The Yusupov (or Youssoupoff) Palace located on the Moika Canal in St. Petersburg is one of the city's finest palace-museums. It evokes the splendour of Imperial Russia and the opulence of one of Russia's most famous and wealthiest families, the Yusupovs.

Miraculously, many of the historical 18th and 19th century interiors of the palace remain intact, among them the palatial Louis XV style theatre.

The private theatre of the Yusupov's hosted memorable performances attended by St. Petersburg's elite society. Among the most notable guests were members of the Russian Imperial family, including Tsar Nicholas II and his family. Performing were serf actors, famous musicians, and titled aristocrats. However, it was the likes of well-known artists of the time that really made the theatre shine, among them: Franz Liszt, Pauline Viardot, Fyodor Chapiapin, Anna Pavlovna, and many others.

The palace is open to the public, offering tours in Russian (foreign visitors can rent audio guides in their respective language) which includes an opportunity to view the theatre. To this day, the theatre in the Yusupov Palace on the Moika still offers regular performances.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 27 April, 2013

Photo credit: Yandex.ru 

This magnificent aerial view of Peterhof is a perfect example of the  sheer size of the palace and park complex. The Grand Palace and its extensive wings spread out in both directions, complete with a gold-domed church flanking each wing.

The extensive parks on both sides of the Grand Palace are among the lovliest in Russia. The pathways are dotted with sculptures, the gardens afford a variety of blossoms and sculptured hedges. Numerous pavilions can be found in the north park leading down to the Gulf of Finland.

Gatting to Peterhof is easy, but getting there by sea is the only way to go. During the summer months, visitors arrive from St. Petersburg by hydrofoil (departing from the pier directly in front of the Winter Palace on the Neva River). I have made this journey several times and highly recommend it. You can sit back, relax, enjoy the view of maritime Petersburg, and arrive at Peterhof in style avoiding the traffic jams that seem to plague the city's highways these days.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 20 April, 2013

The Children's Island is situated in the Alexander Park at Tsarskoye Selo, and a short walk from the Alexander Palace.

Dominating the tiny island is a pavilion simply known as the Children's House. It was built in 1830 according to the design of the Russian architect Alexei Gornostayev for the children of Emperor Nicholas I (1796-1855). The house, island and pond were all later enjoyed by the August children of his successors: Alexander II, Alexander III and Nicholas II.

The pavilion contained a Drawing-Room, and four small rooms; to the right of the Drawing-Room were the Rooms of the Tsesarevich Alexander Nicholaevich (the future Emperor Alexander II) and his sister, Grand Duchess Maria Nicholaevna, and to the left the Rooms of Grand Duchesses Alexandra Nicholaevna and Olga Nicholaevna. The rooms were decorated very simply; the ceilings painted in the Empire style and in the style of Louis XVI, and included children's furniture.

The Children's Island is currently in terrible state of disrepair and neglect. During the 1990s, the Pavilion was used by the homeless and by drug addicts, who left the interiors in an appalling state. The Tsarskoye Selo State Museum Preserve have plans to eventually restore the pavilion and island and to incorporate it into the museum complex.

The Children's Island will be the subject of the next installment of My Russia, which will appear in Royal Russia Annual No. 4, to be published in August 2013.

My article will provide interesting facts and details on the history and use of the Children's Island and House based on Russian language sources, and will also include a floor plan of the Children's House and my own photographs which I took during two successive visits to Tsarskoye Selo in which I actually walked on the island to view the Children's House and the pet cemetery up close.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 09 April, 2013

The Rasputin House-Museum situated about 80 km east of Tyumen in the village of Pokrovskoye, Siberia. Note: this is not the house in which Rasputin lived for the first years of his life. His original house was demolished by the Soviets.

The museum was founded in 1990 by Vladimir and Marina Smirnov. They became interested in the life of Grigorii Rasputin, who was born at Pokrovskoye in 1869. The Smirnov's note that back in 1990 there were still a few "old-timers still alive who remembered Rasputin."

The museum was originally located in the house of a former pilot by the name of Zubov. It was moved to its current location in 2009.

In the courtyard are a series of window frames, all that remains of Rasputin's original home. Also found is a monument bearing a quote from Emperor Nicholas II dated April 14th, 1918.

Over the past 23 years the couple have amassed a collection of items connected with the life of Rasputin. They are proud of their collection and act as guides for visitors to the museum. They share their knowledge of the former strannik, dispelling many popular held myths. The Smirnovs are co-authors of several books on Rasputin.

Inside are a number of personal items of Grigorii Rasputin, including dressing-table and chair, a bowl and a spoon bearing the monogram of the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, an icon, among others.

The Smirnovs have a large collection of photographs of Rasputin, his family, and members of the last Imperial family. A large bookcase displays numerous biographies written about Rasputin in Russian, English and other languages. 

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 30 March, 2013

An equestrian statue of Peter the Great stands guard in the courtyard of the Constantine Palace at Strelna.

In 1797, the Constantine Palace at Strelna (near St. Petersburg) was granted to Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich (the second son of Emperor Paul I) and his wife Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna. Constantine did not have any direct heirs and therefore upon his death in 1831, his brother Emperor Nicholas I presented the palace to his son, Grand Duke Constantine Nicholayevich who was only three years old at the time. After his death in 1892, the palace devolved to his son, Grand Duke Dmitri Constantinovich. His brother, Grand Duke Constantine Constantinovich "KR" and his family were frequent visitors to the palace inbetween stays at their other residences of Pavlovsk and the Marble Palace.

Many years back I visited the palace when it was in a terrible state of disrepair. Several years later, it was announced that in preparation for the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the founding St. Petersburg, the Russian government decided to restore the palace and its grounds as a state conference center and presidential residence.

I returned in 2005 and met Galina Nicholayevna Eregina, who offered me a private tour of the newly restored palace. I was shown the grand halls and the private study of Grand Duke Constantine Constantinovich. My hostess held the former poet in high regard and was the custodian of a small museum dedicated to the Konstantinovichi branch of the Romanov family.

It was during this visit that Mrs. Eregina presented me with a copy of the English edition of her book, Strelna: Konstantinovsky Palace and Park Ensemble and Historic Places which she personalised for me.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 13 March, 2013

 

A previous statue of Alexander II by the Russian sculptor Alexander Opekushin was destroyed in 1918. Producing an exact copy of the previous monument--a superficial, lifeless imitation--would have been inappropriate. Nevertheless, surviving photographs and sketches of the first statue served to aid and direct the creators of the new work, the artists Alexander Rukavishnikov and Sergei Sharov, and the architect Igor Voskresensky.

Together these talented individuals developed their own vision of the statue. Their work combines elements of neoclassical monumental sculpture with new urban design. Facing the Christ the Saviour Cathedral, the monument is a sign of the respect that many Russians today feel for their national history and the noble virtues of the Russian statehood.

The statue was consecrated by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexei II (1929-2008).

© Tretyakov Gallery Magazine. 18 February, 2013

The palace of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovich (1875-1960) and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich (1866-1933) is situated on the Moika Embankment at No. 106, in St. Petersburg. The palace of Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovich (1850-1908) is also situated on the Moika Embankment at No. 122.

In recent years, the former palace has undergone a much needed face-lift. The facade has been restored and freshly painted (the palace was formerly white), a new roof installed and new brick laid in the courtyard.

The palace is now home to the P.F. Lesgaft Instutute of Physical Culture. A monument to Lesgaft sits in the courtyard. Peter Franzevich Lesgaft (1837-1919) was a founder of the modern system of physical education 

I had the privilege of visiting the palace some years back. I noted that aside from some notable interior elements dating from the tsarist period,  very little of the historical interiors had been preserved.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 02 February, 2013

This breathtaking aerial view of the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo allows one to appreciate the sheer size of this magnificent Imperial residence.

When the German forces retreated after the Siege of Leningrad, they had the residence intentionally destroyed, leaving only the hollow shell of the palace behind. Prior to World War II, the Russian archivists managed to document a fair amount of the interior, which proved of great importance in reconstructing the palace. Although the largest part of the reconstruction was completed in time for the Tercentenary of St. Petersburg in 2003, much work is still required to restore the palace to its former glory.

It is interesting to note that the Catherine Palace offers accommodations for visitors to Tsarskoye Selo. The Hotel Ekaterina is located in the southern part of the semicircular wings of the Catherine Palace, offering comfortable accommodation (luxury and standard rooms). The view from the rooms across to the palace is extraordinary, both day and night (when the palace is illuminated). Staying at the hotel is a treat to say the very least, and you can go home and tell your friends that you stayed at the Catherine Palace! 

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 26 January, 2013

A frosty, snow-covered evening envelopes Ganina Yama 

Ganina Yama was a 9 foot pit in the Four Brother's Mine near the village of Koptyaki (about 15 km north of Ekaterinburg). In the early morning hours of July 17th 1918, the bodies of Tsar Nicholas II, his family and faithful retainers were secretly transported to Ganina Yama and thrown into the pit.  Desperate to conceal their crime, the Bolsheviks later returned, retrieved the bodies from the pit and buried them in two unmarked graves at the Porosenskov Ravine, situated about 2.8 km from Ganina Yama.

A lone pilgrim approaches a wooden causeway built around the abandoned mine pit. The site has become a popular spot for Orthodox Christians and monarchists, who come here to pray and reflect on the Tsar Martyrs.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 12 January, 2013

Gatchina Palace played host to an elaborate Christmas festival this year. The event was spread over 2 weeks from 25th to 31st December, 2012 and 2nd to 8th January, 2013.

The festival included special tours and programmes within the palace, including Christmas With the Imperial Family, as well as Christmas carols, and a Christmas Market in the courtyard of the palace.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 5 January, 2013