There are more than 220 museums in St. Petersburg, including art, history, literary, and military museums. It’s almost impossible to visit them all, especially during a brief stay as a tourist. But there are those which simply must be seen. Interestingly, almost all of St. Petersburg’s famous museums are located in palaces, built by the tsars and nobles during the 200 years that St. Petersburg was the capital of the Russian Empire.
The Hermitage is one of the biggest art and cultural-historical museums in the world. It owns around 3 million exhibits. It was founded in 1764 as the private collection of Catherine II, and was opened to the public almost a century later in 1852. A word of advice: don’t try and see the whole Hermitage – to see everything, you would have to visit every day for a month. The collection of Renaissance great masters is especially noteworthy: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Giorgione and Titian, as is the selection of French Impressionists – the French painting from the 19th-early 20th century section comprises around 850 works alone. Furthermore, in the Hermitage, unlike for example the Louvre or British National Gallery, even the ceilings, walls and floors are works of art. The Hermitage comprises the Winter Palace and another 9 buildings – the Small Hermitage, the Old Hermitage, the New Hermitage, the Hermitage Theatre, the Menshikov Palace, the General Staff Building, the Winter Palace of Peter I, the Archives at Staraya Derevnya, Porcelain Museum and Armoury Museum in the Konstantinovsky Palace.
Open: Tues-Sat 10.30am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm
Ticket office closes an hour before the exhibitions
Address: Dvortsovaya Ploshchad 2
Tel: (812) 710-90-79, (812) 710-96-25
www.hermitagemuseum.org
Open: Tues-Sat 10.30am-6pm, Sun 10.30am-5pm
Address: Porcelain Museum – Prospect Obukhovskoi oborony 151
Open: Tues-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 10.30-4pm
Address: Dvortsovaya nab. 32
The Aurora Cruiser became legendary after it fired a blank in the direction of the Winter Palace, which signified the storming which became a symbol of the 1917 October Revolution. The Aurora was built in 1900 and took part in battles with the Japanese from which it barely escaped intact. It also took part in World War I, and during World War II it was shelled and half sank. After the war it was salvaged and repaired, and since 1961 it has been a floating museum, anchored on the Petrograd embankment.
Open: Tues-Thurs, Sat-Sun 10.30am-4pm
Address: Petrovskaya Nab. Kreiser Avrora
Tel.: (812) 230-84-40
www.aurora.org.ru
There are around 400,000 exhibits in the State Russian Museum. The collection illustrates a 1000-year history of the development of Russian art, from icons to decorative works of art from ancient Rus, to avant-garde modern installations. It contains the biggest collection in the world of national painting. It is conveniently organised in clear chronological order, which clearly shows how Russian art developed. The Russian Museum was founded on the orders of Tsar Nicholas II and opened in 1898. Most of the collection is housed in the Mikhailovsky Palace and the Benois Wing, but the Marble Palace, Mikhailovsky Castle, Stroganov Palace and Summer Palace of Peter I are all part of the Russian Museum, as are the unique park and garden ensembles of the Summer and Mikhailovsky Gardens.
Open: Wed-Sun 10am-6pm, Mon 10am-5pm
Tel: (812) 595-42-48
www.rusmuseum.ru
1819-1825
Architect: C. Rossi
The Mikhailovsky Palace on Arts Square is the central building of the Russian Museum. It was named in honour of its owner – until 1895 the palace belonged to the Grand Prince Mikhail Pavlovich (the son of Paul I), but was turned over to the Treasury and made into the ‘Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III.’ The palace became Russia’s greatest treasury, containing the works of master such as Andrei Rublev, Dionisy, Karl Bryullov, I. Aivazovsky, A. Ivanov, Ilya Repin, Ivan Shishkin and many others. The ground floor is entirely taken up by the 19th century, while the first houses earlier works. Excursions on the first floor start with the icons, of which there are more than 5000 in the Russian Museum, dating from the 12th-early 20th centuries.
Address: Inzhenernaya Ul 4
Tel: (812) 595-42-48
www.rusmuseum.ru
1914-1919
Architects: L. Benois, S. Ovsyannikov
This building, which also belongs to the Russian Museum, got its name from its architect, Benois. The Benois wing contains the largest collection of Russian avant-garde from 1910-1930, including paintings by Serov, Vrubel, Antokolsky, Kustodiev, Malevich, Kandinsky, Filonov, Chagall, Petrov-Vodkin and many others. There is also a temporary exhibition area.
Address: Nab. Kanala Griboedova 2
Tel: (812) 314 8368
www.rusmuseum.ru
1797-1801
Architects: V. Breni and V. Bazhenov
The Mikhailovsky (Engineers’) Castle is the only castle in St. Petersburg, and the only building designed in the Romantic Classicism style in Russia. It got its name from the patron saint of the House of the Romanovs, the Archangel Mikhail. The castle was designed as a safe state residence for the Emperor Paul I, yet was to be the place of his death. The Russian Hamlet was strangled in the bedroom of his impenetrable castle when he had lived there for just forty days. After that, none of the tsars wanted to live there and in 1823 the Nikolaevsky Engineering Academy began to occupy the building, thus giving it its other name – the Engineers’ Castle. Today the castle is part of the Russian Museum.
Address: Ulitsa Sadovaya 2
Tel: (812) 570-51-12
www.rusmuseum.ru
1768-1785
Architect: A. Rinaldi
This palace was built on the orders of Catherine II for Count Grigory Orlov, the Russian empress’s favourite. In its construction, granite was used for the first time in Russia, along with 32 types of marble, hence the Palace’s name. However, the count never got to use his royal present, since shortly before it was completed, he died and the palace became the property of the Treasury. Its last owner was the Grand Prince Konstantin Konstaninovich, under whom the Marble Palace became on of the centres of the social and cultural life of St. Petersburg. In the Soviet era the Bolsheviks turned the palace into the Lenin Museum, but today it is a branch of the Russian Museum. In the building’s courtyard stands an equestrian statue of Emperor Alexander III, which at the beginning of the 20th century used to stand on Znamenskaya Ploshchad (now Ploshchad Vosstaniya).
Address: Millionnaya Ulitsa 5/1 (Dvortsovaya Nab 6)
Tel: (812) 312-91-96
www.rusmuseum.ru
1753-1756
Architect: F. B. Rastrelli
This palace, which belonged to the Russian Counts Stroganov, is one of the most stunning buildings in St. Petersburg in the Russian Baroque style. Its Great Dance Hall is the only one in St. Petersburg to retain Rastrelli’s interior. The Stroganov Palace used to be a meeting place for St. Petersburg’s cultural elite, and is now a branch of the Russian Museum. Its state rooms house a permanent exhibition, Stroganov Family Relics and Contributions to Russian Churches. There is also an exhibition of wax figures.
Address: Nevsky Prospect 17
Tel: (812) 312-90-54
www.rusmuseum.ru
1770s
Architect: J-B Vallin de la Mothe
This beautiful building on the Moika embankment is famed as the historic location of the murder of Grigory Rasputin. One of the perpetrators was the young owner of the palace, Prince Felix Yusupov. The palace was built for Count Shuvalov’s family and bought in 1830 by Prince Yusupov, one of St. Petersburg’s richest men. His palace was the frequent setting for amateur performances which were famous throughout the city. In the Soviet era the Yusupov Palace became the Palace of Culture for Workers’ Education, but is now a multi-functional historical and cultural centre. There is a permanent excursion available about the last owners of the Yusupov Palace and a separate exhibition dedicated to the murder of Rasputin. The Yusupov private theatre regularly hosts concerts of classical music and Gala Evenings.
Open: Mon-Sun 11am-5pm, closed the first Wed of every month.
Address: Nab. Reki Moiki 94
Tel: (812) 314-9883
www.yusupov-palace.ru
1718-1734
Architects: G-I Mattarnovi, N. F. Gerbel, G. Klaveri
The museum’s full name is the Peter I Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The first ever museum in Russia was founded by the order of Peter I, who personally began to acquire its collection. At the time, the museum was a chamber of rarities – natural and scientific rarities were kept there and used as objects of study by scientists. The Emperor brought back from his travels various tools, globes, models of ships and machines, maps, stuffed animals, mined materials and minerals, pickled ‘monsters’ and much more. Today the Kunstkamera is a symbol of the Academy of Sciences. Its collection contains more than a million exhibits and reflects the diverse cultures of the peoples of the Old and New Worlds.
Open: Tues-Sun 11am-6pm, closed the last Tuesday of every month.
Address: Universitetskaya nab 3 (visitors’ entrance from Tamozhenny Pereulok)
Tel: (812) 328-08-12
www.kunstkamera.ru
Formerly the Museum of the Revolution, the Museum of Political History celebrated its centenary in 2007. The museum’s collection contains almost 500 exhibits which show Russia’s political life from the late 18th-early 21st centuries, concentrating on the era of ‘great upheaval’ – the three Russian revolutions. There are revolutionary banners, documents, placards on display. The buildings in which the museum is located also have an interesting past – the Brant house, built by the famous local architect R. Meltser in the Art Nouveau style, and the Kshensinskaya mansion, built from 1904-1906 by the eminent architect von Gogen for the famous ballerina Mathilda Kshesinskaya, the mistress of Nicholas II and wife of Grand Prince Andrei Vladimirovich.
Open: Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun 10am-6pm, closed the last Monday of every month.
Address: Ul. Kuibysheva 2-4
Tel: (812) 233-70-52
www.polithistory.ru
The local writer Fyodor Dostoevsky lived on Kuznechny Pereulok no.5, where this museum is now located. As well as standard excursions, there is also the opportunity to follow the footsteps of Dostoevsky: on a bus – ‘Dostoevsky’s Petersburg’ – and on foot, ‘Crime and Punishment.’
The literary exhibition of the museum is currently undergoing restoration, but the exhibition on the life and works of Dostoevsky is open.
Open: Tues-Sun 11am-6pm
Address: Kuznechny Pereulok 5/2
Tel: (812) 571-40-31
www.md.spb.ru
The Sheremetev Palace is better known as the Fontanny Dom, or Fountain House – an architectural monument of the 18th century. The mansion was built by the wealthy count Nikolai Sheremetev for his wife, the former serf actress Praskovya Zhemchugova, in the 18th century. Since 1990 the palace has been part of the State Museum of Theatrical and Musical Arts and the Anna Akhmatova Museum, dedicated to the renowned 20th-century Russian poet. The Music Museum contains relics of the theatrical and musical traditions of the esteemed aristocratic Sheremetev family, including 3000 examples of musical instruments. Symphonic, choral and chamber music concerts are held in the palace’s White Hall.
Open: Museum of Music: Wed-Sun 12am-6pm, closed the last Wednesday of every month.
The Anna Akhmatova Museum: Thurs-Sun 10.30am-6.30pm, Wed 1pm-9pm
Address: Nab. Fontanki 34
Tel: (812) 272-44-41
www.theatremuseum.ru
www.akhmatova.spb.ru
1804-1807
Architect: D. Quarenghi
The Manege Central Exhibition Hall has been open since 1977. It is housed in one of the attractions of the imperial capital, the former Horse Guards’ Manege, built for the Horse Guards Regiment on St. Isaac’s Square. There are pictures, drawings, sculptures and folk art on display at the Manege as well as exhibits from private collections. There are more than 2000 exhibits of modern art, and the entire collection reflects the development of fine art in St. Petersburg from the 1920s to the present day.
Address: St. Isaac’s Square 1
Tel: (812) 314 82 37
www.manege.spb.ru
1902-1913
Architect V. Svinin
This unique museum of the ethnography of peoples of Russia – one of the biggest in Europe – is located in the heart of St. Petersburg on Arts Square, making a unified architectural ensemble with the Russian Museum. It has displays on the culture of various peoples of Old and New Russia, and shows how they worked, built houses, entertained themselves, brought up their children and so on. There is a whole gallery of Russian folk costumes, rugs, weapons, jewellery and so on.
Open: Tues-Sun 10am-6pm, closed the last Friday of the month.
Address: Ulitsa Inzhenernaya 4/1
Tel: (812) 570-54-21
www.ethnomuseum.ru
It is said in Russia, “Pushkin is our everything.” The museum-flat of the country’s premier poet is located in the house of Prince A. Volkonsky on the Moika Embankment. Pushkin’s family rented this flat for a short period, from autumn 1836 until the moment of his tragic death in a duel on 10 February 1837. Among the artefacts on view here are portraits of the poet and his family. The main room is Pushkin’s study. Every Sunday the museum organises an excursion, ‘Pushkin’s Final Journey’ from the door of his flat to Konyushennaya Church, where the poet’s funeral took place.
Open: Wed-Mon 10.30am-6pm, closed the last Friday of the month.
Address: Na. Reki Moiki 12
Tel: (812) 570-65-11
www.museumpushkin.ru
1710-1714
Architects: D. Fontana and G. Shedel
This palace on Vasilievsky Island was built for the first governor general of St. Petersburg, Most Serene Prince Alexander Menshikov, a favourite of Peter the Great. It is one of the earliest buildings of the city and served as both accommodation and administrative purposes. The first state receptions and celebrations in St. Petersburg were held here. The museum’s collection contains works of art, everyday objects from the Petrine era and unusual interiors that are totally finished with Dutch tiles. Today the palace is part of the State Hermitage.
Open: Tues-Sat 10.30am-6pm, Sun 10.30am-5pm
Address: Vasilievsky Island, Universitetskaya nab. 15
Tel: (812) 323-11-12
www.hermitagemuseum.org
www.hermitage.ru
The small wooden house of Peter I on the Petrograd Side is the very first house built in St. Petersburg. It was built the year that the city was founded in 1703 in the fashion of a Swedish pine hut. The framework was erected by Swedish raft-makers in the space of three days, and the building is the only wooden structure remaining in St. Petersburg. There is a vestibule, dining room, bedroom and study featuring a Dutch tiled stove in the house. The personal possessions of Peter I make up the focus of the exposition as well as exhibits relating to the Great Northern War and founding of the city on the Neva. In 1875 a bronze bust of Peter I was erected in front of the building (sculpted by P. Zabello.) Today the house is part of the Russian Museum.
Open: Wed-Mon 10am-6pm, closed the last Monday of every month.
Address: Petrovskaya nab 6
Tel: (812) 232-45-56, 232-45-76
www.rusmuseum.ru
The Academy of Arts was founded in the mid 18th century by decree of the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. The museum at first contained works by famous masters which students would copy, and later received even more successful works done by graduates, who also donated their private collections. As a result the museum has a large collection which charters the history of art in Russia from the middle of the 18th century to the present day.
Open: Wed-Sun 11am-6pm
Address: Universitetskaya Nab. 17
Tel: (812) 323-35-78, 323-64-96
www.nimrah.ru
This museum is the biggest in the world dedicated to the history and nature of the two poles. The collection amounts to 75,000 exhibits, including unique materials from the 16th century. Excursions are available on the nature of the Arctic, on the Antarctic, on the history of the discovery and formation of the Northern sea route, and how not to freeze to death in the Arctic. The museum is housed in the former Nikolsky Church with its Doric pillars.
Open: Wed-Sun 10am-6pm, closed the last Saturday of every month.
Address: Ulitsa Marata 24a
Tel: (812) 571-25-49, (812) 713 19 98
www.polarmuseum.sp.ru
Peterhof State Palace and Park Nature Reserve
The out-of-town residence of Peter I, Peterhof is an outstanding architectural monument and park often called ‘The Russian Versailles.’ ‘Peterhof’ means ‘Peter’s yard’ in Dutch, yet it is famous not only for its fountains but for the numerous palaces and museums, including the Great Palace, the Cottage Palace, the Marly and Monplaisir palaces, the Catherine wing, the Hermitage pavilion and others. The Great Palace, the centre of the ensemble, was designed by Rastrelli and houses an extensive collection of Russian and foreign fine art from the 18th-early 20th centuries. The Oak Study and ostentatious Dance Hall are particularly splendid.
The Great Palace
Open: Tues-Sun 10am-6pm, closed the last Tuesday of every month
Address: Petrodvorets, Ul. Razvodnaya 2
Tel: (812) 427-92-23
www.peterhof.ru
1772-1765
Architect: Rastrelli
The Catherine Palace and its celebrated Amber Room are located at Tsarskoe Selo, the out-of-town residence of the Russian tsars. Its Golden Enfilade runs the length of the building and includes the Amber Room and Great Hall. The Catherine Palace, once the setting for balls and state business, was severely damaged during the Second World War, and so far only 29 of its 57 rooms have been restored. But gradually the tradition of holding balls in the Catherine Palace is being resurrected.
Open: Wed-Mon 10am-5pm, closed the last Monday of every month.
Address: Pushkin, ul. Sadovaya 7
Tel: (812) 465–53-08
www.tzar.ru
1782-1824
Architects C. Cameron, V. Brenna, A. Voronikhin and C. Rossi
Catherine II gave the village of Pavlovsk to her son and heir, the future Emperor Paul (Pavel) I. When he acceded to the throne Pavlovsk became the royal residence. The museum contains Italian and Greek halls, War and Peace halls, a Throne room, picture gallery and library, as well as over 32,000 exhibits. The collection of ancient sculpture is second only to that of the Hermitage. In 1837 the first railway in Russia was built to connect Pavlovsk and St. Petersburg and Pavlovsk became a favourite place for strolling for many Petersburgers. In 1989 Pavlovsk was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. At Christmas and New Year, festivities are arranged in Pavlovsk such as horse-riding, sledging and hot food stalls. An exhibition on imperial costumes from the 18th-early 20th centuries is being held at Pavlovsk until 31st December, and on 25th November the town celebrates its birthday.
Open: Mon-Thurs, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm, closed the first Monday of every month.
Address: Pavlovsk, ul. Sadovaya 20
Tel: (812) 452-15-36
www.pavlovskmuseum.ru
1766-1851
Architects A. Rinaldi, V. Brenna, A. Zakharov, N. Lvov, A. Voronikhin, A. Shtakenshneider, R. Kuzmin
Gatchina was considered to be the third capital of the Russian Empire under Paul I. The palace-castle, built for Count Orlov, was inherited by Paul who spent a lot of time here. Its state rooms are a perfect example of the style of Russian Classicism in the 18th-19th centuries. Before the war, Gatchina was one of the most popular out-of-town museums, but now only there are only excursions around the enfilade of 18th-century state rooms and an underground path leading from the palace’s rooms to the Silver Lake. According to legend, Alexander Kerensky escaped dressed as a woman from the palace and the Bolsheviks by using this path.
Open: Tues-Sun 10am-6pm, closed the first Tuesday of every month.
Address: Pavlovsk, ul. Sadovaya 20
Tel: (8-81371) 9-34-92
http://www.gorod.gatchina.biz/palace
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