- Type
- Castle
- Built
- 1797 · 18th century
- Location
- Northwestern, Russia
- Style
- Neoclassical architecture
- Commissioned by
- Paul I of Russia
- Architect
- Vincenzo Brenna, Vasili Bazhenov
- Coordinates
- 59.9404°, 30.3376°
History
Fearing a conspiracy, Tsar Paul I ordered work to begin in 1797 on a new residence on the site of Empress Elizabeth's Summer Palace. The design is attributed to Vasily Bazhenov, while Vincenzo Brenna directed construction; the castle was ringed by canals with drawbridges and consecrated in November 1800. Paul moved in early in 1801, and on the night of 23–24 March he was murdered in his bedroom by conspirators. The imperial family abandoned the castle, and in 1823 it was given to the Main Engineering School – hence its other name, the Engineers' Castle. Fyodor Dostoevsky was among its students.
What to see
Each of the castle's four façades looks different, and the whole building stands out with its brick-red colour. In front of the main entrance is an equestrian statue of Peter the Great inscribed To the great-grandfather from the great-grandson. Since 1994 the castle has belonged to the Russian Museum, which has restored the throne room and the Church of St Michael the Archangel and shows portraits and temporary exhibitions. A section of the old canal has been recreated by the entrance.
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