MIKHAILOVSKY
CASTLE
Mikhailovsky Castle is one of the most mysterious
buildings in Saint Petersburg. It bears the stamp of individuality
of its owner, Paul I, a mystic and exceptional Russian emperor,
who died in the castle.
The site near two rivers - Moika and Fontanka - next to
the Summer Garden, was chosen by Catherine I. She ordered
to put up a modest Summer Palace there. The construction works
were completed during the reign of Anna Ioannovna. Next Russian
Empress, Elizaveta Petrovna, ordered to destroy the palace,
reminding her of years of suffering and humiliation, while
she was waiting for her turn to ascend the Russian throne.
She ordered architect Rastrelli to put up a new Summer Palace
- a large and luxurious building, where Empress Catherine
II desired to accept official congratulation on the occasion
of ascending the throne. In the Summer Palace Paul I, the
son of Catherine II and the heir of the Russian throne, was
born and spent his youth. When he became the emperor, he refused
to live in the Winter Palace, as he was in constant fear of
attempts on his life. Inclined to mysticism, Paul I is believed
to say: "I want to die where I was born". He ordered
to reconstruct the Summer Palace and start to put up the new
official royal residence - the Mikhailovsky Castle, named
in honor of Archangel Mikhail, as the castle was founded in
the day of archangel commemoration.
The question of the authorship of the mastership of Saint
Petersburg architecture is as mysterious as everything connected
to the Mikhailovsky Castle. For two hundred years the historians
can't decide, which one of two outstanding architects of the
time of Paul I - Brenna or Bajenov - designed the castle.
During the last 20 years the authors of the official architecture
reference books changed their minds. Recently the sketches
by Paul I, who participated in the castle designing, were
found. To repay historical fairness, nowadays both Brenna
and Bajenov are considered to be the authors of the castle
design.
The new royal palace was shaped as a medieval castle. Its
look harmonized with mystical spirit of the emperor. From
four sides the castle was surrounded by waters of the Moika
River, the Fontanka River and two canals, which were specially
dug. To leave the palace and depart to the city, one should
use the hanging bridges, which were raised in the nights.
The royal residence, isolated from the city, inspired fear
and trembling.
The scheme of the castle depicts the square with round corners
and eight-cornered inner yard. The castle looks different
from different sides, as the architects used the motifs of
French classicism, Italian Renaissance and even gothic. The
spire decorating the castle reminds us of gothic and early
Petersburg architecture. The unusual for the Northern capital
look of the Mikhailovsky Castle excluded using the traditional
for Petersburg facades colors. The brick-red color of the
castle corresponds with its mysterious image, but it brings
discord to traditional Petersburg architecture. In 1800, in
front of the palace the monument to Peter I was put up.
The interior planning of the castle is complicated and stands
out for the space forms varieties. In the castle there are
oval, round, square and oblique-angled halls and rooms. Nowadays
in the castle, there are some original interiors. They are
the gala stair-case, decorated with marble, Raphael Gallery,
the Throne Hall, the Oval Hall and the church with fresco
by Scotti.
Paul I hurried with the castle building. On February 1,
1801 the emperor with his family moved to the new residence,
which was not dried and ventilated thoroughly yet. In the
Mikhailovsky Castle, which was built in such a hurry (1797-1800),
Paul lived only for 40 days. According to historical documents
and memoirs all those days were filled with premonition of
tragedy for the emperor. According to numerous legends, Paul
I saw his ancestor Peter I coming to the palace to warn the
emperor about forthcoming death. Paul I used to say that he
saw in the mirrors his own reflection with his neck wringed.
The emperor was full of dismal presentiments, which were to
come true. In the night from 10 to 11 of March Paul I became
the victim of the coup d'etas. A group of conspirators headed
by brothers Zubovs, Palen and Bennigsen stealthily went to
the emperor's bedroom, and Paul I was throttled. There is
a version, according which the throne heir Alexander I knew
about the planned attempt on his father's life and gave his
silent approval for the assassination.
About twenty years after Paul's murder the castle was empty.
Nobody of the royal family wanted to live in such a dismal
place. In 1819, the castle was given to the Engineering School,
and since 1823 the building gained its second name - Engineering
Castle. It was the place where the best representatives of
native technical intelligence got educated. Among the students
of the school was the famous Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Nowadays the Mikhailovsky Castle belongs to the Russian
Museum. Some of the rooms are under construction, but many
halls are opened for the visitors. The castle still impresses
as a mystic construction. Russian poet Anna Akhmatova confessed
that the mystery of the Mikhailovsky Castle never leaves her
in peace: "I always feel that behind these windows Paul
is being assassinated".
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