The Hermitage is not only a large museum. Especially in order to open the world of beauty to people, the Hermitage lecture hall works. It has two addresses: the first lecture hall is located in one of the new buildings of the depository, the second - in the former building of the General Headquarters on Palace Square. It is unlikely that you can visit both halls in one day, so you should prepare for a meeting with art in advance.
Hermitage General Staff Lecture Hall
There has been a lecture hall on Palace Square for many years. It is called the hall where the canvases of artists come to life. Here you can listen to several lecture cycles. Themes are different, they cover the whole history of mankind in the works of artists from primitive days to the present.
Interested employees work here who are happy to lead stories about the past. Under their unhurried monologue, all the slides shown on the screen no longer seem to be just beautiful pictures, but windows in centuries past.
A small room with red soft chairs is very cozy, for notes each chair is equipped with a folding table. The large screen for slide shows from all over is clearly visible. Slides allow you to examine in detail art objects from a favorable angle. During the lecture, the guide pays attention to various details.
Traditionally, after each session - applause to the narrator.
Lecture programs at the General Staff Building
The performances of the employees are composed in such a way that it becomes interesting both for specialists and for the first time who came to the museum. Academic knowledge is presented in a fun and accessible way.
Now this lecture hall of the Hermitage conducts several programs:
- University of the History of Foreign Art - 3 courses.
- Eastern classes: ancient Egypt, India, China.
- Ancient world: Greece, Italy, Scythians.
- East: Islamic world, Khorezm, about a forgotten empire.
- Western Europe: Venice, The German Book, Curiosities of Nature, Literary Heroes, 17th Century Painting, French Weavers, Jewelers, Green Frog Service, English Watercolor, Paris from the Beginning of the 20th Century, German Expressionists, 20-21 Century Sculpture, Three Artists 21 century.
- Russia: about museum exhibits.
You can visit it on weekdays, ticket offices are open from 10.30 to 19.20. On weekends, work is reduced by two hours, at 17.30 their doors are closed for visitors. Monday is a day off.
Hermitage Lecture Hall in the Old Village
The historical district of the city where the depository is located is called the "Old Village". Also called the nearest metro. The complex was built relatively recently - the first phase was introduced in 2003. A new lecture hall opened the doors there.
If the lecture hall of the Hermitage on Palace Square looks like a chamber theater, then this new one is like a large university audience. Light green armchairs rise in steps, they have the same folding tables as in the old lecture hall.
It hosts evening concerts. A spacious cozy room gathers guests on Sundays at 17.30. Under the fading colors of the day, watching the sleeping garden outside the window, visitors hear the sounds of music from the historical era, which the art historian narrates about.
Lecture programs in the Old Village
Here you can listen to the following topics:
- Since ancient times.
- Masters of the 19th century.
- About Ancient Greece.
- F. Goya.
- London. Museums
- Tapestry weaving in Europe.
- Art of 20-21 centuries.
The following topics have been prepared especially for schoolchildren:
- European court costume of the 15-17th centuries.
- Stories from the life of the Hermitage masterpieces.
- Traveling to the countries of the East.
- Myths and traditions in the visual arts.
- Weekdays and holidays of the ancient world.
- Art is all around us.
- Secrets of palaces (2 parts).
On weekdays, the lecture hall expects visitors from 10.30 to 19.00. On weekends, the working day is 1 hour shorter. Monday, Tuesday - non-working days.
Visitors reviews
Those who start attending the lecture cycle can no longer refuse. Sorry to miss another topic. Therefore, tips from experienced visitors: buy a subscription. True, a lot of him will have to defend a lot - there are many who wish. Some stood for 6 hours. But it's worth it.
The history of foreign art has been studied for three academic years, classes are divided into 87 lectures. It’s convenient to visit them - it starts at 19.00, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the General Headquarters.
Many reviews cite fragments of lectures. It can be seen that people really liked it a lot. It was unexpected to see an elderly museum worker famously working with a computer. The excellent Russian language of the lecturers, enthusiasm for what they love, and an excellent sense of humor did their job - the audience sat for 2 hours, fascinated by the story.
Very different people attend the lecture hall of the Hermitage. The reviews of this motley crowd of young and old are unanimous: they had a good time, learned a lot of interesting things and were eager to visit the museum exposition in order to see firsthand what was shown with the help of slides.
Addresses of lectures, how to get
Both lectures are easy to find even for a stranger to a city. If you plan to visit the museum, then at the same time you can visit the nearby lecture hall of the General Staff.
Nevsky Prospekt can be reached by metro. Stations "Nevsky Prospect" and "Gostiny Dvor", access to the Griboedov Canal. Next, we focus on the spire of the Admiralty, to the right of it is the Winter Palace.
From the Admiralteyskaya station, we first go to Nevsky, then we approach the admiralty. The Hermitage Lecture Hall, whose address is Palace Square, house 6/8, has an entrance from the square.
The lecture hall in the Old Village is located at 37 Zauzadebnaya Str. A. It is better to get there by metro to the Staraya Derevnya station.
Museum Visiting Rules
A museum is an object of culture. They don’t come here in T-shirts and shorts, frivolous beach sundresses and the like. A dress code has not been established, but basic respect for the heritage of many centuries is assumed.
High thin heels can hurt precious flooring, it is also better to leave them at home. Large things, bags will take a wardrobe. Food and drink are prohibited on site.
Here you can take photographs of exhibits for free. It is forbidden to do this only in the storerooms of the museum. For a lifetime, a person will not be able to visit all three million exhibits of the Hermitage, so take the opportunity to learn about the most interesting ones by visiting the lecture hall.