Palace Bridge and Neva River — online webcam

The city's key symbol

The Neva River divides Saint Petersburg into two parts, connecting with the Gulf of Finland at its mouth. On its broad expanse lies the Palace Bridge — one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. This majestic structure connects the center of St. Petersburg with Vasilyevsky Island, offering panoramic views of the river, embankments, and numerous architectural masterpieces. The strict distinction in naming — Neva and Palace Bridge — emphasizes the unity of the river and the city's main recreational attraction.

Design and dimensions

The metal structure of the Palace Bridge impresses with its scale — its length is 267.5 meters, and its width is 31.6 meters. The weight of the metal structures is almost 5000 tons. The five-span drawbridge design is intended for the passage of vehicles and pleasure boats.

History of creation

The bridge project was developed by engineer A.P. Pshenitsky and architect R.F. Meltser. Construction took place in 1912–1916. The grand opening took place on December 23, 1916. During the Soviet era, modernization was carried out: the hydraulic drive was replaced with an electromechanical one in the 1970s.

The draw mechanism

The draw span of the Palace Bridge weighs 1000 tons. Each rotation occurs via a lever with a counterweight — the structure includes 8 trusses. The wings rise to 61 degrees. The bridge is raised 2 times a day. The crew operating the draw consists of 6 people. Up to 25 vessels pass under the raised bridge in one night.

Night illumination

Since ancient times, the Palace Bridge has been perceived as a symbol of the city, especially in the light of night lanterns. In the raised position, its wings are used as a screen for a light show — on the night of February 18–19, 2015, red lighting was turned on for the first time to celebrate the onset of the New Year according to the eastern calendar. Projectors cast images onto the wing surface of over 400 square meters. The composition of the drawbridge against the backdrop of the Winter Palace and the Peter and Paul Fortress has become one of the most recognizable postcard views of Russia.

Winter regime of the Neva

The Neva freezes in late November — early December. The river remains icebound for approximately 100–120 days, in Petrograd the average duration of ice cover is 133 days. Ice formation occurs from bottom to top along the river due to Ladoga ice. The tradition of celebrating ice formation on the Neva was established by Peter I. The earliest ice formation was recorded on October 28, 1805, and the latest on January 20, 1952. The state of the ice cover affects the operation of the Palace Bridge draw mechanism.

What you can see on the camera

The webcam frame reveals a panorama of the Neva River with panoramic views of Saint Petersburg's architectural monuments. In the foreground is the Rostral Column with a black statue of an angel. In the center is the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood with colorful onion domes and a golden cross. On the right, the golden spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral is visible. In the background is the historical development of the city. You can see the historical buildings of Saint Petersburg, rooftops, and embankments. The panorama of the Neva and the Palace Bridge is always the center of attention. A beautiful panoramic view of the city's landmarks and the Neva River is visible. The Palace Bridge with its draw mechanism is at the center of the composition. A recreational view of the river and bridge in real time.