Shlisselburg, town, Leningrad oblast (region), northwestern European Russia. It is located on the Neva River where it flows out of Lake Ladoga, east of St. Petersburg city.
Founded as Oreshek in 1323 by the republic of Novgorod, the town was captured in the early 17th century by the Swedes, who built the fortress of Noteburg. Taken by Peter I (the Great) in 1702, it was renamed Shlisselburg and became a key fortress protecting St. Petersburg. Later used as a prison, Shlisselburg again played a fortress role during the defense of Leningrad (as St. Petersburg was called during the Soviet era) in World War II. Between 1944 and 1991 the town was called Petrokrepost (“Peter’s Fortress”). Shlisselburg is a shipbuilding and repair centre on the White Sea–Baltic Canal. Pop. (2010) 13,170; (2014 est.) 14,554.