Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg. Palaces of St. Petersburg

The Most Serene Prince Alexander Danilovich, the right handand a favorite of Peter I, had many titles, and much was allowed to him. The Palace of Menshikov in St. Petersburg is a vivid example of this. At a time when the tsar was living a more than modest summer residence (now a branch of the Russian Museum), the first Governor-General of St. Petersburg built a huge palace on Vasilievsky Island in a short time and with great scope, which was to become his patrimonial nest.

Luxury rushing over the edge

The best forces of Russian architecture wereare involved in this facility. A huge amount of building materials was delivered here along the marshy swamps, while on the construction of the Northern capital each brick was personally controlled by Peter I.

The Palace of Menshikov in St. Petersburgat times it was defiantly luxurious. Due to the lack of other relevant buildings, it was the center of the administrative life of the city, it celebrated the end of the Northern War. Initially (1710-1712), the works were directed by the architect Francesco Fontana, who later left the country because of the severe climate. He was succeeded by the architect IG Shedel, whose talent and professionalism was so pleasing to the First Russian senator that he entrusted the architect with the construction of two more of his residences - in Oranienbaum and Kronstadt.

The most magnificent building of the future capital

The Palace of Menshikov in St. Petersburg on thatthe moment was the tallest building in the Northern capital. And the largest - it stretched across the island from the Great Neva to the Little Neva. And now, 300 years later, a perfectly preserved building, the first stone structure of St. Petersburg, is the largest monument of Peter the Great's architecture. Menshikov himself was a "Westerner" and built his palace in full accordance with the fashion of those times, even Vasilevsky Island had to fence the canals, so that it resembled the surroundings of Amsterdam. The layout of the building was new - there was a hall for assemblies (with Peter I balls and meetings) and parade reception rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, workshops and secretarial rooms. The premises were spacious but cozy.

Originality of the design

The Palace of Menshikov in St. Petersburg took shapewritten out from abroad with tiles, carved and type-setting wood, leather and other rare materials. Particularly outlandish was the room of sister-in-law of the Prince of the Light - whole plots were laid out on the walls. Tiles, like much more, were imported from Holland, but some were also manufactured at Russian plants in Strelna, Yamburg, Koporye. The palace amazed with wealth and luxury. Family Generalissimo naval and land forces entered the palace as early as 1714. The main attraction of the palace is Nut cabinet. After Menshikov's exile in 1727, the estate was given to the Cadet Corps in Berezov, where Suvorov and Sumarokov studied. During the years of Soviet power, there was a military-political school within the walls of the palace. Now the majestic building on the banks of the Neva is a branch of the Hermitage.

The first dwelling of the nobility in the marshes

The Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg has its ownprehistory. In 1704, Peter I gave Vasilievsky Island to his favorite "Alexashka", who immediately planted a garden and a vegetable garden and started construction of a wooden two-story building under the leadership of VA Senyavin. The construction was carried out under the project of Domenico Terzini. Built in the shape of the letter "n" the building had a grand staircase leading to the second floor. And to the first steps came the canal (later the pond), dug from the banks of the Neva. The wooden palace, built in Italian style, is famous for the fact that in 1710 the wedding of Peter I's niece Anna Ioannovna and the Duke of Kurland Friedrich Wilhelm was celebrated. In the same year, a full admiral and Governor-General of St. Petersburg started construction of his famous stone palace.

Moscow residence

The number of residences of the Duke of Izhora is notwas inferior to the number of his titles. The Menshikov Palace in Moscow, also known as Lefortovsky, or the Old Slobodskaya, was donated by Peter I in 1706 to his companion after the house of Alexander Danilovich in Semenovskaya Sloboda burned down. "Lefortovo" palace is called because it was built in 1698 according to the royal decree for the colleague Lefort, who after a stormy housewarming in 1699, soon (in 20 days) died at 46 years of life.

The palace was original and was considered the firstan attempt to move to a new style of architecture. The palace hall is about 10 meters high and has an area of ​​300 square meters. meters could accommodate up to 1500 guests at the same time. In the palace there were a lot of curiosities - rooms, the walls of which were upholstered or green skin, or golden brocade. The building was on the shore of Yauza and had a huge park, inhabited by unusual birds and animals. Menshikov largely rebuilt the palace at its discretion. After his disgrace, the building in Lefortovo was transferred to the treasury. As a result of the fire and occupation of Moscow in 1812, the palace was destroyed and later abandoned. It was restored only in 1840, as a result of which the mansion had a third floor. Since then and to this day, the building is occupied by various archives.

Palace-theater

Sheremetevsky Palace in St. Petersburg - moreone pearl of the historic city on the Neva. Since 1712, according to the tsar's decree, representatives of the Moscow nobility are beginning to move into the future Northern capital. With their help, the Emperor intended to equip certain areas of the city. General-Field Marshal Count BP Sheremetyev, whom Peter I married to his relative AP Naryshkina, specially marked the site number 34. He was on the bank of the Fontanka River, and the palace erected there, was called "Fountain House."

The object was not something remarkable and passedfrom hand to hand until he was inherited by the grandson of Boris Petrovich - Nikolai, who settled here in 1796. On his behalf, architect I. Ye. Starov reconstructed the mansion. With the newly rebuilt palace, a theater and an orchestra of serf actors appeared. A hall was built with a well-equipped stage, with an engine room under it, there were "dressing rooms" and utility rooms. It was a real theater, famous for the whole capital. The whole area of ​​the manor was reconstructed, new structures appeared - Carriage Sheds, Summer Scrap and Garden Pavilion. Over the reconstruction of such architects as D. Quarenghi and A. N. Voronikhin. The Sheremetyevs were very rich. Count Nikolai is famous for the fact that, having fallen in love with the serf actress Praskovya Kovaleva, she gave her free and married her.

The glory of this mansion was also added by the fact that from 1924 toIn 1952, Anna Ahmatova lived in one of the outbuildings. Now in the building of the palace there is a memorial museum named after the poetess and the Museum of Musical and Theatrical Art.

Northern capital add a unique charmall the palaces of St. Petersburg. The photo attached above shows how good Anichkov Palace is, the first stone building of this type on Nevsky Prospekt. The Hermitage deserves a special story.