“Alexander II must die.” These words were part of a letter to posterity. They were written by Ignacy Hryniewiecki the night before the assassination. Welcome to Konyushenny Dvor.
Konyushenny Dvor, or Court Stables, has a rich history tied to Saint Petersburg. Peter I founded it. He intended it as a place to gather court carriages.
In the 18th century, Konyushenny Dvor was an important enterprise. It was used for collecting palace vehicles. The building we see today appeared between 1720 and 1723. It was designed by N.F. Gerbel. The southern part of the territory was given to the Court Stables Department in the 1730s. By 1733, various structures were built here. These included residential buildings, forges, and barns.
In the 1800s, Konyushennaya Square was built. It was built by builders of the Kazan Cathedral. Temporary shops selling bread and kitchenware appeared due to the construction.
Between 1817 and 1823, the building was rebuilt. Architect V.P. Stasov designed it in the style of classicism. He preserved the old plan and foundations. However, he changed the exterior. Cubic pavilions were added to the long stable buildings.
The central part features a large pavilion topped with a dome and cross. This is where the church is located. The church’s design includes a soft Ionic colonnade. It is slightly recessed into the wall. The colonnade is placed on the lower tier. On the third floor, the columns flank the premises. They feature bas-reliefs of “The Bearing of the Cross” and “Entry into Jerusalem.” V.I. Demut-Malinovsky likely created them.
The building’s pavilions differ from the church. They feature a Doric order in deep loggias. The rounded colonnade is a notable detail along the Moika River. Konyushenny Dvor stands at the end of the Kazan Cathedral.
Interestingly, the main facade has a bend in the center. This corresponds to the bend of the Moika River. The river makes a turn behind the building. It connects with the Griboyedov Canal. The location emphasizes the importance of the Kazan Cathedral.
Within the church of the Konyushenny Department. A funeral service for A.S. Pushkin took place on February 1, 1837. Authorities moved the service here. They feared public gatherings. On the night of February 3, the poet’s body was taken away. It was taken for burial in the Svyatogorsk monastery. More than ten thousand people attended the funeral. Mikhail Lermontov was among them. He wrote “Death of a Poet.” It quickly spread throughout the city. The authorities tried to suppress the unrest caused by the poem.
In the 1850s, architect P.S. Sadovnikov designed a building. It was for the Museum of Court Carriages. It stood opposite Konyushenny Dvor on Konyushennaya Square. Today, Konyushenny Dvor is a multifunctional space. It is located in the historic buildings.
Today, Konyushenny Dvor continues to stand. It is a testament to the rich history of Saint Petersburg. Its walls have witnessed imperial carriages, literary funerals, and revolutionary fervor. Take a moment to appreciate the stories embedded in this remarkable place. Konyushenny Dvor bridges the past and present.