crown. Another version suggests a Swedish trove was buried somewhere along an ancient passage from Nyenschanz Castle, linking to an estate built by Count Kushelev-Bezborodko. Some even place a chest of Swedish gold near Cape Dubkovsky. Peter I reportedly searched for these treasures, though the treasures exist mainly in legend.
A separate legend tells of a ship carrying gold that sank not far from Kronstadt. The tale has a kernel of truth: a merchant vessel carrying gold bars financed by Peter I to the Netherlands disappeared en route. Repeated attempts to locate sunken treasure in Kronstadt waters have yielded no proven finds.
All of these legends enrich the city’s image as a place steeped in history, culture, and mystery. They reflect a vibrant narrative that continues to color the atmosphere of the Northern capital.