One of the most popular tourist activities in Saint Petersburg is exploring the unique staircases in the central part of the city. With the opening of the tourist season, passersby may notice small groups of people walking from house to house. These tours allow visitors to see several landmarks in a single day and take numerous stunning photos against the backdrop of unique interiors. Today, let’s take a peek behind the doors of one of the mansions in the heart of the Northern Capital.
How to Get There by Metro
The former V. S. Kanshin mansion is located at 6 Kuznechny Lane, just a couple of minutes from the exit of the Vladimirskaya metro station. After leaving the station pavilion, you’ll find yourself directly on Kuznechny Lane. Turn right and walk straight ahead; the house will be on your left, approximately 130 meters away.
Undoubtedly, the main attraction of this building is its grand staircase. Since the interior houses several organizations, entry is unrestricted. However, this fact is well-known among tourists, so if you plan to take a few photos of the interiors, be prepared for it to be quite crowded during the tourist season.
A Bit of History
The V. S. Kanshin mansion was built in 1859–1860, designed by architect Gustav Martynovich (Karlovich) Barsh. Barsh contributed to the construction of numerous income houses and public buildings in Saint Petersburg.
As for Vasily Semyonovich Kanshin, the collegiate registrar for whom the house was built, in the 1830s, he served as the "overseer of Saint Petersburg’s alcohol revenues." He also owned gold mines in the Amur region, making him one of the wealthiest individuals in Saint Petersburg at the time. The Kanshin family, which, incidentally, had 13 children, also owned two neighboring houses at numbers 2 and 4 on Kuznechny Lane.
The grand staircase of the former mansion is undoubtedly a point of attraction for many tourists and frequently features in lists of free and unique Saint Petersburg sights. It’s worth noting that while this location is often referred to online as the Kanshin House staircase, written sources classify the building not as an income house but as a mansion. Therefore, I would argue for the more accurate term "grand staircase," distinguishing it from entrances to multi-apartment buildings.
Today, the open-access space has become a genuine photo zone for numerous tourists. The walls are adorned with stucco moldings highlighted in gold, while the ceilings are supported by caryatids. Photos from previous years available online show that the walls were once painted a different color and the space appeared less tidy than it does now.
Continue Exploring the Area
While walking through this part of the city, you can also visit the F. M. Dostoevsky Museum, located directly across from the former Kanshin mansion. The museum is divided into two parts: the memorial rooms where the writer lived and a literary exhibition detailing the works and biography of one of Russia’s most famous authors.
Have a nice trip!
