Envision yourself transported back to the late 18th century. Here stands the Mansion-museum of G.R. Derzhavin a cultural hub teeming with Russia’s brightest minds. This estate offers a glimpse into the life of Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin. He was a celebrated poet and statesman during Catherine the Great’s reign.
In 1791, Derzhavin acquired this land along the Fontanka River. The Mansion-museum of G.R. Derzhavin then consisted of a small mansion owned by writer Ivan Zakharov. Derzhavin’s friend, architect Nikolay Lvov, significantly expanded the building. Lvov added symmetrical wings and a colonnade. He also designed a landscape garden with streams, ponds, and bridges. The Polish Garden has recently been returned to the Mansion-museum of G.R. Derzhavin.
From the 1790s until Derzhavin’s death, his home was a vibrant cultural center. The Mansion-museum of G.R. Derzhavin became a meeting place for Russia’s artistic, literary, and political elite. Figures like Denis Fonvizin, Nikolay Karamzin, and Ivan Krylov frequented this place. The literary society “Lovers of the Russian Word” held meetings in the mansion’s hall from 1811.
After Derzhavin’s death, the Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical College acquired the villa in 1846. Architect Aleksey Gornostaev adapted the buildings for its new purpose. However, in 2003, the house was opened as the Mansion-museum of G.R. Derzhavin and Russian Literature of His Era. This coincided with St. Petersburg’s 300th-anniversary celebrations.
Today, the Mansion-museum of G.R. Derzhavin displays manuscripts and rare books from the 18th century. You will also find furniture, ornaments, paintings, and portraits of Derzhavin and his contemporaries. Efforts have been made to recreate the interiors accurately. The poet’s study, the Yellow Drawing Room, and the house theater are brought back to life.
The Mansion-museum of G.R. Derzhavin regularly hosts concerts and literary evenings. The museum also marks an annual celebration of Russian 18th-century poetry every July. Besides, the museum complex includes a charming garden.
The estate once featured greenhouses for cultivating exotic fruits and plants. There was a peach greenhouse, a greenhouse for figs and laurel, and even a pineapple greenhouse. Today, the Central Greenhouse has been recreated.
Furthermore, the Mansion-museum of G.R. Derzhavin includes the Derzhavin Manor Hotel. The hotel offers modern amenities for visitors to stay. The address of the Mansion-museum of G.R. Derzhavin is 118 Fontanka River Embankment.
The Mansion-museum of G.R. Derzhavin is part of the All-Russian Pushkin Museum complex. It stands as a testament to Derzhavin’s legacy and the golden age of Russian literature. As you explore the rooms, imagine the lively discussions and creative energy that once filled this remarkable place. The Mansion-museum of G.R. Derzhavin is a window into the past.