Peter the Great's house in St. Petersburg

The personality of Peter I occupies a significant place in the history of Russia. And today the memory of him is alive. All the places that are associated with the stay of the tsar-reformer, are interesting to historians and ordinary citizens of the country.

The first building in the new capital of Russia

The appearance of the building, which later became known as the Petra 1 Lodge , is associated with the historical events of 1703. At this time, Russia strengthened its positions in the Baltic, there was a war with Sweden, the construction of the Peter and Paul Fortress and a new city on the banks of the Neva began.

By order of the king was built a log house. His location was very convenient: from the vicinity you could observe the progress of the fortress construction, the conduct of hostilities, the descent of ships to the water. Peter I lived in the house when he considered it necessary to be present personally in the events described.

Visit the house and stay in it until the time when the first residence of the king was built in St. Petersburg. Since 1708 the summer house of Peter the Great has ceased to be used for its original purpose.

Architecture

Construction workers were engaged in carpentry from among soldiers. The house of Peter the Great was erected in a very short time. According to eyewitnesses, it took only three days.

It was felled from the hewn pine logs, which were taken for construction nearby. Carpenters in the construction of the building were guided by the old traditions associated with the construction of Russian houses. However, in some parts of the building you can see the presence of elements of Dutch architecture. At that time the king was very keen on the architecture of this country.

By the order of the king, the logs were stifled and painted under a red brick. The high roof was covered so that it looked like a tiled roof. Unusually large for Russian architecture, the windows seemed.

Interior layout of the room

The house of Peter 1 has a very simple internal layout. The entire space of the room is divided into two parts, connected by a corridor. There was arranged a king's study, a dining room and a bedroom. Furnaces and chimneys are absent. This again indicates that the house was not used in winter.

Preservation of the house by descendants

It was equipped and every year gained the power of St. Petersburg. House of Peter 1, despite the modesty of architecture, it was decided to save as an expensive relic. Thanks to the efforts of the descendants, the construction reached our days in its original form.

In 1731 a roof was erected over the house, which protected it from bad weather until 1784. It was then that the building was placed inside a stone "case". And in 1844 the "cover" was replaced by a new one. It was built of stone and glass, covered with an iron roof. This is what the building looks like now.

The territory around the place where Peter the Great's house was located was transformed. In 1852 the site was surrounded by a cast-iron fence. In front of the building a small square was pitched, surrounded by a metal grate. Works were carried out in 1875. At the same time, Peter's bust was installed in the square.

The Museum

A short time in the house there was a chapel. To this end, changes were made to its architecture and interior layout. But later they were eliminated, and the building was again given a pristine appearance.

In 1930, the summer house of Peter the Great experienced another transformation: a museum was opened here. His exhibits were the personal belongings of the Tsar, household items, documents relating to that era.

Special efforts were required from the workers of the memorial museum during the Great Patriotic War. Peter's house had to be carefully masked, saving it in a similar way from destructive bombing. After the lifting of the blockade, this museum was one of the first to be restored. In 1944, he already received his visitors.

In the post-war years, during the existence of the USSR, the house itself, the dome and the metal lattice around the structure were overhauled. In addition, scientific restoration of all structures was carried out.

For more than fifty years the museum has the opportunity to work year-round, as the building is heated. Expositions are located inside the house and in the premises of the boot.

Small house in Kolomenskoye

There is another interesting construction related to the life of the king. A story about it can tell the museum-preserve "Kolomenskoye". The house of Peter the Great was transported here in 1934. This was due to the efforts of Pyotr Dmitrievich Baranovsky, the first director of the memorial complex in Kolomenskoye. It was he who saved the house from destruction (the decision to demolish the building was already taken by the authorities of Arkhangelsk).

Construction dates back to 1702, and the site of the erection was the mouth of the Northern Dvina. The house was built especially for the tsar. He came to these regions to personally supervise the construction of the fortress in the newly annexed lands and to assess its strategic importance in protecting Arkhangelsk from the attack of the Swedes.

In the house Peter I lived only two months, but his stay here was very proud later of the locals. It was they who made efforts to save the historical construction more than once.

In 1710, it was transferred from a low marshy place to a safer area for a wooden building.

According to the testimony of contemporaries, in the period from 1723 to 1730 (the exact date was not established by historians) a fire broke out in the house, but it was quickly extinguished.

In 1800 the building was restored, after which it stood for another 77 years. In 1877, the house was transported to Arkhangelsk, for preservation it was covered with a wooden "case", which was later replaced by a stone one. In this form, the house stood on the embankment of the Northern Dvina until its transportation to Kolomenskoye.

In the new place the house of Peter was assembled in violation of the rules of restoration work. Only in 2008, the architecture of the building, its interior was reliably recreated.

The house was built in a traditional Russian style, but elements of innovations can be seen here. Under the assumptions of historians, they could appear on the personal orders of the king.

The modern exposition of the museum acquaints visitors with the historical events of Peter's times, the extraordinary personality of the transforming king, his versatile interests. This is the only museum in Moscow dedicated to the life of Peter I.