History of Lahta

Lahta (in finnish - "bay", "gulf") - it' s a place where people lived presumably three thousand years ago. It is a small village on the north coast of Finnish Bay, about 15 km in north-west direction from Saint-Petersburg.

There are a lot of fish and water-fowl birds in shallow parts of the bay along the cost, fresh sea air and plenty of ponds, which connected between each other by small rivers - all these always attracted people to the costs of this part of the bay. This is ah exclusive place for living created by nature itself.

Here were situated estate "Blizhniye dubki" of Peter 1 in the beginning of 18 century where in 1711 - 1712 years was built wooden house. Among old big oaks of relicted origin were planted small oaks. This oaks have survived till nowdays and meticulous pathfinder can find ditches among the brush woods which surrounded estate, round island in the centre of the pond and the canal which leads to the coastal waters.

But unfortunately there no longer exist an old pine which were witness of a noble behavior of Peter The Great. Not each monarch is able to commit it. On the fifth of November Tsar was coming back from "Dubki" and became a witness of the boat with solders which had sailed from Kronshtadt got on shallow near finnish village on the cost of the bay of Lahta. Peter commanded to approach to the boat and began to help solders save people. He was standing up to the waist in water and became ill and when he got back in Petersburg he couldn't recover from the illness. 28 of January 1725 he died of inflammation of kidneys. In memory of exploit of tsar in a pine standing on the coast not far from this historical place on the height of two- three arshins (2,3 meters) from the ground were placed kiot (box of glass) with icons of different sizes in front of which lamp-icon were shining many years.

During the reign of Ekaterina the Second owner of the place became well-known man - Grigoriy Grigirievich Orlov, who got "grange Lahta" as a present from his regal patroness. He have never been there and there was nothing left from him. Another owner of the place - Yakv Brus, assistant of peter the First also haven't left anything after himself. But another event which had happened during the reign of Ekaterina the Second were well-known.

In 1767 sculptor Etien Falcone was finding a stone for the pedestal of the monument of Peter the First (In future "Copper Rider"). In the beginning of September peasant Sregey Grigorievich Vishnyakov told Captain Laskary, the leader of the expedition of finding a stone, that in the woods of Lahta there was huge Thunder-stone. Vishnyakov affirmed that there were no better stone for the pedestal. The stone were named as Thunder-stone because according to the legend during the storm part of the stone fall behind. According to the peasant Peter the First often mounted on the top of the stone to observe the neighbourhood. According to another legend Peter Were looking at sea battles from the stone. Laskary with Vishnyakov headed to Lahta to make sure that it was exactly the stone that were rescueded. They made measurements of the stone and came back with the splinter of the stone. Laskary repoted to the Betskiy that the stone was found on the Vyborgskaya part in the estate of count Yakov Aleksandrovich Brus near the village Konnaya. During the the preparation for the transportation of the stone were made hard work. In the beginning of the august of 1770 year the stone left Lahta and in September was Delivered to the place of destination. And now several centuries Thunder-stone stands on the Senatskaya Place supporting the statue of Peter the First. It is an united monument which admires tourists.

When owner of Lahta was Grigoriy Orlov there were forty six courts with more than 30 habitants. In summer time population increased because of people who came here only for the summer period named "dachniky". Generally "dacha" appeared almost at same time with Petersburg.

First dachniki of Lahta appeared in thirties of 19 century. Gradually letting buildings for the summer time became very profitable for the people who lived in Lahta. By the middle of the century among the dachniki there were rather rich people. There were a lot of boats in the bay of Lahta in the summer time. There were plenty of sturgeon, navaga, salmon, flat-fish, mackerel, and other fish. Also it was a paradise for the hunters: in the middle of the 19 century in the bogs of Lahta there was about 44 kind of birds.

From the sixties of the 19 century Lahta and neighborhood (totally 4 143 dessiatina of the ground) were owned by the heirs of the count Vladimir Andreivich Stenbok-Fermora. Stenbok-Fermor - it is an age-old family. Stenbok is a swedish family, known since 13 century. In 1651 year to Stenbok family were given count dignity. Swedish general Stenbok (count Magnus, 1664 - 1717) took part in North War and assisted to the victory of Swedes under Narva. His posterities settled in Estlyandia (nowdays - Estoniya). In 1825 count Ioann Magnus, whose mother was the only daughter of count V. V. Fermor, was permitted to name himself count Stenbok-Fermor.

Because of philanthropic exploit of Peter the Great this place is significant and memorable for all Russia. Also famous stone Thunder - history and sanctum of the native land. Here our roots and if we will remember that, we will have future.