Publications in the Architecture section

Where did the Romanovs live?

Small Imperial, Mramorny, Nikolaevsky, Anichkov - we go for a walk along the central streets of St. Petersburg and remember the palaces in which representatives of the royal family lived.

Palace Embankment, 26

Let's start our walk from Palace Embankment. A few hundred meters east of the Winter Palace is the palace of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, son of Alexander II. Previously, the building, built in 1870, was called the “small imperial courtyard.” Here, all the interiors have been preserved almost in their original form, reminiscent of one of the main centers of social life in St. Petersburg at the end of the 19th century. Once upon a time, the walls of the palace were decorated with many famous paintings: for example, “Barge Haulers on the Volga” by Ilya Repin hung on the wall of the former billiard room. On the doors and panels there are still monograms with the letter “B” - “Vladimir”.

In 1920, the palace became the House of Scientists, and today the building houses one of the main scientific centers of the city. The palace is open to tourists.

Palace Embankment, 18

A little further on the Palace Embankment you can see the majestic gray Novo-Mikhailovsky Palace. It was erected in 1862 by the famous architect Andrei Stackenschneider for the wedding of the son of Nicholas I, Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich. The new palace, for the reconstruction of which neighboring houses were purchased, incorporated Baroque and Rococo styles, elements of the Renaissance and architecture from the time of Louis XIV. Before the October Revolution, there was a church on the top floor of the main facade.

Today the palace houses institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Millionnaya Street, 5/1

Even further on the embankment is the Marble Palace, the family nest of the Konstantinovichs - the son of Nicholas I, Constantine, and his descendants. It was built in 1785 by the Italian architect Antonio Rinaldi. The palace became the first building in St. Petersburg to be faced with natural stone. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, known for his poetic works, lived here with his family; in the pre-revolutionary years, his eldest son John lived here. The second son, Gabriel, wrote his memoirs “In the Marble Palace” while in exile.

In 1992, the building was transferred to the Russian Museum.

Admiralteyskaya embankment, 8

Palace of Mikhail Mikhailovich. Architect Maximilian Messmacher. 1885–1891. Photo: Valentina Kachalova / photobank “Lori”

Not far from the Winter Palace on Admiralteyskaya Embankment you can see a building in the neo-Renaissance style. It once belonged to Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich, the grandson of Nicholas I. Construction began on it when the Grand Duke decided to get married - his chosen one was the granddaughter of Alexander Pushkin, Sofia Merenberg. Emperor Alexander III did not give consent to the marriage, and the marriage was recognized as morganatic: Mikhail Mikhailovich’s wife did not become a member of the imperial family. The Grand Duke was forced to leave the country without living in the new palace.

Today the palace is rented out to financial companies.

Truda Square, 4

If we walk from the Mikhail Mikhailovich Palace to the Annunciation Bridge and turn left, on Labor Square we will see another brainchild of the architect Stackenschneider - the Nicholas Palace. The son of Nicholas I, Nikolai Nikolaevich the Elder, lived in it until 1894. During his life, the building also housed a house church; everyone was allowed to attend services here. In 1895 - after the death of the owner - a women's institute named after Grand Duchess Xenia, sister of Nicholas II, was opened in the palace. Girls were trained to be accountants, housekeepers, and seamstresses.

Today, the building, known in the USSR as the Palace of Labor, hosts excursions, lectures and folk concerts.

English Embankment, 68

Let's return to the embankment and go west. Halfway to the New Admiralty Canal is the palace of Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich, son of Alexander II. In 1887, he bought it from the daughter of the late Baron Stieglitz, a famous banker and philanthropist, whose name is given to the Academy of Arts and Industry he founded. The Grand Duke lived in the palace until his death - he was shot in 1918.

The palace of Pavel Alexandrovich was empty for a long time. In 2011, the building was transferred to St. Petersburg University.

Moika River Embankment, 106

On the right side of the Moika River, opposite the island of New Holland, is the palace of Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna. She was married to the founder of the Russian Air Force, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, grandson of Nicholas I. They were given the palace as a wedding gift in 1894. During the First World War, the Grand Duchess opened a hospital here.

Today the palace houses the Lesgaft Academy of Physical Culture.

Nevsky Prospekt, 39

We exit onto Nevsky Prospekt and move in the direction of the Fontanka River. Here, near the embankment, the Anichkov Palace is located. It was named after the Anichkov Bridge in honor of the ancient family of pillar nobles, the Anichkovs. The palace, erected under Elizaveta Petrovna, is the oldest building on Nevsky Prospekt. Architects Mikhail Zemtsov and Bartolomeo Rastrelli participated in its construction. Later, Empress Catherine II donated the building to Grigory Potemkin. On behalf of the new owner, architect Giacomo Quarenghi gave Anichkov a more austere, closer to modern look.

Starting from Nicholas I, mainly the heirs to the throne lived in the palace. When Alexander II ascended the throne, the widow of Nicholas I, Alexandra Feodorovna, lived here. After the death of Emperor Alexander III, the Dowager Empress Maria Fedorovna settled in the Anichkov Palace. Nicholas II also grew up here. He did not like the Winter Palace and spent most of his time, already as emperor, in the Anichkov Palace.

Today it houses the Palace of Youth Creativity. The building is also open to tourists.

Nevsky Prospekt, 41

On the other side of the Fontanka is the Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace - the last private house built on Nevsky in the 19th century and another brainchild of Stackenschneider. At the end of the 19th century, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich bought it, and in 1911 the palace passed to his nephew, Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich. In 1917, while in exile for participating in the murder of Grigory Rasputin, he sold the palace. And later he emigrated and took the money from the sale of the palace abroad, thanks to which he lived comfortably for a long time.

Since 2003, the building has belonged to the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation; concerts and creative evenings are held there. On some days there are excursions through the halls of the palace.

Petrovskaya embankment, 2

And while walking near Peter’s house on Petrovskaya embankment, you should not miss the white majestic building in the neoclassical style. This is the palace of the grandson of Nicholas I, Nikolai Nikolaevich the Younger, the supreme commander in chief of all land and naval forces of the Russian Empire in the early years of the First World War. Today, the palace, which became the last grand ducal building until 1917, houses the Representative Office of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District.

The palace of Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich Romanov, grandson of Emperor Nicholas I, is located on the Admiralty Embankment. It was built in 1885 - 1891 according to the design of the architect Maximilian Messmacher, and was destined to become the grand ducal residence. But after Alexander III did not recognize the prince’s marriage to Sofia Merenberg, Mikhail Mikhailovich left for England without living a single day in the new palace. After that, the building housed various administrative institutions, and in 1911 the palace was purchased by the Russian Lloyd insurance company. After the October Revolution and the change of power, government institutions were located in the palace.

Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich Romanov was born on October 4 (17), 1861 in St. Petersburg. In 1881, he began serving in the Life Guards of the Jaeger Regiment and soon received the rank of colonel from the sovereign. A year later, he was appointed aide-de-camp to the Person of His Imperial Majesty. In 1891, without the permission of Emperor Alexander III, known for his strict adherence to the duty of equal Christian marriage in the family, Mikhail Mikhailovich married Countess Sophia Merenberg. As a result, the Grand Duke was immediately dismissed from government service and deprived of all rights. He was also banned from entering Russia.

Subsequently, Mikhail Mikhailovich Romanov lived with his wife in France and England, meeting with his August relatives only abroad. Interestingly, in 1908, the prince wrote an autobiographical novel in English called “Cheer Up.” In his work, he condemned the rules in force in Russia for the marriage of high-ranking officials, which virtually excluded the possibility of marriage for love. The sale of this novel in Russia was prohibited.

The architect Maximilian Egorovich Messmacher, according to whose design the palace on the Admiralteyskaya Embankment was built, had not only an unsurpassed talent for designing and constructing buildings, but also great artistic talent. Messmacher made sketches of lanterns, grilles, furniture, and created ornaments for church utensils and even fabrics.

The Palace of Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich was in a deplorable state for a long time. Currently, large-scale restoration work is being carried out in the palace. Restoration of the interiors of the prince's oak office, the state rooms of the first and second floors, and the main facade of the building has already been carried out.

Imperial Palaces of St. Petersburg

Admiralteyskaya embankment, 8

Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich was the son of the Caucasian Viceroy of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich, and the grandson of Nicholas I. Mikhail Nikolaevich lived on the Palace Embankment, in the Novo-Mikhailovsky Palace.
When Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich got tired of living at home with his father, he decided to build himself his own palace, because, in his words, “We need to live somewhere.” To do this, in April 1884, Mikhail Mikhailovich acquired a plot of land near the Admiralty. The German embassy, ​​huddled in an unpresentable mansion on the corner of St. Isaac's Square and Bolshaya Morskaya, also laid claim to the same place. It has even been agreed who will buy the old house on Bolshaya Morskaya - “one of the oldest companies selling French wines in St. Petersburg.” However, closeness to the Admiralty and its secrets forced the Russian government to refuse this idea to the Germans.

The Grand Duke gathered also because by the word “to us” he meant himself and his future wife - he was going to get married. But there was a small problem with his betrothed - her origin was not entirely suitable. (Still, it’s a pity that this tradition is gone). Although in this case I would argue with the unevenness. The fact is that the Grand Duke’s chosen one turned out to be... Pushkin’s granddaughter! The girl's name was Sofia Merenberg.

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Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich with his morganatic wife Sofia Nikolaevna Merenberg, granddaughter of Pushkin

While this family problem was being discussed, a beautiful palace was being built. Construction began in 1885 and ended in 1888 (1891?) The architect was the magnificent Maximilian Egorovich Messmacher. However, Mikhail Mikhailovich was not destined to live in his new home... Alexander III refused to recognize the marriage of the Grand Duke with Sofia Merenberg, Mikhail Mikhailovich (as he was called in the family - Mish-Mish) left for England, as it turned out, forever. It's a pity, because the palace turned out great! Its finishing, in which students of the School of Technical Drawing of Baron A. L. Stieglitz, headed by Messmacher, took part, continued even after the Grand Duke’s departure to England. For this work, the architect was awarded the Order of Anna, 2nd degree. The palace was equipped with the latest technology and fashion - there was gas and electricity, telephone, water supply, sewerage, and the sidewalk in front of the palace was covered with newfangled asphalt!
The palace's service building was also built on Chernomorsky Lane.

Since the palace was built for a husband and wife, it was divided into two halves - the owner and the mistress, each of which had its own main entrance (along Azovsky Lane). On the side of the Admiralty Embankment there was a Main Entrance and a Grand Staircase with a vestibule. For guests. From the lobby, guests could go to the left - to the Big or Small Reception Rooms. The owner could get to his half via his own staircase, from where he could also go to the Library. After reading the literature, from the Library you could go straight to your wife’s half... The palace had, of course, a Dressing Room, a Bathroom, a Bedroom... On the second floor there was a Small Dining Room, a serving room... Of course, there was also the Grand Duke’s Study.

Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich (center) with his wife Sofia Nikolaevna and brothers (from left to right) - Grand Dukes Alexander and Sergei Mikhailovich. 1892

Having left for England, Mikhail Mikhailovich, as a zealous owner (no one took the palace from him), leases it to the Office of Southwestern Railways for 10 years. Next, Mikhail’s brother, in the near future the father of the Russian Air Force, Alexander Mikhailovich, asks to transfer it to the Main Directorate of Merchant Shipping and Ports, which he then headed. However, the Main Directorate itself existed only until October 1905, when it became part of the newly formed Ministry of Trade and Industry, which, however, remained in this building for another 5 years - until September 1910. Later, the Germans became very interested in the house, looking for a building for the Embassy. But they were refused due to the close proximity to the Maritime Ministry. In 1911, the palace was sold to the Russian Lloyd insurance company. According to the design of P. K. Bergstresser, the premises were largely rebuilt for the new owners

After the October Revolution and the change of power, government institutions were located in the palace. In July 2006, it was reported that the palace would be reopened after restoration. Part of the interior and the façade along the embankment have been restored. However, this filming dates back to the end of September 2006, and restoration is still ongoing.

The main entrance is from the Admiralteyskaya Embankment.

Corner of Admiralteyskaya Embankment and Azovsky Lane. As far as I understand, the windows of Mikhail Mikhailovich’s Office faced this corner, on the second floor. Accordingly, this was its half, the entrance to which is visible along Azovsky Lane.

Facade along Azovsky Lane. The entrance to the wife's half is covered with cellophane.

The lobby on the Admiralteyskaya Embankment side is decorated with 12 columns and different types of marble
photo from the website www.archi.ru

In the palace of Mikhail Mikhailovich there was one of two known unique safes made by the German company Arnheim. Its uniqueness was, first of all, in the fact that it was not just a safe, but an armored (modern - armored) elevator - a safe. It could be raised up, say, during the day and lowered down at night. The second such safe was installed on Morskaya, at the Faberge company.

Magazine "Architect" 1910, No. 3

Finally, clarification of the fate of the Mish-Mish Palace, which I came across recently: - “The Moscow group of companies Romtrade announced plans to repurpose the palace of Grand Duke Michael into a hotel... I must say that plans to turn the building into a hotel have existed since 2001, but that’s all During this time, they remained far from being realized. In 2005, the Moscow group of companies Romtrade acquired the right to lease the palace. “During the year of work, we invested $3 million in the restoration of the palace, of which more than in the restoration of the facades on the Neva side and part of the facades along Azovsky Lane.” $1 million. The cost of the entire restoration project will be about $40-50 million,” said Romtrade representative Valentin Porfiryev.
According to Business Petersburg, the new hotel should open in 2010

Palaces of the Grand Dukes Mikhail Mikhailovich and Nikolai Nikolaevich in St. Petersburg

The Mikhail Mikhailovich Palace (also known as Maly Mikhailovsky or Malo-Mikhailovsky) is a palace in the center of St. Petersburg, an architectural monument. Built according to the design of Maximilian Messmacher. It is called a palace, although it was never used for its intended purpose, since Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich was expelled from Russia after his marriage to Sofia Merenberg

Intensive restoration work is currently underway. There is information that it is planned to create a five-star hotel in the palace. In February 2011, the palace was sold by the state at a starting price of 520 million rubles. structures associated with the current tenant of the building (Romtrade company))