The Anichkov Bridge against the backdrop of the magnificent Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace, one of the best views of Russia's cultural capital. The building at the corner of the Fontanka River and Nevsky Prospekt impresses with both elegance and monumentality. In terms of richness and luxury of its interior, it can rival any royal residence. The history of this place is full of mysteries. The palace witnessed lavish balls with tsars and nobles, the first meeting of the last imperial couple, and a conspiracy against Grigori Rasputin. It changed many owners, among whom were remarkable personalities.

History

Peter I, while building St. Petersburg, rewarded his associates for their service by gifting them land in the capital. The plot at the intersection of the main city thoroughfare and the Fontanka River was given to Prince Shakhovskoy, who did not appreciate its merits. Only at the end of the 18th century did Senator Count I.A. Naryshkin build a house here with a facade facing the Fontanka.

The Beloselsky-Belozerskys trace their lineage back to Prince Gleb Vasilkovich, a descendant of Rurik. Two members of the family participated in the Battle of Kulikovo and were canonized.

In 1797, the house was purchased by Princess Anna Beloselskaya-Belozerskaya, who demolished it and built a new one. In 1800, architect F.I. Demertsov erected a solid yet modest three-story mansion in the classical style. However, by the mid-19th century, it no longer satisfied the demands of the wealthy family. The princess's son, Esper Beloselsky-Belozersky, heir to merchant Ivan Semyonovich Myasnikov, commissioned architect Andrei Ivanovich Stakenschneider to create a grand structure that would astonish the court and the residents of the capital.

Stakenschneider, from a German family, was familiar with imperial luxury and fashionable architectural trends. He built extensively for the imperial family and became the court architect of the Romanovs. His mansion on Millionnaya Street was frequented by the creative intelligentsia, including Goncharov, Dostoevsky, and Turgenev.

In 1847-48, the house transformed into a true palace in the neo-baroque style, reminiscent of Rastrelli's works. The project was approved by the emperor, who controlled the construction in the center of St. Petersburg. The Beloselsky-Belozersky estate became the last private palace on Nevsky that did not belong to the imperial family.

The building radically changed its appearance: the facades were remodeled, wings were added, and the interior decoration was updated. The architect aimed to make it majestic and ceremonial, using baroque elements: curved lines, columns, balconies, and sculptures. The atlantes and caryatids were crafted by the Danish artist David Jensen.

The interiors of the palace were also magnificent thanks to Stakenschneider, who combined baroque and rococo styles. Each room was decorated in an original style: Beige and Mirror halls, Golden Raspberry drawing room. The princely collections of paintings, porcelain, and silver were used. The grand staircase was adorned with caryatids, and the rooms were warmed by marble fireplaces. The railing resembled lace. The library amazed with its carved panels, silk-covered walls, fireplace, and a mirror in a gilded frame.

The building harmoniously fit into the architectural ensemble of the Anichkov Bridge, the Fontanka embankment, and Nevsky Prospekt. Contemporaries called it a masterpiece, perfection, a majestic Italian palazzo.

Amidst the noisy ball...

However, the client himself could not enjoy the luxury of the new house: he did not live to see its completion. His wife, Elena Pavlovna, a capricious person, soon moved in with her new husband, Prince Vasily Kochubey, leaving the palace for entertainment. As a lady-in-waiting and maid of honor to the empress, she was a trendsetter and a socialite. The balls in the princely mansion could only be compared to those at the Winter Palace. Royal figures from the neighboring imperial Anichkov Palace often visited.

In 1865, Elena Pavlovna's son, Konstantin Beloselsky, married Nadezhda Dmitrievna Skobeleva, the first beauty with a wonderful voice, who hosted magnificent receptions in the palace. The Beloselsky-Belozerskys were patrons of literature and the arts, each of them played a musical instrument. Famous personalities performed here, such as Anton Rubinstein and Franz Liszt. The hosts slightly mangled the Russian language in an English manner. The palace was considered the most fashionable place in St. Petersburg. Alexander III and his wife were regular guests. The emperor played cards while the empress danced in the Mirror hall.

Passionate about the arts, the Beloselsky-Belozerskys paid little attention to the business that underpinned their prosperity. While the balls were noisy, their fortunes dwindled. The metallurgical enterprises of the Urals were going bankrupt. Vasily Kochubey solved the problem by accumulating debts. Ultimately, the palace passed to the Romanovs due to debts.

Property of the Imperial Family

In 1884, the palace was acquired by Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov, the younger brother of Alexander III, for his wedding to Elizabeth of Hesse-Darmstadt. The palace began to be called the 'Sergievsky.' In 1891, life in it came to a standstill as the grand duke left the capital to become the governor-general of Moscow. In 1905, he fell victim to a terrorist attack, blown up by the SR militant Ivan Kalyaev. His wife, Elizabeth Feodorovna, entered a convent. She had no biological children but had adopted ones, her husband's nephews Dmitry and Maria. After the widow's departure, the boy was taken in by Emperor Nicholas II.

The Last Owner

Dmitry Pavlovich Romanov received the palace as a gift from his adoptive mother. He was a handsome man, a dandy, and a womanizer, highly educated. He charmed both horses and women, as well as cars. He was passionate about auto racing and equestrian skills. In 1912, he went to the Olympics in Stockholm to showcase achievements in equestrian sports. During World War I, Dmitry found himself on the front lines and was awarded the Order of St. George 4th class.

The emperor loved and valued him, willing to give his eldest daughter Olga in marriage, but the engagement did not happen at the insistence of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, as Dmitry did not hide his dislike for Grigori Rasputin. It was from the Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace that the grand duke's car departed in December 1916 for the Yusupov Palace to eliminate the 'evil genius.' After Rasputin's murder, the palace became a place of 'house arrest' for the conspirators until Dmitry was sent to Persia. This saved his life as Russia plunged into chaos. In exile, his life was tumultuous, and in France, he had a romance with Coco Chanel.

After the October Revolution

Upon gaining power, the Bolsheviks nationalized the palace. It lost its secular gloss and became a Soviet office, housing the district party committee and numerous Soviet institutions from 1920 to 1991. Paintings were taken to the Hermitage and a mansion on Krestovsky Island.

The war caused immense damage to the building, and during the blockade, it was hit by shells. It was restored by 1954, but the restoration of the interiors took place from 1960 to 1988 under the guidance of Irina Nikolaevna Benois.

In 1992, the communists left the princely quarters. The palace began to regain its royal appearance, and it was handed over to the Committee for Culture of the St. Petersburg Mayor's Office. Since 2003, it has been under the jurisdiction of the Presidential Affairs Department of the Russian Federation.

And music plays again...

In the early 21st century, the palace came to life. The last restoration was completed in 2015, restoring its historical appearance; it now looks as it did during the Beloselsky-Belozerskys. The halls on the second floor are particularly striking: the Oak, Mirror, Picture Gallery, Grand Dining Room, Beige, Green, and Raspberry drawing rooms. All of this can be seen on a tour.

Today, the palace hosts cultural events: exhibitions, festivals, and competitions. Since 1988, it has become one of the best concert venues in the city. On Sundays, the St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orchestra performs in the Mirror hall. Classical, jazz, ethnic, and rock music can be heard here. Plays for children and adults are staged. Thus, in the early 21st century, the palace regained its historical appearance and status as a center of cultural life in the northern capital.