Shuvalov Palace: opening hours, photo and list of exhibitions

The Shuvalov Palace was built in the very center of St. Petersburg. It adorns the embankment of the Fontanka River. It is believed that the erection of the palace was completed at the end of the eighteenth century, and its author is the famous architect of the time - J. Quarenghi.

History of the famous building

The Shuvalov Palace originally belonged to the Vorontsov family. In 1799, he was bought by the wife of Hofmeister Naryshkin - Maria Antonovna. By decision of the new owners the building was expanded. To him were the main rooms for the museum, the picture gallery and the ballroom.

In the first decades of the nineteenth century, the Ballroom, which was also called Alexandrovsky, Dancing and Belokolonnym, was especially popular with the high society of St. Petersburg. At the balls held in the palace, there were Pushkin and Vyazemsky, Krylov and Derzhavin. The personal guest of Maria Antonovna was the Emperor Alexander I.

In 1834 the Naryshkins left St. Petersburg. From this time on, the house that towered on the Fontanka became owned by their relatives. Pyotr Pavlovich Shuvalov became the new owner of the palace in 1846. The house was the dowry of Sofya Lvovna Naryshkina, on which he married. And from that period the palace began to be called Shuvalovsky.

Since the mid-forties of the nineteenth century, the reconstruction of the house was begun. Became the author of the project invited Bernard de Simon. The architect N.E. Efimov connected individual buildings, transformed the facade. The exterior of the palace became in accordance with the Italian Renaissance style.

The Shuvalov office is located on the first 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 Parade lobby, decorated with a marble staircase. Between 1844 and 1846, magnificent living rooms were created. Among them, Blue, Gold, White and Blue. In addition, the Shuvalov Palace acquired the Gothic and the Great Cabinet, as well as the knight's hall.

The Soviet period

After the revolution of 1917 the Shuvalov Palace came under nationalization. In 1919, the Museum was organized in the building. It housed expositions of Western European painting, a collection of carved bones, glass, porcelain, etc. After six years of existence, it was closed. All the exhibits of this museum, as well as objects of applied art and paintings of the Shuvalov Palace were transferred to the Hermitage and to the Russian Museum.

Since this period, the Fontanka building housed the House of Engineering and Technical Workers. Molotov, the Press House, as well as a design organization.
During the war with the German occupiers, the building on the Fontanka was badly damaged. For example, the Alexander Hall was completely destroyed. A high-explosive bomb hit him.

After the war in Shuvalov Palace, restoration work was started. In 1965, the House was opened in the building of peace and friendship with the peoples of foreign countries. In the restored palace gathered numerous delegations from all over the world. Their visits made it possible to strengthen cultural and international ties between our peoples.

Present day

At the Shuvalov Palace, a state institution is currently located. It is called the St. Petersburg Center for International Cooperation. This organization in many aspects is a continuation of the traditions of those people who once owned the Shuvalov Palace. Exhibitions, charity concerts, presentations and international symposia are held here permanently.
In addition, the Center for International Cooperation provides excellent comfortable halls for a variety of events. To services of all comers - the organization of business meetings and congresses, conferences and concerts, banquets and competitions, wedding celebrations and anniversaries.

To conduct all these events, customers are provided with the necessary demonstration, lighting and sound equipment. In addition, a full complex is possible, allowing to service 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 1,250 square meters, as well as magnificent halls. Guests can use simultaneous translation, facsimile and telephone services, as well as services for copying and printing of the necessary materials.

Excursions

The Center for International Cooperation invites to visit Shuvalov Palace all those who wish to communicate, appreciate every opportunity given to him to receive new information, and also likes the feeling of a holiday and a solemn atmosphere. Excursions are organized in the halls of this magnificent building. In this case, each visitor can always get advice on the composition that interests him.

Outside, you can round the clock to inspect the Shuvalov Palace. Opening hours for visitors are from ten to eighteen.

An 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 remarkable collection of valuable works of jewelry made in the second half of the nineteenth - early twentieth century.

History of jewelry works

Before, almost all the exhibits made by the masters of Karl Faberge, which are presented at the exhibition, were in a private collection. Its owner was media tycoon Malcolm Forbes. He collected this collection for almost half a century.

In early 2004, it was announced the sale of valuable items. Collections threatened crushing. However, the auction was canceled unexpectedly. All items were purchased by Viktor Vekselberg, the founder of the "Connection of Times" foundation.

Exhibits of the museum

Guests of the Northern capital, who are interested in the cultural heritage of Russia, must certainly 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 the exposition.

The Faberge exhibition in the Shuvalov Palace is the largest collection in the world, created from the works of the firm of the great jeweler. In the list of exhibits - nine Easter eggs. In addition, the collection of the museum contains a collection of other unique items that were created by Russian craftsmen.