Situated seventy miles from Orel, the estate of Brasovo had originally belonged to the Grand Duke George Alexandrovich, son of the Emperor Alexander III. He had purchased it in 1882 for 4.3 million roubles. It covered some 430 square miles. The estate passed to Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich upon the death of George in 1899.

It was here that Michael came to live with his wife, Natasha (nee Natalya Sergeyevna Wulfert) in 1911 after Emperor Nicholas II conceded that she could stay there. Thanks to her artistic taste, she succeeded in making an elegant dwelling as well as a comfortable home, thereby creating for Michael a place where he found comfort, peace and happiness.

The comforts of this country house are emphasized in these beautiful watercolours by S.J. Zhukovsky (1873-1944) in 1916.

Artist:  S.J. Zhukovsky. Orenburg Museum of Fine Arts

 Artist: S.J. Zhukovsky. State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 13 January, 2012

On 29 October [Old Style 17 October] 1888, the Imperial train carrying Emperor Alexander III and his family derailed at high speed near the town of Borki. The train was travelling from the Crimea to St. Petersburg when the accident occurred, killing and injuring dozens of people.

Alexander held the collapsed roof of the rail car on his shoulder while his family escaped to safety. The story of the miraculous escape resulted in a cathedral being built near the site, but was later destroyed by the Soviets.

In 1992, local residents embarked on an ambitious fundraising plan to rebuild the chapel. With the help of the Southern Railway, reconstruction on the chapel was completed in the summer of 2003.

Local residents and Orthodox faithful are optimistic that the Christ the Saviour Cathedral will be rebuilt on the site of the demolished church.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 12 January, 2012

Two rooms in the Agate Pavilion have been opened for visiting, the study and the library, where the empress liked to spend her free time.

18th century Russian craftsmen had an unrivalled experience in working with such materials as agate and jasper. Even the floor in the rooms is a work of art.

Children became the first visitors of the new exhibition.  A master-class was given to them by a professional stone-cutter.   

The rest of the rooms will be opened for visiting in 2013.

© TASS. 11 January, 2012

A monument to the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Emperor Nicholas II can be seen at Ganina Yama, a monastery situated near Ekaterinburg.

It is the only monument to the last empress to be found in modern-day Russia.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 10 January, 2012

A 1766 pattern rouble depicting the bust of Catherine II came under the hammer at a numismatic auction in New York for $936,000.

The rare coin, which was issued only in three copies, was bought by an anonymous Russian collector by phone.

Coins from the days of the Russian Empire have caused quite a stir within numismatic circles.  

A 1876 gold coin worth 25 roubles sold for $210,600 and a 1736 silver rouble with the portrait of Empress Anna Ioanovna was snapped up for nearly $94,000.

© TASS. 9 January, 2012

More than 30,000 churches and cathedrals across Russia have held religious services as Russia is celebrating Orthodox Christmas. The Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill, has delivered the Christmas Eve Mass in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.

© Russia Today. 7 January, 2011

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The first new Romanov titles to be released in 2012 is Alix and Nicky: The Passion of the Last Tsar and Tsarina by Virginia Rounding.

The book is a penetrating and deeply personal study that gives profound psychological insight into their marriage and how it shaped the events that engulfed them.

Virginia Rounding is a translator and writer who lives in Londong, England. She studied Russian at the University of London.

© Royal Russia. 6 January, 2012

The Tsarskoe Selo Palace Museum Complex have announced plans to retore the historic White Tower.

Situated not far from the Alexander Palace, the 19th-century building in the Neo-Gothic style resembles a medieval knights castle. It was damaged during the Second World War.

Restoration will recreate the facade and brickwork, cast iron fences, and balconies. Work is expected to be completed in May 2012, and will be used to host exhibitions.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 5 January, 2012

Rare church vestments and utensils will be on display at an exhibition which is to open at the State Museum-Reserve Pavlovsk in St.Petersburg on Saturday.

The opening is timed to coincide with Orthodox Christmas which is traditionally celebrated on January 7.

The exhibition features items from the St. Paul and Peter Cathedral located on the territory of the Pavlovsk Palace.

© TASS. 4 January, 2012

Two unique rooms, - the Agate Room and the Library, are now open to visitors following their restoration at the Tsarskoe Selo 18th century memorial estate near St. Petersburg.

The Agate rooms are the only rooms of Empress Catherine the Great at Tsarskoe Selo that have retained their original decoration to this day. They are unique in terms of design and unparalleled anywhere in the world.

The restoration of the Agate Room got under way earlier this year. Restoration was simultaneously under way in the Library, which now looks the way it did in the 18th century. Restoration on other rooms in the Agate Pavilion will continue through 2013.

© TASS. 3 January, 2012