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Central Naval Museum

Russia's main naval museum tells the fascinating story of the development, growth and achievements of the Russian navy. With a collection of over 800 thousand exhibits, the museum displays some fascinating naval memorabilia, armaments, authentic maritime equipment, quality models of historically significant vessels and numerous paintings by marine artists.

Following a move to this beautifully repurposed building opposite the former shipyard of New Holland, the Central Naval Museum has moved into the 21st century and is now one of St Petersburg's best history museums. The superb, light-bathed building houses an enormous collection of models, paintings and other artefacts from three centuries of Russian naval history, including botik, the small boat known as the 'grandfather of the Russian navy' – stumbling across it in the late 17th century was Peter the Great's inspiration to create a Russian maritime force.

The pride of the museum has to be the boat of Peter the Great, known as the "Grandfather of the Russian Navy". It was on this very boat that Peter learned to sail as a teenager and acquired his fascination for the sea, sea faring and shipbuilding. This fascination later prompted Peter the Great to found the Russian navy.