His Grace Prince Alexander Danilovich, the right hand and favorite of Peter I, had a lot of titles, and much was allowed to him. Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg is a vivid example of this. At the time when the tsar was living in a more than modest summer residence (now a branch of the Russian Museum), the first governor general of St. Petersburg in a short time and with great scope built a huge palace on Vasilyevsky Island, which was to become his ancestral nest.
Luxury pounding
The best forces of Russian architecture were involved at this facility. A huge amount of building materials was delivered here through the swampy swamps, while at the construction of the Northern capital each brick was personally controlled by Peter I.
Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg at that time was defiantly luxurious. Due to the lack of other relevant buildings, it was the center of the administrative life of the city, and the end of the Northern War was celebrated in it. Initially (1710-1712), the work was directed by the architect Francesco Fontana, who later left the country due to the difficult climate. He was replaced by the architect I. G. Schedel, whose talent and professionalism were so liked by the First Russian Senator that he instructed the architect to build two more of his residences - in Oranienbaum and Kronstadt.
The most magnificent building of the future capital
Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg at that time was the tallest building in the Northern capital. And the biggest one - he stretched across the entire island from the Big Neva to the Small Neva. And now, after 300 years, the beautifully preserved building, the first stone structure of St. Petersburg, is the largest architectural monument of Peter's times. Menshikov himself was a “Westerner” and built his palace in full accordance with the fashion of those times, even Vasilievsky Island had to pave the canals to resemble the surroundings of Amsterdam. The layout of the building was new - there was a hall for assemblies (under Peter I balls and meetings) and front rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, workshops and secretarial rooms. The rooms were spacious but comfortable.
Originality of design
Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg was decorated with tiled tiles, carved and stacked wood, leather and other rare materials that were drawn from abroad. The room of the sister-in-law of the Most Holy Prince was especially outlandish - whole plots were laid out on the walls. Tiles, like many other things, were imported from Holland, but some were also produced at the Russian plants of Strelna, Yamburg, Koporye. The palace impressed with wealth and luxury. The family of the Generalissimo of the naval and ground forces entered the palace in 1714. The main attraction of the palace is the Walnut Cabinet. After Menshikov’s exile in 1727, the estate was transferred to the Cadet Corps, in which Suvorov and Sumarokov studied. During the years of Soviet power, the military-political school was located within the walls of the palace. Now the magnificent building on the banks of the Neva is a branch of the Hermitage.
The first dwellings of the nobility in the swamps
The Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg has its own background. In 1704, Peter I presented Vasilievsky Island to his beloved Aleksashka, who immediately laid a garden and a garden there and began construction of a wooden two-story building under the direction of W. A. Senyavin. The construction was carried out according to the project of Domenico Terzini. Built in the shape of the letter "p", the building had a grand staircase leading to the second floor. And the canal (later a pond), dug from the banks of the Neva, approached the first steps. The wooden palace, built in the Italian style, is famous for the fact that in 1710 the wedding of the niece of Peter I Anna Ioannovna and the Duke of Courland Friedrich Wilhelm was celebrated in it. In the same year, the full admiral and governor general of St. Petersburg began construction of his famous stone palace.
Moscow residence
The number of residences of the Duke of Izhora was not inferior to the number of his titles. Menshikov’s palace in Moscow, also known as “Lefortovsky”, or “Old Slobodskaya”, was donated by Peter I in 1706 to his associate after the house of Alexander Danilovich in Semenovskaya Sloboda burned down. The palace is called “Lefortovo” because it was built since 1698 by royal decree for Lefort's comrade-in-arms, who, after a tumultuous housewarming in 1699, soon (20 days later) died at the age of 46.
The palace was original and was considered the first attempt to move to a new style of architecture. The hall of the palace is about 10 meters high and 300 square meters. meters could accommodate up to 1, 500 guests at a time. There were many wonders in the palace - rooms whose walls were upholstered with either green leather or golden brocade. The building was located on the banks of the Yauza River and had a huge park, inhabited by unusual birds and animals. Menshikov significantly rebuilt the palace at his discretion. After his disgrace, the building in Lefortovo passed into the treasury. As a result of the fire and occupation of Moscow in 1812, the palace was destroyed and later abandoned. It was restored only in 1840, as a result of which the mansion appeared on the third floor. From then until now, the building is occupied by various archives.
