Today, Volgograd has few buildings left that were constructed before the revolution, mainly due to the Battle of Stalingrad, which nearly destroyed the city. However, despite the devastation, an impressive architectural monument has survived: the gothic castle of merchant Vladimir Mikhailovich Miller. This house, located on the slope of the Tsaritsa River floodplain, stood out among the one-story buildings. Its tall towers, spires, weather vanes, and unusual architectural style for the area quickly made the estate a local landmark.

Vladimir Miller himself was also a well-known figure in the city: he owned a mustard factory, cafes, and restaurants. The restaurant "Concordia" was particularly popular, where for 25 kopecks one could try dishes such as sterlet sheron, consomme-borscht, marshall cutlets, skobeleva bites, pike perch in white wine, bordelaise langet, lamb kebab, and fresh sturgeon. Miller also owned a theater of the same name, where stars of the Russian Empire, such as Chaliapin, Savina, Sobinov, and Shchepkin, occasionally performed.

After 1914, life began to fade: during World War I, Vladimir Mikhailovich faced difficulties. Although he considered himself Russian, his German heritage caused problems. There is a legend that during the war, someone called him a German, to which he threatened to respond with a revolver. Later, Miller invested a large sum in the cabaret "Lux," promising to donate 3 kopecks from each ticket to aid the wounded, which caused discontent among the residents of Tsaritsyn.

In 1918, everything collapsed: Miller was shot as a "capitalist bloodsucker." His mansion stood until the Battle of Stalingrad, enduring colossal bombings, and its ruins remained until the 1970s. Then, it was decided to build a hotel on the site, and the gothic estate was demolished. It was a rare example of architecture not only for Volgograd.