The Mikhailovsky (St. Michael's) Castle

The Mikhailovsky Castle - now a branch of the Russian Museum - is one of the most mysterious buildings in St. Petersburg. The history of the castle, built between 1797 and1800 for Russia's most enigmatic monarch, Emperor Paul I, is full of unusual and dramatic events. In the early 1990s the castle became a branch of the Russian Museum and now houses its Portrait Gallery, featuring official portraits of the Russian Emperors and Empresses and various dignitaries and celebrities from the late 17th to the early 20th century. The castle also houses an array of semi-permanent and temporary exhibitions - see current exhibition listings.

The Mikhailovsky Castle was built by the Italian architect Vincenzo Brenna between 1797 and 1800 as a residence for the Emperor Paul I. Due to Paul's interest in Medieval knights and his constant fear of assassination, the palace was built like a castle and was surrounded by ditches and draw-bridges. Ironically, Paul I was assassinated in his own bedroom on March 12 1801, shortly after he moved into his newly built castle. After Paul's death the Mikhailovsky Castle was abandoned and in 1819 was given to the army's Main Engineering School (later to become the Nikolayevskaya Enginering Academy). Since then the building has often been referred to as the Engineers' Castle. Between 1838 and 1843 Fyodor Dostoyevsky studied as a cadet at the Main Engineering School, before choosing a career in writing.

In Soviet times the Mikhailovsky Castle was split between several organizations, both military and civilian, until the early 1990s, when it was given over entirely to the Russian Museum. Although a program of restoration of the castle's octagonal courtyard is still underway, the castle is open as usual and continues to host an interesting array of artistic exhibitions.

How to get there? From Gostiny Dvor metro station cross Nevsky Prospekt via the underpass, then walk North along Sadovaya Ulitsa for two blocks and you'll find the castle on your right in a small garden.