Among the most famous sights of the cultural heritage of St. Petersburg, the Yusupov Palace occupies a special place. 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 Significance
Currently, the palace is included in the register of specially protected structures as a monument of federal significance. A visit to the Yusupov Palace allows you to accurately imagine not only the interiors of the front rooms of that time, but even the master's quarters. The home theater and exhibition halls, which present a rich assortment of art objects, have also been preserved in their original form. Each item is of special value. The curators of the museum keep a close eye on every corner of it.
Due to the external architectural splendor of the building, as well as the rich interior decoration, the palace is still actively used for various celebrations, such aslike meeting foreign guests and meetings.
During its history, the Palace of Prince Yusupov in St. Petersburg has welcomed many eminent guests, from tsars to major foreign political figures. The home theater has hosted many famous singers, artists and musicians.
History of the Palace
The history of the palace goes back to the 18th century, when the estate of the niece of Peter the Great, Praskovia Ioannovna, was built on the banks of the Moika River. After some time, the owner of the castle decided to donate it to the Semyonovsky regiment, which used the building until 1742, after which the palace was taken over by Count Shuvalov.
Soon, the son of the count, having entered into inheritance rights, began a major reconstruction and restructuring 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 a little upstream of the Moika. The eminent French master J. B. Vallin-Delamot was chosen as the architect. In 1770, construction began and the first stone was laid.
Reconstruction
The architectural appearance of the new palace was very different from the current one: there was one floor less on the sides, 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 that time until the October Revolution, the owners of the palace were exclusivelyrepresentatives of the Yusupov family. This fact was reflected even in the name of the building, which began to be called nothing more than 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, Felix Yusupov's palace was modernized: electricity, central water supply, heating and sewerage were installed. A beautiful winter garden was also laid out under the guidance of the eminent architect of that time B. Simon.
The home theater has also undergone renovation, increasing the stage and the number of seats. A gallery, living room, hall and dining room appeared.
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 assassination attempt, Rasputin died, the prince went into exile, and Yusupov's palace was confiscated. The incident formed the basis of many films and books, and many researchers are still studying the details of the incident.
History after 1917
After the October Revolution, all private estates were confiscated, 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 dedicated to art objects from the personal collection of Prince Yusupov and his family.
In 1925the museum was closed, and all valuables and art objects were transferred to other exhibitions. At the same time, a number of especially 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 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 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
To date, the Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg is open to everyone. Group and individual excursions are regularly held here. Visitors have access not only to the front rooms and living rooms, but also to the theater, bedrooms and other interesting rooms. Various events are constantly organized in the palace, including concerts and theatrical performances. Various cultural exhibitions also take place from time to time.
There is also a historical exposition dedicated to the murder of Grigory Rasputin.
Pedigree of the Yusupovs
The Yusupov family has its roots in the past. The first mention of it dates back to the 10th century, at the time of the creation of the Baghdad Caliphate.
Eastern Prince Il-Murza, the son of the Nogai Khan Syuyumbike, came to Russia in 1563 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 withnumerous opponents. In 1681, he converted to Christianity, called himself Dmitry and received the title of prince, and changed his surname to Yusupov. His descendants occupied noble places in the class hierarchy of Russia at that time. The family was doing well, and by the beginning of the 20th century there were about 50 estates and estates in their possessions. The Yusupov Palace received special significance. Photos of the historic building can be seen in this article.
Dmitry's grandson, who received the name 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 a 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 untold we alth. For the rest of his life, he, as well as his parents and family who joined him, lived in exile, writing memoirs.
Location and opening hours
Yusupov Palace is conveniently located on the embankment of the river. Washers. 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 everyone every day from 11.00 to 17.00. Tours are conducted either by an experienced guide or with the help of an audio guide. One day a month the palace is closed for sanitation, except for the summer period.
The ticket office opens 15 minutes before the museum itself and is open until 17.00. All conditions have been created for foreign tourists: you can choosea guide who speaks one of the main European languages.
You can take part in a sightseeing tour dedicated to the plot to kill Rasputin every day. Now you know where the Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg is located (address - Moika Embankment, 94).
Sessions with guides are one hour apart, starting at 11.00 and ending at 17.00. Visits with an audio guide - without reference to sessions. Information telephone line: +7 (812) 314-98-83.
Ticket prices
The price of tickets is very democratic, certain discounts are established for privileged groups of the population. So, for example, students and minors can visit the museum cheaper than adults. The specific cost depends on the chosen topic of the tour.
Be sure to visit the Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg! The address (how to get there - you already know) will tell any citizen. A sightseeing tour will cost you 500 rubles, for children you will have to pay 280 rubles. A tour about Rasputin costs 300 rubles, for children the ticket price is 150 rubles. You will definitely like this place, especially if you love and revere the history of Russia. You can take unforgettable photos inside the museum, but you will have to pay extra for it.
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. The Yusupov Palace is an attraction that is included in many of the excursion tours offered. The luxury and we alth of St. Petersburg palaceshits everyone. You will endlessly admire what you see and you will never be able to forget this place.
