Lions cascade (Saint Petersburg) | water, fountain, listed building / architectural heritage

 water, fountain, listed building / architectural heritage

Lion Cascade

It was built after the project by architect A.I. Stakenschneider in 1854-1857 to replace the decayed Hermitage Cascade, which had been constructed by A.N. Voronikhin in 1799-1801.

The majestic colonnade of fourteen eight-meter columns is made of dark-gray Serdobol granite and Carrara marble. From the cascade fountains the water falls into the pool through 22 fountain masks of river nymphs. Two bronze figures of «watch» lions gave the name to the whole construct on.

During the World War II the cascade was destroyed and the sculptural decor was lost. The restoration of the Lion Cascade was completed in 2000 by the Polish restoration firm «PKZ». The lion figures were cast at the St. Petersburg enterprise OOO «PIN».

The statue of Nymph by F. Tolstoy was re-created by sculptors G.I. Mikhaylova and E.P. Maslennikov.