History and development of the building

Until the mid-18th century, the site where the building now stands was home to the Ostozhensky state stable. In the early 19th century, residential buildings appeared in its place, and architect Zhilyardi built an Empire-style palace, which from 1818 belonged to the wife of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, Elena Pavlovna. Behind the house stretched a large garden that descended to the Moskva River.

In 1875, Austrian architect A.E. Weber erected a new building on the site of the palace, occupying a significant area. The main facade was oriented towards Krymsky Passage, and the garden was moved behind the main building. In 1936, part of the garden was cut off by Novokrymsky Passage, and now a swimming pool called 'Chaika' stands in its place.

The building was constructed for the Moscow Lyceum of Tsarevich Nikolai, which received the status of a state educational institution. Initially, the lyceum was located on Bolshaya Dmitrovka, but after a fire, it was relocated. The founder of the lyceum was publicist M.N. Katkov, and in his honor, the lyceum was unofficially called Katkovsky. The official name was given in honor of the eldest son of Emperor Alexander II, Nikolai. In the inner courtyard of the lyceum stood the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The lyceum offered classical gymnasium or lyceum education for young men from wealthy families who practiced Christianity. The curricula included philological, physical-mathematical, and legal departments. Most lyceum students were boarders, while only a few attended classes as day students.

Famous graduates and the building's further fate

Among the notable graduates of the lyceum were artists I.E. Grabar and A.Y. Golovin, as well as historian S.V. Bakhrushin.

In February 1917, the lyceum was transformed into a higher legal educational institution. In October of the same year, the building was occupied by cadets who defended the Provision Stores from the Bolsheviks, firing from the roof and erecting barricades. After two days of fighting, the cadets retreated to Ostozhenka.

From 1918, the building housed the People's Commissariat for Education of the RSFSR under A.V. Lunacharsky. In 1920, the Narcompros moved, and in 1921, an institute for the red professorate opened here. In 1945, it was replaced by the Institute of International Relations. Since 1985, the building has housed the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, where secretaries of representations, vice-consuls, attachés, and referents are trained.