In 2003, May 17, in St. Petersburg ended the restoration works of St. John on the bridge connecting the Rabbit Island and the Peter and Paul Fortress with the Petrograd side. On the day of its official opening to the public it was introduced and a new monument - a bunny, escaped from the flood. Since then, residents and guests of St. Petersburg consider him lucky talisman St John bridge. To see this lovely monument need to get to the metro station of Gorki. From there walk along the avenue Kamenoostrovsky along or across the park. To the right, behind the park is St. John bridge, on one of the piles of which is this sculpture.

Figurine of a rabbit made of aluminum alloy, is quite small - only 58 centimeters. Above it is covered with the titanium nitride protects it from corrosion.

Originally, the sculpture would be installed on one of the piles Kronverkskaya ducts, the top of which is level with the bridge. However, this idea has not been put into practice, as was quite expensive. Then he wanted to put a sculpture on a pedestal of 8 meters from the shore to the right of St John of the bridge, but also to refuse it. Then it was decided to put the animal sculpture on one of the piles that protects St. John bridge during an ice drift on the Neva.

Monument repeatedly abducted. During competitions on water-motor sport that is traditionally held near the Peter and Paul Fortress, bunny figure several times knocked boats. But each time it returned. Eventually sculpture moved from one bridge side to the other.

The history of the monument is related to the legend of the founding of St. Petersburg, which was found in the history of the place and the little bunny. One of them says that when choosing a place for the future the fortress, Tsar Peter I decided to explore the island, washed on all sides by the Neva River. As soon as he set foot out of the boat to the ground as his feet he jumped the hare. After this event, and the island became known as cleft. Another legend says that once Peter I decided to check how is the construction of the future citadel. The results he was extremely dissatisfied. The king was terrible in anger, and threatened severe punishment of the guilty. But suddenly in the hands of the king jumped bunny. This will soften the heart of Peter and hare was given as a gift of the young princess.

There is a more realistic version. To strengthen the position of Russia on the Baltic Sea, Tsar Peter ordered the construction of defensive fortress on the island Enisaari, whose name is translated from Finnish as "Rabbit". You can consider the figure bunny and as a reminder of the floods, which are the real disaster of St. Petersburg since its foundation - the animal is standing on its hind legs, as if listening warily to something. However, the bunny was not scared. He would rather, if it is necessary, stand up for themselves.

The monument - architect SJ Petchenko and sculptures VA Petrovic, a famous creation of several city of miniatures, devoted to animals. For example, he is the author of the monuments and the cat Vasilisa cat Elisha on Malaya Sadovaya, frog Quique at the University of Aerospace Instrumentation (former Chesme Palace), snails and Hippo at the St. Petersburg State University.

Monument bunny liked and residents of St. Petersburg, and guests of the city, putting a kind of start the installation of various funny monuments. Petersburgers think that the monument bunny who saved from the flood, to bring good luck and happiness. If you throw a coin in his direction, and it will fall next to him, all your deepest desires come true, and love, well-being, a great career was not long in coming.