The main headquarters of the Hermitage, diagram of the halls. How to get to the Hermitage and what to see there first

More than 3 million works of art, from the Stone Age to our century. 350 halls – the entire route will take no less than 20 kilometers. And 8 years of life - this is exactly how much time it will take to view each exhibit or painting presented (at the rate of 1 minute per exhibit). Of course, we are talking about the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg, which has been recognized for several years in a row the best museum Europe and Russia.

You can treat Catherine II in any way you like, but it is she, “German by birth, but Russian at heart,” who stands at the origins of the most important museum of a huge country, and this fact forgives her absolutely everything!

We can say that the history of the Hermitage began quite by accident - in 1764, when the Empress, in payment of a debt to the Russian treasury, acquired a collection of 225 paintings, collected personally for an ardent collector - the Prussian king Frederick II. The latter was thereby dealt an unprecedented blow to his pride. Having not recovered from the defeat in the Seven Years' War, the Prussian monarch found himself “insolvent” and the entire collection went to Russia.

This year has gone down in the history of the Hermitage as the year of its foundation, and the museum celebrates its birthday on December 7 - St. Catherine's Day.

Subsequently, with the fanaticism and greed for enlightenment characteristic of Catherine II, she bought best works art from all over the world, collecting a collection in a small palace outbuilding - the Small Hermitage. Decades later, the expanded collection finds its new house— Imperial Hermitage.

Today we will try to take a virtual walk through the most beautiful and luxurious halls of the Hermitage. We are unable to show the interiors of all 350 halls, but we will try to lay out routes to the most interesting ones in this article.

So, walks through the halls of the Hermitage

Hall Ancient Egypt

The hall was created in 1940 according to the design of the chief architect of the State Hermitage A.V. Sivkov on the site of the Main Buffet of the Winter Palace.

The exhibition, dedicated to the culture and art of Ancient Egypt, covers the period from the 4th millennium BC. before the turn of AD Presented here monumental sculpture and small plastic art, reliefs, sarcophagi, household items, works of artistic craft. The museum's masterpieces include a statue of Amenemhet III (19th century BC), a wooden figurine of a priest (late 15th - early 14th century BC), a bronze figurine of an Ethiopian king (8th century BC) , Ipi stele (first half of the 14th century BC).

Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Hall

This is the former Gothic living room in the apartments of the daughters of Nicholas I (architect A.P. Bryullov, 1838-1839). The exhibition presents archaeological monuments of the 6th-2nd millennium BC. e., found on the territory of Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Central Asia. A slab with petroglyphs, separated from a rock near the former village of Besov Nos in Karelia, is an outstanding monument visual arts Neolithic Of great interest are the head of a staff in the form of a moose head from the Shigir peat bog in the Sverdlovsk region, an idol from the pile settlement of Usvyaty IV (Pskov region), and female figurines found during excavations of the Altyn-Depe settlement in Turkmenistan.

Hall of culture and art of nomadic tribes of Altai VI-V centuries. BC.

The hall displays objects found during excavations of burial mounds of the 6th-5th centuries. BC, located on the banks of the Karakoli Ursul rivers in Central Altai. These are many overlays, wooden figurines and bas-reliefs with images of elk, deer, tigers and griffins, which served as decorations for horse harnesses. Particularly noteworthy is a large round wooden carved plaque, in which two figures of “circling” griffins are inscribed, which served as a forehead decoration for a horse’s harness and was found during excavations of one of the largest mounds in Altai near the village of Tuekta in the valley of the Ursul River. The perfect composition and high craftsmanship place this plaque among the masterpieces of ancient art.

Southern Siberia and Transbaikalia in the Iron Age and early Middle Ages

The hall displays monuments of the Tagar and Tashtyk cultures - objects from the Minusinsk Basin (the territory of modern Khakassia and the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory). These are daggers, coins, arrowheads, works applied arts, made in animal style, carved miniatures. Tashtyk funeral masks are of particular interest. They were placed on a leather mannequin, into which the ashes of the deceased were placed, or used directly as funeral urns. Painting of women's and men's masks different: women's masks are white, with red spirals and curls, men's masks are red, with black transverse stripes.

Moshchevaya Beam - an archaeological site on the North Caucasus Silk Road

The gallery exhibits unique finds from a burial ground of the 8th–9th centuries, located on high-mountain terraces in the Moshchevaya Balka gorge (North Caucasus). These are fabrics and items of clothing, wood and leather products, rare for archaeological materials in preservation. The abundance of precious silks among the local Alan-Adyghe tribes: Chinese, Sogdian, Mediterranean, Byzantine is evidence of the passage of one of the branches of the Silk Road here.

Hall of Culture and Art of the Golden Horde

The hall displays the treasures of Volga Bulgaria: jewelry made of precious metals, items made of silver and gold, weapons and horse harnesses, as well as works related to shamanic cults and written culture. Of particular interest are the “Dish with the Falconer” and the tile with Persian verses.

Portrait gallery of the House of Romanov

The gallery, which received its current decoration in the 1880s, contains portraits of representatives of the Romanov dynasty - from the founder Russian Empire Peter I (1672-1725) to the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II (1868-1918). Since the reign of Elizaveta Petrovna (1709-1761), who ordered the construction of the Winter Palace, the life of the imperial family has been inextricably linked with the history of the buildings of the modern State Hermitage. Under Catherine II (1729-1796), mistress of the Winter Palace from 1762, the Small and Large Hermitages and the Hermitage Theater were erected. Her grandson Nicholas I (1796-1855) ordered the construction of an imperial museum - the New Hermitage.

Library of Nicholas II

The library, which belonged to the personal chambers of the last Russian emperor, was created in 1894 - 1895 by the architect A.F. Krasovsky. English Gothic motifs are widely used in the decoration of the library. The coffered walnut ceiling is decorated with four-blade rosettes. Bookcases are located along the walls and in the choirs, where the stairs lead. The interior, decorated with panels of embossed gilded leather, with a monumental fireplace and high windows with openwork frames, introduces the visitor to the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. On the table is a sculptural porcelain portrait of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II.

Small dining room

The small dining room of the Winter Palace was decorated in 1894-1895. designed by architect A.F. Krasovsky. The dining room was part of the apartment of the family of Emperor Nicholas II. The interior decor is influenced by the Rococo style. In stucco frames with rocaille motifs there are tapestries woven in the 18th century. at the St. Petersburg Trellis Manufactory. On the mantelpiece there is a memorial plaque that states that on the night of October 25-26, 1917, the ministers of the Provisional Government were arrested in this room. The decoration of the hall includes decorative and applied items art XVIII-XIX centuries: English chandelier, French clock, Russian glass.

The Malachite Hall (A.P. Bryullov, 1839) served as the state living room of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas I. The unique malachite decor of the hall, as well as furnishings, were created using the “Russian mosaic” technique. Large malachite vase and furniture made according to drawings by O.R. de Montferrand, were part of the decoration of the Jasper Reception Room, which was destroyed in a fire in 1837. The wall of the hall is decorated with an allegorical image of Night, Day and Poetry (A. Vigi). From June to October 1917, meetings of the Provisional Government were held in the living room. The exhibition presents products of decorative and applied art of the 19th century.

The concert hall, which closes the Neva enfilade of the Winter Palace, was created by the architect V. P. Stasov after the fire of 1837. The classical architectural composition of the hall, made in a strict white color scheme, is subordinated to the divisions and rhythms of the neighboring - Nikolaevsky, the largest hall of the palace. Columns arranged in pairs with Corinthian capitals support a cornice, above which are placed statues of ancient muses and the goddess Flora. The silver tomb of St. Alexander Nevsky was created by order of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in St. Petersburg. In 1922 it was transferred to the State Hermitage from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Field Marshal's Hall

The hall opens the Great Front Enfilade of the Winter Palace. The interior was restored after the fire of 1837 by V. P. Stasov close to the original design of O. R. de Montferrand (1833-1834). The entrances to the hall are accented by portals. The decor of the chandeliers made of gilded bronze and the grisaille paintings of the hall use images of trophies and laurel wreaths. In the spaces between the pilasters there are ceremonial portraits of Russian field marshals, which explains the name of the hall. The hall displays works of Western European and Russian sculpture, as well as products from the Imperial Porcelain Factory of the first half of the 19th century V.

Petrovsky (Small Throne) Hall

Petrovsky (Small Throne) Hall was created in 1833 by O. Montferrand and restored after the fire of 1837 by V.P. Stasov. The hall is dedicated to the memory of Peter I - the interior decoration includes the emperor’s monogram (two Latin letters “P”), double-headed eagles and crowns. In a niche designed as a triumphal arch, there is a painting “Peter I with the allegorical figure of Glory.” At the top of the walls there are paintings representing Peter the Great in the battles of the Northern War (P. Scotti and B. Medici). The throne was made in St. Petersburg at the end of the 18th century. The hall is decorated with silver-embroidered panels made of Lyon velvet and silverware made in St. Petersburg.

Military gallery of 1812

The Military Gallery of the Winter Palace was created according to the design of K. I. Rossi in 1826 in honor of Russia's victory over Napoleonic France. On its walls are 332 portraits of generals who took part in the War of 1812 and foreign campaigns of 1813-1814. The paintings were created by the English artist George Dow with the participation of A. V. Polyakov and V. A. Golike. A place of honor is occupied by ceremonial portraits of the allied sovereigns: Russian Emperor Alexander I and King of Prussia Frederick William III (artist F. Kruger) and Emperor of Austria Franz I (P. Kraft). Portraits of four field marshals are located on the sides of the doors leading to the St. George and Armorial Halls.

The St. George (Great Throne) Hall of the Winter Palace was created in the early 1840s. V.P. Stasov, who preserved the compositional solution of his predecessor G. Quarenghi. The double-height columned hall is decorated with Carrara marble and gilded bronze. Above the Throne Place there is a bas-relief “St. George slaying the dragon with a spear.” The large imperial throne was commissioned by Empress Anna Ioannovna in London (N. Clausen, 1731-1732). The parquet flooring is magnificent, created from 16 types of wood. The ceremonial decoration of the hall corresponds to its purpose: official ceremonies and receptions took place here.

Hall of French 18th century art

This hall was part of a suite of five Halls of military paintings created by A. Bryullov after the fire of 1837, glorifying the victories of Russian troops in the period before Patriotic War 1812 The exhibition is dedicated to the art of France from the 1730s to the 1760s. and represents the work of outstanding masters of the Rococo era. These are the canvases of himself bright artist Rococo F. Boucher: “Rest on the Flight to Egypt”, “Shepherd Scene”, “Landscape in the Beauvais Suburb”, as well as paintings by N. Lancret, C. Vanloo, J.-B. Patera. The sculpture is represented by works by E. M. Falconet, including the famous “Cupid”, and works by G. Coustu the Elder, J.-B. Pigalya, O. Pazhu.

UK Art Hall

In the former Small Office of the First Spare Half (architect A.P. Bryullov, 1840s), an exhibition of British art continues. Here are paintings by one of the leading masters of the 18th century. Joshua Reynolds' "Infant Hercules Strangling the Serpents," "The Temperance of Scipio Africanus" and "Cupid Unties the Girdle of Venus." Author's copies of portraits of members royal family England (artists Nathaniel Dance and Benjamin West) were intended for the interiors of the Chesme Palace. For the same complex, Catherine II ordered the unique “Service with a Green Frog” (Wedgwood company). The display cases display Wedgwood products made from basalt and jasper masses.

Alexander Hall

The Alexander Hall of the Winter Palace was created by A.P. Bryullov after the fire of 1837. Architectural design of the hall, dedicated to memory Emperor Alexander I and the Patriotic War of 1812, is built on a combination of stylistic variations of Gothic and classicism. Located in the frieze, 24 medallions with allegorical images of the most significant events of the Patriotic War of 1812 and foreign campaigns of 1813-1814 reproduce in enlarged form the medals of the sculptor F.P. Tolstoy. In the lunette of the end wall there is a medallion with a bas-relief image of Alexander I in the image of the ancient Slavic deity Rodomysl. The hall houses an exhibition of European artistic silver from the 16th – 19th centuries. Products from Germany, France, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Lithuania are presented.

Golden living room. Apartments of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

The interior of the state drawing room in the apartment of Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander II, was created by the architect A. P. Bryullov in 1838-1841. The ceiling of the hall is decorated with gilded stucco ornaments. Initially, the walls, lined with white stucco, were decorated with a gilded floral pattern. In the 1840s. The appearance of the interior was updated according to the drawings of A. I. Stackenschneider. The interior decoration is complemented by a marble fireplace with jasper columns, decorated with bas-relief and mosaic painting (E. Moderni), gilded doors and magnificent parquet flooring.

Raspberry office. Apartments of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

The interior of the Raspberry Study in the apartments of Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander II, was created by the architect A.I. Stackenschneider. The walls are covered with crimson damask. The interior decoration includes medallions with notes and musical instruments, attributes of the arts in stucco molding and paintings. The hall displays objects of applied art, Meissen porcelain, dishes and figurines based on the model of I.I. Candler. The Raspberry Cabinet contains a carved gilded piano of the 19th century with paintings by E.K. Lipgart.

Pavilion Hall

The pavilion hall of the Small Hermitage was created in mid-19th century V. A.I. Stackenschneider. The architect combined architectural motifs of antiquity, the Renaissance and the East in the interior design. The combination of light marble with gilded stucco decoration and the elegant shine of crystal chandeliers give the interior a special effect. The hall is decorated with four marble fountains - variations of the “Fountain of Tears” of the Bakhchisarai Palace in Crimea. In the southern part of the hall, a mosaic is built into the floor - a copy of the floor found during excavations of ancient Roman baths. Exhibited in the hall Peacock watch(J. Cox, 1770s), acquired by Catherine II, and a collection of mosaic works.

Foyer of the Hermitage Theater

To the auditorium from Great Hermitage leads to a transitional gallery, the decoration of which was made by the architect L. Benois in 1903 in the French Rococo style. Lush floral garlands, scrolls and gilded rocailles frame paintings, doorways and wall panels. There are picturesque inserts on the ceiling - copies of paintings by an Italian master of the 17th century. Luca Giordano: Judgment of Paris, Triumph of Galatea and Rape of Europa, above the door - Landscape with ruins French artist XVIII century Hubert Robert, on the walls - portrait painting of the 18th-19th centuries. The high window openings offer unique views of the Neva and the Winter Canal.

Hall of Jupiter. Art of Rome I - IV centuries.

Leo von Klenze intended to place a sculpture of modern times in this hall. Therefore, its decor includes medallions with profiles of outstanding sculptors: Michelangelo, Canova, Martos, etc.

The modern name of the hall was given by a huge statue of Jupiter (late 1st century), which comes from the country villa of the Roman emperor Domitian. In the art exhibition Ancient Rome I-IV centuries sculptural portraits and marble sarcophagi deserve special attention. The masterpieces of the collection are the “Portrait of a Roman Woman” (the so-called “Syrian Woman”), as well as portraits of the emperors Lucius Verus, Balbinus and Philip the Arab.

Loggias of Raphael

The prototype of the Loggias, built by order of Empress Catherine II in the 1780s. The architect G. Quarenghi designed the famous gallery of the Vatican Palace in Rome, painted according to the sketches of Raphael. Copies of the frescoes were made using tempera technique by a group of artists led by K. Unterberger. On the vaults of the gallery there is a cycle of paintings on biblical stories- the so-called “Raphael's Bible”. The walls are decorated with grotesque ornaments, the motifs of which arose in Raphael’s paintings under the influence of paintings in the “grottoes” - the ruins of the “Golden House” (the palace of the ancient Roman emperor Nero, 1st century).

Gallery of the history of ancient painting. Exhibition: European sculpture of the 19th century.

The interior, conceived by Leo von Klenze as a vestibule art gallery The Imperial Museum is designed to recall the history of ancient art. The walls are decorated with 80 paintings based on scenes from ancient greek myths and literary sources. The artist G. Hiltensperger made them with wax paints on brass boards in imitation of the ancient encaustic technique. Bas-relief portraits of famous masters are placed on the vaults European art, among whom is the author of the New Hermitage project - Leo von Klenze. The gallery exhibits works outstanding sculptor the era of classicism by Antonio Canova (1757-1822) and his followers.

Knight's Hall

This is one of the large ceremonial interiors of the New Hermitage Imperial Museum. Initially, the hall, decorated with paintings in the historicist style, was intended for an exhibition of coins. The hall contains part of the Hermitage’s richest weapons collection, numbering about 15 thousand items. Exposition of Western European artistic weapons of the 15th-17th centuries. presents a wide range of items for tournament, ceremonial and hunting weapons, as well as knightly armor, edged weapons and firearms. Among them are products of famous craftsmen who worked in the best weapons workshops in Europe.

As was said at the very beginning, the Hermitage has 350 halls. Each of them is unique in its own way, and not a single article or book will convey even a fraction of what can be seen with your own eyes. The road to the main museum of the country is open to everyone, regardless of age or nationality. The Hermitage is waiting for you!

> The cost of visiting and the conditions for purchasing tickets can be found on the official website

> We express special gratitude to O. Yu. Lapteva and S. B. Adaksina for the opportunity to publish the Museum’s materials.

© State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg.

The State Hermitage Museum, located in St. Petersburg near the Neva River, is, without exaggeration, known throughout the world. This is a museum that is rich in a huge number of exhibits that help to study the development of the 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.

The 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 paintings from a German merchant, who gave the paintings 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 paintings. 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 are there 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, and Maria Alexandrovna’s chambers. A diagram of the Hermitage halls with names will help a tourist navigate 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. We must also pay tribute to those craftsmen who restored the building after the fires.

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

Small Hermitage

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

Great Hermitage

It was built after the Small Hermitage, and since it was larger than it, it received this 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 wood, gilding and stucco. Architect – Yuri Felten.

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

Note! The 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 façade of this building is known for its porch. This is a portico that previously served as an entrance. It differs in that there are granite statues of Atlanteans holding a balcony on it. Work on them took 2 whole years. Everything else is made of limestone. The sculptures amaze with their 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 - G. Quarenghi, style - classicism. The theater is connected to the rest of the buildings of the complex by an arch-transition, where a gallery was opened. Many talented artists performed on this stage, and balls were often held here. It should be noted that the theater played a big role in the development of cultural life. The foyer has preserved ceilings from the 18th century. The inspiration for the theater hall was the Italian Teatro Olimpico.

Where can I get the Hermitage guidebook?

To avoid getting lost in the huge halls of the Hermitage, a map of the Hermitage is offered free of charge next to the ticket office at the main entrance. It shows a diagram of the Hermitage with all the halls available for visiting, their names and numbers.

Hermitage map

Museum exhibits

How many exhibits are there in the Hermitage? Their number exceeds 3 million! This is certainly a huge number. What is there in the Hermitage? Among the most unique exhibits from interesting story the following can be distinguished:

Peacock watch in the Hermitage. They were brought by order of Potemkin. The master is D. Cox from England. To deliver the watch safely, it had to be disassembled. But subsequent assembly turned out to be quite difficult due to lost or broken parts. And only towards the end of the 18th century the clock started working again, thanks to the efforts of a skilled Russian master. This exhibit amazes 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 graining. These are small gold or silver balls that are soldered onto jewelry. These earrings depict a composition showing competitions in Athens. Although many jewelers tried to repeat this masterpiece, they failed, since the method of creating Feodosian earrings is unknown;
figure of Peter 1, made of wax. Foreign craftsmen were invited to create it. A figure in red robes 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, sometimes sophisticated, halls decorated with a variety of elements. It's a pleasure to walk through them.

Peacock watch

How many paintings are there in the Hermitage?

In total, the Hermitage contains about 15 thousand of the most different paintings, from the pens of artists of the 13th-20th centuries. Now such paintings are of great interest and cultural value.

The Hermitage collection began with 225 paintings given by a German dealer. In the second half of the 18th century, paintings collected by Count Bruhl were brought from Germany, and paintings from the collection of the French Baron Crozat were purchased. Thus, works by 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 contained more than 2 thousand 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 stored not only paintings, but also many memorable items, such as figurines, stone items, and 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 craftsmen, the building was restored within a year. They managed to remove the paintings, thanks to which the masterpieces of world art were not damaged.

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

Leonardo da Vinci "Madonna Litta"(a 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 by this artist is “Benois Madonna”, painted in oil paints;
Rembrandt "Return of the Prodigal Son". The canvas is based on the Gospel of Luke. In the center is the returned son, kneeling before his father, who mercifully receives him. This masterpiece was acquired back in the 18th century;
V. V. Kandinsky “Composition 6”. The canvas of this famous avant-garde artist occupies a place of honor in the museum. There is even a separate room reserved for his work. This picture amazes viewers with a riot of colors;
T. Gainsborough "The Lady in Blue". It is believed to be a portrait of Countess Elizabeth Beaufort. Her image is very light and natural. Refinement and airiness are achieved using 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 the crack on the lute and the notes are depicted. In the middle of the canvas is a young man playing. His face expresses many complex emotions, which 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 it contains masterpieces of the most different artists very different times. This is one of the richest and most important collections in the world.

The Hermitage is a huge museum. Its rich collections contain about 3 million exhibits, and its exhibition area is about 50 thousand square meters. m. It’s no wonder you get lost in it. Therefore, take a map of the museum at the entrance and select those rooms that particularly interest you - you still won’t be able to see everything in one visit.

If you want to get a general idea of the museum, we recommend that you climb the main Ambassadorial staircase to the second floor of the palace and go through the solemn and luxurious Field Marshal, Peter and Armorial halls to the Military Gallery of 1812, dedicated to the victory of the Russian army over Napoleon. Pushkin sang this gallery in the famous lines:

The Russian Tsar has a chamber in his palace;
She is not rich in gold or velvet;
It is not where the crown diamond is kept behind glass;
But from top to bottom, all the way around,
With your free and wide brush,
It was painted by a quick-eyed artist.

The walls of this gallery are hung with hundreds of portraits of Russian generals who took part in the war with Napoleonic army. Immediately behind it is the majestic Great Throne (Georgievsky) a hall with a royal throne under a canopy, from where we go out to the Small Hermitage, famous for its magnificent Pavilion Hall (note the mosaic on the floor and the famous Peacock clock with moving animal figures).

From the Small Hermitage we move to the Big Hermitage, where the Pinakothek itself begins (collection of paintings). Italian painting is presented in the Hermitage in more than 40 halls. One of the oldest paintings in the Italian collection is “Madonna” by the Siena master Simone Martini. This is one of the wings of the folding diptych “The Annunciation”, created in the 14th century. Two parallel galleries of the Great Hermitage are dedicated respectively to the Florentine and Venetian painting, Any of them will bring Leonardo da Vinci into the hall (Florentine - straight, from the Venetian you will need to turn left from the Titian Hall).

There are usually always a lot of people in the magnificent Leonardo da Vinci hall. You'll have to stand in line to see his early painting "Benois Madonna" ("Madonna with a Flower") and to the famous “Madonna Litta” of the master’s Milanese period. From the Great Hermitage we will move to the New Hermitage, where the Italian collection continues, be sure to look at two paintings by Raphael - the “Conestabile Madonna” painted at a very young age and the later “Holy Family”, the sculpture “Crouching Boy” by Michelangelo and go into the stunning Loggias of Raphael - an exact copy of the Vatican creation of the great master, created for Catherine II by the architect Quarenghi. And everywhere you look, there are not only great paintings and sculptures, but also magnificent interiors, breathtaking parquet floors, fireplaces, paintings, huge malachite and lapis lazuli vases and tables, lamps made of rhodonite, jasper and porphyry, bronze candelabra and chandeliers. Even ordinary doors here are real, richly decorated works of art.

Let's move from the Italian halls to the Spanish ones, there are only two of them, but the names of the presented masters are one more famous than the other: El Greco, Murillo, Velazquez, even Goya is in the Hermitage! Nearby is the famous Rembrandt room, one of the largest collections of his paintings outside of Holland. And what pictures! “The Return of the Prodigal Son”, “The Descent from the Cross”, “The Holy Family” and many others worldwide famous works masters. In general, Dutch painting is represented very widely in the museum; almost a thousand paintings by Dutch painters are stored in it. Walk through the Hall of Small Dutchmen, admire their masterfully verified, detailed and stunningly authentic landscapes, still lifes, and everyday scenes. Visit the Rubens Hall (huge collection, about 40 paintings) and to the hall of the famous portrait painter Van Dyck. Then, along the perimeter of the Hermitage complex, but on the other side, return to the Winter Palace - there you will find a magnificent collection of French art - paintings by 18th-century masters, furniture, ceramics, tapestries.

From the Claude Lorrain room, turn right and take the stairs or elevator to the third floor. It is not as ornate as the second one (not kings lived here, but auxiliary personnel), but there is an amazing collection of French impressionists and post-impressionists. Admire paintings by Claude Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse, Pablo Picasso. Then go down the oak stairs again to the second floor and go to the living quarters, decorated for the wedding of Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich (future Emperor Alexander II) with Maria Alexandrovna, Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt.

In the spacious White Hall - the largest and most ceremonial room of the “new half” of the Winter Palace - the newlyweds held balls and celebrations. Pay attention to the huge 18th-century Sevres porcelain vase located here, painted in blue and decorated with gilded bronze. Then enter the stunning Golden Drawing Room, with its walls completely gilded and now displaying a collection of cameos. (carved stones), purchased by Catherine II from the Duke of Orleans. The next room is Maria Alexandrovna’s Crimson Living Room. They played music here, which is reminiscent of the crimson silk on the walls with the image musical instruments. Behind the Raspberry living room there is a red and gold boudoir, decorated in the style of the second Rococo, the Blue bedroom, the bathroom and dressing room of Maria Alexandrovna. The bedroom space is now used for temporary exhibitions.

Then we go out into the hall where there is a carnival sleigh of the 18th century, made in the shape of the figure of St. George with a spear, from where we can continue our journey either along a long Dark corridor without windows, where unique trellises are stored, which are harmful to sunlight, or through the halls dedicated to the Russian art XVIII V. Both of these paths will lead us to the rotunda - a round room with a wonderful parquet floor, which served as a link between the apartments located in different parts palace Behind the rotunda there were living quarters, among which it is worth noting the White (Small) the dining room of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, famous for the fact that it was in it that the ministers of the Provisional Government were arrested during October revolution (the clock on the fireplace shows the time when this historical event occurred - 2 hours 10 minutes at night). In general, the meeting place of the Provisional Government was the adjacent room - the magnificent Malachite living room, decorated with columns, pilasters, fireplaces, tables, vases and other decorative items made of malachite using the Russian mosaic technique.

Then along the long corridor we return again to the front embassy (Jordanian) stairs On the way, be sure to check out the Concert Hall, where the silver shrine of St. Alexander Nevsky from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra is now located, and the stunning size (more than 1100 sq. m) huge Nikolaevsky (Big) hall. From the Nicholas Hall, in which the most magnificent palace holidays were once held, and now temporary art exhibitions are held, through the Antechamber, decorated with a malachite rotunda, presented to Nicholas I by the richest family of owners of the Ural factories, the Demidovs, we go out again to the Ambassadorial Staircase.

Then, if you still have the strength to continue the inspection, you can go to the first floor. After descending the stairs, turn left, where the museum cafeteria is located. You might also want to take a break and relax a bit with a cup of coffee. Then go further along the same corridor and turn left - you will find yourself in a large gloomy hall of Ancient Egypt, where, among other things, a real mummy of an Egyptian priest of the 10th century is exhibited. BC. The Egyptian collection of the Hermitage is interesting because it represents all periods of the history of Ancient Egypt.

Leaving the Egyptian Hall and walking a little forward, we turn left and find ourselves in the hall with the huge Kolyvan Vase - the largest of all the Hermitage vases. Its weight is almost 19 tons, its height is 2 m 69 cm. It was carved from a monolith of Revnev jasper over 14 years, from 1829 to 1843. The vase, made at the Kolyvan factory in Altai, was transported to St. Petersburg on special carts by more than 120 horses. It was installed in this hall when its walls were not yet finished. Now the vase can no longer be taken out of here - its dimensions do not allow it to pass through the doors, so you can be sure that you will always find the Kolyvan vase in its place.

Walking a little forward, you will find yourself in a huge Twenty-Column Hall, decorated with monolithic columns of gray granite and mosaics on the floor, made in the likeness of Roman ones. In this hall there is a real kingdom of antique vases and amphorae, the most famous of which - the black-glazed Kumeka vase, the so-called “Queen of Vases” - is located in the center of the hall, under a special glass cover. Created in the 4th century. BC, it was found in the ruins of a temple in Cumae. This vase, dedicated to the underground and fertility deities, is decorated in relief and retains gilding and traces of bright colors to this day. The far part of the hall is occupied by a small but very interesting and original Etruscan collection.

From the Twenty-Column Hall, return to hall 129 and turn left into hall 127. Walking in this direction, you will be able to walk around the entire first floor of the New Hermitage and see wonderful collections of ancient art. The most notable are the huge statue of Jupiter and the famous Venus of Tauride. The statue of Jupiter, 3 m 47 cm high, was found in the country villa of the Roman emperor Domitian. The Tauride Venus was purchased from the Pope during the time of Peter I and became the first ancient monument to appear in Russia in the 1720s. At first it stood in the Summer Garden, then it ended up in the Tauride Palace, which is why it began to be called Tauride. In general, art ancient world The museum has more than 20 halls dedicated to it. Ancient Greece, Ancient Italy and Rome, the Northern Black Sea region are represented here by the richest collections of vases, carved stones, jewelry, sculptures, terracottas. In addition, pay attention to the design of the halls themselves on this floor - one is more beautiful than the other. Having completed the circle around the first floor, through the hall of Ancient Egypt you again exit into the central lobby of the museum.

In addition, the Hermitage has another unique opportunity - to visit the Gold and Diamond Storerooms, where stunning items made of precious metals and stones are stored. What's missing here! Jewelry for every taste, the most different countries and eras - from Scythian and Greek gold to jewelry masterpieces of the early 20th century. Pendants, bracelets, rings of Athenian dandies and Russian royal fashionistas, watches, snuff boxes, precious weapons and much more. The famous geologist and expert on natural minerals, Academician Fersman, wrote about this collection: “The Gallery of Jewels, now called the Special Storeroom, creates a complete picture of one of the most beautiful arts - the jewelry making. In the department of trinkets, fans, snuff boxes, toiletries, watches, bonbonnieres, knobs, rings, rings, etc. “So much taste has been demonstrated, such an understanding of the decorative features of stone, such mastery of composition, such virtuosity of technique that, admiring these things, you recognize their modest, now forgotten authors as worthy brothers of the great artists whose works hang side by side on the walls of the Hermitage art gallery.”

If you want to see these wonderful collections, then you need to buy a ticket for one of the sessions at the box office in the morning, as soon as you enter the museum. Visits to special storerooms are organized in sessions, only accompanied by a museum guide and are paid separately. You can visit both pantries or choose one of them.

The Golden Treasury presents works of ancient Greek masters, Scythian gold, jewelry from the countries of the East, and magnificent examples of oriental ceremonial weapons. In the Diamond Storeroom you can see ancient gold items, jewelry from the collections of members of the Romanov imperial family and private collections in St. Petersburg, monuments of church art, diplomatic gifts to the Russian court, and products of the famous Faberge company.

Summer, white nights, school holidays - a time of incredible queues at the State Hermitage. If you are not ready to overpay for a ticket in the terminal or on the Internet, then you are guaranteed a long wait among those wishing to get into one of the main museums in Russia.

When, after all, is it better to visit the State Hermitage on Palace Square, so as not to waste your precious time in queues?

July 2016

— Not during the high tourist season (from May to September), summer holidays and holidays.

— Don’t try to get into the Hermitage on Tuesday morning. Monday is a day off, and many tourists come for 2-3 days with the desire to visit “everything”. A missed Monday will show itself in a large queue on Tuesday morning.

— On the day when you can enter the museum for free. The queues can stretch across the entire Palace Square. Your time and nerves are not worth this test.

— On Wednesday the museum is open until 21:00. If you come at 17-18 hours, when the bulk of tourists have already subsided, there is hope of getting into the museum without a queue and quietly viewing works of art. Please note that most wardrobes are open until 6pm on Wednesday.

— Come in the morning, about half an hour before the museum opens. At 10.30 4 cash registers will open, two on the left and two on the right. You will be able to get into the Hermitage in the first rows.

— You can buy a ticket at any travel agency. Travel agencies purchase tickets for groups. And if they tell you that the excursion is at 11 o’clock, then at 11.00 you and the group will enter the museum. In just one hour, everything will be quickly shown and told. You may not even see or hear everything, but you are already in the museum. And you can spend your “free” time after the excursion on a thorough tour of the exhibitions.

- The main secret. The best day to visit the Hermitage is December 31st. There are no queues and the halls are almost empty!

You can also visit the Hermitage, bypassing the huge queues, with more expensive tickets:

— By purchasing an electronic voucher on the website www.hermitageshop.ru/tickets (ticket price 580 rubles). The e-voucher is valid for 6 months from the date of order. The voucher is exchanged at a special ticket office, under the arch behind the Main Gate of the Winter Palace (entrance from Palace Square).

— In the terminals installed in the Great Courtyard of the Winter Palace (ticket price 600 rubles). After purchasing tickets, you can immediately enter the exhibition. Please note that discount tickets cannot be purchased through the terminal.

But during the high tourist season, there may also be queues at the terminals and special ticket offices for exchanging an electronic voucher.

If you go to a museum and need to return things, but there are no places in the wardrobe, be prepared for this. Bring a large bag with you and put your things in it. There are no spaces in the wardrobe, but there are free metal cells where you can put your things.

In the wardrobe, go to the very end, there may still be space there. There are almost always “NO PLACES” signs at the beginning. Sometimes cloakroom attendants leave a few places for foreigners, who can give them tea and sugar.

Opening hours of the Hermitage on Palace Square:

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10-30 to 18-00 (ticket office open from 10-30 to 17-30).

Wednesday from 10-30 to 21-00 (ticket office open from 10-30 to 20-30).

Every first Thursday of the month is a free day.

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10:30 - 18:00 (ticket office open until 17:00);
Wednesday and Friday 10:30 - 21:00 (ticket office open until 20:00);
Monday is a day off.

How to get to the Hermitage

The Hermitage is located in the very center of St. Petersburg, on Palace Square. The nearest metro station is Admiralteyskaya. When exiting the metro, turn left and walk a few meters to Malaya Morskaya Street. Turn right and walk a few meters to Nevsky Prospekt. You need to go left along Nevsky Prospekt and you will find yourself on Palace Square. The entrance to the Hermitage is located on Palace Square.

You can also walk from the Nevsky Prospekt / Gostiny Dvor stations. From the metro, walk along Nevsky Prospekt towards the Admiralty to Bolshaya Morskaya Street. At the intersection of Bolshaya Morskaya and Nevsky Prospekt you will see the arch of the General Staff building, through which you will get to Palace Square. Entrance to the museum from Palace Square.

Ticket prices to the Hermitage in 2019

for citizens of Russia and Belarus - 400 rubles;
for pensioners (citizens of Russia), children and students (from any country) - free;
for foreign citizens (including CIS countries) - 700 rubles;
amateur photography – free of charge. Shooting using a tripod or using flash is prohibited;
free visit- the third Thursday of every month, March 8, May 18 and December 7 (Hermitage Day) for all categories of visitors.

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