The bridge was built in 1856: the merchants needed a direct connection with the Exchange and Commercial port. In the manufacture of the structure, the floating St. Isaac's Bridge was used. Then it was modernized and called Palace. The permanent bridge appeared in 1916, although it was conceived earlier. Construction was hampered by a variety of events: first, a flood, then the First World War. In 1917, the bridge was renamed Republican, but in 1944 its original name was returned. Cast iron grates were installed only in 1939. In 2013, this architectural monument was reconstructed.

 Palace Bridge

The garden owes its name to the fact that the palace guard was previously stationed here. The garden was laid out in 1896 and separated the royal residence - the Winter Palace - from the roadway. The planning was carried out by the architect Nikolai Kramskoy, according to whose design the garden was raised above the street by about a meter. A fountain and tree seedlings appeared in it. The garden fence was made in the Rastrelli baroque style: the pattern of leaves was supplemented with the emblem of the imperial family and the state coat of arms. In 1920, the fence was dismantled and installed in. In 2008, the original appearance of the fountain was restored. Now the garden is perfect place for relaxation in the center. In summer you can hide from the sun here, and in winter you can admire the colorful garlands decorating the tree branches.

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Winter Palace 0+

The main residence of the Russian emperors changed its appearance five times. Construction began under Peter I, and ended under Peter III. Bartolomeo Rastrelli gave the building a modern baroque appearance.

Many decisive events for the country took place in this place: here the revolutionary Stepan Khalturin tried to kill Emperor Alexander II, here a demonstration of workers was shot in 1905, a little later the Provisional Government, removed by the Bolsheviks, met in the palace. For 20 years, the Museum of the Revolution functioned in the Winter Palace, which closed in 1941. Now the palace is the main building of the Hermitage, storing many cultural and historical values ​​and objects of art.

 pl. Dvortsovaya, 2

The museum was built by Yuri Felten and Jean-Baptiste-Michel Vallin-Delamote in 1775. The miniature gallery contains many famous exhibits: the Peacock Clock, the Pavilion Hall, and the Hanging Garden. Initially, unique works of art acquired by Catherine II were exhibited here. Only a select few could see them - it is not without reason that the word “Hermitage” is translated as “a place of solitude.” It was only in 1852 that the Hermitage became accessible to the public.

 Dvortsovaya embankment, 36

The museum was built in 1787 by architect Yuri Felten. Built in the classicist style, the building amazes with its interior: the rooms are painted with gilding, decorated with colored stones and skillful stucco. Nowadays administrative premises are located here and works of Italian painting of the 13th-18th centuries are exhibited. Five years after the construction of the building, Raphael’s loggias were added to the Great Hermitage, which contain copies of the artist’s frescoes.

Among the famous objects inside are the Theater and Soviet Staircases. The first connects the floors of the Great Hermitage and allows access to the Hermitage Theater and the Raphael Loggias. The second staircase appeared due to the need for its own entrance to the room where the Committee of Ministers and the State Council met. Architect Andrei Stackenschneider decorated the staircase with marble and decorated the lobby with red porphyry columns.

The New Hermitage, designed by Leo von Klenze in 1851, is located behind the Great Hermitage building. Famous for its portico with ten atlases, the museum was created especially for public visits. Initially, it housed halls of Russian and Western European sculpture; now there is a Knight's Hall with rich collection armor and weapons. Also an interesting exhibit is the Large Kolyvan vase made of green jasper weighing 19 tons.

 Dvortsovaya embankment, 34

Winter groove

The ditch was dug in 1719 and was called the Old Palace Canal. It connects the Neva and Moika and extends 228 meters. Despite the fact that the canal is so short, several bridges are thrown across it. The Hermitage Bridge became the founder of stone construction in the city: before it, all bridges were constructed exclusively from wood. It was built in the 18th century, like the 1st Winter Bridge. The 2nd Winter Bridge was built in the mid-20th century, but made in the style of the previous two. The buildings of the Great Hermitage and the Hermitage Theater are connected by an arched structure supporting a gallery passage. From the embankment it looks very beautiful: the ditch flows under the arch, disappearing in perspective.

 Winter Canal embankment

Hermitage Theater

Originally located here. In 1787, in its place, Giacomo Quarenghi built a luxurious theater in antique style. The Hermitage Theater was intended for the imperial family and the highest nobility: in addition to operas and performances, balls, masquerades, and amateur performances were staged here. The chamber hall is located in an amphitheater and can accommodate 250 people. The interior of the theater is framed by marble columns, statues of Apollo and muses of art, portraits of great musicians and poets. Since 1990, the theater has hosted performances by the Russian Ballet troupe, the St. Petersburg Ballet Theater. Tchaikovsky, the chamber theater "St. Petersburg Opera" and the L. Jacobson Ballet Theater.

 Dvortsovaya embankment, 34

Previously, on the site of the palace stood the mansion of Ivan Musin-Pushkin, then Dmitry Volkonsky, which a little later housed the French embassy. In 1872, the architect Alexander Rezanov erected a palace intended for the third son of Alexander II, Vladimir. The building was built in the Florentine style, decorated with large Venetian windows and family coats of arms. He was called "Small" imperial palace“because the interior decoration was amazing: different architectural styles harmoniously intertwined in the decor of the halls. The Grand Duke was president of the Academy of Arts and collected paintings.

In the first third of the 20th century, the House of Scientists was opened in the palace, where meetings, round tables, open lectures, and debates were held. Now there are several dozen scientific sections dealing with issues of technology and science. Historical films are also shot in this place, exhibitions and presentations are held.

 Dvortsovaya embankment, 26

The palace was erected for the family of Grand Duke Mikhail, son of Nicholas I. Architect Andrei Stackenschneider created the building in an eclectic style, combining trends from various architectural trends. Metal structures were used during construction, which was an innovation of that time. In 1911, a museum was opened here, the exhibition of which tells about the life and work of Prince Mikhail, who for a long time was the governor of the Caucasus. On this moment The palace houses the Institute of the History of Material Culture and a large library containing many oriental manuscripts.

 Dvortsovaya embankment, 18

Marble Palace (Russian Museum) 0+

This is the first palace in St. Petersburg, the cladding of which is made of natural stone. In his work on the exterior and interior decoration of the building, Antonio Rinaldi used more than 30 types of marble. Many of them are presented in the Marble Hall. Forged latticework and marble vases decorate the main entrance to the palace. Previously, on the site of the palace there was a Postal Yard, and then a menagerie where an elephant lived.

The palace was intended for Count Orlov, but he never settled in it - the count died two years before the completion of construction work. Catherine II had to buy the palace from his heirs. For some time, the empress’s favorite, Stanislav Poniatowski, lived here, and then the building became the property of the Romanov princes. The grandson of Catherine II, Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich, lived here, then the son of Nicholas I, Konstantin, and the heirs of his family.

For 17 years, the Russian Academy of the History of Material Culture functioned here, then the Central Lenin Museum operated. In 1996, the palace became a branch of the Russian Museum. The exhibition presents works by foreign artists of the 18th - early 19th centuries. From time to time, exhibitions of works by contemporary masters are held here.

The armored car “Enemy of Capital” stood for a long time near the walls of the Marble Palace. The car was installed in memory of Lenin, who performed in an armored car of a similar model in 1917. Now here is the authorship of Paolo Trubetskoy, who worked on it at the beginning of the 20th century. Previously, it stood on Znamenskaya Square, not far from the modern Moscow railway station. The monument was created as a tribute to the founder of the Siberian Road. The sculpture did not capture the appearance of the emperor familiar from ceremonial paintings, but a true portrait likeness. In 1919, the ironic poem “Scarecrow” by Demyan Bedny appeared on the monument. He was also involved in the celebration dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution. The monument was placed in a cage, decorated with a sickle, a hammer and the emblem of the “USSR”. Since 1937, the monument rested in the Russian Museum and was returned to the city only in the early 90s.

 st. Millionnaya, 5/1

Trinity Bridge

Originally it was a floating bridge, named Troitsky in honor of the nearby square. The permanent drawbridge was built at the beginning of the 20th century in honor of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the wedding of Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna. The grilles and lanterns are designed in the Art Nouveau style by the architects René Patouliard and Vincent Chabrol, and the granite columns with bronze rostras and eagles on top are by Amandus Adamson. Trinity Bridge has undergone two reconstructions. According to legend, it was over this architectural monument that Valery Chkalov flew during his famous non-stop flight along the Moscow-North Pole route.

 Trinity Bridge

The territory belonged to Count Alexander Vorontsov, who renounced his own rights. By decision of the neighbor, Field Marshal Nikolai Saltykov, a garden was laid out here. In 1818, the state bought the site, and a square was created on this site, the plan of which was worked on by Carl Rossi.

A bronze monument to commander Alexander Suvorov, worked on by Mikhail Kozlovsky, was erected in the center of the square. Originally it stood on the Champ de Mars. Suvorov is depicted in the allegorical image of the god of war, Mars. This was the country's first monument to an uncrowned person, erected by order of Paul I in honor of the commander's victorious campaign in Italy.

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It was erected in 1788 by Giacomo Quarenghi in the classicist style and belonged to the merchant Groten. The house changed several more owners and, by order of Catherine II, was purchased by the state and presented to Nikolai Saltykov as gratitude for raising Konstantin Pavlovich, the Empress’s favorite grandson. Alexander Suvorov was a frequent guest at the house, and it was here that Mikhail Kutuzov was appointed field marshal of the army. Before the October Revolution, the house was rented by various foreign embassies. Despite the fact that the building was rebuilt several times, the beautiful interiors in the White Hall and the lobby remained intact. Now the St. Petersburg State University of Culture and Arts is located here.

 Dvortsovaya emb., 4

Originally there was a spruce grove growing here. A little later, Domenico Trezzini built a pavilion for Peter I, where the king spent his relaxing hours. In 1750, Bartolomeo Rastrelli erected an Opera House on the vacated space, where European troupes gave performances. For a long time, the building was rented by an Italian theater. After 22 years, the Opera House was demolished, and construction began on the mansion of Catherine II’s personal secretary, Ivan Betsky. Among the official's guests were Denis Diderot and Ivan Krylov. It was here that the fabulist took up publishing and published the magazines “Spectator” and “St. Petersburg Mercury”.

In 1830, the mansion was purchased by the state treasury and presented to the Prince of Oldenburg. Architect Vasily Stasov re-decorated the building. The son of the Prince of Oldenburg sold the mansion to the Provisional Government for 1.5 million rubles. After the October Revolution, the inner chambers were divided into communal apartments, then a museum and a circle named after Saltykov-Shchedrin appeared in the former palace. In the second half of the 20th century, the mansion was connected to Saltykov’s house, so a wing of the St. Petersburg State University of Culture and Arts is also located here.

One of the oldest buildings in the city was built in 1714. Dominico Trezzini created a Baroque palace, very simple and modest inside. The outside of the building is decorated with bas-reliefs depicting the events of the Northern War. The palace has 14 rooms and 2 kitchens. The palace was built for Peter I's summer vacation. After the death of the tsar, dignitaries lived here, and under Alexander I the palace became publicly accessible. In 1934, a museum was opened there. In the mid-20th century a major restoration was carried out. Now the building is a branch of the Russian Museum.

It was conceived as a regular park and personal residence of the king. In 1704, official landscaping work began. Over the course of 15 years, the garden acquired the desired appearance. They began to let visitors in; they did this selectively and on Sundays. The composition of the Summer Garden was done by Jean Baptiste Leblond, and Bartolomeo Rastrelli created a wooden palace for Anna Ioannovna, the “Amphitheater” cascade and the “Crown” fountain. The garden was filled with Venetian sculptures, becoming, along with fountains, its main decoration. Later, a flood destroyed the fountains and the Grotto pavilion, which it was decided not to restore. The fence appeared in 1784, and in 1855 a monument to Krylov was erected here. Gradually, the garden acquired the features of a landscape English park and completely opened its doors to the public. In 2012, the reconstruction of the Summer Garden was completed, the layout of which was given its original appearance.

 emb. Kutuzova, 2

If you find a typo or error, select the fragment of text containing it and press Ctrl + ↵

Palace Embankment originally called the Upper Embankment. It was built in the depths of the plots, because at the beginning of the 18th century the swampy banks of the Neva were not yet fortified. It passed in the middle of the block between Millionnaya Street and the Neva embankment. Due to the expansion of land plots, already in 1716 it was shifted to the north. In the shallow waters of the river, piles were driven and an embankment that has survived to this day was built.
In April 1707, a decree was issued, according to which strict regulations for the allocation of plots for development began. The priority was given to the official and property status of the petitioners. The same decree established the size of land plots. The narrow side of each plot faced the bank of the Neva. The plots were assigned only to persons related to the Admiralty Department.
Development of the modern Palace Embankment. What is on the left bank of the Neva began in the first years of the existence of St. Petersburg. In 1705, the first house appeared here, which belonged to Admiral General F.M. Apraksin, in 1707 the Kikin Chambers were rebuilt. Already by the mid-1710s, work was underway to strengthen coastline Neva on the site of the palace embankment. The banks were strengthened with wooden walls, and piers appeared along the embankment. Thus, it was possible to move the river bed by at least eighty meters. In the thirties of the 18th century, instead of the Apraksin House, the Winter House was built for Empress Anna Ioannovna. Since the second half of the 18th century, the embankment has been called Millionnaya.
By the sixties, the million-dollar embankment was turned into granite, and semicircular slopes to the Neva appeared here. But since construction works architect Ignazio Rossi were carried out poorly; later the embankment had to be rebuilt according to the design of Yu.M. Felten. As a result, the bank of the Neva “moved back” another twenty meters.
On the embankment there was a Postal Yard (on the site of the modern Marble Palace), which is why it was often called the Postal Court. In the sixties of the 18th century, the Hermitage Bridge and the Verkhne-Lebyazhy Bridge appeared, which connected the Palace Embankment with the Kutuzov Embankment.
By the end of the 18th century, a mass of interesting buildings. These are the buildings of the Hermitage, and the Hermitage Theater, and Marble Palace, and the Saltykov house, and many others. In the 19th century, the Novo-Mikhailovsky and Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich palaces and the service building of the Marble Palace were built here.
After 1917, the embankment became the 9th of January embankment.
Palace Embankment connects with Vasilyevsky Island the Dvortsovy drawbridge, which appeared here at the beginning of the 20th century. The embankment is connected to the Petrogradskaya side by the Trinity Bridge, erected here at the turn of the 19th – 20th centuries.

Palace Embankment

And, leaning on the colonnades, Granite masses rise in an unshakable sequence of Palaces Above the darkened Neva!.. N. Agnivtsev.

Location: left bank of the Neva, from Troitsky to Palace Bridge

Palace Embankment, one of the most picturesque in St. Petersburg, is located on the left bank of the Neva, between Kutuzovskaya and Admiralteyskaya embankments. It crosses Suvorovskaya Square and is connected by the Palace Bridge with Vasilyevsky Island, and the Trinity Bridge with the Petrograd Side. The ensemble of Dvortsovaya Embankment includes those outstanding in their artistic significance architectural structures: Winter Palace, Small and Old Hermitages, Hermitage Theater, Marble Palace, House of Scientists and other buildings.

Soon after the founding of St. Petersburg, in 1715, the general scheme of the Palace Embankment was outlined. In those days it was called Verkhnyaya, and retained this name until the end of the 18th century. In 1754-1762, according to the design of the architect Rastrelli, the Winter Palace was erected, which became the royal residence. It was he who gave the name to those located next to him Palace Square, Palace Embankment, Palace Passage and Palace Bridge. During the heyday of Soviet power, when it became a good tradition to rename streets and avenues, naming them in honor of prominent figures and memorable dates of the revolution, Palace Embankment turned into the Ninth January Embankment. However, already in 1944 the original name was returned, and since then it has remained unchanged.

In the middle of the 18th century, the Palace Embankment was lined with granite; it was complemented by picturesque descents to the water, made by the master G. Nasonov according to the design of the architect I. Rossi. In the 19th century, at the place where the entrance to the Palace Bridge is located today, there was a pier decorated with bronze sculptures of lions (sculptor - I. Prokofiev) and porphyry vases. In 1873 they were moved to the Admiralteyskaya Embankment.

On Palace Embankment there is former palace Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, designed by the architect A. Rezanov in the style of a Florentine palazzo. Today it houses the House of Scientists (Dvortsovaya Embankment, 26). House No. 20 belonged to I. Moshkov, the quartermaster of Peter I. The old walls of the building were preserved under late plaster. House No. 18 was built in the mid-19th century by the architect Stackenschneider for Grand Duke Michael. There is no stylistic unity in the development of Palace Embankment, but its appearance gives the impression of harmony, balance and architectural integrity.

Historical reference

1715 - creation of the embankment. 1754-1762 - construction of a building Winter Palace, which gave the name to the embankment. 1763-1767 - the embankment is lined with granite, descents to the water have been built. 1763-1766 - construction of the Hermitage Bridge across the Winter Canal. 1767-1768 - construction of the Verkhne-Lebyazhy Bridge across the Lebyazhy Canal. Legends and myths

There are several palaces located on Palace Embankment, including the official royal residence, so it is not surprising that many legends about the palaces themselves and their owners are associated with this place in St. Petersburg. For example, among the Hermitage workers there is a legend about the last owner of the Winter Palace - Emperor Nicholas II. They say that in the evenings the ghost of the martyr king appears in the galleries of the Hermitage, sadly looking around his former possessions.

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. 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 Academy physical culture named after Lesgaft.

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 Feodorovna settled in the Anichkov Palace. Nicholas II also grew up here. He didn't like Winter and most Already being an emperor, he spent time 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. IN late XIX 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 Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District.

It lives up to its name: there are almost a dozen large palaces in which the most important figures of Russian history of the 18th - 19th centuries lived: scions of the House of Romanov, major nobles, cultural figures. We have selected the most popular ones.

1. Summer Palace Peter the Great

A very modest two-story palace in the Summer Garden, where Peter the Great lived from May to October for twelve years, from 1712 to 1725. During the time of Peter, a small canal was dug from the Fontanka to the entrance to the palace, so that the royal residence was located on the peninsula. The emperor loved it when guests came to him by boat.

Modesty was generally inherent in Peter's buildings. For example, the Marly Palace did not have a main hall at all, and the Summer Palace bore little resemblance to the residence of the emperor of a huge country. Luxury is Menshikov's. Peter tried to avoid excesses and used only the most necessary. So all the palaces of those times turned out to be small and cramped. Formally, the palace is registered in the Summer Garden, but is located a few meters from the Palace Embankment.

Address: Summer garden, 2

2. Palace of the Prince of Oldenburg (Betsky House, University of Culture and Arts)

Until the 1770s, there was a theater building here, in which an Italian troupe constantly performed: Elizabeth Petrovna’s courtiers, as a rule, attended its performances. After the death of the Empress and the departure of the Italians, the building by Rastrelli was demolished, and in 1784 - 1787 a house was built here for Ivan Betsky, who conducted classes here for students of his educational institutions, and also gradually collected a collection of works of art. Ivan Krylov also lived there, who opened a printing house in the building and printed his magazines.

The house received its second name when Prince Peter of Oldenburg moved into it in 1830. Under him, the architect Stasov built and reconstructed the building. His son, Alexander Oldenburgsky, sold the building to the Provisional Government for a large sum at that time (1.5 million rubles). In 1962, the Leningrad Library Institute was located here, and the building of the Betsky House was connected to the neighboring Saltykov House. Now here is the University of Culture and Arts, the famous “kulek”.

Address: Palace Embankment, 2

3. Marble Palace

Before, according to the design of the architect Rinaldi, they began to build a palace here for the favorite of Catherine the Great, Grigory Orlov, there was first a postal yard here, then a zverovy, where the first St. Petersburg elephant lived for a short time, then the building burned down, and then the place was cleared for a square.

The count did not wait for the queen’s gift, and she bought the palace from Orlov’s descendants and gave it to her grandson Konstantin Pavlovich. After which it remained the residence for members of the House of Romanov until 1918. Then there was the Russian Academy of the History of Material Culture, then a branch of the Lenin Museum was opened, and since 1992 the Marble Palace became a branch of the Russian Museum, where exhibitions of contemporary art are mainly held (Warhol, the Ludwig Museum, etc.).

Address: Millionnaya street, 5/1

4. Novo-Mikhailovsky Palace

The third palace built by Stackenschneider for the children of Nicholas I (after the Mariinsky and Nikolaevsky). Its design began after the wedding of Mikhail Nikolaevich. Several older buildings in the neighborhood were demolished to construct the building. The palace itself is an excellent example of early eclecticism and combines in its appearance the features of a variety of architectural styles: Baroque, Rococo, Classicism. In addition, in the construction of the Novo-Mikhailovsky Palace, metal structures that were rare at that time were used.

Mikhail Nikolaevich did not have time to immediately enjoy the beauty of the palace, because literally after settling in 1862 he was forced to go to the Caucasus as governor. He returned home only in 1881, when he was appointed chairman of the State Council. IN last years he usually did not leave the palace and sat thoughtfully at the windows of the first floor. Passers-by sometimes noticed him and saluted him. After his death, the building passed into the hands of his son Nikolai Mikhailovich. And now there is a library of oriental manuscripts.

Address: Palace Embankment, 18

5. Palace of Vladimir Alexandrovich

Vladimir Alexandrovich is the third son in the family of Emperor Alexander II. The architect of the palace was Messmacher, who would soon build another grand-ducal palace (the future House of Music on the Moika). The result was a modest, eclectic building, which, due to its masonry, did not fit into the ensemble of Palace Embankment.

Subsequently, by decision of the Petrograd Council, the Grand Duke's palace was turned into the House of Scientists. Herbert Wells visited here, Academician Vavilov worked here (as chairman of the council). During the Siege there was a hospital here. At the moment, there are dozens of different scientific sections in a variety of areas.

Address: Palace Embankment, 26

6. Small Hermitage

Despite the fact that this building by Felten and Wallen-Delamot is the smallest in the Hermitage ensemble, it is here that some of the most famous exhibits of the Hermitage are located: including the Pavilion Hall, the Peacock Clock, as well as the famous Hanging Gardens. At first there was a “Winter Garden” there, but then, when the building turned from a home residence into a museum, the concept had to be changed. You can only look at this garden from the window.

Address: Palace Embankment, 30

The main St. Petersburg palace, one of the most important museums in the world, a repository of hundreds of masterpieces of artistic culture, is already the fifth in a row. The first was built under Peter, the second - too, the third was ordered to be built by Anna Ioannovna, the fourth - temporary - was built by Rastrelli while the new one was being built for Elizabeth Petrovna. Only Catherine the Second settled in the current one: Elizabeth did not live to see the completion of construction, Peter the Third was overthrown shortly before the palace was commissioned.

The Winter Palace witnessed almost all the main events in Russian history after the 18th century. Monuments to the country’s main military victories were built around it, almost all Russian emperors lived here, it was here that one of the most notorious assassination attempts on the emperor was made (Khalturin detonated a bomb right under the dining room, Alexander II was not injured), a peaceful demonstration was shot near it on “Bloody Sunday” “, the Provisional Government met here and the Bolsheviks overthrew it here. Finally, some of the most massive rallies for democracy of 1991 and 1993 took place near the Winter Palace. Nowadays, concerts and street sports festivals are held more often near the Hermitage.

Address: Palace Embankment, 32