In the very center of the city, on Palace Embankment opposite St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, stands the Vladimir Palace with its arched windows. It previously belonged to Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, the son of Alexander II. Today, it houses the Gorky House of Scientists, known for its unique library with over a century of history. Cultural events, scientific conferences, and seminars are held in the former palace, open to all.

History

The Grand Duke Vladimir Romanov's palace was not the first building on this site. The first structure appeared here in 1720 as part of the planned development of St. Petersburg. The house was repeatedly rebuilt according to the preferences of new owners, including I.A. Musin-Pushkin, I. Osterman, and D. Volkonsky. Until 1841, the owners of the mansion changed until the Palace Grenadier Company was housed within its walls.

Construction on Palace Embankment

Twenty years later, the old building was demolished to construct a palace for Vladimir Alexandrovich, the third son of Emperor Alexander II. The project was developed by Professor A.I. Rezанов of the Academy of Arts. The foundation of the old mansion and part of its structures were used in the construction.

The palace was built in record time from 1867 to 1868, but the interior finishing was only completed by the wedding of the Grand Duke and the Princess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1874. The consecration of the palace took place on August 10.

Features

The Grand Duke Vladimir Romanov's palace was not only beautiful but also modern. It was equipped with ventilation, heating, and an elevator. A description of the building can be found in Herbert Wells' work "Russia in the Dark."

After the Revolution

Until 1917, the palace remained a princely residence. After the revolution, various institutions were housed here, including the Red Cross commission and the library of the publishing house "World Literature." The interiors of the palace have remained almost in their original form.

During these years, the famous library began to form, based on the personal collection of Alexander II. Confiscated literature was brought to the former palace by the Bolsheviks, and the collection gradually expanded.

A New Life

On January 31, 1920, the House of Scientists opened in the palace. Renowned researchers and scientists, such as V.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky and V.I. Vernadsky, spoke here. In 1931, the council of the Leningrad House of Scientists was formed, headed by Vavilov. In 1932, the institution was named after M. Gorky. Despite the repressions, the institution's activities did not cease, even during the Siege of Leningrad.

After the war, the council of the House of Scientists was led by Academician N.S. Dergavin, and the institution almost returned to full life. However, in the late 40s and early 50s, repressions began again. Normalization of activities was only achieved in the late 1950s. Since then, the work of the House of Scientists has not stopped, with special attention given to cybernetics and other innovative fields.

Architecture of the Palace

The Vladimir Palace has been preserved almost in its original form. The facade is done in the Neo-Renaissance style with stucco and columns. Inside, there are many rooms and halls connected by marble staircases. The first floor housed the Grand Duke's chambers, while the second floor had those of his wife, Maria Pavlovna.

The Raspberry Drawing Room is done in bright shades, where creative evenings were held. The Golden Drawing Room is decorated in luxurious French style. The Moorish boudoir is adorned with Eastern ornamentation, and the winter garden on the second floor features exotic plants and marble sculptures. The White Hall was used for balls and conferences, while the Oak Hall is in the Neo-Russian style.

Several halls and the grand marble staircase are open for excursions. The outer courtyard is accessible to all, where one can see the inner part of the palace and a bomb shelter from the Great Patriotic War.

Modernity

Today, the former palace of Vladimir Alexandrovich continues to operate as the Gorky House of Scientists. Lectures, seminars, concerts, and exhibitions are held here. The halls are available for commercial use, and a restaurant operates on-site. Visitors can purchase tickets for events and souvenirs. We invite you to visit this architectural gem of St. Petersburg on a tour. Photography is allowed.

Operating hours: Monday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM.

How to get there:

Address: St. Petersburg, Palace Embankment, 26.

You can walk to the palace from the metro stations "Admiralteyskaya," "Nevsky Prospekt," "Gostiny Dvor," or take buses No. 7, 10, 24, 191 and trolleybuses No. 1, 7, 10, 11 to the stop "Palace Embankment."