Museum-Lyceum of Pushkin in Tsarskoye Selo

In the city of Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo until 1918), the former suburban residence of Russian emperors, they now come to get acquainted with local attractions - the Catherine Palace and the park, to make an excursion to the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, which will take a little more than half an hour. Lyceum of Pushkin in Tsarskoye Selo is a special place that every tourist should visit.

Place popularity

Given that the number of people who want to visit the royal chambers never decreases, it is better to buy tickets to the Catherine Palace in advance , but so that before this you can take a walk around the famous educational institution, fond memories of which can be found in one of the works of the great poet and writer.

The Pushkin Museum-Lyceum in Tsarskoye Selo invites visitors to plunge into the old way of life and see the school desk, behind which one of the most talented people of Russia sat.

A bit of history

The Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum received its first students in 1811. Thus, the date of its founding falls on the period of the era of liberalism of Alexander I. Parents of very noble families brought their children of 12-14 years old to study, since the educational institution was faced with a very difficult task - the graduate should be ready for “important parts of the sovereign’s service ".

At first, the first entrants were not even warned that they would be in the walls of the Lyceum for six years without the possibility of going home. They were presented with a surprise only at the end of the day of arrival, when the children enjoyed an evening dessert. Lyceum of Pushkin in Tsarskoye Selo was of particular importance for high-ranking people of that time. Everyone wanted to give their children upbringing to professional teachers.

The construction plan of the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum

Between the buildings of the Lyceum and the Catherine Palace, a connecting arch was built with the altar part (choirs) of the court church. The construction of the institution has 4 floors, each of which carried its own functional purpose:

• The lowest floor was used as living quarters, in which inspectors, officials, employees and tutors lived.

• On the next floor there was a conference room with a nearby office, a hospital and a pharmacy, a dining room where staff and students ate. Pushkin Lyceum in Tsarskoye Selo is very popular with tourists. Photos of the museum can be found in this article.
• The training process took place one floor higher in two classes. In one of them, classes were carried out after giving lectures. Also on the third floor was a physical room, and inside the arch, which was discussed above, there was a room for periodicals - magazines and newspapers. In the assembly hall on the same floor on October 18, 1811, the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum opened in a festive atmosphere. And in 1815 another historical event took place - the lyceum student Pushkin, who was then only 15 years old, recited his poem "Memoirs in Tsarskoye Selo" during the exam, even making the elderly Derzhavin cry.
• Students lived on the fourth floor. According to Pushkin, the rooms resembled very narrow "cells", which, as for the offspring of noble families, were furnished rather modestly, in Spartan style, with a minimum of amenities. The furniture did not shine with luxury and was represented only by a mirror, an iron bed, a chest of drawers, a desk and a table for washing. In one of these rooms, at number 14, the high school student Pushkin lived and spent his leisure time. The years of study were so impressed with the memory that some time after the completion of studies, Alexander Sergeyevich who managed to become famous, at the end of each of the letters addressed to his fellow lyceum students, signed “No. 14”.

Lyceum's daily routine

Noble children had to live in Spartan conditions, the room was far from comfortable air temperature - within 17 degrees. Lyceum of Pushkin in Tsarskoye Selo was an example of discipline. Lyceum students had to adhere to the following order of the day:

1. Every morning the rise, as in the army, is 6.00.
2. Strictly one hour was allotted for waking up and rubbing his eyes and sequentially performing automatic actions: morning toilet, dressing, prayer, and repetition of lessons.
3. Beginning of classes - 7.00. Two of them were held before dinner for two hours with a break. During the first break, lyceum students had breakfast with tea and a white roll, the rest of the time before the next two-hour classes they devoted a short walk.
4. Then the next two hours of classes, after which it was allowed to take a walk, and then it was necessary to repeat the lessons.
5. 13.30 - lunch, which usually consisted of three dishes.
6. Afternoon three hours of classes were held in a classroom with three rows of desks.
7. Evening walk and compulsory exercise.
8. Lyceum suppers at 20.30.

Lyceum of Pushkin in Tsarskoye Selo was respected, parents liked the strict order that the children had to adhere to. In total, I had to do seven hours a day. The school year began on August 1 and ended on July 1 of the following calendar year. In Tsarskoye Selo, the pupils were supposed to be even during the holidays, which lasted a whole month. The six-year study period consisted of two parts: the first three years - the initial department, and the next three years - the final department. During this time, students managed to get not only secondary, but also higher education. The curriculum almost did not correspond to the one taught at the law and philosophical faculties. Moreover, graduates of the lyceum were equated with university graduates.

Prices and working hours

In addition to Pushkin, the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum graduated from many more famous personalities, such as Pushchin, Delvig, Kyukhelbeker, Korf, Gorchakov and others.

Be sure to visit the Pushkin Lyceum in Tsarskoye Selo. Opening hours - from seven in the morning until eleven in the evening. Ticket price - 120 rubles, children under 18 are free of charge. Discounts are also offered to pensioners; a ticket to the museum will cost them 30 rubles.