Potemkin Stairs, view No. 2. Odessa webcams online

Live webcam opens a view of the Potemkin Stairs in Odessa. Potemkin Stairs is a boulevard "cascade" of Odessa, which has gained fame as a symbol of the city. It owes its modern name to the historical drama Battleship Potemkin, a film by Sergei Eisenstein, released in 1925.

Previously, the Potemkin Stairs were referred to as Richelievskaya, Bolshaya, Portovaya, Primorskaya and Boulevard, depicted on old postcards of the 19th-20th centuries. From the upper steps of the architectural monument, an amazing panorama of the country's large commercial port, harbor and Odessa bay opens.

History of the Potemkin Stairs
Since its founding, Odessa has needed unhindered access to the Black Sea. At that time, the city was located on a hill close to the coastline, ending in a steep descent, which was fenced with a railing for the safety of passers-by. The famous Russian poet A.S. Pushkin walked along the path to the sea, risking slipping down at any moment. He did not manage to wait for the appearance of wooden stairs, which greatly facilitated the walk to the sea: they appeared some time after the poet's departure from Odessa. Now everyone could go down to the coast to walk in the morning fog and admire the serene smoothness of the sea water.

The construction of the staircase began on the initiative of Count M.S.Vorontsov. According to one of the versions, this descent was intended as a gift to Countess Elizabeth, who loved the daily promenades and the rolling sound of the waves. Other theories concern the "ennobling" of the city before the visit of Emperor Nicholas I and the activities of the Freemasons.

Potemkin Stairs is an architectural project of 1835, designed by Franz Boffo, Charles (Karl) Potier and Abraham Melnikov. The construction of the city's business card was completed by 1841 thanks to the well-coordinated work of engineers Morozov and Upton. Classicism, characteristic of that era, was reflected in the rhythmic cascade of the Potemkin Stairs.

Funds for the construction of the main descent to the Black Sea were allocated from the treasury, which was replenished through economic activities, customs duties and deductions. The construction of the Potemkin Stairs cost 200 thousand rubles - a record amount at that time. The appearance of the grand staircase descent has become an international event, which has been repeatedly mentioned in articles in the English and American periodicals.

The beginning of the 20th century was marked by the opening of the funicular along the stairs. In the 1970s, it was replaced by an escalator, which ceased to function after 20 years. By the 211st founding of Odessa, the city authorities pleased the local residents with the decision to build a new funicular. Since 2005, two carriages with a total capacity of 24 people have been moving along the Potemkin Stairs. The whole journey takes just over a minute.