Many tourists believe that the center of art is exclusively Western Europe. But it can compete with Petrograd, which residents and guests of the city affectionately call St. Petersburg for short. The Kamennoostrovsky Palace is an example of classicism, which, despite significant changes and restorations, has not lost the spirit of the 18th century.
Luxury area
The northern capital has its own analogy of Rublyovka near Moscow, which boasts rich and famous residents. Its total area is 10.6 km². It is located in the delta of the main river of St. Petersburg and is washed by the rivers Krestovka, Bolshaya and Malaya Nevka. Now Kamenny Island is the center of St. Petersburg, where expensive residences of influential people are located.
But three hundred years ago these lands were the wild outskirts of the city. If it were not for certain historical events and intrigues of the royal court, perhaps Russia would not now be proud of such architectural wonders as the Kamennoostrovsky Palace, the Gauswald dacha, the Vollenweider mansion and others.
The history of the site began immediately after the laying of the first structure of the Northern capital -Peter and Paul Fortress - May 16, 1703.
The plan of the great emperor
Two interesting legends are connected with the name of this land. According to the first version, a huge boulder lay on the island, which hung over the site like a rock. The second myth tells: this territory is named after the great emperor-reformer. After all, from the Greek petros, from which the name Peter comes, is translated as “stone.”
The Emperor had big plans for the coast of the Gulf of Finland. In order to consolidate the status of Russian in the conquered Swedish lands, he gave large plots to his loyal subjects.
So, Count Gavriil Golovkin was lucky enough to become the first owner of Kamenny Island. It was to him, a diplomat and friend, that the emperor presented this site in 1709. It is worth noting that the Kamennoostrovsky Palace stands today on the top where this man built.
Foundation for residence
Sources indicate that this diplomat, despite his large income, was extremely stingy. It was fantastic for him to build a magnificent mansion.
But the count was very afraid that the emperor, who often liked to visit the territories donated by him, would come to the island and not see any changes for the better. Therefore, Golovkin gave the order to build a cheap wooden house, behind which a modest garden was planted. Further, a dense swampy forest grew. The fears were justified, and in 1715 the monarch visited the donated territories. It was there that a few years later the Kamennoostrovsky Palace appeared, the work ofwife of his grandson Peter III.
After the death of the first emperor, the count successfully cunning until his own death in 1734 and remained an important person in the court, which survived three coups. But his son Mikhail could not get out of the water of intrigue and fell into disfavor with the new queen - Elizabeth Petrovna. He and his wife were sent into exile. Property and land were confiscated.
Founder of the Ensemble
The Empress gave the island to her cousin, Anna Skavronskaya, who married Count Alexei Bestuzhev-Ryumin and thereby transferred her property to him. He actively took up the planning of the territory where the Kamennoostrovsky Palace stands today. To uproot the dense forest and drain the swamps, the count brought hundreds of Ukrainian families.
Later a beautiful French-style garden was planted. The count initiated the creation of a beautiful magnificent ensemble, on the basis of which other buildings were built. Loud masquerade balls were often held there, to which all the city's nobility came.
In 1758, the tsarina demoted and sent Bestuzhev away. However, the confiscation was not carried out. The count managed his estates from a distance. So, for some time, through private announcements in St. Petersburg, he rented out his estate.
Bestuzhev was returned to power by Catherine II. She resumed the title, but because of his debts, she bought an island from him for 30,000 rubles.
Start of work
In 1765, the Empress gave this territory to her son and heir PavelI. Construction work began to build the Kamennoostrovsky Palace in St. Petersburg, the best craftsmen of that time from all over the country were invited. The name of the author of the project is still not exactly known. According to one source, he was Vasily Bazhenov.
Yuri Felten led the process. After the flood of 1777 he was replaced by Giacomo Quarenghi. The construction process itself took about ten years. It is worth noting that Paul I was not particularly fond of this area. The fact was that Catherine II gave her son Pavlovsk and Gatchina in the same period. They became the favorite residences of the ruler.
The buildings were completed in 1780. Then a magnificent ball was held in honor of the finish of the work, which was attended by the queen herself. But only two years later they completely finished working with the interior.
Monarch's Love Nest
The shape of the residence is a stretched letter "P". The style is sustained in strict Russian classicism. In general, the Kamennoostrovsky Palace has only 30 rooms. Restoration was carried out outside repeatedly, and each time the masters managed to preserve the original appearance of the building. But inside the style changed frequently.
The heyday fell on the reign of the son of Paul I - Alexander. For 25 years it was the main residence of the emperor. The attachment of the monarch to this place is very easy to explain. Opposite his estate, on the other side of the Malaya Nevka, was the mansion of Maria Naryshkina, the emperor's favorite. Their romance lasted 15 years.
When the sovereign moved to the island, he closed all entertainment facilitiesand taverns. He wanted peace and quiet. His thoughts were inspired by the lush garden that complemented the ensemble of the house. It could be accessed directly from the ballroom.
Fashion of the time
The Kamennoostrovsky Palace grew very quickly. Photos on which you can see the decoration and interior of the castle are the work of different generations of masters. During the time of Giacomo Quarenghi, the facade of the building and the front courtyard were built, decorated with six columns in the style of the Tuscan order. At the same time, granite steps were installed.
In 1820 cardinal changes began. An office for the ruler Alexander I was added, the garden was reconstructed. The walls were repainted by the artist Giovanni Batista. All changes were carried out in accordance with fashion trends.
The Great Hall is especially pompous. Its main purpose is balls and masquerades. Today there are marble sculptures depicting characters from Greek myths.
From kings to presidents
Many historical events have seen these walls. Mikhail Kutuzov was appointed commander of the army here. Also in this residence, the emperor learned about the Decembrists. The palace became the center of painting under Princess Elena Pavlovna. There were also musical evenings organized by Rubinstein. Alexander Pushkin was a frequent guest of the mansion.
After the revolution, the estate was turned into a hospital, then a juvenile colony, and later a sanatorium for pilot soldiers.
In 2008reconstruction began. Now real estate in this area costs crazy money and is considered the most elite among all sites in St. Petersburg.
Employees of the complex conduct interesting and informative excursions to the Kamennoostrovsky Palace. Address where the ensemble is located: Embankment of the Malaya Nevka River, 1A.
Several buildings were supposed to be converted into the residence of the governor, but the authorities changed their mind. In September of this year, they plan to open the Academy of Talents here. This will allow everyone to freely visit the architectural miracle.
