Among the most famous cultural heritage sites of St. Petersburg, a special place is occupied by the Yusupov Palace. The building is famous not only for its exquisite architectural forms, but also for the rich history of both the building itself and its owners. It is definitely worth a visit, even if you are just passing through the city.
Monument of Special Importance
Currently, the palace is included in the register of specially protected buildings as a monument of federal significance. A visit to the Yusupov Palace allows you to accurately imagine not only the interiors of the parades of that time, but even the master's chambers. The home theater and exhibition halls, which present a rich assortment of art objects, have also been preserved in their original form. Every thing is of special value. Museum keepers keep a close watch on every corner of it.
Due to the exterior architectural splendor of the building, as well as the rich interior decoration, the palace is still actively used for various celebrations, such as meetings of foreign guests and meetings.
Throughout its history, the palace of Prince Yusupov in St. Petersburg has met many eminent guests, ranging from tsars to major foreign figures in the field of politics. The home theater hosted many famous singers, artists and musicians.
Palace History
The history of the palace goes back to the 18th century, when the estate of Peter the Great's niece Praskovya Ioannovna was built on the banks of the Moika River. After some time, the owner of the castle decided to give it to the Semenovsky regiment, which used the building until 1742, after which the palace was taken over by Count Shuvalov.
Soon, the count’s son, having entered into inheritance rights, began the capital reconstruction and reconstruction of the building according to his vision, taking into account the fashion and current architectural trends of that time. In accordance with the project, it was planned to erect a new building just upstream of the Moika. The eminent French master J. B. Wallen-Delamot was chosen as the architect. In 1770, construction was started, the first stone was laid.
Reconstruction
The architectural appearance of the new palace was very different from the present: on the sides it was one floor less, the entrance to the palace was from the courtyard. The only thing that has remained unchanged since that time is the triumphal gate and a high fence with a colonnade.
In 1830, the palace complex was bought by B.N. Yusupov. From this time until the October Revolution, the owners of the palace were exclusively representatives of the Yusupov clan. This fact was reflected even in the name of the building, which began to dignify as "the Yusupov Palace". In general, at that time the Yusupov empire included more than 50 palaces throughout the country.
At the end of the 19th century, the palace of Felix Yusupov was modernized: electricity was provided, central water supply, heating and sewage appeared. A beautiful winter garden was also established under the guidance of the eminent architect of the time B. Simon.
The home theater has also undergone reconstruction, increasing the stage and the number of seats. There was a gallery, living room, lounge and dining room.
The murder of Rasputin
In December 1916, a significant event took place that brought the palace worldwide fame, namely the murder of Grigory Rasputin. A group of conspirators, which in addition to F. Yusupov included other princes, decided to kill Rasputin, because they believed that this would benefit Russia.
As a result of the attempt, Rasputin died, the prince went into exile, and Yusupov's palace was seized. The incident formed the basis of many films and books, and still many researchers are studying the details of the incident.
History after 1917
After the October Revolution, all private estates were seized, and Yusupov's palace did not escape this fate. In 1919, it was nationalized and converted into a museum dedicated to the life of the nobility. A separate place was occupied by an exhibition devoted to objects of art from the personal collection of Prince Yusupov and his family.
In 1925, the museum was closed, and all values and objects of art were transferred to other exhibitions. At the same time, a number of particularly unique exhibits were lost and have not been found so far. The building itself was turned into a teacher’s house. On the one hand, this helped the building to avoid barbaric exploitation and keep the interiors in relatively good condition. In 1935, the complex was included in the register of specially protected objects of the cultural and historical heritage of the past.
During the Second World War, the building was badly damaged by enemy air raids and was partially destroyed. Immediately after the war, its restoration began.
Large-scale museum
At present, the Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg is open to all comers. Group and individual excursions are regularly held here. Visitors can access not only the front rooms and living rooms, but also the theater, bedrooms and other interesting rooms. Various events are constantly held in the palace, including concerts and theater performances. From time to time, various cultural exhibitions take place.
There is also a historical exposition dedicated to the murder of Grigory Rasputin.
Genealogy of the Yusupovs
The Yusupov clan has its roots far in the past. The first mention of it dates back to the X century, during the creation of the Baghdad Caliphate.
The Eastern prince Il-Murza, the son of the Nogai khan Syuyumbike, in 1563 came to Russia to Ivan the Terrible. Since then, Russia has become a home for the descendants of the great Yusuf.
The grandson of Il-Murza brilliantly took part in the battles for Russia with numerous opponents. In 1681, he converted to Christianity, called Dmitry and received the title of prince, and changed his name to Yusupov. His descendants occupied notable places in the class hierarchy of Russia at that time. Family affairs went well, and by the beginning of the 20th century, there were about 50 estates and estates in their possessions. The palace of Yusupov received special significance. Photos of the historic building can be seen in this article.
The grandson of Dmitry, named Felix, due to the death of his older brother, remained the heir to a colossal fortune and the only possible successor to the legendary family. In 1914, he married the niece of Nicholas II. A year later, a daughter was born. And a year later the prince joined the gang of conspirators who wanted the death of G. Rasputin.
After the October Revolution, the prince was forced to flee abroad, taking only a small part of his infinite wealth. For the rest of his life, he, as well as his parents and family, lived in exile, writing memoirs.
Location and mode of operation
Yusupov Palace is conveniently located on the embankment of the river. Sinks. The serial number of the building is 94. The entrance for tourists is from Dekabristov Street, house 21. The doors of the museum are open to all comers every day from 11.00 to 17.00. Tours are conducted either by an experienced escort, or with the help of an audio guide. One day a month, the palace is closed for sanitation, with the exception of the summer period.
The ticket office opens 15 minutes earlier than the museum itself and is open until 17.00. All conditions have been created for foreign tourists: you can choose a guide who speaks one of the main European languages.
Every day , you can take part in a sightseeing tour dedicated to the conspiracy to kill Rasputin . Now you know where Yusupov's palace is located in St. Petersburg (address - 94 Moika River Embankment ).
Sessions with guides go with an interval of one hour, starting at 11.00 and ending at 17.00. Visits with an audio guide - not tied to sessions. Information telephone line: +7 (812) 314-98-83.
Ticket price
The price of tickets is very affordable; certain discounts are set for privileged groups of the population. So, for example, students and minor children visiting the museum will cost less than adults. The specific cost depends on the chosen theme of the tour.
Be sure to visit the Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg! The address (you already know how to get there) will tell any citizen. A sightseeing tour will cost you 500 rubles, you will have to pay 280 rubles for children. An excursion about Rasputin costs 300 rubles, for children the ticket price is 150 rubles. You will certainly enjoy this place, especially if you love and read the history of Russia. You can take unforgettable photos inside the museum, but you will have to pay extra for this.
Peter is a beautiful city with many beautiful palaces and estates. Not only residents of our country come here, but also tourists from all over the world. Yusupov Palace is an attraction that is included in many of the proposed sightseeing tours. The luxury and wealth of St. Petersburg's palaces amazes everyone. You will endlessly admire what you see and you can never forget this place.