The white-red Priory Palace, seemingly emerging from the waters of Black Lake, is a symbol of imperial Gatchina, a suburb of St. Petersburg. It only became a palace in the 20th century, previously known as the Priory, the residence of the Maltese Order, which established itself in Russia under Emperor Paul I. The project was authored by Nikolai Lvov, a man of universal talents, worthy of the Renaissance. Unlike the Grand Gatchina Palace, his creation survived the war, possibly due to being built from earth.

The Priory Palace was erected by order of Emperor Paul I, who was a passionate admirer of the Knights of the Order of St. John. After Napoleon captured Malta and expelled the knights, Paul I provided them refuge and became the patron of the Order, and in 1798 he took the rank of Grand Master. The Priory in Gatchina was built for Prince Conde, the prior of the Maltese Order of St. John of Jerusalem. According to legend, the palace is connected to the Grand Gatchina Palace by an underground passage, which was indeed found during restoration, but due to its narrowness, only the first 100 meters could be traversed.

There is a theory that beneath the lakes and palaces of Gatchina lies an entire underground labyrinth, constructed by order of Paul I for hiding from enemies. However, neither guards nor secret passages saved him from conspirators who caught up with him in his own bedroom at Mikhailovsky Castle in the capital.

In Russia, the Russian Orthodox Priory was established, and St. Petersburg became the new home of the Order. Holy relics were transferred from Malta to Gatchina, including a part of the Cross of Golgotha and the icon of the Mother of God of Philermos. However, Prince Conde never settled in the Priory Palace, which was used by Russian Maltese for meetings.

The Order of St. John arose around Jerusalem to assist pilgrims, hence its knights are called Hospitallers. Over time, they became warriors and participated in the Crusades. After failures, they found refuge in Rhodes, and then in Malta. In the 18th century, Malta was an independent state with a powerful fleet, and Russia established relations with it even under Peter I. Under Catherine II, Malta assisted Russia in the war with Turkey.

The Priory Palace was built using a unique rammed earth construction technique and is the only surviving structure of its kind in Russia. It was given a lifespan of 20 years, yet it still stands today. This gave rise to rumors that the architect used a special lime mixture, the recipe of which he took to his grave. Nikolai Alexandrovich Lvov, the creator of the palace, was a universal genius, often referred to as the 'Russian Leonardo.' He excelled in many sciences and arts, wrote poetry, painted, engaged in engraving, and invented new materials.

Lvov was a fan of the Italian architect Palladio and built structures in the ancient style, perfectly integrating them into nature. Among his famous projects are the Nevsky Gates of Peter and Paul Fortress and the building of the Main Post Office in St. Petersburg. The Priory in Gatchina became one of his last creations.

All of Lvov's works reflected his vibrant personality and did not conform to a specific style. The Priory Palace combines elements of classicism and resembles a medieval castle, a Catholic monastery, a Gothic cathedral, and an ancient Russian church. It occupies a secluded spot between hills on the shore of Black Lake and is surrounded by a park known as the Priory Park.

The palace was built in a white-red color scheme, the color of the cloaks of the knights of the Maltese Order. It became a favorite subject for Russian artists and continues to please the eye.

The construction of the palace in Gatchina took the summer of 1798, and another year was spent on the interiors. The walls were made from compressed earth soaked in lime. The ceilings between floors were made of earthen bricks. The fence and gatehouses were built from earth blocks. The entire palace cost the treasury 27 thousand rubles and stood without repair until the 1880s.

The ceilings of the Priory are constructed from wooden coffered ceilings to reduce the load on the walls and improve acoustics. The palace was heated by a system of stoves, a precursor to radiators. The interiors have not survived, but it is known that they were decorated with mahogany furniture and bronze and crystal light fixtures.

In the 19th century, the Priory Palace housed royal singers. During the Soviet era, it served as a rest house, a pioneer house, and a local history museum. During the war, the palace lost its roof but endured. By the end of the 20th century, the building had deteriorated, and restoration began in the 1970s. The building materials were restored, the foundations and tower were strengthened, and the chapel and second-floor rooms were restored. After restoration, the palace once again sparkled above the waters of Black Lake.

The history of the Priory Palace and its creator shows that human genius is capable of creating wonders. Lvov was ahead of his time and proved that it is not about costs, but about idea and craftsmanship: with minimal resources, one can achieve magnificent results.