The HermitageThe State Hermitage Museum address: St. Petersburg, Palace square, Phone: +7 (812)571-34-20, 710-96-25. Working time from 10: 30 till 18.00 PM (Sunday until 17.00) except Monday, metro "Nevsky prospect".
The main displays of one of the world's largest museums are located in five buildings facing the Neva and Palace Square.
They form a single palatial complex that was roughly a century in the making - from 1754, when Empress Elizabeth took the decision to have anew Winter Palace built, to 1852, when the Imperial museum (New Hermitage) was constructed on the orders of Nicholas I.
The Old (Large) Hermitage This building, adjoining the Hermitage Pavilion on the east, was put up in 1771-82 to the design of Yury Velten and was intended to accommodate Catherine II's collections and libraries.
In the mid-19th century the interiors of the state rooms overlooking the Neva were redecorated by Andrei Slakenschneider.
The Winter Palace
One of the largest palaces in the world, containing over a thousand rooms, with a total floor area of about 46,000 square metres.
The palace was constructed by Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli in 1754-62 for Empress Elizabeth.
Despite its Baroque decoration, the huge three-storey building, in the form of a rectangle around an inner courtyard, i was laid out in a clear and rational manner, anticipating the best achievements of Classicism in the arrangement of space. Four corner blocks stressed the importance of the key elements originally placed there - the Main Staircase, Throne Room, Church and Palace Theatre. The low roof is adorned with typically Baroque sculpture that has been replaced several times.The Palace Church
Constructed in the south-west block of the Winter Palace, is one of the few interiors to retain the decor created by Rastrelli.
Fire in the Winter Palace
Broke out in December 1837 and raged for a whole night. Fortunately it was prevented from spreading to the neighbouring buildings and some of the precious furnishings were carried from the burning palace. In the morning Petersburgers awoke to a terrible sight - only charred walls remained of the grand edifice. Restoration work began immediately, under the direction of the architects Stasov and Briullov, and was completed within two years.
The New HermitageIn 1838, during a visit to Germany, Nicholas I viewed the famous Pinakothek, the pride of Munich. On his return to Russia, the Tsar resolved to create a similar museum in St Petersburg. He entrusted the design work to Leo von Klenze, the creator of the Bavarian museum. The building, constructed to the south of the Old Hermitage, opened in 1852.
The Hermitage Theatre
The theatre, linked to the palace complex by arched walkway, was created for Catherine II by Giacomo Quarenghi in 1786. The auditorium, in the form of an amphitheatre, is richly decorated in the Roman style with abundant use of sculpture and reliefs.
The Small Hermitage
Comprises two pavilions on the north and south that are linked by galleries and the Hanging Garden.
The world-famous museum owes its name to this small building designed by Vallin de la Mothe. As early as the 1770s Catherine II installed her first collection of paintings in the northern pavilion overlooking Palace Embankment.
The Hermitage. The sculpture on the facade of the Winter Palace. The Sculpture. The double-headed eagle on the fence of the Hermitage.
In the State Hermitage Museum has a large collection of exhibits, which has nearly three million works of art and monuments of world culture.
The collection – paintings, multiple graphics and sculptures, various objects of applied art, archaeological finds and an extensive product numismatics.
The historical ensemble of the Hermitage (it is located in the centre of St. Petersburg), includes the Winter Palace – the former Grand residence of Russian emperors, buildings of Small, Old and New hermitages, the Hermitage theatre and the Reserve house. The Museum complex of the Hermitage includes the Menshikov Palace and the Eastern wing of the General staff building, restoration centre and the Museum of the Imperial porcelain factory.
Official name - Federal state institution of culture "The State Hermitage"
In the State Hermitage Museum has a large collection of exhibits, which has nearly three million works of art and monuments of world culture.
The collection – paintings, multiple graphics and sculptures, various objects of applied art, archaeological finds and an extensive product numismatics.
The historical ensemble of the Hermitage (it is located in the centre of St. Petersburg), includes the Winter Palace – the former Grand residence of Russian emperors, buildings of Small, Old and New hermitages, the Hermitage theatre and the Reserve house. The Museum complex of the Hermitage includes the Menshikov Palace and the Eastern wing of the General staff building, restoration centre and the Museum of the Imperial porcelain factory.
Official name - Federal state institution of culture "The State Hermitage"
In The State Hermitage Museum there is a large collection of which has nearly three million works of art and monuments of world culture. In the collections - paintings, multiple drawings and sculptures, various items of applied art, many of archaeological findings and extensive articles of numismatics.The Coat of arms of the Romanov family.
The historical ensemble of the Hermitage (it is located in the centre of St. Petersburg), includes the Winter Palace – the former Grand residence of Russian emperors, buildings of Small, Old and New hermitages, the Hermitage theatre and the Reserve house. The Museum complex of the Hermitage includes the Menshikov Palace and the Eastern wing of the General staff building, restoration and storage centre and the Museum of the Imperial porcelain factory.
Construction musée Hermitage