Egyptian Gate

When entering the city of Pushkin by Petersburg highway you can see the gate built in Egyptian style. It was built in 1830 from both sides of the road to highlight its significance. The road led from the village of Bolshoye Kuzmino so the gate was also called Kuzminskie.

The Egyptian Gate was the last element of Kuzminsky boulevard (today it is Oktyabrsky boulevard) built in 1823. It was a triumphal arch framing the entry to the city. And till the 1980s the road was going right between the towers of the gate.

The reason for building such Egyptian Gate was the interest of the customer, emperor Nicholas I. Because of Napoleon Bonaparte's military expedition in Egypt the whole Europe was infatuated by Egyptian theme.

Though the Egyptian Gate is only the imitation of the Egyptian style and not a part of its culture, it is the memorial to the craftsmanship of Russian casters who created this masterpiece of cast iron.

Till 1985 inside one of the columns of the Egyptian Gate there was an apartment of the watchman of Agricultural Institute. It consisted on three levels with tiny but cozy rooms. There was no water supply but a stove for heating.