Where is the Hermitage ticket office? State Hermitage Museum

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. That's why .

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 the 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 resemble 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 decorating 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 crowned with sculptures of female figures. They symbolize various types 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 in the White Hall there is an exhibition of French paintings of the 18th century, a collection of porcelain and furniture in the style of classicism.

Halls of the New Hermitage

Halls dedicated to Ancient Egypt

For lovers of Egyptian culture, definitely 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 of 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 the Book of the Dead, amulets with scarabs, jewelry, and 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 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 of the famous masterpiece of Praxiteles. Another interesting room is No. 121, where there is a collection of stones.

Knights' Hall

Has a huge collection of weapons, covering more than 15 thousand items. Here you can see tournament armor, swords, rapiers, hunting weapons, 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 by Italian artists from the 13th to the 18th centuries are exhibited. 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. These are “Madonna Benoit” and “Madonna Lita”. The significance of the works of art is emphasized by jasper columns, lapis lazuli inserts, picturesque panels and lampshades.

The founding date of the Hermitage is considered to be 1764, when Catherine the Great acquired a collection of paintings from the Berlin merchant Gotzkowsky.

Today state museum The Hermitage has a collection of about 3 million works of art and monuments of world culture. It includes painting, graphics, sculpture and objects of applied art, archaeological finds.

In a whole day, you can explore all the museum’s exhibitions only at a very quick pace. We recommend dividing your visit to the Hermitage into 2 days, and if you come to St. Petersburg for several days, then continue exploring the museum on your next visit.

Let's share useful information so that your visit to the Hermitage is as simple and interesting as possible.

Don't miss:

Operating mode

The museum is open for visitors:

• Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 10.30 – 18.00 (ticket office open until 17.00)
• Wednesday, Friday: 10.30 – 21.00 (ticket office open UNTIL 20.00)

When is admission to the Hermitage free?

Free visit for all categories of visitors: third Thursday of each month, March 8, May 18 and December 7.

There is always a queue to enter the Hermitage. People are allowed into the museum in batches. On normal days the line is about an hour and a half long. But on days of free admission, the queue to enter can stretch from the Alexander Column in the center of Palace Square. If you want to save on your ticket, come early and be prepared to stand for 2-3 hours.

Ticket prices

The ticket entitles you to a single visit to the museum on one day. You cannot leave the museum, walk around the city and come back.

There are several types of tickets, familiarize yourself with them so as not to get confused at the ticket office.

• 400 rubles– complex entrance ticket for citizens Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

Chances are, unless you are a foreigner, you need this ticket. Includes a visit to the Main Museum Complex, as well as the General Staff and the Winter Palace of Peter I. But once again we would like to warn you that it is unrealistic to see everything in one day. Few people go to the exhibitions in the General Staff Building and our editors do not know anyone who was in three places at once on the same day.

• 300 rubles– entrance ticket to one of the separate objects of the Hermitage: General Staff, Winter Palace of Peter I, Menshikov Palace, Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory.

This is the case when you have already been to the Main Museum Complex and want to go to the General Headquarters.

When purchasing tickets you must present your passport. This is mandatory because for citizens of other countries, ticket prices are already higher.

• 700 rubles– comprehensive entrance ticket for everyone, except for citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.
• Free tickets- pensioners ( only Russian citizens), children of preschool and school age (regardless of citizenship), students (regardless of citizenship), graduate students, cadets, disabled people of I and II groups.

To enter the museum for free, you still need to stand in line to enter and then in line at the ticket office. At the box office, upon presentation of a document entitling you to the benefit, you will be given a free ticket.

Where to buy tickets to the Hermitage

Tickets to the Hermitage can be purchased: at the box office, at an electronic kiosk, or online.

Tickets at the Hermitage box office

After standing in line and entering the museum building, you immediately find yourself in front of another line - at the ticket office. Don't be afraid, it moves very quickly. Spend 10-30 minutes, no more. Cards and cash are accepted for payment.

Tickets at an electronic kiosk

In the courtyard of the Hermitage, where there are queues, there are several kiosks where you can buy a ticket yourself, but only for the full price. Therefore, only a couple of foreigners buy there, who then still stand in line at the museum.

Electronic tickets and skip-the-line entry

You can buy only on the official website of the Hermitage electronic ticket no commission, which gives the right to skip-the-line entrance to the Museum! In other places they will sell you the same ticket, but with a commission. For example, here, where there are vouchers for the Hermitage.

As you understand, you have to pay to enter without a queue. Therefore, an electronic ticket is more expensive than a regular ticket and the Hermitage has 2 offers:

• 730 rubles - free entry to the Hermitage for 1 day,
• 1020 rubles - explore the Hermitage for 2 days.

Benefits for pensioners and children remain. The purchased ticket (voucher) is valid for 180 days from the date of purchase, so you can purchase it in advance.

Where is the entrance to the Hermitage

If you bought electronic ticket, which gives you the right to enter without a queue, then you will have a separate entrance - through Shuvalovsky Proezd (from Millionnaya Street or from Palace Embankment - between the buildings of the Small Hermitage and the New Hermitage).

For everyone else: Opposite the Alexander Column there is a gate through which we enter the Great Courtyard of the Winter Palace. There are two queues. You can go where you like best.

For those who want to view the exhibitions located in the General Staff Building, you need to leave the Great Courtyard and walk in the opposite direction. If you stand facing the arch of the General Staff building, then 100 meters on the left there will be an almost inconspicuous entrance to the museum.

How to see the Hermitage

After purchasing a ticket, you can leave your personal items in the cloakroom. Outerwear is required. Believe it or not, there will most likely be a queue there too. There are automatic lockers, there are few of them and they are always busy. After this, ticket control. Liquids are not allowed.

After control, you can take an audio guide and a map of the Hermitage. The scheme is free, and the audio guide costs 350 rubles in Russian and 500 in a foreign language. Deposit 2000 rubles or document (except passport!).

Be sure to take the diagram! Otherwise it will not be clear where to go. Each hall has its own caretakers. They keep order and help you navigate the museum. These are not guides or tour guides. The caretakers can only tell you how to get into the hall with the Flemings or where the Peacock clock is located.

You can download the official audio guide for your smartphone from the Hermitage. True, only a few tours of the halls are free, the rest must be purchased.

The best option for the first time is in the company of an art expert.

You can walk around the Hermitage for a very long time. To view all the exhibits in the Hermitage collection, devoting no more than 1 minute to each, it will take 8 years. But you can count on 3-5 hours. And it’s hard to walk all day. Take short breaks - there is a cafe on the ground floor, not far from the Jordan Stairs.

The main Hermitage museum is a collection of five buildings built in different times by different architects for different purposes, and connected in series with each other.

The Hermitage has 305 halls, but their number may vary depending on temporary exhibitions. If you have limited time, here are the most beautiful halls and pearls of the Hermitage:

1. Jordan Stairs.

This is where your acquaintance with the Hermitage will begin.

2. Loggias of Raphael.

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.

3. Armorial Hall of the Winter Palace.

One of the most luxurious halls.

4. Alexander Hall.

A spacious hall combining elements of Gothic and neoclassicism.

5. Malachite living room.

Due to the interior decoration with precious stones, this is the most valuable room in the building.

6. Golden living room of Maria Alexandrovna.

State room of Empress Maria Alexandrovna. The atmosphere fully corresponds to the name - everything shines.

7. Concert hall.

8. White Hall.

9. Halls of Ancient Egypt.

Sculptures, sarcophagi, mummies, texts from the Book of the Dead, ancient amulets, a statue of Amenemhet the Third, a sculpture of the goddess Sekhmet. You can't miss it.

10. Halls Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece.

The culture of antiquity in a huge number of rooms.

11. Pavilion hall.

The most precious exhibit in this room is the Peacock mechanical watch.

12. Hall of Leonardo Da Vinci.

13. Dutch painting.

14. Rembrandt Hall.

You will not be able to pass by this hall. There is always a huge crowd near the painting “The Prodigal Son”, no less than in front of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.

By the way, the Hermitage has a second collection of paintings by Rembrandt. Only the Rembrandt Museum in Amsterdam competes with it.

If you stand in front of each Hermitage exhibit for a minute, you will have to spend more than 10 years in the museum. More than three million exhibits, including 16,000 paintings. You inevitably start to think – is it worth going at all if you can’t embrace the immensity? We answer: you definitely have to go.

Collection of the State Hermitage

The core of the Hermitage collection is housed in five buildings connected to each other. These are the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the Large (or Old) Hermitage, the New Hermitage and the Hermitage Theater. The word “Hermitage” is repeated in names very often, and in France this word is used to describe a certain type of wine or small hotels on the outskirts. Like the words “passage”, “voyage”, “carpet”, “hermitage” - of French origin, translated it means “hermit’s house”. The Small and Large Hermitages were just such a quiet, secluded place for Catherine II, where she held informal receptions and showed her collections to guests. This is how the history of the museum began, and it was Catherine the Second who is considered its founder.

By the way, in 2014 the Hermitage celebrated its anniversary - 250 years since Catherine II acquired the first collection.

Why else should you go to the Hermitage

In the past, the Hermitage was an imperial museum. Not only works of art are interesting here, but also interiors. All buildings were built under the kings and amaze with their royal beauty. For example, the Winter Palace is a former winter imperial residence with halls for balls, receptions and living quarters. Therefore, in the Hermitage you will find marble, stucco, gilding, and crystal chandeliers. The Hermitage is luxury and elegance, a standard of taste and even design solutions for arranging a modern space. It is not surprising that many people, when going to the Hermitage, dress as if for a holiday, and some have a photo shoot (including a wedding) in the Hermitage.

Remember the status of the museum and do not come to the Hermitage in shorts and T-shirts. Take care of beauty! Girls and ladies, do not wear shoes with sharp heels, they will ruin the parquet made of valuable wood. Do not touch fine gilding, antique furniture, vases, or sculptures with your hands! Unfortunately, some exhibits are not protected in any way, and only careful treatment can preserve them. Large bags, backpacks and suitcases will have to be checked into the cloakroom. You can’t eat or drink in the halls, so as not to crumble or spill liquid on the floor, and you won’t even be able to bring a bottle of water into the museum, since bags are see-through at the entrance.

How to get to the Hermitage

The nearest metro stations are Nevsky Prospekt, Gostiny Dvor (at this station it is better to get to the Griboyedov Canal) and Admiralteyskaya. From the metro stations Gostiny Dvor and Nevsky Prospekt you will get to Nevsky Prospekt itself; you need to go to the Neva in the direction of decreasing house numbers. To explain it more simply, then move towards the Admiralty spire, here it is in the photograph (in the perspective of Nevsky Prospekt).

The Winter Palace is located to the right of the Admiralty, however, you will see it anyway.

Admiralteyskaya is also easy: when exiting the metro, turn first left, then right and exit onto Nevsky. Further - towards the spire. Of all three stations, Admiralteyskaya is the closest to the Hermitage.

From Palace Square, enter the courtyard of the Winter Palace through the central arches decorated with openwork gates. There you will find all the necessary information about prices and excursions on stands and electronic displays. Cash desks inside.

Hermitage address: Palace Embankment, 38 / Palace Square, 2;
telephone: +7 812 710 90 79

When is the best time to visit the Hermitage?

The museum is closed on Monday. On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday the Hermitage is open from 10.30 to 18.00 (box office until 17.00), on Wednesday and Friday from 10.30 to 21.00 (box office until 20.00). From January 1, 2019, every third Thursday of the month is a free visit (previously it was the first Thursday of the month), but keep in mind that the queue on this day is longer than at the Mausoleum. There are fewer visitors on weekdays than on weekends. Most people in the Hermitage during school holidays when groups from different parts Russians come to the museum one after another. Peak attendance: a) in summer, b) after 12 am. In the summer, foreigners join the Russian population, including from huge cruise ships. During this busy season, there is a queue to enter the museum, and in some halls there is nowhere to fall - especially in the Leonardo Hall and the Rembrandt Hall.

But there are rooms where there is silence and solitude even on such days. The line moves faster in nice warm weather when people are not using the cloakroom. In bad weather, wardrobe space quickly runs out. At four o'clock the flow of foreign tourists subsides, the queue melts, and the museum is empty. You can choose these evening hours or before 12 am for your visit. You can also come fifteen minutes before the museum opens and stand in a line of like-minded people, which will go by very quickly. By the way, a certain woman has been walking along the line for many years and offering dubious “tickets for skipping the line.” These may be free pension cards or others, but she asks for a tidy sum to pay for them. The police regularly take this lady out of the museum territory, but she appears again. Don't support this black business that is like a weed taking root in a flower garden! Overcome all obstacles on the path to beauty!

Another tip: Bring your ID with you, just in case. It’s clear that you most likely carry it with you all the time, but you never know. The fact is that the cashier will ask you to present it when purchasing a ticket (reduced prices are established for citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus).

A full ticket in 2019 costs 700 rubles, for citizens of Russia and Belarus - 400 rubles, schoolchildren, students, cadets, veterans, military personnel, pensioners and some other categories have access to paintings and other objects of art for free. A little trick: if you don’t want to stand in line and are willing to pay an extra two hundred rubles for it, purchase tickets on the Hermitage website (680 rubles), as well as at the self-service terminals, which are located in the courtyard on the right immediately after entering it from Palace Square . You buy a ticket at the terminal and go past the entire long queue to the Winter Palace. In addition, tickets to the Winter Palace can also be bought at the General Staff Building (directly across the square) and at the official Hermitage Hotel on Pravdy Street, 10. We, however, have not yet checked whether tickets are sold only to hotel guests or to everyone , but if you want, you can try your luck.

If you don't want to stand in a long line, we recommend that you buy your tickets online. With them you go straight to the museum without queuing! This can save you a couple of hours, especially during high season, holidays or weekends. To purchase, click on the banner below:

What to see in the Hermitage?

Certainly, Winter Palace, its white marble staircase (pictured above) and the state rooms leading to the Throne, portraits of the brave generals who fought Napoleon in the Gallery of 1812 (pictured below).

Picture gallery, which represents all European schools and times from late Middle Ages until the 20th century. The Hermitage has paintings by da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, El Greco, Rembrandt, Rubens and many other famous masters.

The French collection stands apart "From Monet to Picasso". It was collected not by tsars, but by Moscow industrialists Shchukin and Morozov. And only in the 1930s these private collections were divided between the Hermitage and the Pushkin Museum. Pushkin in Moscow and thus saved from sale or destruction during the difficult Stalinist years. Paintings by Edouard Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse and Picasso are the real pride of the Hermitage. You can see them on the third floor of the Winter Palace. And it's worth hurrying. Soon, to get to know them, you will need an additional ticket to the General Staff building, where they are planning to transport the entire collection of French items from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

There is another exhibition with works by the same artists brought by the Soviet army from Germany at the end of the Great Patriotic War. It is located on the second floor of the Winter Palace at the end of the Ministerial Corridor and is called "Unknown masterpieces".

And of course Knights' Hall. There you will find swords, shields, armor, plumed helmets, crossbows, pistols and arquebuses. Almost all 15-16 centuries. This room is at the farthest end of the museum from the entrance of the New Hermitage building.

If you want to get away from the main tourist route, you can hide from the crowds in halls of ancient art on the first floor of the New Hermitage. Marble statues of Greek gods and Roman emperors stand silently there, painted ceramics preserve the aroma of ancient wines, oils and perfumes.

Or in the halls Primitive culture on the first floor of the Winter Palace. Do you know what Pazyryk and Arzhan are? These are the names of ancient mounds in which wonderful things were found. Having been here, you will be able to show off your rare knowledge to your friends. You will be amazed by the mummy of a tattooed leader and the world's largest felt carpet from the 1st millennium BC. e., in which the mustachioed “jigit” (tribal leader) appears before the great ancient goddess. Lovers East awaits the third floor of the Winter Palace - halls of China, Japan, India, Iran. Ancient Egypt with sarcophagi and bizarre figures of gods next to the cafe on the 1st floor of the Winter Palace.

If you are interested in gold from tombs and personal jewelry of the Romanovs, you are welcome to Golden Pantry And Diamond Pantry Jewelry galleries. Special tickets can be purchased at the box office; there is also a schedule of excursions.

All Russian rulers from Catherine II to Nicholas II lived in the Winter Palace. But not everyone knows that there is an unusual exhibition in the Hermitage "Winter Palace of Peter the Great". It is located in the building of the Hermitage Theater (entrance from the Neva, Palace Embankment, 32), the ticket office is there. It turns out that the cellars of Peter's palace, fragments of walls, part of the courtyard have been preserved, and Peter's personal chambers have been recreated - the Turner, the Study and the Dining Room. Peter's original personal belongings were used to create the exhibition. In one of the rooms there is the famous Wax Persona by Rastrelli the Elder, which conveys the true appearance of Peter the Great.

Which of these can be photographed?

In the Hermitage you can photograph everything except mummies, temporary exhibitions and jewelry (for example, in the Jewelry Gallery). Remember to turn off the flash in rooms with paintings, fabrics and carpets. If you are having a professional photo shoot, then a ticket giving you the right to do this costs 5,000 rubles.

What you will NOT see in the Hermitage. Or the most common misconceptions

"Mona Lisa". This painting by Leonardo da Vinci is in the Louvre in Paris.

Amber room. It is located in a country summer residence - in the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo.

An imperial bedroom with a bed! The furnishings of the living rooms have not been preserved. There is no bed in the Blue Bedroom; temporary exhibitions are held there.

Imperial crown. She is in Moscow along with the scepter and the orb.

Faberge eggs. They are not represented in the Hermitage collection.

A carriage. Once upon a time, a gilded carriage stood in the Field Marshal's Hall, but now all the carriages and carriages are in the Hermitage Repository.

Salvador Dali.

If you like to be told

You can take an audio guide for 350 rubles (you must leave a deposit of 2000 rubles or any identification document other than a passport) and with it you can freely walk along the route of your choice. You can buy at the box office not only an entrance ticket, but also a ticket for a sightseeing tour and listen to it as part of a group. You can book an individual excursion at the Excursion Bureau under the arch of the Winter Palace (phone number 571-84-46). There, in September, you can buy a subscription to a series of themed classes, and you won’t have to stand in line to enter the museum. Excursions purchased not from the bureau, but from strangers or on third-party sites, may have arbitrary content and present fiction as truth; the Hermitage is not responsible for their quality.

The Hermitage is not only...

Not only the five buildings in question are part of the museum. The Hermitage belongs to the eastern wing of the General Staff building; it is located directly opposite the Winter Palace across Palace Square (see photo).

There are temporary exhibitions, lectures and a permanent exhibition will open soon. A branch of the Hermitage is the Menshikov Palace. It is located on the opposite bank of the Neva, on Vasilievsky Island, Universitetskaya embankment, 15. The Hermitage opened the Porcelain Museum at the Imperial Porcelain Factory, Art. Lomonosovskaya metro station. And the Restoration and Storage Center recently opened to the public “ Old village" This is a modern complex that introduces the museum’s funds and the conditions for their storage. There you can see collections of paintings, frescoes, furniture, applied art, tents and tents, carriages and carriages. Address: Zausadebnaya street, 37 “A”, Staraya Derevnya metro station. A visit is only possible with a guided tour: Wednesday – Sunday at sessions: 11.00, 13.00, 13.30, 15.30. For available places in groups, please call +7 812 340 10 26. A ticket with an excursion costs 550 rubles in 2019. Free admission - December 7 and the first Thursday of every month. Please note: free entry only applies to the entrance ticket (which is 250 rubles), you still pay for the excursion (300 rubles).

Tickets to the Hermitage

The entrance ticket in 2019 costs 700 rubles (electronic 680), for citizens of Russia and Belarus upon presentation of a passport - 400 rubles, sightseeing tour in a group - 250 per person, excursion to the Jewelry Gallery - 300, entrance ticket to Peter's Palace, Menshikov Palace, Porcelain Museum, General Staff - 300 rubles, RHC "Old Village" - 550 rubles (with excursion).

Preschoolers, schoolchildren, students, pensioners (Russian citizens) and the traditional group of beneficiaries have free access to the museum. Free entry to the museum for everyone on the third Thursday of every month.

Where to eat when visiting the Hermitage

The Hermitage cafe is not the cheapest in the city, but matches the prices on Nevsky Prospekt. There is no serious hot food there. Only coffee, tea, drinks, sandwiches, pies and cakes. Strengthening your physical strength can be combined with access to the Internet if your gadgets do not have such a built-in ability.

Souvenirs from the Hermitage

Bags, wallets, pillows, umbrellas, tapestries, porcelain, ceramics, jewelry, silk scarves, reproductions, albums, children's art books and even fine wood furniture are things that can become memorable. You won’t be able to buy the Mona Lisa, see why above. They didn’t ask about Rembrandt and others.

By the way, interesting fact: the Hermitage gift shop does not sell nesting dolls - the director of the museum, Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky, strictly prohibited it.

For cat lovers

Behind the gate located on the right side of the Winter Palace (if you stand facing it) there is an already famous road sign with a picture of a cat.

This is not a joke, but a real warning. The museum's holdings are protected from rats by a special team of felines. They are not allowed into the halls of the museum, but sometimes, of course, they sneak in. A couple of times, representatives of the editorial staff of the Window to St. Petersburg website saw them at the box office. Look on the Internet for materials on the request “cats of the Hermitage”, it’s worth it. Sometimes, by the way, the Hermitage gives away kittens. We had material about this, read.

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, with the history of Russian art, numismatics, weapons, 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 domestic 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 of a triumphal arch is a 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 compositional solution 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 on display are European silverware from the 16th to 19th centuries.

White Hall

The hall was created for the wedding of Emperor 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 the Third, 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

There are pictures of all members in the hall royal family from Peter the Great to Nicholas the Second. 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. 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 sculptures, figurines, and artistic works of artisans are exhibited here. 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 dating back to 6-2 millennia BC, brought from Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and many parts of Russia. Eat unique finds– a slab with petroglyphs from Karelia, a staff handle in the shape of an elk’s head from Sverdlovsk region, an image of an idol from the Pskov region, figurines from the burial mounds of 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 French Art of the 16th century (paintings by the artist Louis XIII Simone Vouet, Eustache Lesueur and Laurent de La Hire. In the hall of French art of the 17th 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 emergence of a new culture - the 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 for receiving noble guests of the imperial court, where paintings are presented late period creativity of the master.

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.

Knights' Hall

One of the large ceremonial interiors of the New Hermitage. The hall was intended for an exhibition of coins. There is a collection of weapons here - about 15 thousand items - an exhibition 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 outstanding sculptor Antonio Canova and his followers. On the vaults are portraits of famous masters of European art, including 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 famous watches"Peacock". 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!

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 main staircase, named Jordanian. It received this name because during the feast of Epiphany a procession of the cross descended along it to the Neva, where an ice hole was cut 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 Carl Rossi in honor of the victory 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. Characters from ancient mythology are presented here: 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. An important feature of this clock is that it still works: the owl spins its head, blinks its eyes and plays a melody with the help of bells that are attached to its cage, 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 the 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 exhibition of Italian painting of the 17th-18th 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.

Knights' Hall- one of the large ceremonial interiors of the Small Hermitage. There is a rich collection of weapons here, numbering about 15 thousand items.

Grand 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 his 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: here 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 paintings on the walls and mosaic floors are made in the style of the ancient tradition. The hall houses a collection of art from Ancient Italy from the late 9th to 2nd centuries. B.C.

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 that 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 a general concept of the museum’s structure is created. It seems to me that the Hermitage is like “War and Peace” - a book that needs to be read several times at different ages so that a new meaning is presented each time. You just need to go to this world-class museum much more often and discover something new every time!