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

The Most Serene Prince Alexander Danilovich, the right hand and 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 more than a 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 overflowing

The best forces of Russian architecture were 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. Petersburg at that time 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 supervised 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 at that time 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 room 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

Menshikov's Palace in St. Petersburg was decorated with tiled tiles, carved and ornamental wood, leather and other rare materials. Particularly outlandish was the room of sister-in-law of the Blessed Prince - 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. The family of Generalissimo maritime 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 transferred to Berezov in the Cadet Corps, in which Suvorov and Sumarokov studied. During the Soviet era, the military-political school was located 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 nobles in the marshes

Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg has its own background. 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 according to 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 the niece of Peter I Anna Ioannovna and the Duke of Courland Friedrich Wilhelm was celebrated. In the same year, the full admiral and governor-general of St. Petersburg began construction of his famous stone palace.

Moscow residence

The number of residences of the Duke of Izhorsk was not inferior to the number of his titles. Menshikov's 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" the 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 first 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, populated 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 - another 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 to the future Northern capital. With their help, the Emperor intended to equip certain areas of the city. General-Field Marshal Count BP Sheremetiev, whom Peter I married on his relative AP Naryshkina, specially marked the site at number 34. He was on the bank of the Fontanka River, and the palace erected there, was called "Fountain House." The object was not anything remarkable and passed from hand to hand until it 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 to 1952 Anna Ahmatova lived here 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.

The northern capital is adding a unique charm to all 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.