The bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral occupies a dominant place in its composition. Built in 1723, it was very different from the typical tent forms of Orthodox churches. On the contrary, it, like other objects of art under Peter I, was deliberately given a secular character. A gilded spire with a weather vane in the form of an angel, pointing upwards, adorns the bell tower and is the most important detail of the overall panorama of the cathedral.The history of the appearance of the Peter and Paul Fortress is inextricably linked with the history of the founding of St. Petersburg. At first, wooden fortifications appeared on the banks of the Neva River, the drawing for which was developed and prepared by Peter I. himself. They built a fortress in order to strengthen the conquered positions on the northern front. As soon as the construction work on the wooden fort was completed, the harsh elements destroyed part of the earthen ramparts. Over time, the fortress was given the name of the "Russian Bastille": political prisoners were often placed in its empty rooms. In 1703, the construction of a wooden Church named after the Apostles Peter and Paul began on the territory of the fortress, which soon dressed in stone. The temple, made in the style of European Baroque, served for many years as a tomb for all rulers-emperors since Peter I. The famous Peter and Paul Bell Tower grew up on the deserted banks of the Neva a little earlier than the cathedral itself. According to Peter, it was supposed to become a symbol of the fact that Russia was firmly entrenched on the northern borders. The craftsmen of the Votkinsk plant were commissioned to make a magnificent spire, and the masters successfully coped with their task. However, you can now enjoy the beauty of the original spire only on ancient engravings: in 1756, a lightning strike turned the bell tower into a grand torch.

The restoration of the bell tower building took as long as 18 years — that's how long the search for the daredevil who dared to repair it lasted. It was only in 1830 that Pyotr Telushkin agreed to undertake the responsible and dangerous work of restoring the spire. For six weeks, he climbed to the top daily by rope ladder, without scaffolding and insurance. The result of Telushkin's work was a new altitude record — 122.5 meters. Also, a clock with chimes was installed on the bell tower, striking the time every 15 minutes.The legend says that the reward for Peter Telushkin was 5,000 rubles (a lot of money at that time) and a free glass of vodka in any drinking establishment in St. Petersburg. For some time Telushkin used a letter, and then, for greater convenience, he was branded on his right cheek. Entering the pub, he would tap his chin, showing the mark. It is believed that this is how the famous gesture of all drinkers appeared.At the top of the spire is an Orthodox cross with a three-meter figure of an angel. This angel is still considered the main guardian of the city on the Neva, and over eight kilograms of gold were spent on its gilding.To protect one of the symbols of St. Petersburg from damage, during the Great Patriotic War it was covered with a masking net and paint. The painters who made the spire beautiful were amazed by the simplicity and strength of its construction: bolts and screws tightly tighten the prefabricated parts of the spire, not even allowing it to swing.Today the Peter and Paul Cathedral is a magnificent architectural monument of St. Petersburg, much loved by both residents and guests of the city. Its bell tower has the richest collection of bells in the world, cast by Dutch and Russian masters. And the skillfully assembled carillon allows you to turn the bell ringing into sonorous concerts. You can look at St. Petersburg from the height of the bell tower on a special observation deck, which was opened to the public a few years ago. The platform is located on the second tier of the three-tiered bell tower, at a height of 42 meters.