Description of the attraction
In the western part of Kotlin Island, on an artificially created island, proudly stands one of the oldest Russian lighthouses - Tolbukhin lighthouse.
The construction of the lighthouse was started in 1719 at the behest of Peter I: “to make a stone Kolm with a lantern on the Kotlinskaya spit”. To the note, which was received by Vice Admiral Cornelius Cruis on November 13, 1718, was attached a sketch of the tower of the lighthouse, "the rest is given to the will of the architect."
True, the lighthouse was built in stone only 100 years later, in 1719 a temporary one was built, made of wood. A lantern was installed at the lighthouse, in which candles were lit. But the brightness of the glow of this lantern was too weak, and from 1723 hemp oil began to be used, it was burned. But even the oil could not increase the brightness of the lighthouse glow. That is why, relying on the example of the Hoglandsky lighthouse, it was decided to switch to burning coal and firewood.
The first lighthouse was called Kotlinsky, and in 1736 it became known as Tolbukhin lighthouse, in honor of Colonel Fyodor Ivanovich Tolbukhin. This man was the first commandant of Kronschlot, a hero of the Russian-Swedish war.
In mid-April 1736, the Admiralty College decided to start building a new stone lighthouse. But by 1739, only the foundation was laid out, since the work was carried out in very difficult conditions, often waist-deep in ice water. Therefore, the wooden lighthouse operated for another 7 decades.
The first stone tower of the lighthouse was built in early autumn 1810. The project was carried out by Leonty Vasilyevich Spafariev, who since 1807 held the position of director of lighthouses. A 12-sided lantern with 24 silver reflectors was installed on the tower. 40 oil lamps illuminated the lantern. Not far from the tower, a guard house and a bathhouse were erected, which were connected to it.
In 1833, a second floor and a gallery were built above the guardhouse, connecting the house with the tower, which made it possible to serve the lighthouse during floods and stormy weather.
The lighthouse was also reconstructed later. In 1867 a dioptric device appeared here. In 1970, a pier was built, and the island was reinforced with concrete slabs.
During its long history, the Tolbukhin lighthouse "experienced" many different events: it saw ships sailing around the world, saw the first regatta in the country on July 8, 1847, during which officers-hostages were sunk in 1918 and Kronstadt rebels in 1921 with a "barge death”, survived shelling and raids during the Great Patriotic War.
Currently, the Tolbukhin lighthouse is not only the symbol of Kronstadt, but also its important landmark. The lighthouse light is visible 19 miles away. The Great Kronstadt roadstead begins on its traverse, which leads to the ports of Kronstadt and St. Petersburg.
