Dragon Bridge

In the eighteenth century, an active fascination with the culture of China began, which was reflected in the architectural forms of St. Petersburg, especially visible on the bridges thrown over the Krestovsky Canal. The Dragon Bridge was formerly known as a bridge with monstrous figures, and it was built in 1785 by the engineer Cameron. The bridge is decorated with four cast figures of dragons, which under Empress Catherine II were made of limestone, and modern cast-iron dragons were created only in 1860 according to sketches by Schwartz. According to the architect, dragons are symbolic guards of the entrance to the bridge, there are many legends and myths about dragons. To begin with, the author performed plaster figures, expressing expression in their movement and gestures. Zinc metal figures were cast at the Moran factory in 1860. The figures attract the attention of tourists and guests of St. Petersburg with their unusualness and curiosity.