Map of the Hermitage with the names of the halls. Hermitage: Let's go to the museum! Marble sarcophagus from Myrmekia

The brainchild of the two empresses of the Russian state, Elizabeth and Catherine, the Winter Palace and the Hermitages have been exhibiting the treasures of world art within their walls for more than 250 years. The plan of the Hermitage impresses with the number of buildings, the length of museum halls, whose names are associated with stages in the development of world art.

The magnificent creation of Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the Winter Palace, adorns the architectural ensemble of Palace Square in St. Petersburg.

In 1762, the grandiose construction of the Winter Palace, which had been going on for 7 years, was completed. The laying of the walls was carried out simultaneously by 2,500 masons, and 23,000 pieces of glass were used to glaze the windows. More than 460 rooms of the palace were decorated in a royal way, in the magnificent baroque style, emphasizing the majesty of the person for whom the palace was built.

The meaning of the French word "hermitage" speaks of a secluded place that Great Catherine so wanted to get in the center of St. Petersburg. Her reign was immortalized by the construction of the Hermitage - Small, Old, which housed the museum's paintings collected by the Empress, as well as the Hermitage Theater. During the reign of Nicholas I, the New Hermitage was later built.

Nowadays, the Hermitage is a complex of buildings and museums:

• Winter Palace:

1. halls of the Grand Enfilade;
2. halls of the Neva enfilade;
3. the chambers of the empress;
4. memorial hall of Alexander I;
5. malachite living room;
6. white dining room;
7. rotunda.

• Small Hermitage:

1. pavilion hall;
2. art of the Netherlands;
3. Western European Middle Ages.

• Old (Large) Hermitage:

1. art of Italy.

• Hermitage Theatre.
• New Hermitage:

• Menshikov Palace.
• East wing of the General Staff Building:

1. modern;
2. empire;
3. impressionists and neo-impressionists.

• Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory.
• Exchange building.

History of the Hermitage

1764 can be called the year of the creation of the Hermitage as a collection of cultural and artistic creations. Catherine the Great acquired a collection of paintings from Germany and laid the foundation for the future museum. Being one of the largest museums in the world, the Hermitage occupies 66,842 sq.m. premises from the total area of ​​the museum complex - 230 thousand sq.m.

The oldest collection stores more than 3 million exhibits of pictorial and decorative art, sculptures. Numismatic monuments make up more than 1 million, 800 thousand are archaeological finds, 14 thousand are weapons, 200 thousand are various exhibits. The epoch is also extensive, represented by exhibits from the Stone Age to the present day.

The construction of the Winter Palace took place at the end of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna. In September 1762, Catherine the Great was crowned king, and returned from Moscow to the Winter Palace, almost completed and ready for surrender. But the empress decided to make changes in the style of classicism, making adjustments to the plan of the architect Rastrelli.

And next to the royal residence from 1764 to 1766. a two-story outbuilding was erected, nicknamed the Small Hermitage. Architect Yuri Felten combined in appearance the features inherent in baroque and classicism. It turned out a beautiful, refined and elegant building, to match the young empress.

Collection of Catherine the Great

The plan of the Hermitage with the names of the halls leads tourists to the Small Hermitage, which became a haven for the first large collection of paintings by the Empress. Arrived in 1764 paintings belonged to the Prussian merchant Gotzkowski, who paid with paintings for undelivered goods.

In 1768, Catherine's storehouse was replenished with 5,000 graphic works sent from Brussels. Among them is a drawing by a French artist of the 15th century. Jean Fouquet.

In 1769, paintings (600 pieces) were bought up on a large scale in Dresden from the first minister of the Saxon elector and the Polish king. Painting was represented by paintings by artists from Italy, France, Holland and Flanders. The works of Titian and Belotto stood out brightly.

In 1771 the construction of the Great Hermitage began. The direct purpose of the palace is the placement of art treasures. The author of the creation is Yuri Felten. 1787 - completed the construction of a 3-storey building in the style of classicism, in harmony with the early buildings.

In 1772, the eyes of the Empress fell on a collection of paintings by the famous Parisian gallery owner, P. Crozat. This time, paintings by contemporary artists (18th century) and old masters (16th-17th centuries) of European countries are purchased. A new vision of the future of the museum appears.

In 1781, 119 paintings were bought, of which 9 belong to Rembrandt. 6 paintings by van Dyck. Objects of ancient art are purchased, among them the work of Michelangelo.

From 1783 to 1787 the building of the Hermitage Theater was built, which is distinguished by a harmonious and balanced facade. The style of the theater represents classicism. Feasts and performances of the imperial court were held here.

During the 34-year reign, Catherine the Great, an enlightened and educated woman, accumulated a sufficient number of priceless creations of Western artists of different eras.

For gold, which the generous empress did not skimp on, private collections of the European nobility were massively acquired, selling the greatest examples of Western European culture and art.

Treasury is replenished:

• carved stones from the Duke of Orleans;
• libraries of enlighteners Diderot and Voltaire;
• furniture to order;
• paintings by famous contemporary artists;
• miniatures.

By 1792, the number of funds reaches almost 4 thousand. In the annex of the Great Hermitage, built by Quarenghi, with the permission of the Pope, the Loggias of Raphael, a copy of the galleries of the Vatican Palace of the Pontiff, are being drawn up.

First half of the 19th century

The piggy bank was replenished with new treasures, which were available only to guests and selected public.

The grandchildren of Catherine the Great continued the work begun by their grandmother - Alexander I and Nicholas I. At auction sales, works by artists of the 17th century are purchased. At the same time, they tried to buy the works of those artists who were not listed in the storerooms of an already large museum - canvases by Spanish artists.

Late 19th and early 20th centuries

Nicholas I, who succeeded his brother on the throne, after his unexpected death, opened access to everyone to a private collection of paintings and applied arts. Under Nicholas, the expansion of the fund of the future museum was a success.

Paintings by Renaissance artists, Dutch, Flemish authors, famous works by Titian, Raphael, van Eyck and others were acquired. A new building was needed, and the New Hermitage was built, designed by Leo von Klenze, a German architect.

The construction was entrusted to the unique architect of the "Russian style" Vasily Stasov, assisted by the "gold medalist" of the Academy of Arts, Nikolai Efimov. After the death of Stasov in 1848, Nikolai Efimov single-handedly supervised the construction of the palace, completed in 1851.

A.I. Somov, senior curator since 1886. to 1909. Member of the voluntary society of the Academy of Arts of the Imperial Court, the founder of the cataloging of works by Russian artists. Thanks to his work, the beginning of Russian art history of the 19th and early 20th centuries was laid. The museum begins collecting works by Russian artists.

By 1895, part of the Hermitage funds was transferred to the Imperial Russian Museum. Archaeological exhibits and monuments are handed over to the opened department of ethnography.

Compilation of catalogs of paintings and exhibits stored in the Hermitage leads to understanding the collection of paintings from a scientific point of view. The museum becomes an institution that develops a trend in Russian science - art history.

Opening of a public museum

In 1852, the Hermitage of his Imperial House was opened to the people to demonstrate centuries-old artistic creativity and art. In those years, the museum's funds were actively replenished with works by distinguished graduates of the Academy of Arts. Collected unique monuments of culture - Eastern, Egyptian, ancient, European, Russian.

After the revolution

In 1917, the Soviet government replenished the museum with works of art from private collections of the nobility and wealthy merchants, who parted with priceless works against their will. Since 1918, some of them have been lost forever, sold at auctions.

The young state needed a currency for development. In the period from 1929 to 1934, 48 paintings were irretrievably lost, sold to Western collectors of masterpieces of world art.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Hermitage did not stop working. Employees, despite great difficulties, carried out scientific and research work, carried out restoration work on the halls and premises destroyed by the bombing. In the cellars, they arranged shelters for the population from enemy bombs.

In the late 1940s, after the war, work continued as before. The Hermitage hosted art lovers. The evacuated items were returned to their places. Active work replenished the collection with objects and exhibits from Europe (late 19th and early 20th centuries).

The banners collected at the Artillery Museum were also donated. Priceless and fragile gift were porcelain monuments from the factory. Lomonosov.

The works of the Impressionists, Modernists replenished the funds in the post-war period. In 1957, the 3rd floor of the Hermitage was opened to exhibit works of contemporary art. Part of the trophy monuments taken out of Berlin were returned back in 1958.

With the opening of the borders of the USSR, the trophy works of impressionist artists became public. In world museum practice, they were considered lost. In 2002, captured 14th-century stained-glass windows from Frankfurt were also returned to Germany. All these years the Hermitage has been collecting monuments and paintings by 20th century authors.

In 2006, a program was announced that contributes to the replenishment of funds with contemporary art.

Main halls of the Winter Palace

The plan of the Hermitage with the names of the halls suggests that the Winter Palace, which from 1754 to 1904. remained the residence of the imperial family, the house of the Romanovs, had a rich history.

In 1915-1917. the medical quarters of the Red Cross were located. The hospital was named after Alexei Tsesarevich. From January 1920 until 1941, the Soviet government housed the Museum of the Revolution here, a neighbor of the State Hermitage Museum.

Unique exhibits from all over the Eurasian continent are stored here - collections of paintings, objects of decorative and applied art, examples of monumental art, archaeological finds.

The fierce fire of 1837 incinerated almost everything that was created by Bartolomeo Rastrelli. But the subsequent talented restoration work carried out by Vasily Stasov and Alexander Bryullov turned the Winter Palace into a majestic and unique building that has survived to this day and conveys all the ideas of the great Rastrelli.

Main front suite. It begins with the Jordan Staircase, which has not been preserved in its original form, as Rastrelli intended it to be.

Memorial Petrovsky Hall. The portrait of Peter I above the throne place is framed by two jasper columns, emphasizing the greatness of the emperor, who is depicted as a warrior. Nearby stands Minerva, goddess of wisdom. The creator of the hall O. Montferrand (1833).

Armorial hall designed for ceremonial celebrations. Impressive with the splendor of golden columns. The decor and design of the gilded chandeliers contain images of Russian provincial coats of arms. The author of the project is V. Stasov. Before the fire, there was a reception hall and big balls were held.

The military gallery of 1812 exalts the heroes of the war with Napoleon. Brave generals look from the portraits in even rows. The gallery is a tribute to their heroism and feat.

The names of 13 generals were left without portraits, since by the time the gallery was created they were already in a different world, and there were no formal portraits. The gallery is crowned with a portrait of the main warrior who led the army to victory, Alexander I, against the backdrop of Paris.

St George's Hall strikes with splendor and bulk, golden and white marble radiance. The patterns are mirrored by copper vaults and parquet floors. The majestic throne place brought together the symbols of the autocracy and the state. Above the throne place is an image of the patron saint of Russia, George the Victorious, made of snow-white marble.

Big church. Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The sacraments of baptism and weddings took place here. The enlightenment and spirituality of the style, rich and ornate gilded stucco, is amazing. The plafond of the "Resurrection of the Lord" emphasizes the beauty of the design.

picket hall, dedicated to the art of war, completes the ceremonial enfilade. Vasily Stasov fully used here, emphasizing the theme, bas-reliefs and reliefs with images of armor, shields, helmets, spears, banners. In Soviet times, the room was closed for viewing, keeping the funds of the East Department. Since 2004 it has been open to visitors.

Anteroom. The main decoration of the hall is the plafond "The Sacrifice of Iphigenia", which survived the terrible fire of 1837. A monumental malachite rotunda, commissioned by the Demidovs, owners of mountain mines in the Urals, is installed here. The rotunda was presented to Nicholas I, but was kept for a long time elsewhere.

Nicholas Hall. Majestic, designed to exalt and glorify Nicholas I. Significant solemn events, balls, ceremonies were held here. The architect Stasov kept the proportions, restored the former harmony and beauty of the design of the hall.

Concert hall. It held musical evenings, concerts and balls for a narrow circle of people. The interior and decor are in tune with the main theme - music, which is emphasized by sculptures depicting ancient Greek goddesses, patronesses of art.

An undoubted decoration is a silver pyramid - the tomb of Alexander Nevsky, made at the behest of Elizabeth Petrovna.

The plan of the Hermitage with the names of the halls leads tourists to the very interesting and rich rooms of the Palace.

Chambers of Empress Maria Alexandrovna. The wife of Alexander II spent a lot of time in the palace, and at her discretion ordered to change some parts of the residential apartments in the 50s and 60s of the XIX century.

Chic dance hall (White) impresses with its diverse style, which combines rich stucco decoration with sculptures of warriors, ancient Greek goddesses and gods. Heavy bronze chandeliers are intertwined with war trophies. The author A. Bryullov completed the work in 1841 for the wedding of Grand Duke Alexander, the future emperor.

The richly gilded hall (Golden Living Room) is decorated with a fireplace with a powerful jasper base, which is supported by caryatids. The shelf is decorated with reliefs with cupids. The upper part is decorated with a mosaic panel in the technique of Roman mosaics. These details give the fireplace the monumentality of an architectural structure. Architect - Alexander Bryullov.

Interior decoration and furniture were made later, in 1863, by Stackenschneider. The hall is a historical place for the fate of the Russian state, where Alexander III, after the assassination of Alexander II, decided to continue the reforms that his father had begun.

Raspberry office. True to its name, the cabinet walls are covered with a raspberry-colored fabric. The furnishings and furniture are made to match the walls and the general style, which was created by A. Stackenschneider. The stucco molding used medallions depicting instruments of musicians, artists, sculptors.

The interior is decorated with an exhibition of samples of arts and crafts. Porcelain dishes and utensils. The piano of the 19th century, painted and gilded, is destined for the role of the main exhibit of the cabinet. The Empress held meetings with relatives here, convened salons in a narrow circle.

Boudoir. Built by Alexander Bryullov. Completely rebuilt in 1853. in the style of the "second rococo", a fashionable style at that time, similar to the rococo style of the 18th century. Gilded details, interior chandeliers echo 7 mirrors of various shapes, in complex frames.

The furniture is also ornate, carved, covered with a burgundy fabric, echoing the color of the draperies of the alcove, curtains and curtains. The interior of all the rooms of the Empress resembles a fairy tale, with a luxurious view, grace and gilding. A staircase leads from the boudoir to the children's room.

The blue bedroom is decorated in sapphire blue. In combination with gilding and a white ceiling, it looked luxurious and noble. Temporarily not working.

Memorial Hall of Alexander I. The front room in the southeastern part of the palace was designed by A. Bryullov. Powerful columns support Byzantine vaults. The portrait of the king draped in velvet brocade was supposed to decorate the hall and become a real memory of the emperor. But time played against. Here is an exposition of silver of the XVII-XVIII centuries.

Malachite living room. The front drawing room of the wife of Nicholas I, Maria Feodorovna. Decorated with malachite. In the 30s of the XIX century, active mining of malachite began in the Urals, which was used to decorate the columns, the fireplace of the hall. The gilding of the doors and vaults, perfectly combined with the green color of the columns, pilasters.

White dining room. For the wedding of Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich, several rooms of the Palace were remodeled. Thus, the Small or White Dining Room, combining details of different styles, acquired a noble and cozy look. Parquet floors, elegant tapestries, white furniture and walls created an atmosphere of calm. In 1894, the decoration was made by A. Krasovsky.

Rotunda. The hall is perfectly round in shape, connecting the two parts of the palace. It was conceived and made by Montferrand in the 30s of the XIX century. After the fire, A. Bryullov, in the ancient Roman manner, raised the dome of the rotunda, which made it more attractive and “loftier”.

Small Hermitage

Catherine the Great's "Secluded Corner", later called the Small Hermitage, was built on the side of Millionnaya Street. Years of construction 1764-1766. On the side of the river (1767-1769) a small building was being built, connected to the Small Hermitage (South building) by hanging gardens.

In the Galleries, which cover the gardens on both sides, the first collections of paintings by the Empress are exhibited. The light and bright pavilion houses the Peacock clock, which invariably gathers visitors for a spectacular "performance". The Galleries present the art of the Western European Middle Ages, the Netherlands.

Big Hermitage

Enlightened Catherine wanted to see a building next to her Small Hermitage to house a library and a growing collection. Felten in 1771-17-87 built another building.

Called the Great Hermitage, in the Galleries of which, there are:

• art of Italy from the XIII-XVI centuries. (Renaissance);
• paintings by artists of the 15th-16th centuries;
• objects of arts and crafts;
• works of masters of the school of painting in Venice, Florence (XV-XVI centuries).

Here you can see famous paintings: Titian, Leonardo da Vinci.

New Hermitage

The building, built specifically for the museum of art painting, the New Hermitage, opened in 1852. The architect Klenze took into account all the needs of the art museum, providing the second floor of the building to house the Art Gallery. Gaps - allowed the flow of light to consider all the nuances of the masterpieces of art.

The first floor is provided for antique and ancient art, architecture, sculpture. An impressive spectacle in the form of 20 granite columns in the hall of ancient Italy causes great delight and surprise.

Second floor - 6 halls present the art of Holland. Works by Rembrandt and his students are exhibited here. 2 rooms are occupied by the art of Spain, 3 large rooms - by the art of Flanders, divided into the work of three great artists - Rubens, van Dyck, Snyders.

In the Knight's Hall there is an exposition of Western European weapons. The remaining 9 halls are dedicated to the art of Italy.

Since 1792, an annex - a gallery to the Great Hermitage, built by G. Quarenghi, was turned into Raphael loggias. The work went on for 11 years, the drawings were copied and carefully transferred to the walls and vaults of the loggia. The gallery successfully fit into the plan of the New Hermitage, like the loggias of Raphael, but is not listed in the booklets with the names of the halls and expositions.

Hermitage Theater

In 1783 the architect Quarenghi, commissioned and commissioned by Catherine the Great, began the construction of a theater for chamber performances, concerts and entertainment of the court, close to the empress. The building was completed in 1787. It looks great and fits into the overall ensemble with other buildings built earlier and later.

The laconic style of Russian classicism was sustained strictly and beautifully. The amphitheater of the auditorium with 6 rows of benches echoes the exterior and interior of the building. The stage is separated by a kind of parterre rows of seats and a balustrade.

There are side lodges. A total of 280 seats speak of the intimacy of the theatre. The location of the auditorium and the orchestra pit create excellent acoustics. The depth of the stage allows you to stage ballet performances.

Menshikov Palace

The first governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Menshikov, a comrade-in-arms and friend of Peter I, built a palace on Vasilyevsky Island from 1710 to 1714. Invited foreign architects G. Fontan and G. Shedel are drafting the building. Construction is carried out by Russian masters. The task of the architects was one - to build a palace that would be both a home and work.

A mixture of different approaches, new construction methods, made the building unique in its kind, and the first stone palace in St. Petersburg. The interior decoration of the rooms, the decor is made of marble. The interior is enlivened by paintings, sculptures and books. Receptions and celebrations held in the palace gave rise to the name - Embassy House.

After the owner was exiled into exile, the building fell into disrepair, the gardens and greenhouses withered. Many times there were fires in it that destroyed the original things of Menshikov. The palace was rebuilt and completed many times. The cadet corps was located here.

Relics of the Menshikov Palace - a portrait of Emperor Peter the Great. Mirror framed with amber, gift of the Prussian king to Peter I in 1709

Eastern Wing of the General Staff

Part of the semicircle of the bulk of the General Staff building on the eastern side, which since 1988 was transferred to the Hermitage Museum, in 2014 opened new suites of expositions for visitors. The five yards of the building are decorated in original atriums, which are used for cultural and various events of the museum.

The Impressionists settled on the 4th floor. On two floors there are permanent exhibitions of 19th century art. countries of Europe.

Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory

Porcelain production in Russia began in 1744. After 100 years, Nicholas I ordered the creation of a museum of samples of porcelain art. More than 30 thousand unique and priceless exhibits are collected in the museum of the porcelain factory.

The museum's library has collected the rarest copies of books on the production and technique of making porcelain, with drawings and sketches.

Exchange building on Vasilevsky Island

The stone stock exchange was conceived in 1781. Construction began in 1784. architect Giacomo Quarenghi. From 1788 to 1803 the building stood unfinished, and they tried to sell it. In 1805, funds were found for the construction of the Exchange according to a new plan.

The opening of the exchange took place only in 1816. The Monolithic Exchange looks impregnable. Granite foundation. Powerful columns on it make the view heavier. Indoor area 900 sq. m, ceiling height 25 m.

Since 2013, a decision has been made to create a museum of heraldry and awards in the Stock Exchange building, for which it was transferred to the State Hermitage Museum.

Work schedule

Day of the week	Opening of the museum and ticket office	closure	Closing the cash desk
Tuesday	10:30	18:00	17:00
Wednesday	10:30	21:00	20:00
Thursday	10:30	18:00	17:00
Friday	10:30	21:00	20:00
Saturday	10:30	18:00	17:00
Sunday	10:30	18:00	17:00
Monday,	Day off

How to get there

By public transport to the Hermitage:

• purple metro line to Admiralteiskaya;
• blue metro line to Nevsky prospect;
• green metro line to Gostiny Dvor.

Public ground transport to Palace Square can be reached:

• trolleybuses 1, 7, 10, 11;
• buses 7, 10, 24, 191.

Being in St. Petersburg and visiting the Winter Palace with its unique collection is the first task of a tourist. There is no greater pleasure than holding a plan of the Hermitage in your hands, and referring to the names of exhibitions, expositions and halls, plunge into the atmosphere of the past, see with your own eyes what centuries and years have seen, ordinary people and emperors.

Article formatting: Mila Fridan

Video about the Hermitage

Secrets of the Hermitage:

The famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is rightfully considered one of the most significant art and historical museums in the whole world. The complex of five majestic buildings, which house numerous exhibits, is one of the most unique architectural monuments in Russia.

Today, the extensive collection of the museum complex includes more than three million various works of art, from exhibits of ancient times to modern masterpieces.

Uniqueness of the Hermitage

The State Hermitage Museum is interesting not only for the huge number of exhibits, but also for its location. Before the revolution, it was imperial, so the unique interiors of that era, magnificent marble stairs, gilded furniture and crystal chandeliers have been preserved here.

Visitors have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of that time, to appreciate the beauty and luxury of the environment.

History of creation

The year 1764 is considered to be the founding time of the Hermitage, when, by order of Catherine II, an exhibition of paintings was set up in several halls of the Winter Palace, which at that time was one of the imperial residences. These 225 canvases were accepted by the Empress from the German merchant Gotzkowski as payment for the debt of the Russian Empire. The venture was a success. Therefore, the Empress continued to collect exhibits.

On her orders, sculptures and paintings by famous painters were bought up, and an interesting collection of carved stone was acquired. It soon turned out that several halls for the collected masterpieces were no longer enough. We decided to build a separate building. It was erected in 1764-1767 and later became known as the Small Hermitage.

In 1775, on the banks of the Neva, the architect Yuri Felten built a luxuriously finished building, called the Great Hermitage.

In 1783-1787, on the site of the former personal residence of Emperor Peter I, the Hermitage Theater was built by the architect.

Formation of the Hermitage expositions

At the beginning of its existence, the museum's collection was replenished by purchasing art collections belonging to European aristocratic families. Then they began to acquire individual works of brilliant masters. For example, Emperor Alexander I bought the Lute Player painting by Caravaggio.

By the end of the 18th century, the Hermitage collections contained paintings by Rembrandt, Raphael, Giorgione, Rubens and many other famous artists. Various works of art were bought abroad especially for the Hermitage expositions. These are sculptures, gold and silver items, books, coins and much more.

Some masterpieces were ordered from masters specifically to replenish the collection of the Hermitage. At the beginning of the 19th century, the museum also began to exhibit the most interesting archaeological finds.

By the middle of the 19th century, the building of the New Hermitage was built to store and display an ever-increasing number of exhibits. The museum complex acquired its final form.

Museum halls

The layout of the halls of the Hermitage has about 350 different rooms, in which the richest collection of the museum's masterpieces is located. The interiors of the premises themselves are often also works of art, such as the majestic gallery of the Loggia of Raphael, commissioned by Catherine.

It is an exact copy of the Vatican original. The entire gallery, including the ceiling, is decorated with analogues of paintings by Raphael, which were made by a group of artists led by X. Unterberger.

No less remarkable are the ancient halls of the Hermitage, the interior space of which fully corresponds to the collections presented. Often the interior of the halls is painted with Greek and Egyptian motifs and numerous columns. Here are collected items from many places and eras. For example, a huge inscribed slab from the square of ancient Palmyra (Palmyra writing) or realistic antique sculptures.

The Greek halls of the Hermitage amaze with an abundance of genuine antique statues, vases, amphorae, and lamps.

Notable is the famous sculpture "Venus Taurida", which was bought by Peter the Great from Pope Clement XI.

How are the expositions arranged?

It is quite difficult for guests visiting the majestic museum complex for the first time to understand the complex intersections of galleries and passages. Detailed Hermitage with room numbers is located at the entrance to the museum. You can get the same one for free from the cashiers when buying tickets, or you can use a very convenient and detailed online guide to the museum.

All rooms of the museum complex are numbered to make it easier to navigate. But many especially remarkable halls have their own names.

The names of the halls of the Hermitage can also reflect the essence of the collections presented in them. In particular, the Hall of Ancient Egypt or the Leonardo da Vinci Hall.

Sometimes the name of the museum premises may arise from its external features or interior details. For example, this is how the White Hall, built by A.P. Bryullov in honor of the wedding of the future Emperor Alexander II in 1841, got its name. Its interior was done in white tones and decorated with statues of ancient Roman deities and numerous columns.

Often the names of the halls of the Hermitage were given to perpetuate the memory of significant people or events. So, for example, Petrovsky Hall was named after the founder of the city, Peter the Great. It is also called the Small Throne.

Painting masterpieces

In one small article, it is unrealistic to even simply list all the paintings by great painters on display in the Hermitage.

Of the most remarkable, you can see two works by the famous Renaissance painter - Leonardo da Vinci. These are Madonna Benois and Madonna Litta. In total, 14 authentic paintings of his authorship are known in the world, and two of them are in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg!

The museum also has an impressive collection of paintings by medieval Spanish masters. Undoubtedly, one of the pearls of this exposition of the Hermitage is the painting "Breakfast" by Diego Velázquez. This canvas by the court painter of the Spanish King Philip VI surprises with its optical visual illusion: it seems that four people are depicted in the picture, but in fact only three characters are having breakfast.

On the diagram of the halls of the Hermitage, one can see such names as the Rembrandt Hall or Snyders' "Shops". The richest collection of paintings by Dutch painters of the 16th-17th centuries is presented separately.

The works of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists are on the third floor of the Winter Palace. Here you can admire the paintings of Monet, Renoir, Picasso and many other brilliant masters of painting.

Pantries of the Hermitage

On the scheme of the Hermitage halls, you can see such names as the Jewel Gallery No. 1 and No. 2. They are called Gold and Diamond. Speaking names! Of course, you can see valuable art objects made of precious stones and gold in them.

Admission to these galleries is not included in the price of admission. They need to be paid separately. The visit is only possible with a guided tour. Photo and video filming is prohibited there, but the impressions of the beauty of the creations of the ancient masters will last for a long time.

Almost everyone knows about the famous, but the collection of Siberian gold, formed by Peter the Great, is in no way inferior in skill and expressiveness. It consists of items collected on the territory of Western Siberia at the beginning of the 18th century. This selection of exhibits can rightly be called the earliest archaeological collection in Russia.

Some works of ancient jewelers date back to the seventh century BC. That is why the skill and accuracy of the execution of masterpieces are amazing.

For connoisseurs of the beauty and brilliance of natural stones, a visit to the Diamond Storeroom will be informative. It contains the jewels of Russian autocrats. These are snuffboxes and caskets of all shapes and sizes, watches and fans, decorated with a scattering of diamonds.

You can also see unique creations of the work - ten times smaller copies of the imperial crown, scepter and orb.

With all the desire, it is impossible in one day to even briefly examine all the expositions, halls and galleries of the museum complex. Therefore, it is better to decide in advance on the most preferred collections and think over your route. A more than detailed and understandable interactive guide to the Hermitage can help with this.

It should be taken into account that the ceremonial halls, collections of paintings by Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci are the most popular among museum guests. It is more expedient to visit them in the afternoon, when the number of tourists will decrease significantly.

And it’s better to start your tour from the first floor of the Winter Palace, where the halls dedicated to the art of ancient times are located. It is usually deserted in the morning hours.

Although everyone has their own interests, and therefore it is impossible to lay a route that is equally informative for everyone.

Museum visit with children

If you plan to visit the museum with kids, it is better to make this excursion short so as not to “oversaturate” the child with impressions.

Despite the solidity and solidity of the galleries of the museum complex, there are halls for children in the Hermitage that will certainly interest the little ones. The boy will definitely enjoy visiting the Knight's Hall, where the richest collection of medieval knightly armor and weapons is presented. The exposition even has a set of children's armor, which will definitely appeal to the little knight.

And the girl will definitely be impressed and surprised by the beautiful interiors of the main halls, the images of children and animals in the paintings, as well as the unique Hanging Garden.

And, of course, it will be interesting for children to visit the Hall of Ancient Egypt, see a real mummy and many interesting statues with animal heads.

Tours of the Hermitage

The museum complex is simply huge, so navigating through it, despite the presence of a map of the Hermitage halls, is quite problematic. Therefore, it is recommended to use the services of a guide.

Tours are conducted by museum staff who thoroughly know the history of each work of art and many interesting facts about them.

Traditional tour of the Hermitage sightseeing. It lasts approximately four hours. It includes a tour of all the most famous exhibits of the museum. It can be expanded if you plan a visit to the Jewel Galleries or the Menshikov Palace.

There are also thematic excursions for parents with children (at least six years old), during which the kids get acquainted with world masterpieces in a fascinating and understandable way.

Fluffy keepers of the Hermitage

One of the interesting facts about the functioning of the museum is that for 240 years, cats have been protecting its collection from possible damage by rodents. In order to protect the museum's masterpieces, Empress Catherine also ordered that large cats, which were good at hunting mice, be brought to the Hermitage.

This tradition exists to this day - about sixty cats "work" on the territory of the museum. There is even a special holiday dedicated to guard cats; on March 28, museum workers celebrate it.

The State Hermitage, located in St. Petersburg near the Neva River, is without exaggeration known all over the world. This is a museum that is rich in a huge number of exhibits that help to study the development of world artistic culture and history. It should be noted that the Hermitage as a museum plays a huge role and is not inferior to other museums located abroad.

Uniqueness of the Hermitage

The rich history of this museum began during the reign of Catherine II. As the story goes, the Empress first accepted some of the paintings from a German merchant, who gave them away to pay off his debt. The paintings fascinated Catherine, and she created her own collection, which gradually became larger and larger. The Empress specifically hired people who traveled to Europe to purchase new canvases. When the collection became very large, it was decided to open a public museum, for which a separate building was built.

How many rooms and floors in the Hermitage

The Winter Palace is a three-story building with 1084 rooms. Among the most famous are:

Note! In total, the museum has about 365 rooms. Among them are the Small Dining Room, the Malachite Living Room, the chambers of Maria Alexandrovna. The diagram of the Hermitage halls with names will help the tourist to navigate in all these rooms.

Hermitage: floor plan

The Hermitage is a whole complex, which includes 5 buildings built in different years.

Winter Palace

This is the central building built by the famous architect B. F. Rastrelli in the second half of the 18th century in the Baroque style. It is necessary to pay tribute to those craftsmen who restored the building after the fires.

On a note. Now inside the Winter Palace, which previously acted as the imperial palace, is the main exposition of the Hermitage. The building is built in the shape of a quadrangle, inside which there is a courtyard.

Small Hermitage

It was built a little later than the Winter Palace. Its architects: Yu. M. Felten and J. B. Vallin-Delamot. It was so named because Catherine 2 spent entertaining evenings here, which were called small hermitages. The building includes 2 pavilions - the North, which housed the winter garden, and the South. Another component of the Small Hermitage is a hanging garden with picturesque compositions.

Big Hermitage

It was built after the Small Hermitage, and since it was larger than it, it got its name. Although this building is made in more strict forms, it fits perfectly into the ensemble and, moreover, complements it. The interiors are decorated with expensive woods, gilding and stucco. Architect - Yuri Felten.

On the second floor of the Great Hermitage there are halls of Italian painting, where you can see the works of outstanding artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Titian or Raphael. Copies of frescoes by the last artist adorn the so-called loggias of Raphael - a gallery located in the Great Hermitage.

Note! Many arches of the gallery divide it into several compartments. The walls are decorated with copies of frescoes. The Apostolic Palace in the Vatican was taken as the basis.

New Hermitage

The main facade of this building is known for its porch. This is a portico that previously served as an entrance. It differs in that it has granite statues of Atlanteans holding a balcony. It took 2 years to work on them. Everything else is made of limestone. The sculptures amaze with fine workmanship and elegance of execution, giving the building a sublime and noble appearance. The building itself was built in neo-Greek style.

Hermitage Theater

Architect - J. Quarenghi, style - classicism. The theater is connected to the rest of the buildings of the complex by an archway where a gallery was opened. Many talented artists performed on this stage, balls were often held here. It should be noted that the theater played an important role in the development of cultural life. In the foyer, ceilings from the 18th century have been preserved. The theater hall was inspired by the Italian Teatro Olimpico.

Where can I get the Hermitage guide

In order not to get lost in the huge halls of the Hermitage, next to the ticket offices at the main entrance, a plan of the Hermitage is offered free of charge. It shows the scheme of the Hermitage with all the halls available for visiting, their names and numbers.

Hermitage Map

Museum exhibits

How many exhibits are in the Hermitage? Their number exceeds 3 million! This is definitely a huge number. What is in the Hermitage? Among the most unique exhibits with an interesting history are the following:

• watch "Peacock" in the Hermitage. They were brought by order of Potemkin. The master is D. Cox from England. To deliver the watch in safety, they had to be disassembled. But the subsequent assembly turned out to be quite difficult due to the loss or breakage of parts. And only by the end of the 18th century, the clock started working again, thanks to the efforts of a skilled Russian master. This exhibit strikes with its beauty and luxury: the cage with the owl rotates, and the peacock even spreads its tail;
• Feodosia earrings. The technique that was used to make them is granulation. These are small gold or silver balls that are soldered onto jewelry. These earrings depict a composition showing the competitions in Athens. Although many jewelers tried to replicate this masterpiece, they did not succeed, since the method of creating Theodosian earrings is unknown;
• figure of Peter 1, made from wax. Foreign craftsmen were invited to create it. A red-robed figure sits majestically on a throne.

As a separate exhibit, for which it is also worth visiting this museum, one can name its interiors. Inside the Hermitage, you can see quite majestic, somewhere refined, halls decorated with a variety of elements. Walking on them is a pleasure.

Watch "Peacock"

How many paintings are in the Hermitage

In total, the Hermitage contains about 15,000 different paintings by artists of the 13th-20th century. Now such paintings are of great interest and cultural value.

The Hermitage collection began with 225 paintings donated by a German dealer. In the second half of the 18th century, paintings collected by Count Brühl were brought from Germany and paintings from the collection of the French Baron Crozat were bought. Thus, the works of such artists as Rembrandt, Raphael, Van Dyck and others appeared in the museum.

1774 is a memorable date when the first museum catalog was published. It already had over 2,000 paintings. A little later, the collection was replenished with 198 works from the collection of R. Walpole and 119 paintings from Count Baudouin.

On a note. Do not forget that at that time the museum kept not only paintings, but also many memorable items, such as figurines, stone products, coins.

The turning point was the fire of 1837, as a result of which the interiors of the Winter Palace did not survive. However, thanks to the quick work of the masters, a year later the building was restored. The paintings managed to endure, thanks to which the masterpieces of world art did not suffer.

Those who want to visit the Hermitage should definitely see the following canvases:

• Leonardo da Vinci "Madonna Litta"(work of the Renaissance). There are 19 paintings by this famous artist in the world, 2 of which are kept in the Hermitage. This canvas was brought from Italy in the 19th century. The second canvas of this artist is the Benois Madonna, painted with oil paints;
• Rembrandt The Return of the Prodigal Son. The canvas is written based on the Gospel of Luke. In the center is the returned son, kneeling before his father, who graciously receives him. This masterpiece was acquired back in the 18th century;
• V. V. Kandinsky "Composition 6". The canvas of this famous avant-garde artist takes pride of place in the museum. There is even a separate room dedicated to his work. This picture strikes the audience with a riot of colors;
• T. Gainsborough "The Lady in Blue". It is believed that this is a portrait of Countess Elizabeth Beaufort. Her look is very light and natural. Refinement and airiness is achieved with the help of light strokes, a dark background and light colors for the image of a girl;
• Caravaggio "The Lute Player". The details in this picture are worked out to the smallest detail. Both a crack on the lute and notes are depicted. In the middle of the canvas is a young man playing. His face expresses many complex emotions that the author was able to skillfully portray.

Paintings from the Hermitage collection

More detailed information describing what is in the Hermitage can be found on its official website.

The Hermitage can be called one of the most important cultural centers, which is of great importance for the whole world, because masterpieces of various artists from various times are collected here. This is one of the richest and most important collections in the world.

If you stand in front of each exhibit of the Hermitage for a minute, you will have to spend more than 10 years in the museum. More than three million exhibits, including 16,000 paintings. Involuntarily, you will think - is it worth going at all if you can’t embrace the immensity? Answer: You must go.

Collection of the State Hermitage

The core of the Hermitage collection is located in five buildings connected to each other. These are the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the Big (or Old) Hermitage, the New Hermitage and the Hermitage Theatre. The word "hermitage" is repeated in the names very often, and in France this word refers to a certain type of wine or small hotels on the outskirts. Like the words "passage", "voyage", "sac", "hermitage" - of French origin, in translation it means "hermit's house". The Small and Large Hermitages were such a quiet secluded place for Catherine the Second, where she arranged informal receptions and showed guests her meetings. Thus began the history of the museum, and it is Catherine II who is considered its founder.

By the way, in 2014 the Hermitage celebrated its anniversary - 250 years since the acquisition of the first collection by Catherine II.

Why else should you go Hermitage

In the past, the Hermitage was an imperial museum. Not only works of art are interesting here, but also interiors. All buildings were built under the tsars and amaze with royal beauty. For example, the Winter Palace is a former winter imperial residence with halls for balls, receptions and living quarters. Therefore, in the Hermitage you will find marble, and stucco, and gilding, and crystal chandeliers. The Hermitage is a luxury and elegance, a standard of taste and even design solutions for arranging a modern space. It is not surprising that many people, going to the Hermitage, dress as if they were going to a holiday, and some of them hold a photo session (including a wedding) in the Hermitage.

Remember the status of the museum and do not come to the Hermitage in shorts and T-shirts. Take care of beauty! Girls and ladies, do not wear shoes with sharp heels, they will ruin the precious wood parquet. Do not touch thin gilding, antique furniture, vases, sculptures! Unfortunately, some exhibits are not protected in any way, and only a careful attitude can save them. Large bags, backpacks and suitcases will have to be checked in at the cloakroom. You can’t eat or drink in the halls, so as not to crumble and spill liquid on the floor, and you won’t even be able to bring a bottle of water into the museum, as the bags at the entrance shine through.

How to get to the Hermitage

The nearest metro stations are Nevsky Prospekt, Gostiny Dvor (at this station it is better to go to the Griboyedov Canal) and Admiralteyskaya. From the metro stations Gostiny Dvor and Nevsky Prospekt you will get to Nevsky Prospekt itself, you need to go to the Neva in the direction of decreasing house numbers. If it's easier to explain, then move towards the spire of the Admiralty, here it is in the photo (in the perspective of Nevsky Prospekt).

The Winter Palace is located to the right of the Admiralty, however, you will see it anyway.

From Admiralteiskaya it is also easy: when you exit the metro, turn first to the left, then to the right and exit onto Nevsky. Further - towards the spire. Of all three stations, Admiralteyskaya is the closest to the Hermitage.

From Palace Square, enter the courtyard of the Winter Palace through the central arches, decorated with openwork gates. There you will find all the necessary information about prices and excursions on the stands and electronic scoreboards. Cashiers inside.

Hermitage address: Palace Embankment, 38 / Palace Square, 2;
telephone: +7 812 710 90 79

When is the best time to visit the Hermitage?

The museum is closed on Monday. On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, the Hermitage is open from 10.30 am to 6.00 pm (ticket office until 5 pm), on Wednesday and Friday from 10.30 am to 9 pm (ticket office until 8 pm). From January 1, 2019, every third Thursday of the month is free admission (previously it was the first Thursday of the month), but keep in mind that the queue on this day is longer than at the Mausoleum. There are fewer visitors on weekdays than on weekends. Most of the people in the Hermitage during school holidays, when groups from different parts of Russia come to the museum one after another. The peak of attendance: a) in summer, b) after 12 am. In the summer, foreigners join the Russians, including those from huge cruise ships. During this high season, there is a queue to enter the museum, and in some halls there is nowhere for an apple to fall - especially in the Leonardo Hall and the Rembrandt Hall.

But there are halls where even on such days there is silence and solitude. The line moves faster in nice warm weather when people don't use the cloakroom. In bad weather, the places in the wardrobe quickly run out. At four o'clock the flow of foreign tourists subsides, the queue melts, and the museum becomes empty. You can choose these evening hours or until 12 am for your visit. And you can also come fifteen minutes before the opening of the museum and join the queue of like-minded people, which will pass very quickly. By the way, a certain woman has been walking along the line for many years and offers dubious “tickets for skipping the line”. It can be free retirement tickets or others, but she asks for a tidy sum to pay for them. Regularly, the police takes this lady out of the museum territory, but she reappears. Don't support this black business, which is like a weed rooted in a flower garden! Overcome all obstacles on the way to beauty!

Another tip: take your ID with you just in case. It is clear that you most likely carry it with you all the time, but you never know. The fact is that the cashier will ask you to present it when buying a ticket (reduced prices are set for citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus).

A full ticket in 2019 costs 700 rubles, for citizens of Russia and Belarus - 400 rubles, schoolchildren, students, cadets, veterans, military personnel, pensioners and some other categories go to paintings and other art objects for free. A little military trick: if you do not want to stand in line and are ready to pay an extra two hundred rubles for it, purchase tickets on the Hermitage website (680 rubles), as well as in self-service terminals, which are located in the courtyard on the right immediately after entering it from Palace Square . You buy a ticket at the terminal and go past the long queue to the Winter Palace. In addition, tickets to the Winter Palace can also be bought at the General Staff Building (directly opposite across the square) and at the official Hermitage Hotel on Pravdy Street, 10. However, we have not yet checked whether tickets are sold only to hotel guests or to everyone , but if you want, you can try your luck.

If you do not want to stand in a long queue, we recommend that you buy tickets online. With them you go directly to the museum without a queue! This can save you a couple of hours, especially during the high season, holidays or weekends. Click on the banner below to purchase:

What to see in the Hermitage?

Certainly, Winter Palace, its white marble staircase (pictured above) and front rooms leading to the Throne, portraits of brave generals who fought with Napoleon in the Gallery of 1812 (pictured below).

art gallery, which presents all European schools and times from the late Middle Ages to the 20th century. The Hermitage has paintings by da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, El Greco, Rembrandt, Rubens and many other famous masters.

The French collection stands apart "From Monet to Picasso". It was collected not by the tsars, but by the Moscow industrialists Shchukin and Morozov. And only in the 1930s these private collections were divided between the Hermitage and the Pushkin Museum im. Pushkin in Moscow and thus saved from sale or destruction during the difficult Stalin years. Paintings by Eduard Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse and Picasso are the real pride of the Hermitage. You can see them on the third floor of the Winter Palace. And you should hurry. Soon, to get acquainted with them, you will need an additional ticket to the General Staff Building, where they are going to transport the entire collection of Frenchmen of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

There is another exhibition with the works of the same masters brought by the Soviet army from Germany at the end of the Great Patriotic War. It is located on the second floor of the Winter Palace at the end of the Ministerial Corridor and is called "Unknown Masterpieces".

And, of course, Knight's Hall. There you will find swords, shields, armor, plumed helmets, crossbows, pistols and arquebuses. Almost all 15-16 centuries. This hall is at the farthest end of the museum from the entrance in the building of the New Hermitage.

If you want to get away from the main tourist route, then you can hide from the crowd in halls of ancient art on the first floor of the New Hermitage. There silently stand marble statues of Greek gods and Roman emperors, painted pottery keeps the scent of ancient wines, oils and perfumes.

Or in the halls Primitive culture on the ground floor of the Winter Palace. Do you know what Pazyryk and Arzhan are? These are the names of ancient mounds in which wonderful things were found. Having been here, you can show off rare knowledge in front of your friends. You will be amazed by the mummy of the tattooed leader and the world's largest felt carpet from the 1st millennium BC. e., on which the mustachioed "jigit" (the leader of the tribe) appears before the great ancient goddess. lovers East waiting for the third floor of the Winter Palace - the halls of China, Japan, India, Iran. Ancient Egypt with sarcophagi and bizarre figures of gods next to the cafe on the 1st floor of the Winter Palace.

If you are interested in gold from the tombs and personal jewelry of the Romanovs, you golden pantry And Diamond pantry Jewel galleries. Special tickets can be bought at the box office, there is also a schedule of excursions.

All Russian rulers from Catherine II to Nicholas II lived in the Winter Palace. But not everyone knows that there is an unusual exhibition in the Hermitage "Winter Palace of Peter the Great". It is located in the building of the Hermitage Theater (entrance from the Neva, Palace Embankment, 32), the box office is in the same place. It turns out that the cellars of the Peter's palace, fragments of the walls, part of the courtyard have been preserved, Peter's private chambers have been recreated - the Turner, the Cabinet and the Dining Room. The original personal belongings of Peter were used to create the exhibition. In one of the rooms stands the famous Wax persona by Rastrelli Sr., which conveys the true appearance of Peter the Great.

What can be photographed from this?

You can photograph everything in the Hermitage, except for mummies, temporary exhibitions and jewelry (for example, in the Jewel Gallery). Remember to turn off the flash in the rooms with paintings, fabrics and carpets. If you have a professional photo shoot, then a ticket that gives you the right to do so costs 5,000 rubles.

What you will NOT see in the Hermitage. Or the most common misconceptions

"Mona Lisa". This painting by Leonardo da Vinci is in the Louvre in Paris.

Amber room. It is located in a country summer residence - in the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo.

Imperial bedroom with a bed! The furnishings of the living rooms have not been preserved. There is no bed in the Blue Bedroom, there are temporary exhibitions.

Imperial crown. She is in Moscow along with the scepter and orb.

Faberge eggs. They are not represented in the Hermitage collection.

carriage. Once a gilded carriage stood in the Field Marshal's Hall, but now all the carriages and carriages are in the Hermitage Fund Storage.

Salvador Dali.

If you love to be told

You can take an audio guide for 350 rubles (you need to leave a deposit of 2000 rubles or any identity card other than a passport) and walk freely along the route you choose. You can buy at the box office not only an entrance ticket, but also a ticket for a sightseeing tour and listen to it as part of a group. You can book an individual tour at the Tourist Office under the arch of the Winter Palace (telephone number 571-84-46). In the same place in September, you can buy a subscription to a series of themed classes, and you will not have to queue to enter the museum. Excursions purchased not at the bureau, but from strangers or on third-party websites, may be of arbitrary content, pass off fiction as truth, the Hermitage is not responsible for their quality.

The Hermitage is not only...

Not only the five buildings that were discussed are part of the museum. The Hermitage owns the eastern wing of the General Staff building and is located directly opposite the Winter Palace across Palace Square (see photo).

There are temporary exhibitions, lectures and a permanent exhibition will open soon. A branch of the Hermitage is the Menshikov Palace. It is located on the opposite bank of the Neva, on Vasilyevsky Island, Universitetskaya embankment, 15. The Hermitage opened the Museum of Porcelain at the Imperial Porcelain Factory, st. metro Lomonosovskaya. And the Restoration and Storage Center "Old Village" has recently opened to the public. This is a modern complex that introduces the museum's funds and the conditions for their storage. There you can see collections of paintings, frescoes, furniture, applied art, tents and tents, carriages and carriages. Address - Zausadebnaya st., 37 "A", Staraya Derevnya metro station. Visiting is possible only with a guided tour: Wednesday - Sunday at sessions: 11.00, 13.00, 13.30, 15.30. For free places in groups, please call +7 812 340 10 26. A ticket with a tour costs 550 rubles in 2019. Admission is free on December 7th and the first Thursday of every month. Please note: free admission applies only to the entrance ticket (and this is 250 rubles), you still pay for the tour (300 rubles).

Tickets to the Hermitage

An entrance ticket in 2019 costs 700 rubles (electronic 680), for citizens of Russia and Belarus upon presentation of a passport - 400 rubles, a sightseeing tour in a group - 250 per person, an excursion to the Jewel Gallery - 300, an entrance ticket to Peter's Palace, Menshikov Palace, Museum of Porcelain, General Headquarters - 300 rubles, RCC "Old Village" - 550 rubles (with a tour).

Preschool children, schoolchildren, students, pensioners (citizens of Russia) and the traditional group of beneficiaries enter the museum free of charge. Free admission to the museum for everyone - on the third Thursday of every month.

Where to eat when visiting the Hermitage

The Hermitage cafe is not the cheapest in the city, but corresponds to the prices on Nevsky Prospekt. There is no serious hot food in it. Only coffee, tea, drinks, sandwiches, pies and cakes. Reinforcement of physical strength can be combined with access to the Internet in if your gadgets do not have such a built-in ability.

Souvenirs from the Hermitage

Bags, purses, pillows, umbrellas, tapestries, porcelain, ceramics, jewelry, silk scarves, reproductions, albums, children's art books and even fine wood furniture - this is what can become memorable. Buy "Mona Lisa" will not work, why - see above. They didn't ask about Rembrandt and others.

By the way, an interesting fact: nesting dolls are not sold in the Hermitage souvenir shop - museum director Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky strictly forbade it.

For cat lovers

Behind the gate, located on the right side of the Winter Palace (if you are facing it), there is a well-known road sign depicting a cat.

This is not a joke, but a real warning. The museum funds are protected from rats by a special team of cats. They are not allowed into the halls of the museum, but they sometimes, of course, crawl through there. A couple of times, representatives of the editors of the Window to Petersburg website saw them at the box office. Look on the Internet for materials on the request "cats of the Hermitage", it's worth it. Sometimes, by the way, the Hermitage distributes kittens. We had material about this, read.