SHEREMETEV PALACE (FOUNTAIN HOUSE)

A branch of the Museum of Theatrical and Musical Arts
34 nab. reki Fontanki 191011 St. Petersburg
Open: noon - 6pm
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays
Tel. 272-4441, 272-3898
Nearest metro stations: Mayakovskaya and Nevsky prospect

The Sheremetev Palace on the Fontanka River Embankment ("Fountain House") is a fine example of Baroque architecture (1750-55, designed by Sabbas Chevakinsky and Fedor Argunov). It is located on the site that Peter I presented to his field-marshal, Count Boris Sheremetev. From the late 18th century the palace was the centre of St. Petersburg's theatrical and musical life. The counts Sheremetev kept a splendid serf theatre which was well known in the capital. The palace also recalls the romantic lovestory of Count Nikolai Sheremetev and the brilliant serf singer Prascovya Kovaleva-Zhemchugova, who later became Countess Sheremeteva.

The Sheremetevs owned the palace for more than 150 years. At different times it was frequented by Alexander Pushkin, Vasily Zhukovsky, Alexander

Turgenev, Mikhail Glinka, Alexander Serov, Vladimir Stasov, Mily Balakirev and many others. In 1918, its last private owner, Sergei Sheremetev, gave the palace and its art collections to the Soviet state. In the years that followed it was used by various institutions and organizations, and the artistic decoration of its halls and rooms was eventually lost. Restoration work began in 1990, when the palace became part of the Museum of Theatrical and Musical Arts.

The beautiful interiors of the mid-18th century have now been restored. The exhibition recounts the history of the Sheremetev family, and a collection of musical instruments is on display. Chamber music concerts and musical soirees are regularly held in the palace.