Among the imperial residences of St. Petersburg, the majestic Mikhailovsky Castle stands out, located in the city's central part. The building is notable for its unusual name (castle instead of palace) and its intriguing history, as the emperor for whom it was built lived here for only 40 days.
In May 2021, after extensive restoration, several grand halls of Mikhailovsky Castle were reopened to the public. Today, let’s explore these impressive spaces together.
How to Get There by Metro
Mikhailovsky (or Engineers’) Castle is situated at the intersection of the Moika and Fontanka embankments, as well as Zamkovaya and Sadovaya streets. Nearby, on Nevsky Prospekt, you'll find the Gostiny Dvor – Nevsky Prospekt metro interchange.
As of fall 2021, the admission fee for the exhibition for Russian citizens without benefits was 450 rubles. Tickets can be purchased on the website of the Russian Museum, which now oversees Mikhailovsky Castle.
A Bit of History
Before Mikhailovsky Castle was built, another grand residence stood on this site—the Summer Palace of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, designed by architect F. B. Rastrelli. It was here, by the way, that the future Emperor Paul I was born, for whom Mikhailovsky Castle would later be constructed.
Design work on the castle began in 1784, but the decree for its construction was issued only 12 years later, during the first year of Paul I’s reign. The construction lasted from 1797 to 1800. Architects V. I. Bazhenov and V. Brenna worked on the project. Bazhenov created the initial design, while Brenna revised it and oversaw construction.
Mikhailovsky Castle is often featured in St. Petersburg myths and legends. Some guides claim, for instance, that in the late 18th century, a prophetess at the Smolensk Cemetery foretold Paul I would live as many years as there were letters in the inscription above the castle's entrance. Other, more fantastical tales speak of the shadow of the murdered emperor appearing here.
Let’s return to modern times and delve into the castle's grand halls. Although the exhibition within the former imperial residence has been open for quite some time, not all rooms of the building were accessible to visitors. Hidden interiors included the Resurrection Hall, the Grand Throne Hall of Paul I, the Gallery of Arabesques, and the former chambers of Lady-in-Waiting A. S. Protasova. From the 1950s, these spaces were occupied by the Central Naval Library. Today, they are available for all museum guests to explore.
These rooms were transferred to the Russian Museum three years ago. The total area of the four halls opened in 2021 exceeds 1,100 square meters. Visiting this part of the castle does not require a separate ticket, so plan your museum visit for several hours to take in both the main exhibition and the newly accessible interiors. I visited during the last guided session of the day and had limited time for viewing, but the castle was nearly empty.
Before parting, I want to highlight another St. Petersburg landmark with stunning interiors: the Marble Palace, located within walking distance of Mikhailovsky Castle. This building is also a branch of the Russian Museum. You can explore its main exhibition or take a tour of its grand halls and view the chambers of Grand Duke Konstantin Romanov.
Have a nice trip!
