K.G. Razumovsky Palace is a historical palace and park complex located in the center of St. Petersburg.
Today, the complex houses the main campus of the A.I. Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University.
Razumovsky Palace is one of the few surviving examples of urban estates in St. Petersburg in the first half of the 18th century with regular gardens and buildings located in the depths of the plots.
The Razumovsky Palace includes several buildings, as well as the old garden, located on most of the block between the Moika River embankment, Kazanskaya Street, Gorokhovaya Street and next to Nevsky Prospekt.
View of the complex of the former palace, as well as the surrounding ensemble and the Moika River from Red Bridge
The palace on this site was erected from 1762 to 1766 by architects A.F. Kokorinov and J.-B. Vallen-Delamot, for Hetman of Ukraine and President of the Academy of Sciences K.G. Razumovsky - brother of the favorite of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. Razumovsky's stone manor was erected on the site of the wooden palace of Count Levenwolde, erected in the 1730s by architect V. Rastrelli.
After the construction, the palace of K.G. Razumovsky became one of the best achievements of Russian architecture of the 1760s.
In 1798, the palace was transferred to the Orphanage, and then to the Nikolaev Women's Orphan Institute. The building was rebuilt several times inside (the most significant works were carried out in 1798), and the buildings were also added.
The ensemble received its modern appearance during the reconstruction in 1831-1834.
Since 1925, the palace complex has been occupied by the A.I. Herzen Pedagogical Institute
Today Razumovsky Palace is a unique architectural palace and park complex, made in the style of classicism, which presents not only the buildings of the former palace, but also elements of landscape art, as well as works of monumental and decorative art: fences, gates, monuments.
Thus, in the composition of the main facade of the main building of the former palace, facing the Moika River embankment, the main emphasis is placed on the processing of the center, decorated with a colonnade of Corinthian columns built over the arcade of the first, ground floor. The colonnade is crowned by an entablature and a high stepped attic.
In the park near the main facade there is a monument to the founder of Russian pedagogical science K.D. Ushinsky, made by sculptor V.V. Lishev in 1961.
The complex of the former palace will be separated from the Moika River embankment by a fence with monumental stone gates.
The facade of the main building from the courtyard is marked by protruding side risalites, a colonnade of four Corinthian columns in the center and stucco details repeating the motifs used in the decorative design of the main facade.
The complex of the palace (now the Institute) includes the remains of the garden (Old Garden), created in the first half of the 18th century.
From the side of Kazanskaya Street, the complex is fenced with a lattice designed by A.N. Voronikhin.
View of Voronikhinsky Square (drinking fountain), behind it - the fence and the buildings of the former palace complex
The interior decoration of the palace premises has not been preserved, except for the processing of the ceiling of the grand staircase. The floor arches are decorated with sculpting with double-headed eagles and putti holding garlands of flowers.
The entire second floor of the university building is pierced by a corridor, the walls of which are decorated with paintings dedicated to the past of the orphanage. The extensions of the corridor form three halls - the Trustees' Hall, the Imperial Hall and the Rector's Hall. The halls contain portraits of people who played a significant role in the formation and development of the Educational Home - Leningrad Pedagogical Institute - Herzen University.
Practical information
Access to the university territory is possible through two passageways located in opposite corners of the territory: from the Moika River side - through the checkpoint at the corner of Gorokhovaya Street and the Moika River embankment; from Kazanskaya Street - through the checkpoint at Voronikhinsky Square.
The entrance to the university for visitors is through a checkpoint on Kazanskaya Street.
The address of the Razumovsky Palace - Herzen State Pedagogical University: Moika River Embankment, 48.
University website: herzen.spb.
Nearest metro stations: "Admiralteyskaya", "Nevsky Prospekt" and "Gostiny Dvor".
All accommodation facilities in St. Petersburg, including in the city center and more remotely from it, can be viewed and booked here
