The Soviet regime turned a few czarist palaces into museums or art galleries, so that people could come and view the extreme luxury in which their former masters had lived and, at least symbolically, regard it as their own. We will visit more than 14 palaces. It was not an unpopular aspect of Soviet life. If you're looking for castles in Russia that break the mold in more ways than one, you should visit the Kremlin in the city of Kazan. We Written by ljspencer on December 3, 2019 in Abandoned Places. One of those was the estate of the Kurakin family, who lived in a lavish, sprawling palace at Stepanovskoye-Volosovo for almost 200 years before that last members of the clan were evicted by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Located on the spit of Vasilevskiy Island at the confluence of St. Petersburg's two great rivers, the Peter and Paul Fortress is one of the most dramatic castles in Russia — because of its location and because of its dramatic construction, which rises from a base of two connected stars. The Christian Science Monitor has expired. It was the official residence of the Russian tsars starting in 1732 and for almost two centuries afterwards. “People are becoming aware of the tourist potential of these old structures, and the fact that they still have utility. A project like this lasts a lifetime. From popular tourist cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, to significantly more obscure destinations, these are the most magical palaces you can visit in Russia. Some of the sites are accessible only with the curator of the museum. There wasn’t much work to be found. That’s when I got the idea to rebuild this place. An exciting immersive program for professionals in arts, history, conservation and museum curation. Greek Salad. Here are 6 of the palaces that were the most popular amongst the Imperial family since the creation of the Russian Empire under Peter the Great: The Winter Palace. As its name suggests, Catherine Palace also served as home for a famous Russian monarch, and this former royal residence is just as great as Peter's. The palace and its park, also laid out by Rastrelli, were considerably embellished under Catherine II (the Great) by the Scottish architect Charles Cameron. “The palace is huge – about 32,000 square feet – and it took years to restore. But a century ago, amid revolution and civil war, the owners of these extravagant estates fled, leaving their lavish homes to be burned, swallowed up by the forests, or used as stables or storehouses for collective farms. Another spot near to see some of the best palaces in Russia is the town of Pushkin, which is located just south of central St. Petersburg. The historical documentation of the restoration process and the challenged the team of museum professionals faced will be presented and discussed at length. It is imperative that we start our educational experience in the old capital of the country and move to Saint Petersburg only after we have established all the important ties that connected Russia to the eastern culture, as well as the western. “I became a successful investment banker and there was a time, before the global crisis of 2008, when it seemed like you could put money into anything and it would grow. As a result, the focal point of Kazan's Kremlin is not a church but a mosque, whose blue-tipped minarets are so beautiful they'll make you want to look up how to "ooh" and "aah" in the local dialect. Additionally, what this late-19th century castle lacks in terms of raw beauty, it makes up for in the views it offers. He didn’t build a fence around it, but opened it for people to come and experience a piece of history. See more ideas about Imperial russia, Russia, Palace. The only inhabitants were moles. After the reign of Peter the Great and establishment of Saint-Petersburg as the new capital of the Russian Empire, the historical palaces were built in European styles by Catherine the Great and the rest of the Romanov dynasty. In Russian cities, old gems of architecture have long since been restored, almost exclusively for commercial purposes, and that process has changed the outward appearance of even many smaller provincial towns over the past couple decades. contact customer service “I had originally thought of this as a country retreat for my family, but my ideas changed as the project developed,” says Mr. Vasiliev. Only recently has it even occurred to anyone to try counting them. The rebirth isn't confined to the estate grounds, says Mr. Razumov. Once you begin, you can’t stop.”. Today, though he and his family often live there, he has opened it up to the Russian public, thousands of whom have been coming over the past couple of years, mainly in day trips from Moscow. Moreover, he has opened it up to the Russian public, thousands of whom have been coming during the past couple of years, mainly in day trips from Moscow, some 100 miles to the east. One Russian banker is running with it, and giving Russians a chance to experience history.