The article describes the formation and evolution of cartographic school at St. Petersburg State University, from origins up to date at the Geographical Institute and Department of Cartography. The Institute was formally established in Petrograd in 1918 and the Department of Cartography was formed in 1928 at the Faculty of Geography at the Leningrad University. The evolution of educational and scientific activities is characterized, the achievements of the Department and the role of scientists-lecturers are highlighted, which have made a significant contribution in training of cartographers and in the development of cartographic science and practice. A gradual change in teaching and research priorities is shown with respect to the primacy of complexity principles and the close relationships of geodesy, cartography, remote sensing and geoinformatics. Refs 1. Figs 3.