St. Petersburg is rich in attractions. Palaces and museums are not only full of real treasures, works of art and historical artifacts, but also keep numerous secrets and mysteries. They excite the imagination and create a special mystical, magical atmosphere, immersion in which leaves an unforgettable impression.
The palace of the ancient princely family of the Yusupovs, located on the Moika embankment, amazes not only with the luxury of its interiors and the wealth of things collected here, but also because it is an iconic place in Russian history.
History of the palace
The territory on the banks of the Moika, where one of the most famous palaces of the Yusupov family is now located, in early XVIII century belonged to the niece of Peter I Praskovya Ivanovna. Then the estate passed to the Semenovsky regiment, and later to Count Pyotr Shuvalov, who built a mansion here in the Baroque style.
Having changed several owners, the estate in 1830 became the property of Nikolai Yusupov, who came from an old princely family of descendants of the Sultan of the Nogai Horde. This family was famous for its wealth, and the prince could afford to spend huge amounts of money on rebuilding the palace, the interiors of which were worked on by the best Italian craftsmen.
Under the Yusupovs, the palace became not just a luxurious mansion and a kind of standard for fashionable interiors in the 19th century. There were art galleries, a home theater that could accommodate up to 180 spectators, and greenhouses with rare plants.
After the revolution, the palace became a museum, although it lost part of its collections, the exhibits of which were transferred to the Hermitage. Currently, you can visit this amazing building and feel the atmosphere of the aristocratic salons of the century before last.
Treasures of the Yusupov family
The Yusupov family has always been distinguished not only by wealth, but also by a passion for collecting, the subject of which were rare and often fabulously expensive paintings, sculptures and works of decorative and applied art.
Contemporaries recall endless suites of rooms literally littered with treasures. On inlaid with mother of pearl and ivory Priceless figurines, snuff boxes, mirrors, jade and malachite jewelry boxes stood on tables, mantelpieces, secretaries, and cabinets. Just look at the figurine of Venus, carved from solid sapphire, and the ruby Buddha, described by the guests of the palace.
No less impressive were the paintings of famous artists: Boucher, Watteau, Rembrandt and others. No wonder the last owner of the palace, Prince Felix Feliksovich Yusupov, said that his house was like a museum.
In 1917, the Yusupov family left St. Petersburg for Crimea, but, expecting to return soon, they took with them only a relatively small amount of money. And the treasures were carefully packed and hidden in several specially equipped hiding places.
Some of them were found, for example, 70 chests of silverware, a collection of ancient musical instruments, a collection of manuscripts famous people. But, of course, this is not all.
In 1918, an Extraordinary Commission worked in the palace on the Moika to search for treasures, but the most valuable of them could not be found. For example, the fate of the unique Peregrina pearl, which was valued at more than a million dollars, is still unknown.
Secrets of the basements of the Yusupov Palace
The Moika Palace houses not only magnificent treasures and unique works of art, but also a dark secret about an event that may have played an important role in history Russian Empire.
One of the strangest and most terrible murders of the early 20th century took place in the basements of the mansion. On December 17, 1916, Grigory Rasputin, an extraordinary and mystical personality, met his end here. A simple Siberian man, rude and uncouth, he not only managed to become a favorite and indispensable adviser to the imperial family, but also actively interfered in the political decisions of the sovereign.
There were many dissatisfied with the rise of the “elder of God” and his influence on the emperor. And in 1916 several influential people empires, which included Prince Felix Yusupov, prepared the murder of Rasputin.
He was invited to the palace on the Moika to meet the owner’s wife, Irina. Here, in the deep basement, they first tried to poison Grigory, but the potassium cyanide with which Rasputin’s favorite cakes were soaked had no effect on him. Even a point-blank shot could not kill the old man. Mortally wounded in the chest, the imperial favorite almost strangled Yusupov, and when he managed to escape, he began to run.
Grigory was able to knock down even a locked door, and almost disappeared from the yard. Three shots in the back did not stop him, and only the fourth bullet, which hit the neck, knocked the old man down. After another shot in the head, Rasputin was still breathing, and the conspirators, loading his body into a car, took him to Malaya Nevka and threw him into the ice hole.
Currently, in the basement of the Yusupov Palace, an exhibition with wax figures has been created, allowing one to imagine the details of that terrible and largely incomprehensible murder.
Prince Yusupov treated the Siberian peasant Grigory Rasputin to wine and pies with potassium cyanide, but something went wrong and the cyanide did not work, although the doctor gave a dose that could kill five people. And the investigation didn’t seem to find any poison in Rasputin’s stomach. After a failed poisoning, Rasputin was killed by gunshots, then the dead man was drowned in the river.
Yusupov Palace on the Moika. Historical and documentary exhibition “The Murder of Grigory Rasputin.” The room of the conspirators. Wax figures of participants in the conspiracy against Grigory Rasputin, from right to left: Lieutenant Sukhotin, Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich, State Duma deputy Purishkevich. via
Rasputin was killed two and a half months before the abdication of Nicholas II, on the night of December 17 (30), 1916 in Petrograd in the Yusupov Palace on the Moika in the residential half of the young Prince Felix Yusupov. The main conspirators were Felix Feliksovich Yusupov (1887-1967), State Duma deputy Vladimir Mitrofanovich Purishkevich (1870-1920) and the cousin of the Russian Emperor, Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich (1891-1942).
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Wax figures of Felix Yusupov and Grigory Rasputin. Yusupov Palace on the Moika. Felix's garçoniere. via
According to the creators of the film "BBC: Who Killed Rasputin? /BBC: Who Killed Rasputin?, 2004/2005" Grigory Rasputin was killed with the active participation of the British intelligence service, which used for its own purposes a conspiracy brewing in Russia against a super-influential healer. Reason: Great Britain feared that Rasputin, through the Empress, would convince Nicholas II to conclude a separate peace with Germany. It is clear that not only the English find an English trace in this story.
Be that as it may, the liquidation of Rasputin took place in a unique palace and estate complex, created from the era of Peter the Great until the beginning of the 20th century. From 1830 to 1917, the owners of the palace and estate were five generations of princes Yusupov. We talked about the Moscow Yusupov Palace earlier, now about the house of princes in the capital of the Russian Empire.
About the Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg on the Moika - article from AD Russia magazine:
The Yusupov Palace has a strange reputation - it is known primarily for the fact that Grigory Rasputin was killed here. There were four murderers, and they saw their crime as a historical mission - to launder the reputation of the imperial family, defend the throne, and save the Fatherland.
4.
The main staircase of the Yusupov Palace. In the 1830s, the architect Andrei Mikhailov worked on it, and from 1858 to 1860, Ippolit Monighetti.
Having shot Rasputin, the deputy State Duma Vladimir Purishkevich, with a revolver in his hand, approached the nearest policeman and solemnly announced what had happened. The policeman glanced sideways fearfully and ran to report. The next morning, it was not the monuments, wreaths and deputations of grateful citizens that began, but the murky procedure of the police inquiry.
5.
In the niche is a marble sculpture “Bacchus”, late 18th century, Italy.
One could say that this story ruined the lives of all four of them, if a year later this whole life had not collapsed. In a sense, they were even lucky. The disgraced Felix Yusupov found himself in the south of Russia long before crowds of refugees poured there, civil war, hunger, lice and typhus. And the exiled Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich went abroad forever as a passenger in a luxury carriage.
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The tapestry living room was designed by Swiss architect Bernard Simon in the 1840s.
And yet they received a monument from their rescued compatriots - in 1917, the grateful citizens did not burn the palace, did not demolish it, and almost did not even plunder it. Already in 1919, a folk excursion trail was trodden here. The palace as a whole was handed over to educational workers for cultural needs (but they could have sent pioneers here, as in Anichkov, or Soviet vacationers, as in Livadia and Kamennoostrovsky).
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The princess's bedroom was created in three stages. In the 1830s, Andrei Mikhailov worked here, in 1858-1860 - Ippolit Monighetti, and in the 1890s - Alexander Stepanov.
Of course, the monument turned out to be paradoxical. On the one hand, this is a crime scene. Here is the vaulted dining room - here the old man was fed cakes filled with potassium cyanide. Here is the octagonal toilet and small vestibule - from here the victim rushed into the courtyard... On the other hand, the palace is a masterpiece of Russian architecture.
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Fragment Toilet room princesses.
The Yusupovs bought it in 1830 from their relative Countess Alexandra Vasilievna Branitskaya, after which they tirelessly improved it. First, classicist architect Andrei Mikhailov added a new three-story building to the eastern side of the building and turned the scattered courtyard outbuildings into a solid complex with an art gallery and a home theater.
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Pompeii corridor. The interior was designed by Ippolit Monighetti, the paintings were done by Fedor Mikhailov.
Then, in 1840-1860, Bernard Simon and Ippolite Monighetti remodeled its interiors in the spirit of the then architectural trends: neo-Renaissance, neo-Rococo and neoclassicism. At the end of the 19th century, under the leadership of the architect Alexander Stepanov, the family nest of the Yusupov princes was electrified, equipped with water heating, water supply and sewerage.
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Ippolit Monighetti worked on the interior of the Persian Room (also known as the Eastern Boudoir) in 1858-1860, and Alexander Stepanov in the 1890s.
The last who had a hand in the appearance of the palace were the architect Andrei Beloborodov and the future Soviet celebrities Sergei Chekhonin and Nikolai Tyrsa. At the beginning of the twentieth century, they renovated the first floor apartment for Felix Yusupov and his wife Irina. These apartments are like separate apartment inside a huge building. Yusupov called her a “garconiere” and preferred to live here.
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Fragment of the Small White Living Room, which served as an office for Princess Tatyana Yusupova.
She looked like nice apartment in a new apartment building on the Petrograd side: small rooms, fashionable modern interior. Its owner could be some young lawyer who has invested his first confident fees in real estate. Or a young banker with taste. However, Prince Yusupov is not a lawyer or a financier. He is not just a wealthy man, but defiantly rich. His ancestors came to prominence under Ivan the Terrible and all subsequent centuries, rich in palace coups, managed to never fall into disgrace. Felix's parents combined their surnames and became the Yusupov couple, Counts Sumarokov-Elston. This is no longer just a good pedigree. This is a caricature. This is what Ilf and Petrov noted: the newspaper advised the tireless hack Lyapis-Trubetskoy to take the pseudonym Yusupov-Sumarokov-Elston.
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The Moorish living room was decorated in 1858-1860, when Hippolyte Monighetti worked in the palace. Thirty years later, the interior was modified by Alexander Stepanov.
The Yusupov Palace is also, if you look at it, a caricature. He is excessive in everything. Since the 1830s, he obediently absorbed all interior fashions - from historical imitations of eclecticism to stuffy comfort and technical innovations of the Victorian style.
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The built-in sofa was made by St. Petersburg cabinetmakers in the second half of the 19th century.
“Moorish” halls, the heavy marble of the main staircase, the scarlet plush of the home theater... Probably, in 1919, proletarian excursionists (if you believe the same Ilf and Petrov) walked through these halls and sighed: “There lived people!” But when you see all this, it becomes clear: you cannot live here. That’s why Felix Yusupov fenced off several rooms for himself in the palace and ordered “humanoid” interiors. Actually, Rasputin was brought in and began to be killed right here, in the garçoniere. Where else could he be taken?
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Small living room of Irina Yusupova (Silver Boudoir), architect Andrey Beloborodov. The painting on silver leaf was done by Vladimir Konashevich, the lampshade was painted by Sergei Chekhonin.
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Dressing room of the princess (Porcelain boudoir). Semicircular sofa from the second half of the 19th century, presumably made in France.
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The ceiling in the Dressing Princess. Chandelier in the form of a basket with porcelain and bronze flowers. Western Europe, end of the 19th century.
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Fragment stucco decoration with the monogram of Princess Tatyana Yusupova in the Small White Living Room.
Text: Yulia Yakovleva
Original article: AD Russia: Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg
Quoting the article is over ---
The website of the Yusupov Palace on the Moika provides a list of the palace halls with their area:
1. White Column Hall - 445 sq.m. One of the best ceremonial interiors of St. Petersburg in the first third of the 19th century. The largest hall in the Yusupov Palace, occupying two floors.
2. Mirror hall - 190 sq.m.
3. Dance hall - 176 sq.m.
4. Preciosa Hall - 165 sq.m. Preciosa - from it. "Precious." One of the halls of the art gallery. Under the Yusupovs, the collection included about 1,200 paintings.
5. Nikolaevsky Hall - 130 sq.m. The first of the art gallery halls, named in honor of Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov Sr., who laid the foundation for the Yusupov art collection.
6. Moorish living room - 97 sq.m.
7. Antonio Viga Hall - 95 sq.m. The name of the hall comes from the name of the Italian artist, the author of the painting The Triumph of Hercules on the ceiling.
8. White foyer - 91 sq.m.
9. Tapestry living room - 120 sq.m.
10. Large rotunda - 97 sq.m.
11-13. Front living rooms - 67 sq.m., 78 sq.m., 68 sq.m.
14. Large living room of F. Yusupov - 92 sq.m.
15. Musical living room - 72 sq.m.
16. Living room of Henry II - 58 sq.m.
17. Billiard room - 50 sq.m.
18. Library - 89 sq.m.
19. Secretary - 73 sq.m.
20. Ancient hall and Roman hall - 166 sq.m.
21-24. Boudoir - 57 sq.m., 22 sq.m., 14 sq.m., 46 sq.m.
25. Theater - 117 sq.m.
26. Pantry at the theater - 25 sq.m.
27. Main staircase - 78 sq.m.
Links:
Online film "BBC: Who Killed Rasputin? / BBC: Who Killed Rasputin?", 2005, shown on BBC TWO 2004. BBC Worldwide Ltd. Duration: 00:47:11
The phrase “Yusupov Palace” requires specification. This noble and wealthy family had many palaces in different parts Russian Empire. For example, the house on the Moika was owned by five generations of the Yusupovs. This building fully reflected the financial situation of the family. Behind the clear, harmonious facade, which does not allow one to tell about the true size of the palace, hides the luxurious splendor of its interior decoration.
About the palace
Yusupov Palace is an invaluable object for the tourism sector. Tours of St. Petersburg often include a visit to this building. The most famous city storylines found themselves in it: the luxurious life of Russian aristocratic society and the famous Unfortunately, the legendary incident was annulled for many great history palace
Historical background
The palace on the Moika came into the possession of the Yusupovs in 1830, having previously changed several owners. At the beginning of the 18th century, the estate of the niece of Peter I was located nearby, and then the first palace in the Baroque style was built. The count's son sold this house and founded another building nearby, created in the style of classicism, which became the prototype of the modern Yusupov Palace. The triumphal arch of the main entrance and the high fence with columns have been preserved from this building to this day.
During the reign of Catherine II, the palace on the Moika was transferred to the treasury, and in 1795 the queen gave it as a gift to her maid of honor, Alexandra Branitskaya. 35 years later, the estate was bought by Branitskaya’s nephew, Prince Boris Nikolaevich Yusupov. Since the Yusupov family’s material resources were limitless, the palace soon became a prototype of fabulous luxury and exquisite beauty.
On a huge scale, the Yusupovs began to transform the palace. Architect Andrei Mikhailov did not change the central façade, but added more side rhizoliths per floor, erected a three-story building in the east of the estate, and combined outbuildings to house an art gallery and a home theater. A garden was built, and greenhouses were built. A grand staircase appeared on the river side, leading to the state chambers. The interiors were decorated by the best decorators of that time.
After the death of the first owner, the palace was reconstructed again.
The palace underwent another redevelopment end of the 19th century century. It was equipped with the necessary achievements of those times - sewerage, water supply, steam heating, electric lighting. The last modifications were made in 1914: the rooms on the 1st floor were updated before the wedding of Prince Felix with Grand Duchess Irina Alexandrovna.
After the revolutionary period, the Yusupov Palace briefly housed an exhibition dedicated to the murder of Rasputin and the Museum of Noble Life. Then the building was handed over to Leningrad educators. Thanks to this, the Yusupov Palace on the Moika was able to avoid ruin. During the siege there was a hospital in the palace. In 1960, the Yusupov Palace on the Moika became a recognized historical and cultural monument of federal significance.
Our time
The restored halls of the palace are open for excursion programs, and you can also rent premises for corporate events, balls, weddings and other events. The theater hosts performances and concerts.
Educational activities are also theatrical: actors show scenes from the most popular - this is the exhibition “The Murder of Rasputin”, made in a cramped basement, where everything happened. For some visitors and guests, the effect of real presence is created: wax figures of event participants and photographs enhance the action.
Yusupov Palace: how to get there?
The building is located in the city center. Yusupov Palace (address) is located on the Moika embankment at house 94. You can get to this historical monument either on foot, by going to the nearest metro stations, or by using ground transport.
- The palace at one time was widely known to the high society of St. Petersburg; it constantly hosted balls and social receptions that amazed guests with luxury and wealth.
- The Yusupov Palace on the Moika was one of 57 buildings that belonged to this family in Russia. In St. Petersburg, the princely family had 4 palaces.
- The palace theater hosted performances that were famous throughout the city; the debut first act of Glinka’s opera “A Life for the Tsar” was performed there.
- The Yusupov Palace on the Moika is included in the Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage Objects of Russia.
Conclusion
The Yusupov Palace on the Moika is truly a masterpiece of architecture of its time, beautiful both outside and inside. This cultural monument still delights all its guests. Having visited St. Petersburg, you should definitely visit this place. Excursions around St. Petersburg offer a rich program, including a visit to the Yusupov Palace.
On the quiet embankment of the Moika River, between the Pochtamtsky and Kissing bridges, there is a palace. This palace is one of the first, one of the most beautiful and one of those palaces that keep an ominous history. It belonged to the Yusupovs - a rich, ancient and unusual princely family that played a serious role in the history of our country.
"Parashin Palace" and Shuvalov's residence
The site where the palace now stands has been used since the very first years of St. Petersburg. Here stood the wooden palace of Praskovya Ivanovna, the niece of Peter the Great, a not very prominent person, thanks to whom the residence received the unsightly nickname “Parashin Palace”. In 1726, the princess said goodbye to the palace and donated it to the Semenovsky regiment, which was already experienced and had earned considerable fame. It is not entirely clear how the building was used by the military, but until 1742 it was at their disposal, after which the palace was acquired by Count P.I. Shuvalov was the then head of government and a man of enormous influence.
Plan of Shuvalov's estate
At the end of the 18th century, the building did not yet look as impressive as it does now. It was a two-story mansion, good for that time, but too grand. Under Shuvalov, the palace was rebuilt, but who supervised the construction is now unknown. Then, in 1760, the famous Vallin-Delamot worked on the palace, who, among other things, erected a six-column portico and added another floor. The mansion lived a luxurious life: balls and masquerades were held here, noble people from all over the city gathered, and even the birth of the future Emperor Paul I was celebrated. But this did not last long: in 1762, Count Shuvalov died, and his heir sold the palace to the empress.
For as long as Ilya Muromets lay on the stove, the palace was empty after returning to the monarchs - thirty years and three years. Finally, its fate changed: Catherine II gave the palace to one of her state ladies, who did not spend much time in it, and then, in 1830, the building was bought by Boris Nikolaevich Yusupov. Since then, it became one of the residences of this noble family and began to be called the Yusupov Palace.
Path to Magnificence
The Yusupovs were rich. They were rich fabulously, innumerably, versatilely and for a long time. Grigory Yusupov, the founder of the family, served under Peter I and went through two wars, rising to the rank of general. His son Boris was the governor of both capitals, a privy adviser to the emperor and, in addition, owned the largest cloth factory in Russia. Nicholas, the son of the latter, became a diplomat and, like his ancestor, was a privy councilor. In addition, he served as director of the Hermitage, minister of the Department of Appanages, member of the State Council, and, at the same time, headed a number of large factories. In addition, he was a philanthropist and collector, owning outstanding paintings by Laurens, Rembrandt and Boucher. The huge fortune accumulated by the Yusupovs was not divided - according to an unusual pattern, each prince always had only one son living to maturity, to whom the inheritance passed.
Boris Nikolaevich Yusupov
And so Boris Nikolaevich Yusupov buys a palace on the Moika. It was a drop in the ocean - the Yusupovs then had 57 palaces throughout Russia. With the acquisition of a new owner, the mansion, accustomed to being empty, began to turn into an abode of incredible luxury. It is being rebuilt by the architect A.A. Mikhailov, who created an estate-ensemble from a three-story house. Five eminent decorators are engaged in finishing the premises. Luxury goods from Italy, France and Arkhangelsk, where the Yusupovs’ old residence was located, begin to flock to the palace. Tuscan columns appear at the entrance, a home theater and a palace museum appear. A magnificent and imperious Empire style takes possession of the palace.
Red living room
Under Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov Jr., the palace became even more luxurious. The highlight of the residence was the interiors of the halls, each of which had its own special theme, reflected in the names: Blue and Red living rooms, Turkish office, Dance hall, Moorish living room.
Moorish living room
Nikolai Borisovich Jr. lived quite in the spirit of his ancestors: he collected works of art and jewelry, among which were vases made of rock crystal filled with precious stones, skillfully made snuff boxes, musical instruments from all over the world, and the main pride of the collection was the huge pearl “Pelegrina” - the family jewel of the family.
"Pelegrina"
We must give the princes their due: they were not only money-grubbers, but also benefactors and patrons of the arts. Nikolai Borisovich donated money to the needs of the army and libraries, and his father cared very much about the peasants and during times of famine he fed up to 70,000 people at his own expense, and also donated huge sums to city almshouses.
Turkish cabinet
Murder of Raskolnikov
Nikolai Borisovich became the last real Yusupov in the male line. His son did not live to see mature age, daughter Zinaida got married, and the Yusupov surname passed to another family. Felix Yusupov became the new prince, who was destined to play a fatal role in the life of the palace.
Felix Yusupov with his bride
The young prince was interested in acting, which was most likely facilitated by the presence of a theater in the palace that could accommodate 180 spectators. The Yusupov Theater still operates today. Such outstanding artists as M. Glinka, A. Dargomyzhsky, F. Chaliapin, F. Chopin and F. Liszt performed on its stage at different times. But the era of glory and luxury was coming to an end: the First world war, were approaching troubled times, and Felix Yusupov took an action that historians are still discussing and trying to evaluate.
On December 17, 1916, Prince Yusupov, together with V.M. Purishkevich, Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich and British intelligence officer O. Rainer killed Grigory Rasputin, the “royal friend” of Nicholas II. The murder took place in the Yusupov Palace, where wax figures illustrating what happened are now installed. Everyone knows the mysterious circumstances of this murder, and its consequences are still being discussed. For Felix himself, they were quite clear: he was expelled from the capital, and then went to London.
In Soviet times, the palace became a museum of noble life, then a palace of culture for educators. After the Great Patriotic War the palace again became a museum, and since then has served St. Petersburg residents as a reminder of the former wealth of the extinct family of princes, who loved luxury, art and their country so much that they would do anything for it.
The roots of the richest Yusupov family in Russia go back to the distant 6th century. Their ancestor was Abu Bekr (572-634) - the first caliph in Arab Caliphate, one of the closest companions of Muhammad.
During the collapse of the caliphate, the ancestors of the Yusupov princes ruled in Iraq, Persia, Egypt, Damascus, and Antioch.The Suyumbek Brothers, sons of Yusuf Murza, the founder of the Yusupov family, were accepted into Russian service in the 16th century. Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich granted one of them the city of Romanov (now the city of Tutaev). So the Russian chronicle says: “The sons of Yusuf, having arrived in Moscow, were granted many villages and hamlets in the Romanov district, and the Tatar and Cossack servicemen settled there were subordinate to them. From that time on, Russia became the fatherland for the descendants of Yusuf.”
Under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in 1661, Yusuf's great-grandson, Abdul-Murza, was baptized and acquired the name Dmitry Seyushevich Yusupovo-Knyazhevo. After baptism, he received the title of Russian prince instead of the Tatar murza and was granted the title of stolnik.
Subsequently, the Yusupovs’ service at the Russian court was successful; being one of the richest families in Russia, they had estates not only in St. Petersburg and its environs, but throughout the country.
To this day, four mansions have been preserved on the territory of St. Petersburg, which were owned by representatives of the Yusupov family. The estate on the embankment of the Fontanka River (now building 115, University of Railways); house No. 86 on Nevsky Prospekt, which changed owners many times and was rebuilt (now the Stanislavsky House of Actors); Palace of Z.I. Yusupova on Liteiny Prospekt, 42 (since 1994 Institute of Foreign Economic Relations, Economics and Law).
The most famous Yusupov Palace is located at Moika River Embankment, 94. It attracts a large number of visitors. This is one of the few noble mansions in Russia where not only exquisite interiors, but also furniture, household items and personal belongings of the owners are perfectly preserved. It seems that the owners have recently left their house, which has retained its former luxury, but at the same time an extraordinary warm and cozy atmosphere. 
The site that today occupies the palace building was built up already at the beginning of the 18th century; there was a small wooden palace and the estate of Princess Praskovya Ioannovna, the niece of Peter I.
In 1726, she donated her estate to the Life Guards Semenovsky Regiment, which was quartered here until 1742. After a settlement was specially built for the Semenovsky Regiment, the regimental yard on the Moika was sold to private owners.
One of the plots was acquired by General-Chief P.I. Shuvalov, an influential nobleman of the Elizabethan era. A two-story stone palace with a grand staircase was built for him on the embankment, the flights of which went out onto the street. The facade was decorated with a columned portico supporting a balcony. In accordance with the traditions of the magnificent Baroque, the walls were decorated with numerous decorative elements, and on the cornice were placed decorative vases and sculpture.
Behind the main façade, an extensive garden with greenhouses stretched to Officers Street. Magnificent receptions and balls were held in Shuvalov's palace.
In 1754, the birth of Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich, the future Emperor Paul I, was solemnly celebrated here with the participation of crowned persons. The palace of P.I. Shuvalov has not been preserved, but its appearance is conveyed by the drawing by M.I. Makhaev “View from the Kryukov Canal up the Moika River” . In the picture next to the Shuvalov Palace you can see two-story building, the future Yusupov Palace.
After the death of P.I. Shuvalov, his children owned the palace. In 1795, the estate was bought by Catherine II for the treasury and presented to the state lady Countess Alexandra Vasilyevna Branitskaya, née Engelhardt.
A.V. Branitskaya was the niece of His Serene Highness Prince Grigory Potemkin and a personal friend and confidant of the Empress. Catherine II died in 1796, and the Countess left St. Petersburg forever, practically never taking advantage of the gift from her crowned friend.HE LLOPITER.RU 
The palace on the Moika belonged to the Branitskys for thirty-five years, the daughters of the countess-maid of honor lived here imperial court.
On March 5, 1830, the estate was sold for 250 thousand rubles to Prince Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov, who was married to A.V. Branitskaya’s sister, Tatyana Vasilievna.
Being one of the richest and most educated people in Europe, Nikolai Borisovich held a number of high government positions: senator, director of theaters, director of the imperial porcelain and glass factories and trellis manufactory, president of the manufactory board, minister of the Department of Appanages, director Hermitage, member of the State Council.
In 1796, he was appointed supreme marshal at the upcoming coronation of Emperor Paul I, with the order to be chairman of the coronation commission. On the day of his coronation, the prince was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Subsequently, he became the Supreme Marshal during the coronation of two other Russian emperors, Alexander I and Nicholas I.H. ELLOPITER.RU
Nikolai Borisovich was a famous philanthropist, collector and fine connoisseur of art. It was to him that Catherine II, and then Paul I, entrusted the replenishment of collections Hermitage , Tsarskoye Selo ,Pavlovsk And Gatchina. At the same time, the prince was busy creating a private collection of works of art. website
The prince purchased the house on the Moika for his wife Tatyana Vasilievna and their son, chamberlain of the imperial court Boris Nikolaevich. The mansion of P.I. Shuvalov, built in the 1770s, was largely rebuilt and modernized according to the design of the architect Andrei Alekseevich Mikhailov II. The dimensions of the old building with a columned portico were preserved. At the same time, the one-story side buildings were built up to the third floor.
Lush baroque decorative elements disappeared from the facade, the palace acquired a monumental, strict classical appearance, which has survived to this day. Instead of a passage to the courtyard, a vestibule was created with a ceremonial grand staircase leading to the second floor chambers. From the embankment side, a new three-story building with a White Column Hall was added to the main volume.
