Friends, today we embark on an unusual journey through the remarkable sites of St. Petersburg. While I usually write about the interiors of luxurious palaces attracting tourists from around the world or priceless collections in popular museums, this article focuses on the Brusnitsyn Mansion, which has long been abandoned.
Location of the Brusnitsyn Mansion
The building is located on the Kozhevennaya Line of Vasilievsky Island, in its southern part. From the nearest metro stations, "Vasileostrovskaya" and "Primorskaya," it's a 40-minute walk. During the cold months, it's better to use public transport, with a bus stop just a hundred meters away.
Unfortunately, I’m not aware of any legal ways to enter the mansion today. Tourist agency websites state that no tours are conducted here. The only organization that offered visits was "Open City," but I can't say if they will have tours in the future.
A Bit of History
The Kozhevennaya Line got its name from the leather processing factories that existed here since the times of Catherine the Great. The Brusnitsyn merchants purchased the land in 1844. It's important to note that the mansion was not built in a vacuum; there was already a stone house with residential and administrative premises. In 1847, the new owners founded a leather factory named "Brusnitsyn N. M. and Sons."
Throughout its long history, the building underwent multiple reconstructions, with its main space being complemented by various rooms: a two-story extension was built in the 1860s, and a winter garden was added towards the end of the century. The building eventually passed to the sons of the first owner, Nikolai Mokeevich Brusnitsyn. Notably, by that time, the family leather production had become the largest in the city.
After the revolution, the factory was nationalized and renamed after the writer Alexander Radishchev. The mansion was also nationalized, with its premises housing the factory's management. Despite the factory reportedly still existing, the old mansion has simply been abandoned. Today, the building is under the management of the "Agency for the Management and Use of Historical and Cultural Monuments."
The saddest part of this story is that the interiors of the once-luxurious mansion are now gradually deteriorating. As far as I know, there are no plans for restoration. The mansion's inconvenient location in a non-touristy area makes it unattractive for investment as a museum or exhibition space. Probably, the only practical use for the house today is as a filming location.
Unfortunately, all we can do is hope for a favorable turn of events for the mansion, as St. Petersburg is a true city-museum, preserving the history of the country.
In summary:
- Remarkable old interiors;
- Disheartening condition of the building;
- The mansion is closed to visitors, but it can occasionally be accessed via tours.
