“In this house lived a giant among men” whispers the weathered bronze plaque. The L.N. Tolstoy plaque sits quietly on a building’s wall. It marks a significant spot in St Petersburg’s history. The building itself is the Tolstoy House. This stunning structure was designed by Fyodor Lidval. It’s a masterpiece of Nordic Art Nouveau.
Count Mikhail Pavlovich Tolstoy commissioned the building. He was a nephew of the 1812 war hero P A Tolstoy. Mikhail fought bravely in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. He even defended the Shipka Pass. His bravery earned him the Order of St George. He sadly didn’t live to see his house completed. He died in Nice in 1913. His widow Countess Olga Tolstoy inherited the magnificent building.
The Tolstoy House wasn’t just a home for the wealthy. It was designed to house people from all walks of life. From modest apartments to luxurious ones. The building boasted modern amenities. It had air conditioning ventilation plumbing electricity and even 19 elevators. There were also laundries billiard rooms and a gym. The building housed over 1000 people before the 1917 Revolution.
The Russian Civil War and World War II impacted the Tolstoy House. Many residents fled. Apartments became communal spaces. Some were used for non-residential purposes. Apartment 108 became a theater studio. Apartment 106 even served as a pillbox during the Siege of Leningrad. The building’s basement offered shelter from bombs. Hundreds of residents died during the siege. The inner street was significantly altered after the war. The original design sadly was lost.
The Tolstoy House has appeared in numerous Russian films. Igor Maslennikov’s Winter Cherry and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson used it as a setting. It has even become a kind of character itself. Adding to the mood of the films. Today the Tolstoy House museum is located in the basement. It is a testament to the building’s rich and complex history. The L.N. Tolstoy plaque serves as a silent reminder. It remembers the many lives lived and tragedies endured within these walls. It stands as a tribute to a building that reflects a significant chapter in St Petersburg’s past.