Hare Island (Saint Petersburg)

Zayachy Island was for the most part swampy, uninhabited, and unremarkable until 1703, when Peter the Great began the construction of the Peter and Paul fortress there, himself laying the foundation stones. [3] Until the late 19th century, there were three canals inside the fortress, dividing the island into four parts. The canals were filled up by the late 19th century.[2] The island is described as offering picturesque views of central St Petersburg (including the Winter Palace and Vasilyevsky Island) across the Neva River.[4]

Zayachy Island is the site of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral where many members of the House of Romanov are buried. On July 17, 1998 the remains of Czar Nicholas II and his family were buried there, eighty years to the day after they were executed by the Bolsheviks.