Shuvalov Palace was built in the very center of St. Petersburg. It adorns the embankment of the Fontanka River. It is believed that the construction of the palace was completed at the end of the eighteenth century, and its author is the famous architect of that time - J. Quarenghi.
History of the famous building
Shuvalov Palace originally belonged to the Vorontsov family. In 1799, he was bought out by the wife of the chamberlain Naryshkin, Maria Antonovna. By decision of the new owners, the building was expanded. Front rooms for the museum, art gallery and ballroom were attached to it.
In the first decades of the nineteenth century, the Ballroom, which was also called Alexander, Dance and White Column, was especially popular with the high society of St. Petersburg. The balls held in the palace were attended by Pushkin and Vyazemsky, Krylov and Derzhavin. Emperor Alexander I was considered a personal guest of Maria Antonovna.
In 1834 the Naryshkins left St. Petersburg. From that time on, their relatives began to own the house that towered on the Fontanka. Became the new owner of the palace in 1846Mr. Pyotr Pavlovich Shuvalov. The house was the dowry of Sofya Lvovna Naryshkina, whom he married. And from this period, the palace began to be called Shuvalovsky.
From the mid-forties of the nineteenth century, the reconstruction of the house began. Bernard de Simon was invited to become the author of the project. Architect N. E. Efimov, separate buildings were connected, the facade was transformed. The appearance of the palace began to correspond to the style of the Italian Renaissance.
The Shuvalovs' office is located on the ground floor. In these premises, the management of the enterprises and estates of the family was organized. The former through passage from the Fontanka side was favorably replaced by the Front Vestibule, decorated with a marble staircase. Between 1844 and 1846 magnificent living rooms were created. Among them are Blue, Gold, White and Blue. In addition, the Shuvalov Palace acquired the Gothic and Grand Cabinets, as well as the Knights' Hall.
Soviet period
After the 1917 revolution, the Shuvalov Palace came under nationalization. In 1919, the Museum of Life was organized in the building. It housed expositions of Western European painting, collections of carved bones, glass, porcelain, etc. After six years of existence, it was closed. All exhibits of this museum, as well as objects of applied art and paintings of the Shuvalov Palace, were transferred to the Hermitage and the Russian Museum.
From this period, the building on the Fontanka housed the House of Engineering and Technical Workers. Molotov, the Press House, as well as a design organization. During the war with the GermanThe building on the Fontanka was badly damaged by the invaders. For example, the Alexander Hall was completely destroyed. He was hit by a high-explosive bomb.
After the end of the war, restoration work began in the Shuvalov Palace. In 1965, the House of Peace and Friendship with the Peoples of Foreign Countries was opened in the building. Numerous delegations from all over the world came to the restored palace. Their visits made it possible to strengthen cultural and international ties between our peoples.
Today
The Shuvalov Palace currently houses a government agency. It is called the St. Petersburg Center for International Cooperation. This organization in many aspects is the successor of the traditions of those people who once owned the Shuvalov Palace. Exhibitions, charity concerts, presentations and international symposiums are constantly held here. In addition, the Center for International Cooperation provides excellent comfortable halls of the palace for a variety of events. At the service of all comers - the organization of business meetings and congresses, conferences and concerts, banquets and competitions, weddings and anniversaries.
For all these events, customers are provided with the necessary demonstration, lighting and sound equipment. In addition, a full complex is possible, allowing to serve congress business tourism in St. Petersburg. At the same time, the Center for International Cooperation can provide eight rooms of the palace, the total area of which is 1250 square meters,as well as magnificent rooms. Guests can take advantage of simultaneous translation, fax, telephone, copy and print services.
Tours
The Center for International Cooperation invites everyone who wants to communicate, who appreciates every opportunity to receive new information, and also loves the feeling of a holiday and a solemn atmosphere, to visit the Shuvalov Palace. There are guided tours in the halls of this magnificent building. At the same time, each visitor can always get advice on the composition that interests him.
Outside you can see the Shuvalov Palace around the clock. Opening hours for visitors are from ten to eighteen.
Important event
At the end of 2013, the Faberge Museum was opened in the northern capital. In the Shuvalov Palace, where it is located, visitors can see a wonderful collection of valuable pieces of jewelry made in the second half of the nineteenth - early twentieth century.
History of Jewelry
Before, almost all the exhibits made by the masters of Carl Faberge, which are presented at the exhibition, were in a private collection. Its owner was media mogul Malcolm Forbes. He collected this collection for almost half a century.
In early 2004, a sale of valuable items was announced. The collection was threatened with fragmentation. However, unexpectedly, the auction was cancelled. All thingspurchased by Viktor Vekselberg, founder of the Link of Times Foundation.
Museum exhibits
Guests of the Northern capital who are interested in the cultural heritage of Russia should definitely visit the Faberge Museum. In the Shuvalov Palace, where it is located, you can see the famous imperial Easter eggs. This is the basis of exposure.
The Faberge exhibition at the Shuvalov Palace is the world's largest collection created from the works of the great jeweler's firm. The list of exhibits includes nine Easter eggs. In addition, the museum's collection contains a collection of other unique items that were created by Russian craftsmen.
