Constable – the square and the obelisk in the city of Gatchina, Leningrad region. Located at the intersection of Krasnoarmeyskaya Avenue and main street – Avenue of the 25th of October. The Creator of the ensemble was probably the Italian architect and interior designer Vincenzo Brenna.

The idea of the obelisk came from the Emperor Paul I during his trip to Europe in the years 1782-1783. When Paul visited the Prince of Conde at his residence Chantilly (near Paris) he made a lasting impression similar complex with the obelisk, which was erected in the name of constable (from the French. connetable – his position at court to king of France) Duke Anne de Montmorency.

The construction of the ensemble was begun in 1793. Near the Great Gatchina Palace on the hill was formed the area. It was surrounded by a parapet of Pudost stone. In the center of the square stood a 32-ahmetbey obelisk, decorated czernicki stone. Construction was the Builder and master Mason Kiryan Plastinin. The work on the obelisk was completed by the end of October, 1793. Were also erected a parapet, having a length of more than 450 meters, and the guardhouse, which has not survived to our time. Around the obelisk there were four tables of stone, connected by chains, in the embrasures of the parapet were installed six pieces of artillery, and on the parapet were caused by improvised clock, arrow divisions for which there was a shadow of the obelisk. After 3 years, the size of the area increased, and it adopted its current size.

In 1881, 23 may at 4.00 a.m., 600-ton obelisk was struck by lightning, and it was destroyed almost to the ground. Have a question about the restoration of the obelisk was put forward a number of proposals to form a concrete monument, fold of hewn stone, without the use of metal parts, finished glass bowl, gilt inside, or made of metal with a hollow inside with the ball at the top, made of metal, and lightning rod. But in the end it was decided to restore the obelisk in its original form. Restoration work lasted long enough – five years, because cernicka the quarry was in a derelict state, and were required in their preparation for mining stone. Blocks to create a new obelisk was extracted with 6-meter depth, the reconstructions were used 687 stones with a total weight of about 640 000 kg. Works on restoration of the monument was completed in 1886.

In 1904 constable was repaired were replaced by twelve of the top rows of stone blocks, and in 1914 there were repairs to the parapet, were used not Pudost stone, and Sandstone.

During the great Patriotic war, the obelisk was badly damaged, most of the parapet was destroyed, cabinets at the base are broken. After the Gatchina Palace was occupied by Nazi troops, instead of copper ball that crowns the monument, was hoisted the swastika, manufactured by himself, which was filmed in late January 1944, a few days after the liberation of the city.

Nowadays the monument and the restored parapet, sometimes preventive restoration work.