Vitebsk railway station: one of the most beautiful in the country

There are many ratings that include the best railway stations in the world. Of course, the criterion is given for the number of passenger traffic, for the introduction of innovative technologies, or for exclusive or original services. It is rare to find the Vitebsk railway station there, and it deserves special attention. At least for its interesting history and for its beauty.

Let's start with the fact that Vitebsk railway Station is the first railway station in Russia. From here the story began, continuing the way from St. Petersburg to Tsarskoye Selo. Therefore, the first name it bore was Tsarskoye Selo, then it was renamed Detsoxelsky, and in 1935 it received the name it still bears. Monuments to this historical event are the steam locomotive "Agile", which opened the first movement. He has not lived to this day, but his full-size model in a special pavilion pleases passengers every day at the station.

Of course, the station did not get its luxurious appearance right away. Originally it was a wooden building, only 25 years later in 1852 it was overgrown with stone. The building that we can see now is a 1904 building. Innovative metal structures at that time created a building that became the center of attraction not only for tourists, but also gained popularity among directors. Filming movies and photo shoots is a familiar activity for this place. And indeed, the building, decorated in the Art Nouveau style, attracts not only with its history, but also with the atmosphere and a certain lampiness. What is the romance of railways and the spirit of travel felt here, just stepping on the steps of the station.

The northern facade is decorated with a stained glass arch. And in the lobby there is a bust of Nicholas I, who launched the development of railways in Russia. Also. It is worth paying attention to the grand staircase with marble railings and bronze inserts. And in the central hall, you should pay attention to the beautiful stucco. The interior is amazing, so you need to see it with your own eyes.

Even in the 19th century, the Vitebsk railway station was famous not only for its architectural progressiveness, but also for its internal equipment. One of the main novelties at that time were elevators. 11 lifting machines were installed, two of which can still be observed. It is worth noting that this is the only station in St. Petersburg where trains depart from the second floor. Therefore, the need for elevators is justified here. Only according to numerous reviews of passengers, it is not so easy to get into this elevator. Maybe someone managed to do it? In a word, it's worth trying your luck. The station underwent a large-scale reconstruction in 2018, which gave it artistic illumination and an updated look of interior decoration.

In addition to historical and cultural value, the station is used for its intended purpose. Commuter trains run daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. to Pavlovsk, Vyritsa, Novolisino, Oredezh and the Settlement station. Seasonal routes are long-distance trains departing to Moscow, Pskov, Minsk and Smolensk. In addition to them, trains run year-round to Brest, Kiev, Chisinau, Kaliningrad, Gomel, Velikiye Luki, Riga, Orsha and other cities.

The convenient location of the station makes it easy to get from the station to the city center by any type of transport. In addition, there are many cafes, restaurants, and hotels around the Vitebsk railway station. About 30 variants of hotels of different options can be booked by guests of the city. Also at the station itself there are souvenir shops, mobile communication salons, restrooms, showers, food kiosks, a church shop, ATMs, pharmacies and much more. There are storage rooms, luggage carts, waiting areas. But we recommend that even with a long wait, do not sit still, but take a walk around this beautiful train station.

This is really one of the most beautiful train stations in Russia. Even if your journey took you to St. Petersburg, but to another train station. Take the time and go to Vitebsk. This is not only a landmark of the city, but also a beautiful place, imbued with an atmosphere from its very foundation, which will definitely encourage you to new trips.