Dostoevsky Sites in St. Petersburg Russia

St. Petersburg, the city setting for Crime and Punishment was not only Raskolnikov’s haunt. Dostoevsky (also spelled "Dostoyevsky") spent much of his life in Russia’s Western-styled capital, even though he was born in Moscow. If you’re a fan of Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment, or any other works of this famous Russian writer, it’s well worth it to scope out some of the sites that inspired Dostoevsky or that have been dedicated to him in memorial.

Dostoevsky Museum – Dostoevsky’s Apartment Museum

Dostoevsky lived in various flats in St. Petersburg, but this apartment, in which he died in 1881, has been turned into a museum. Dostoevsky lived here for 4 years with his wife and children. Of special note is his study, where he wrote The Brothers Karamazov and passed away on January 28. Also on display are memorabilia from other periods in his life – for example, while he was in exile. Purchase souvenirs or catch a Dostoevsky-inspired film on Sundays.

Located on the corner of Kuznechny Street and Dostoevsky Street
Website: www.md.spb.ru
Along Kuznechniy also resides a bronze statue of Dostoevsky.

Pionerskaya Ploshchad – Dostoevsky Mock Execution

Ever controversial, in 1849, Dostoevsky thought his life had come to an end. It was here, at Pionerskaya Ploshchad, that Dostoevsky thought that he was to be executed – but just as the Semyonovsky Guards were supposedly about to pull the triggers of their rifles, a messenger arrived to say that the Tsar had a sudden desire to be merciful. This, as it turned out, was a warning by Nicholas I to the writer and his circle utopian socialists. The political group was next sent to Siberia for a sentence of hard labor.

Sennaya Ploshchad and Crime and Punishment

Sennaya Ploshchad, or Hay Square (the Haymarket), was featured heavily in Crime and Punishment. It’s no wonder – Dostoevsky lived here for several years. On Kaznacheyskaya Street, he lived in flats no. 1, 7, and 9. It was in no. 7 that he met his stenographer and future wife Anna. Dostoevsky’s brother also lived on this street.

Raskolnikov, the fictional anti-hero of Crime and Punishment may have lived on nearby Stolyarny Lane. Scholars have identified other architectural landmarks on which Crime and Punishment might have been based. While Raskolnikov never existed, except in the cultural consciousness of his readers, one can find graffiti and other markers that signify how very real he might have been.

Finally, visit Dostoevsky’s grave at Tikhvin Cemetery in St. Petersburg. You’ll find many more burial sites of interest, but if you can’t locate Dostoevsky’s headstone, as someone to point it out for you – they’ll be happy to share your interest in the life and legacy of one of Russia’s most revered authors.

Hotel Dostoevsky (compare prices), which has only a tenuous link to the author (its name), has mixed reviews. However, many people feel that its location, near Nevsky Prospekt, is convenient and the service is fair to good.