English Embankment

It has been historically one of the most fashionable streets in Saint Petersburg, and in the 19th century was called by the French term, Promenade des Anglais.

It was from the English Embankment that at 2 am on October 25, 1917, the gunshot from the Aurora sent the signal to storm the Winter Palace during Russian Revolution.

Another historic tradition that started at the English Embankment in St. Petersburg has been the popular appearance of a boat with "Scarlet Sails" (Алые паруса).

Although it was designed to update the rusty revolutionary propaganda, the "Scarlet Sails" tradition has become a popular public event ever since, celebrating the annual ending of school year in June.

The Constitutional Court of Russia is scheduled to move to the former Senate and Synod buildings at the Decembrists Square and English Embankment in St. Petersburg by 2008.

Angliyskaya Embankment, with the dome of St. Isaac's in the background
The English Embankment with the Senate and Synod buildings, view from Vasilievsky Island
Angliyskaya Embankment at the end of the 19th century