State Hermitage Museum. Hermitage map
The iconic art museum of St. Petersburg has huge galleries with stately interiors, unique exhibitions and rare works of art. Therefore, the Hermitage is included in the list of the most popular art museums in the world, and is also recognized as one of the main prides of Russia.
The museum complex includes 5 branches located on Palace Embankment. These are the Winter Palace, the Hermitage Theater, the buildings of the Big, Small and New Hermitage. All of the listed objects are recognized as monuments of Russian architecture of the 18th-19th centuries. In them you will find more than 3 million paintings, sculptures, objects applied arts and archaeological finds.
Of course, one visit is not enough to see all the assets of the museum. Therefore, we recommend that you pay attention to the most interesting halls museum.
How many halls are there in the Hermitage
Officially, the Hermitage has 365 rooms with exhibitions. However, their number may change after restoration or relocation of temporary exhibitions.
List of the most beautiful and famous halls of the Small Hermitage
Pavilion Hall
In this room you will not find chiseled statues or paintings, but its interior impresses with its luxury and elegance. The architect Andrei Stackenschneider created such beauty in the 19th century. The design of the space combines antique, Moorish and Renaissance styles. Snow-white columns, openwork gilded grilles, arches, and huge crystal chandeliers create the atmosphere of an oriental palace here.
Each corner and element of the Pavilion Hall represents a separate exhibition. Here you will see skillfully made shell fountains, copies of the Bakhchisarai Fountain of Tears in Crimea, and medallions with painted inserts. As you walk through the exhibition, don't forget to look down. The floor of the chambers is decorated with mosaics that were found in Rome. It depicts the head of the Gorgon Medusa and various scenes from Greek mythology. The beauty of the room is emphasized by marble statues and tabletops decorated with mosaics - creations of masters of the 19th century.
The most precious exhibit of the Pavilion Hall is the “Peacock” mechanical watch. At one time, Prince Potemkin gave them to Catherine II. They are made in the form of a sculptural composition consisting of a tree trunk with a dial and animals and birds sitting on the branches. Once a week the clock in the museum is wound, and at this time visitors can see it in action.
Loggias of Raphael
A magnificent ensemble that combines the subtlety of architecture, the richness of painting and sculpture. The loggias are a separate gallery consisting of 13 buildings. The inspiration for this place came from Vatican paintings, from which the frescoes were copied.
Every corner of the loggia, including columns and ceilings, is painted with paintings with biblical motifs. The entire composition includes 52 canvases dedicated to the Old Testament and 4 to the New. Thanks to the sequence of masters, you can enjoy the beauty of the paintings and read the main biblical motifs, starting with the story of Adam and Eve. Some reliefs of the gallery are decorated with outlandish drawings of animals and people, made in the grotesque style.
Main halls of the Winter Palace
Armorial Hall
One of the most spacious and majestic halls. The hall was designed by Vasily Stasov in 1839 to host gala evenings. This is evidenced by huge chandeliers, golden columns and arched windows, decorating the chambers. Today it houses a collection of Western European silver, in particular works by French masters dating back to the 18th century. The most interesting example was the service of Tom Germain, which belonged to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. In the exhibition windows you can also see German silverware.
Alexander Hall
This spacious hall is dedicated to the memory of Alexander the First and combines Gothic elements with classicism. High snow-white-blue ceilings, arches decorated with stucco, chandeliers, massive columns together recall the atmosphere of a temple. In the northern part of the chambers you will see a majestic portrait of the emperor.
On the walls of the Alexander Hall there are 24 medallions telling about important stages Patriotic War. The dark blue display cases display an exhibition of Western European silver dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Malachite living room
Another creation of Alexander Bryullov, created in 1837 on the site of the Jasper Living Room. Thanks to the decoration of precious stones, this small room is recognized as the most valuable in the building.
The main accents in the design are malachite columns, pilasters and two fireplaces. Many other exhibits are also made of stone: tabletops, bedside tables, vases. The walls are decorated with marble, the ceiling is decorated with a gilded pattern that copies the pattern on the floor. Crimson curtains and fabric on the chairs add contrast and solemnity to the room. Among the exhibits, the oldest are considered to be a tall flowerpot made of malachite and furniture preserved after the fire.
Maria Alexandrovna's living room
The room, which is quite small in size, is distinguished by luxurious decoration. Its decoration was designed by the architect Harald Bosse, and the style is defined as Rococo. Distinctive feature the chambers are decorated with subtle ornate ornaments. They decorate every corner of the space. They are made of gilded carved wood and metal, and their abundance and subtlety of curves make the space lively and very elegant. The red silk trim adorning the walls, chairs, windows and doors adds special solemnity. Mirrors on the walls and ceiling create an unusual play of light. And the luxurious composition is completed by sculptural elements and paintings.
Maria Alexandrovna's living room
This hall ranks first on the list of the most luxurious corners of the museum. Another name for the room is the personal living room of Maria Alexandrovna, the wife of Emperor Alexander II. Its interior was created by the famous architect Alexander Bryullov.
The atmosphere of the room fully corresponds to its name. The walls, floor and stream literally shine with gold. Along the perimeter of the chambers there are small display cases in the shape of pyramids. Here you can see French and Italian jewelry. The walls and ceiling of the hall are decorated with fine patterned carvings and painted ornaments. The composition is complemented by heavy curtains, crystal chandeliers and golden doors.
From the guide you will learn that the Golden Living Room was the place where Emperor Alexander III first made important decisions on government reforms.
Concert hall
During the history of its existence, it was changed three times and acquired its final form in 1837. This hall has no equal in the richness of its sculptural decoration. The second tiers of its walls are decorated with statues of goddesses and ancient muses. The sculptural compositions smoothly connect to the ceiling, which gives the space additional volume. In addition to the luxurious design, you can see a rich collection of Russian silver from the 17th to 20th centuries. The most valuable exhibit is considered to be the silver shrine of Alexander Nevsky, made of 1.5 tons of precious metal.
White Hall
Located in the southwestern part of the Winter Palace. The hall was created from three living rooms and was supposed to become a place for celebrating the wedding of Alexander II. The design of the hall is in no way inconsistent with its name. Its white walls are decorated with columns that are crowned with sculptures female figures. They symbolize various types of art. The empire style of the hall is emphasized by bas-relief figures depicting the gods of Olympus, as well as graceful arched openings.
Today an exhibition is on display in the White Hall French painting 18th century, collection of porcelain and furniture in the style of classicism.
Halls of the New Hermitage
Halls dedicated to Ancient Egypt
Fans of Egyptian culture should definitely check out the Winter Palace exhibition, as well as visit Hall No. 100, located on the first floor of the New Hermitage. It is here that you will find exhibits belonging to different historical periods. Ancient Egypt.
At the exhibition you will see how culture developed in Egypt from the emergence to the disappearance of the Middle Kingdom. In one room there is a large collection of sculpture, sarcophagi and household items. In another you will find papyri, texts from Books of the Dead, amulets with scarabs, jewelry, various works of artistic craft.
The list of the most valuable items in the Egyptian halls includes a statue of Amenemhet the Third, depicting a pharaoh sitting on the throne. Another magnificent exhibit is the sculpture of the goddess Sekhmet. This is a granite figure of a woman with a lion's head, which is one of the most ancient Egyptian monuments.
There have been beliefs around the granite statue of Sekhmet for many years. Museum workers report that from time to time blood, or rather a red-orange wet coating, is visible on her knees. Most often it appears before disasters or tragic events.
Halls with monuments of Greece and Rome
A huge part of the New Hermitage, rooms 100-131, is dedicated to the culture of antiquity. Here you will see not only exhibits belonging to the Roman and Greek culture, but also a stylish antique interior that adds brightness to the atmosphere.
Each room deserves its own viewing and represents an art collection belonging to a specific period of history. For example, in hall No. 128 you will see a large Kolyvan vase, reaching 5 meters in height and 3 meters in width. Exhibition No. 130 impresses visitors with huge paintings in the Greek-Egyptian style, a collection of amphorae, vases, and statues.
In rooms No. 107-110 there is a collection of sculptures of gods and Atlanteans. The most grandiose are the huge statue of Jupiter, “Venus of Tauride”, “Cupid and Psyche”, “The Death of Adonis”, and the sculpture “Muse of Tragedy”. Hall 109 is dedicated to the god of wine Dionysus. Its walls are painted in grape tones, contrastingly emphasizing the snow-white sculptures. We also recommend visiting rooms No. 111 – 114. They house antique vases of all shapes and sizes. The dominant feature of the exhibition is the statue of the “Resting Satyr” - a copy famous masterpiece Praxiteles. Another interesting room is No. 121, where there is a collection of stones.
Knight's Hall
Has huge collection weapons, covering more than 15 thousand items. Here you can see tournament armor, swords, swords, hunting and firearms.
The main decoration of the hall is the exhibition of figures of knights in armor on horses. The effectiveness of the exhibits is emphasized by huge paintings depicting military operations.
Small and Large Italian gaps
The Small Clearance Gallery covers 29 rooms in which paintings are exhibited Italian artists from the 13th to the 18th century. In Bolshoy Prosvet the main emphasis is on furniture and decor. Here you will see malachite vases, chairs, and a foyer. All rooms with works of art are decorated with stucco and gilded paintings.
Halls of the Great Hermitage
Titian Hall
The room, which was intended for noble imperial guests, is located on the second floor. Its luxurious interior is complemented by works by Titian, a famous Renaissance artist. Among the most famous paintings you will find "Saint Sebastian", "Penitent Magdalene" and "Danae".
Hall of Leonardo da Vinci
One of the most popular places in the Great Hermitage. Here you will find two legendary masterpieces by the famous artist. This " Madonna Benoit" and "Madonna Lita". The significance of the works of art is emphasized by jasper columns, lapis lazuli inserts, picturesque panels and lampshades.
It has over 3 million exhibits, from the Stone Age to the present day, which are presented in 350 halls with a total length of 20 kilometers.
A walk through its halls will become a tempting and exciting journey lasting 8 years of life, if you devote at least 1 minute of time to each exhibit, as experts have calculated. But the game is worth the candle.
The Hermitage museum complex occupies 5 buildings on Palace Embankment: the Winter Palace, the Hermitage - Bolshoi, Small, New, and the Hermitage Theater. They get acquainted with the ancient and ancient world, Eastern and European culture, the history of Russian art, numismatics, weapons, the interiors of imperial chambers and galleries, antiques, household items and other unique rarities of the past.
In the museum halls of the Menshikov Palace, which is located on the University Embankment, the culture of Russia of the 1st third of the 18th century is presented. In the left wing of the General Staff building, works by masters of the 19th and 20th centuries are exhibited, including impressionists and post-impressionists.
Field Marshal's Hall
The main enfilade of the Winter Palace opens with a ceremonial hall. Gilded bronze chandeliers and superb grisaille paintings contain images of laurel wreaths and trophies, emphasizing the valor of the Russian army. On the walls are portraits of outstanding field marshals. Here you can also see Russian porcelain from the early 19th century.
Petrovsky (Small Throne) Hall
The hall was designed by Montferrand in 1833 in honor of Peter the Great. The decoration includes the monograms of the 1st Emperor of Russia, double-headed eagles and a crown. In the central niche in the form triumphal arch- portrait of Peter the Great with the goddess Slava. The canvases on the walls depict the heroism of the sovereign in the battles of the Northern War. The hall is decorated with panels made of silver and Lyon velvet.
Armorial Hall
At the entrance you are greeted by sculptures of ancient Russian warriors with banners, on the shafts of which there are shields with the coats of arms of Russian provinces, which are also visible on gilded bronze chandeliers. The central part is occupied by a bowl of aventurine. Each element of the interior brings its own value and meaning to the overall ensemble, and all together create a picture of grandeur and solemnity.
Military gallery of 1812
The gallery was opened in honor of the victory over the French. It was created according to the design of Karl Ivanovich Rossi. The walls are decorated with portraits of 332 generals - participants and heroes of the Great Patriotic War of 1812. In a place of honor are portraits of Alexander the First and the monarchs - allies of Frederick - William the Third and Franz the First.
St. George (Great Throne) Hall
The hall of the Winter Palace, where official ceremonies and receptions took place, was created by Stasov, who preserved the compositional design of the architect Quarenghi. The columned hall is decorated with Carrara marble and gilded bronze. Above the Throne Place you can see the bas-relief “St. George slaying the dragon with a spear.” The imperial throne was commissioned by Empress Anna Ioannovna in London. The stacked parquet is made of 16 valuable types of wood.
Alexander Hall
The hall of the Winter Palace is dedicated to the memory of the emperor - reformer Alexander the First, a medallion with whose image can be seen in the lunette of the end wall. The frieze contains twenty-four images of prominent battles of 1812. Also exhibited here are European silver items from the 16th to 19th centuries.
White Hall
The hall was created for the wedding of Tsar Alexander II. The interior is especially luxuriously decorated with decorative plastic. The space is filled with sculptures of ancient Roman gods.
Golden living room
The hall, designed by Bryullov, belonged to Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Tsar Alexander II. After him tragic death in this room, members of the State Council, led by the new autocrat Alexander III, approved the Constitution. Everything in the decoration corresponds to the name - gilded stucco ornament on the ceiling, gilded doors, gilded plant patterns on the walls. Jasper columns add splendor, and a marble fireplace adds splendor and comfort.
Malachite living room
The room was intended for the wife of Nicholas I, Alexandra Fedorovna, and served as one of her personal chambers. The skillful decoration of the entire space with malachite amazes every imagination.
Small dining room
The interior was furnished by Krasovsky in the Rococo style. The walls are decorated with tapestries from the 18th century and there are also objects from the early 20th: an English musical chandelier, a French clock and domestically produced glassware. Here at night, during the capture of the Winter Palace, the Bolsheviks arrested members of the Provisional Government, as a memorial plaque reminds.
Gallery of portraits of the Romanovs
In the hall there are images of all members of the royal family from Peter the Great to Nicholas II. The Winter Palace, now occupied by the Hermitage, was built under Elizabeth Petrovna; since then, the sovereigns and their relatives have permanently lived in the palace. The walls of its halls were decorated with imperial images.
Library of Nicholas II
The office belonged to the last emperor, as evidenced by the porcelain portrait on the owner’s table. The premises were designed in 1895 by the architect Alexander Fedorovich Krasovsky. The decoration features English Gothic motifs. The ceiling, furniture, bookcases are made of walnut wood. The interior is decorated with panels of embossed gilded leather. Everything taken together, plus a fireplace and tall windows with openwork frames, immerse you in the atmosphere of the medieval era.
Concert hall
The hall closes the Neva Enfilade of the Winter Palace. It was created by the architect Stasov. Here are statues of ancient muses and the goddess Flora. The main exhibit is the tomb of St. Alexander Nevsky, made in silver by local craftsmen by order of Elizaveta Petrovna, transferred to the Hermitage from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in 1922.
Ancient Egyptian culture
On the 1st floor of the Winter Palace, on the site of the former Buffet, in 1940, the chief architect of the Hermitage, Alexander Vladimirovich Sivkov, built a hall of culture of Ancient Egypt. Egyptian household items, sarcophagi, monumental sculptures, examples of small plastic art, figurines, artistic works of artisans. The most striking works are the statues of Amenemhet III, the queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty - Cleopatra VII, the stele of Ipi and many others.
Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Hall
The converted living room in the chambers of the daughters of Nicholas the First was designed by the architect Alexander Pavlovich Bryullov. The hall houses archeological monuments of the 6-2 millennia BC, brought from Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and many parts of Russia. There are unique finds - a slab with petroglyphs from Karelia, a staff handle in the shape of an elk's head from the Sverdlovsk region, an image of an idol from the Pskov region, figurines from burial mounds in Turkmenistan.
Culture of nomadic tribes of Altai VI-V centuries BC. e.
Numerous artifacts found during excavations near the Karakoli Ursul River are represented by overlays and wooden images of animals that served as decoration for harnesses. A large wooden plaque with two flying griffins was especially skillfully carved. It served as a decoration on the horse's head. This exhibit is recognized as one of the outstanding works of art antiquities.
Hall of the early Middle Ages in Siberia and Transbaikalia
The culture of the Tagars and Tashtyks is represented by household items, weapons and other ancient works found by archaeologists in the Minusinsk Basin in Khakassia. Of particular interest are the funeral masks that were placed on mannequins containing the ashes of the dead. Women's masks are white with red curls, men's masks are red with transverse black stripes.
Paving Beam
Exhibits from the archaeological monument Moshchevaya Balka in the North Caucasus indicate that a branch of the ancient Silk Road ran in these places, from where the finds exhibited in the hall were brought. The exhibition is decorated with well-preserved samples of fabrics, precious Chinese, Sogdian, Mediterranean silks, clothing, wood and leather items from the local Alan-Adyghe tribes.
Culture of the Golden Horde
Treasures of Volga Bulgaria are exhibited in the back - gold and silver jewelry, weapons and horse harnesses. Interesting works are related to shamanic cults and written culture, a tile with Persian verses, as well as “Dish with a Falconer”.
Hall of the Arts of France
Hall of Art of France of the 16th century (paintings by Louis XIII artist Simon Vouet, Eustache Lesueur and Laurent de La Hire. In the hall of art France XVII century, paintings by the great French classicist artist Nicolas Poussin, the best 11 paintings, are exhibited. The exhibition of the hall of French art of the 18th century presents best works French school of this time - 8 works by Antoine Watteau. The Hall of Applied Arts of France of the 17th-18th centuries presents works of masters who worked in the neoclassical style.
UK Art Hall
Here are paintings by one of the leading masters of the 18th century - Joshua Reynolds, as well as original copies of portraits of members of the royal family of England. Catherine II ordered the “Service with a Green Frog” here. The display cases display products made from basalt and jasper from Wedgwood.
Halls of the Great Hermitage
The first floor of the building is occupied by administrative premises and the directorate of the State Hermitage. The 2nd floor displays works by Renaissance masters. The halls of Italian art are located here.
The Jupiter Hall represents the art of Rome from the 1st to 4th centuries. In its decor you can see medallions with profiles of Michelangelo, Canova, Martos and other great sculptors. Of particular interest here are the sculptural portraits and marble sarcophagi. The name of the hall was given by the statue of Jupiter from the country villa of the Roman emperor Domitian. The masterpieces of the collection are portraits of the emperors Lucius Verus, Balbinus and Philip the Arab.
The Hall of Italian Renaissance Art of the 13th–15th centuries of the Great Hermitage opens an exhibition of works from the beginning of the new culture- Pre-Renaissance era. Here are products from the Florentine workshop of sculptors and ceramicists of the Della Robbia family.
Here you can visit the Titian Hall, intended to receive noble guests of the imperial court; paintings from the late period of the master’s work are presented here.
The Hall of Art of Italy of the 16th century presents works by Venetian painters of the 16th century: Jacob Palma the Elder, Lorenzo Lotto, Giovanni Battista Cima de Conegliano. The Leonardo da Vinci Hall presents 2 masterpieces of the artist - “Benois Madonna” and “Madonna Litta”. Raphael's loggias are the prototype of the gallery of the Vatican Palace in Rome, painted according to Raphael's sketches. The gallery vaults are decorated with paintings by the master on biblical subjects. The walls are decorated with grotesque ornaments.
Knight's Hall
One of the large ceremonial interiors of the New Hermitage. The hall was intended for the exhibition of coins. There is a collection of weapons here - about 15 thousand items - an exposition of Western European weapons: tournament, ceremonial, hunting, bladed and firearms. Knight's armor is also presented here.
Gallery of the history of ancient painting
The exhibition in the hall features European sculpture of the 19th century. The walls are decorated with paintings by the artist Hiltensperger on scenes from ancient Greek myths, made with wax paints on brass boards in imitation of ancient techniques. The gallery exhibits works by the outstanding sculptor Antonio Canova and his followers. On the vaults are portraits of famous masters European art, among whom is the author of the New Hermitage project - Leo von Klenze.
Pavilion Hall of the Small Hermitage
The room was built in the 19th century by Andrei Ivanovich Stackenschneider, who combined motifs from antiquity, the Renaissance and the East. It overlooks Catherine's Hanging Garden. The hall is decorated with Bakhchisarai marble fountains, located symmetrically opposite each other. The local mosaic works and elegant tables inlaid with semi-precious stones are also famous.
But the most remarkable exhibit is the famous Peacock watch. The wondrously beautiful peacock was created by the English master James Cox, who was in demand at that time. This “peacock” charm was purchased by Prince Grigory Potemkin as a gift to Catherine the Great. The watch was delivered to St. Petersburg disassembled. The composition was assembled on the spot by Ivan Kulibin.
In the Hermitage, each room is unique in its own way, everything cannot be described in words. Of course, you can find out more about the hall you are interested in on any resource. But it’s better to watch it once than to read about it 100 times. The Hermitage opens its chambers and hospitably welcomes everyone!
IN Hermitage I wanted to get there for a very, very long time! This is one of largest museums not only in Russia, but also in the world! And given my interest in art in general, this museum was number one on my bucket list!
P.S. Attention! There is a lot of information and about 110 photos under the cut!
State Hermitage Museum , - It is not simple great museum, because at first the building, where today an endless number of people go, was conceived as the Winter Palace - the main residence of the Russian tsars! It was the center of the empire that Peter I conceived. The fate and history of Russia was decided here! Many years later, the museum fits perfectly here, which originated in 1764, as a private collection Catherine II, after the first 225 valuable paintings were transferred to her from Berlin.
It is not known why she bought them, because she was not particularly interested in the paintings, but thanks to this purchase, the great story museum!
Hermitage collection was significantly replenished thanks to Catherine’s greed and orders to buy paintings in bulk! The exhibition was complemented by the interest in art of Russian aristocrats, resellers and a large number of excavations of ancient burial mounds. Subsequently, Russian tsars and queens received many works of art as a gift, as a sign of respect! In just 20 years, a huge number of unique exhibits were collected, and new buildings were built to store the best collection in Europe!
Gradually the museum received the name "Hermitage", which is translated from French "Ermitage", means Personal peace, or Hermitage. In general, it was so, under the grandson of Catherine II, Alexander I, only selected high-ranking officials could get here, exclusively on recommendations or passes in the amount of no more than 5 people, accompanied by a footman, and then not in the Palace part, but only in the attached new buildings ! The Winter Palace was closed to everyone for a long time! Then there was a certain division of the collection, which was sorted into cases, something went to be shown to selected people, and vice versa, to hide some exhibits from unnecessary eyes.
The history of the museum is not so long, but it has managed to tell a variety of events, such as December 17, 1837 he survived one of the greatest fires in history Russian Empire. As a result of a terrible fire, the second and third floors of the Winter Palace were completely burned out, including interiors by F.B. Rastrelli, Quarenghi, Montferrand and Rossi! Surprisingly, a lot has survived. The fire lasted about 30 hours, and the building itself smoldered for almost three days. It took more than a year to restore the damaged palace.
Also, few people know, but until the early 30s of the 20th century, the facade of the Winter Palace was painted in different colors, from yellow to red! In the 1950s it was gradually repainted azure green.
Here is a still from a documentary shown on Russia 2 TV channel - Hermitage, National Treasures.
In the 20th century, the Hermitage also faced a difficult fate! Intensive industrialization was underway and the country needed money to develop the economy. The management decided to start selling collections! It was very difficult to confront the Soviet bureaucratic machine. That’s right, from 1928 to 1934, knight’s armor, ceremonial dinnerware, Scythian gold, antique coins, icons, and then paintings went under the hammer at auctions in London and Berlin. Imagine, it turns out that Catherine and her followers did everything right, because before the collection was made public, they carefully guarded it and only replenished it! Even during the fire, almost everything was saved, but at the cost of many human lives, and then they just took it and decided to sell what was lying badly and gathering dust on the wall. In two years, the number of items confiscated from the Hermitage reaches 20 thousand! Among which there are almost 3000 paintings!
Unfortunately, this is true, but many of the works that Catherine herself bought are hanging in museums in London, New York, Lisbon, Washington, Paris. Even with all this disgrace that was happening in Soviet years, The Hermitage is still considered a world-famous museum and collection!
At that time, only museum employees knew about the sale of the collection, because it was only opened to the public in 1954! For the first time, people saw the richest collections of monuments of ancient Eastern, ancient Egyptian, ancient and medieval cultures, art of Western and Eastern Europe, archaeological and artistic monuments Asia, Russian culture of the 8th-19th centuries. There were queues for many kilometers!
I visited it in August 2015, and I can say that the number of people wanting to visit the museum has not decreased! A few days before the visit, I purchased an electronic ticket on the Internet, because I knew how much time I could lose in lines. I recommend choosing this method; you bypass all the lines and go straight to the museum’s ticket office, where you exchange your e-ticket for a regular one.
You can purchase it using the link below: Electronic tickets to the Hermitage.
Getting to the museum couldn't be easier! It is located in the very center of St. Petersburg and, as it were, embraces Palace Square cities from all sides! Nearest metro station, - Admiralteyskaya.
Official website of the Gallery: https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/
The main building of the Hermitage, also known as the Winter Palace of Peter I. It was a wonderful day, and the bright sun was shining over St. Petersburg!
Opening hours of the State Hermitage:
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 - 18:00 pm.
Wednesday, Friday: 10:30 - 21:00 pm.
Every first Thursday of every month, admission to the museum is free!
Photography without flash is permitted.
Ticket prices varies from 300 to 600 rubles depending on the number of objects visited. E-tickets As a rule, they are more expensive and reach up to 1000 rubles per ticket, but they have a number of advantages, which I have already mentioned.
I would like to tell you what is inside the Hermitage today!
Cash register.
Here they exchanged my ticket from an electronic one to a regular one.
Ticket.
They also gave very detailed Museum plan diagram so as not to get lost! I'm posting it here because... I believe that it can be very useful to many for planning their visit.
The Hermitage consists of several buildings, namely the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the New Hermitage, the Large (Old) Hermitage and the Winter Palace of Peter I with the Hermitage Theater.
1st Floor.
2nd Floor.
3rd Floor.
Once inside I realized that Hermitage Museum,- it’s also a museum within a museum! After all, the interior of the palace is stunning, and its interior decoration, columns and paintings are amazing! Tour guides say it will take 11 years to explore it inside and out! The total length of the corridors is 22 kilometers!
First I got into Hall dedicated to the Antiquities of the Middle East.
Then he gradually moved into Egyptian Hall, where there were tombs of the rulers of Egypt and limestone tablets with hieroglyphs.
Jupiter Hall with sculptures at the head of which sits the supreme god of the Romans, - Jupiter.
Goddess of love Venus.
IN Antique courtyard I met Eros with a shell.
Asclepius,- Ancient Greek god of medicine.
Athena,- goddess of war. It looked like she was taking a selfie with her phone. :)
Amphora.
And here Hall of Culture and Art of Ancient Cities Northern Black Sea region, which displays many exhibits found during excavations on Mount Mithridates, in the city of Kerch And Taman Peninsula Krasnodar region . All exhibits are from the times of the Bosporan Kingdom.
Marble sarcophagus from Myrmekium.
A lion standing on a tomb.
Wooden sarcophagus with carved arches.
And the hall Hellenistic culture coins and jewelry are presented.
Golden laurel wreath.
Gold necklaces and earrings.
And also gold rings.
Plaster cast of Cameo Gonzaga. Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II(located temporarily in the Hermitage).
Cameo. Zeus. Sardonyx. Gold.
Hellenistic gold and silver coins.
Mosaic glass bowl.
Hall of large vases. There is a bowl made of Revnevskaya jasper from Altai. It is considered the largest vase in the world!
Very beautiful Twenty-column hall.
Greater Hydria, also known as "Queen Vaz".
I decided to go up the stairs.
On my return, another Vase was waiting for me, this time from Malachite.
1469-1529. Giovanni della Robbia - Christmas.
There has been a noticeable increase in people here, and they are looking not only at the exhibits framed behind glass, but also at the walls and ceiling! Because he is incredibly beautiful.
And here is the hall of Leonardo Da Vinci. Hanging here famous works artist! To look at and photograph his paintings, I had to stand in line for about 5 minutes.
1478-1480. Leonardo da Vinci - Madonna and Child.
Leonardo da Vinci - Madonna and Child (Madonna Litta).
1512-1513. Sodoma (Giovanni Antonio Bazzi) - Leda.
1508-1549. Giampietrino (Gian Pietro Rizzoli) - Penitent Mary Magdalene.
Foyer of the Hermitage Theater.
Loggia Raphael! It reminded me a lot of a similar corridor in a gallery in Florence!
On this Italian art not over!
1740. Michele Giovanni - Rialto Bridge in Venice.
1726-1727. Antonio Canal (Canaletto) - Reception of the French ambassador in Venice.
The halls of the Italian schools are magnificent! It’s not for nothing that it was built by Nicholas I and named as "New Hermitage".
1730. Giovanni Batista Tiepolo - Triumph of the commander Mania Curia Dantata.
1647. Paulus Potter - Punishment of the Hunter.
1651. Salomon van Ruisdael - Ferry crossing in the vicinity of Arnhem.
1611-1613. Peter Paul Rubens - Head of an Old Man.
1612. Peter Paul Rubens - Christ crowned with thorns.
In fact, the whole hall was given to Rubens here!
1640. Abraham Mignon - Flowers in a vase.
1530. Lucas Cranach the Elder - Madonna and Child under an apple tree.
1770. Peacock watch made of bronze and silver.
IN Pavilion Hall a copy of the floor of an antique mosaic was laid out, the original is in the Vatican.
St. George's Hall (Great Throne Hall).
Throne footstool commissioned by Empress Anna Ioannovna in London.
Military Portrait Gallery The Winter Palace was created according to the design of K.I. Rossi in 1826 in honor of Russia's victory over Napoleonic France. Built specially by Alexander I.
Armorial Hall! Intended for ceremonial receptions.
1876 Saber of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolanvich the Elder.
Awards of Nikolai Nikolanvich the Younger.
Suddenly I found myself in Great Church of the Winter Palace or Cathedral of the Savior Not Made by Hands.
From one of the halls of the Hermitage there was an excellent view of Palace Square!
IN Alexander Hall silver products are presented.
In the hall UK arts costs Wine cooling tub, performed by Charles Candler, is a unique work that has no equal in any museum in the world.
1780. Thomas Gainsborough - Lady in Blue.
1779. Joseph Wright of Derby - Fireworks. Castle St. Angela (Girandola).
1766. Vigilius Eriksen - Portrait of Count Grigory Grigorievich Orlov.
Sabers and cuirass breastplate.
Tray dish "Apotheosis of Catherine II" depicting an allegory of Catherine’s journey to Crimea in 1787.
Mug, decorated with Western European coins.
Catherine II's uniform suit.
Malachite living room.
Large malachite bowl on a tripod in the form of winged female figures.
Concert hall.
It costs tomb of Alexander Nevsky! Was under restoration.
IN Nicholas Hall there was an exhibition of British architect Zaha Hadid.
In the center Antechamber was installed in 1958 Rotunda with malachite columns and a gilded bronze dome.
Well, that's all, I went out.
When I left the Hermitage it was almost evening, it turns out that I spent half a day in the museum. And I watched only a small part, and on the blog I told everything in a more condensed version.
I must say, even this gives an idea of the grandiose scale of the museum and its amazing collection!
I went out to Palace Square, on which stood a horse-drawn carriage. It feels like I was transported many hundreds of years into the past during the time of Peter and Catherine!
It was great! The Hermitage left a very pleasant impression! Thanks to everyone who maintains and stores such a priceless treasure in the center of the Northern capital of Russia!
This is not just a museum, it is a real palace and a museum within a museum, which is very pleasant to just walk around. The exhibition shows the development of world art from the Stone Age to the end of the 20th century. This is a huge period that is very difficult to fit into one day. Therefore, many come specifically to St. Petersburg during the off-season to devote a few days to the Hermitage and experience all its value.
If you came to St. Petersburg and did not visit its museums, then you wasted your time! I highly recommend combining a walk around the city and a must visit State Hermitage Museum And
- Well, where did you go for the weekend?
- Yes, I was in St. Petersburg.
- Did you go to the Hermitage?
This is roughly what dialogue with friends and acquaintances looks like, isn’t it? :) And not in vain...
- the largest art and historical and cultural museum in the world! The founding date is considered to be 1764, when Catherine the Great acquired a collection of 255 paintings in Berlin. Today the Hermitage has about 3 million exhibits and displays culture and art different countries and peoples. They say that if you spend 1 minute examining one exhibit, it will take 11 years to study them all.
The main building of the Hermitage - Winter Palace decorates the main staircase, named Jordanian. It received this name because during the feast of Epiphany a religious procession descended along it to the Neva, where an ice hole was cut out for the blessing of water, the so-called Jordan. Previously, the staircase was called Posolskaya.
It occupies the entire height of the building. 
The lampshade "Olympus" is a picturesque illustration occupying 200 square meters. 
Rising to the second floor we find ourselves in Field Marshal's Hall. A luxurious chandelier catches your eye. Portraits of Russian field marshals are placed in the walls, which explains the name of the hall. 
Petrovsky (Small Throne) Hall. Dedicated to the memory of Peter I. 
In a niche designed in the form of a triumphal arch there is a throne, and above it is the painting “Peter I with the goddess of wisdom Minerva”. 
Armorial Hall was intended for ceremonial receptions. One of the largest ceremonial rooms of the Hermitage. In the center of the hall there is an aventurine bowl. 
At the entrance to the hall there are sculptures of ancient Russian warriors with banners. 
The hall is surrounded by a colonnade supporting a balcony with a balustrade 
It was created according to the design of Karl Rossi in honor of the victory of the Russian Empire over Napoleonic France. 
On the walls of the gallery there are 332 portraits of generals who participated in the War of 1812 and foreign campaigns of 1813-1814. The authors of the paintings are George Dawe, Polyakov and Golike. In the center is a large portrait of Alexander I on horseback, painted by the Berlin court artist Kruger. 
On the left is a full-length portrait of Kutuzov. 
St. George's Hall or Great throne room. Official ceremonies and receptions took place here. Above the Throne Place there is a bas-relief “St. George slaying the dragon with a spear.” 
The large imperial throne was created in London by order of Anna Ioannovna. 
Having moved to the Small Hermitage we go to Pavilion Hall. The interior design combines various architectural styles: motifs of antiquity, Renaissance and the East.
Marble columns rise up to molded gold-cut lace, from which gilded chandeliers hang. 
Four marble fountains - copies of the "Fountain of Tears" in Bakhchisarai Palace, decorate the walls of the hall. 
A halved copy of a Roman mosaic found during excavations of the baths in 1780 in the city of Ocriculum. The characters are presented here ancient mythology: in the center is the head of the Gorgon-Medusa, the god Neptune and the inhabitants of his sea kingdom, the fighting Lapith and the Centaur. 
Gilded watch. 
The main attraction of the Pavilion Hall is the Peacock clock. They were purchased by Prince Potemkin for Empress Catherine. The author of the machine was James Cox, a famous jeweler and inventor of complex mechanisms in those years. The watch was brought to St. Petersburg in disassembled form. They were collected by the Russian master Ivan Kulibin. Important feature of this clock is that they still work: the owl spins its head, blinks its eyes and with the help of bells that are attached to its cage, a melody is played, the peacock spreads its tail and bows to the audience, and the rooster crows. All figures move as if they were alive. 
Hanging Garden in front of the Pavilion Hall. Let me remind you that we are on the second floor. 
On Soviet stairs. The name is explained by the fact that the premises of the State Council were located on the ground floor. On the upper platform there is a malachite vase created in mid-19th century in Yekaterinburg. 
Rembrandt Hall. The photo shows the painting “Danae”, based on an ancient Greek myth. The god Zeus, in the form of golden rain, penetrated to Danae, who was in prison, after which she gave birth to Perseus.
There was an attempt on this painting in 1985. The man poured sulfuric acid on it and cut the painting twice with a knife. The attacker explained his act with political motives, but the court declared him mentally ill and placed him in a psychiatric hospital. 
Great Italian skylight. The hall presents an exposition of Italian paintings XVII-XVIII centuries. 
Tabletop element made of malochite from the 19th century. 
Sculpture "The Death of Adonis". Based on the ancient Roman poem "Metamorphoses". 
Majolica Hall.
One of the two masterpieces in the hall is Raphael's painting "Madonna Conestabile", painted in 1504. 
Knight's Hall- one of the large ceremonial interiors of the Small Hermitage. There is a rich collection of weapons here, numbering about 15 thousand items. 
Main staircase New Hermitage. 
Panther in Hall of Dionysus, which was created for an exhibition of ancient sculpture. 
Aphrodite - goddess of beauty and love (Venus Tauride) II century. It was found during excavations in Rome at the beginning of the 18th century. And Peter I brought it to St. Petersburg. The sculpture decorated the Tauride Palace, which is where the name came from. 
Jupiter Hall.
Sarcophagus "Wedding Ceremony". All the walls of the marble Roman sarcophagus depict relief figures revealing scenes of weddings, hunting and everyday life. And the lid is dedicated to the gods of Olympus. 
Statue of Jupiter, late 1st century. It is one of the largest ancient sculptures preserved in museums in the world. It is 3.5 meters high.
IN right hand Jupiter holds a figurine of Victoria - the goddess of victory. 
Hall of the Great Vase. Covered with a vault with stucco decoration, the hall is decorated with arched loggias and white marble columns. Even before the walls were covered with artificial marble, the Kolyvan vase made of jasper, more than 2.5 m high and weighing 19 tons, was installed. Work on its creation, due to its enormous size, took place right at the quarry for 12 years. In 1843 the vase was completed. It was transported to St. Petersburg first by land, where there were up to 160 horses in the harness, then on a special barge by water, and 770 people worked on installation in the hall. 
Hall of Ancient Egypt. It was created in 1940, on the site of the Winter Palace buffet. The name of the hall speaks for itself: there is an exhibition dedicated to Ancient Egypt, covering the period from the 4th millennium BC to the turn of our era. 
Bas-relief in the corridor between the halls. 
Twenty-column hall. Two rows of monolithic columns made of Serdobol granite divide it into three parts. The walls and mosaic floors are painted in the style ancient tradition. The hall houses a collection of art from Ancient Italy from the late 9th to 2nd centuries. BC. 
IN Big yard The Winter Palace exhibits the sculpture "Snow Tower" - the image of a boy on crutches, carrying a house on his back, the belt of which is strangling him. Author Enrique Martinez Zelaya says the main theme is "the idea of the loss of a child's ability to perceive the brilliance of the surrounding world and the appearance of spiritual opacity, which is always accompanied by disappointment", the sculpture also reveals an emigrant theme. 
Oh no, going to the Hermitage once is not enough! After the first visit, only general concept museum devices. It seems to me that the Hermitage is like “War and Peace” - a book that needs to be read several times at different ages in order to understand it every time new meaning. You just need to go to this world-class museum much more often and discover something new every time! 
The famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is rightfully considered one of the most significant artistic and historical museums all over the world. The complex of five majestic buildings housing 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 different works of art, from exhibits of ancient times to modern masterpieces.
The uniqueness of the Hermitage
State Museum The Hermitage is interesting not only for its huge number of exhibits, but also for its location. Before the revolution, it was imperial, so it is preserved here unique interiors period, magnificent marble staircases, gilded furniture and crystal chandeliers.
Visitors have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of that time and appreciate the beauty and luxury of the surrounding environment.
History of creation
The founding date of the Hermitage is considered to be 1764, when, by order of Catherine II, an exhibition of paintings was founded in several halls of the Winter Palace, which was at that time one of the imperial residences. These 225 paintings were accepted by the Empress from the German merchant Gotzkowsky as payment for the debt of the Russian Empire. The idea was a success. Therefore, the empress continued to collect exhibits.
On her orders, sculptures and paintings by famous painters were bought, and an interesting collection of carved stone was acquired. It soon turned out that several halls for the collected masterpieces were no longer enough. They decided to build a separate building. It was erected in 1764-1767 and subsequently became known as the Small Hermitage.
In 1775, on the coast of the Neva, the architect Yuri Felten built a luxuriously decorated structure called the Great Hermitage.
In 1783-1787, the architect built the Hermitage Theater on the site of the former personal residence of Emperor Peter I.
Formation of Hermitage exhibitions
At the beginning of its existence, the museum's collection was replenished through the purchase of painting collections belonging to European aristocratic families. Then they began to purchase individual works brilliant masters. For example, Emperor Alexander I bought the painting “The Lute Player” by Caravaggio.
Already by end of the XVIII centuries, the Hermitage collections contained paintings by Rembrandt, Raphael, Giorgione, Rubens and many others famous artists. Various works of art were purchased abroad especially for Hermitage exhibitions. These are sculptures, gold and silver items, books, coins and much more.
Some masterpieces were commissioned from masters specifically to add to the Hermitage collection. IN early XIX century, the museum also began to exhibit interesting archaeological finds.
By the middle of the 19th century, the New Hermitage building was built to store and display the ever-increasing number of exhibits. The museum complex has acquired its final form.
Museum halls
The layout of the Hermitage halls numbers about 350 various rooms, which houses the richest collection of the museum’s masterpieces. 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.
She represents exact copy Vatican original. The entire gallery, including the ceiling, is decorated with analogues of Raphael’s paintings, which were made by a group of artists under the direction of X. Unterberger.
No less remarkable are the antique halls of the Hermitage, the interior space of which fully corresponds to the collections on display. Often the interior of the halls is painted with Greek and Egyptian motifs and numerous columns. Objects from many localities and eras are collected here. For example, a huge slab covered with inscriptions from the square of ancient Palmyra (Palmyra script) or realistic antique sculptures.
The Greek halls of the Hermitage amaze with the abundance of authentic antique statues, vases, amphorae, and lamps.
Remarkable famous sculpture"Venus of Tauride", which was purchased by Peter the Great from Pope Clement XI.
How are the exhibitions arranged?
For guests visiting the majestic museum complex for the first time, it is quite difficult to understand the complex intersections of galleries and passages. A detailed description of the Hermitage with room numbers is located at the entrance to the museum. The same can be obtained for free from the cashiers when purchasing 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 them easier to navigate. But many particularly noteworthy halls have their own names.
The names of the Hermitage halls can also reflect the essence of the collections presented in them. In particular, the Hall of Ancient Egypt or the Hall of Leonardo da Vinci.
Sometimes the name of a museum premises may arise due to 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 colors and decorated with statues of ancient Roman deities and numerous columns.
Often the names of the Hermitage halls were given to perpetuate the memory of significant people or events. For example, Petrovsky Hall was named after the founder of the city, Peter the Great. It is also called the Small Throne.
Masterpieces of painting
In one short article it is unrealistic to even simply list all the paintings by great painters presented in the Hermitage exhibitions.
Among the most remarkable, you can see two works by the famous Renaissance painter Leonardo da Vinci. These are the Benois Madonna and the Litta Madonna. In total, 14 original paintings by him are known in the world, and two of them are in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg!
In the museum you can also get acquainted with an impressive collection of paintings by medieval Spanish masters. Of course, one of the pearls of this Hermitage exhibition is the painting “Breakfast” by Diego Velazquez. This painting by the court painter of the Spanish King Philip VI surprises with its optical visual illusion: it seems that the painting depicts four people, but in fact only three characters are having breakfast.
On the diagram of the Hermitage halls you can see names such as the Rembrandt Hall or Snyders’ “Bench”. 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.
Storerooms of the Hermitage
On the diagram of the Hermitage halls you can see names such as Jewelry Gallery No. 1 and No. 2. They are called Gold and Diamond. Talking names! Of course, you can view valuable works of art made of precious stones and gold there.
Visiting these galleries is not included in the admission price. They must be paid separately. A visit is only possible with a scheduled excursion. Photography and video shooting are prohibited there, but the impression of seeing the beauty of the creations of ancient masters will last for a long time.
Almost everyone knows about the famous one, 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 from the area Western Siberia at the beginning of the 18th century. This selection of exhibits can rightfully 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 precision of the execution of masterpieces is amazing.
For connoisseurs of the beauty and brilliance of natural stones, a visit to Diamond Pantry. It contains the jewelry of Russian autocrats. These are snuff boxes and boxes of all shapes and sizes, watches and fans, decorated with a scattering of diamonds.
You can also see unique creations of the work - copies of the imperial crown, scepter and orb reduced by ten times.
Even if you want to, it is impossible to even briefly examine all the exhibitions, halls and galleries of the museum complex in one day. Therefore, it is better to decide in advance on the most preferred collections and think through 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 state rooms and collections of paintings by Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci are the most popular among museum guests. It is more advisable to visit them in the afternoon, when the number of tourists has significantly decreased.
It’s better to start your tour from the first floor of the Winter Palace, where the halls dedicated to the art of ancient centuries are located. In the morning hours it is usually deserted.
Although everyone has their own interests, and therefore it is impossible to create a route that is equally educational for everyone.
Visiting a museum with children
If you plan to visit the museum with children, it is better to make this excursion short so as not to “oversaturate” the child with impressions.
Despite the thoroughness and solidity of the galleries of the museum complex, there are rooms for children in the Hermitage that will certainly interest children. The boy will definitely enjoy visiting the Knights' Hall, where a rich collection of medieval knightly armor and weapons is presented. The exhibition even includes a set of children's armor that a little knight will definitely love.
And the girl will definitely be impressed and surprised by the beautiful interiors of the state rooms, images of children and animals in the paintings, as well as the unique Hanging Garden.
And, of course, children will be interested in visiting the Hall of Ancient Egypt, seeing a real mummy and many interesting statues with animal heads.
Tours of the Hermitage
The museum complex is simply huge, so navigating around it, despite the presence of a diagram of the Hermitage halls, is quite problematic. Therefore, it is recommended to use the services of a guide.
The tours are conducted by museum employees who thoroughly know the history of each work of art and many interesting facts about them.
Traditional sightseeing tour of the Hermitage. It lasts approximately four hours. It includes inspection of all the most famous exhibits of the museum. It can be expanded if you plan a visit to the Jewelry Galleries or the Menshikov Palace.
There are also thematic excursions for parents with children (at least six years old), during which children get acquainted with world masterpieces in a fun and understandable way.
Furry guardians 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. Empress Catherine also ordered large cats, which were good at hunting mice, to be brought to the Hermitage to protect the museum’s masterpieces.
This tradition exists to this day - approximately sixty cats “work” on the museum’s territory. There is even a special holiday dedicated to guard cats; museum workers celebrate it on March 28.
