Mikhailovsky Castle, Russia

The Mikhailovsky (St Michael's) Castle is a 18th century castle located in the historic centre of Saint Petersburg, Russia. The castle was built between 1797 and 1801 on orders of Tsar Paul I of Russia and son of Catherine the Great by architects Vincezo Brenna and Vasili Bazhenov. Paul I ordered the construction of the Mikhailovsky Castle because he did not feel safe in the Winter Palace and was constantly afraid of intrigues and assassination plots. Despite that Paul I was not safe even in the new castle.



Only after 40 days he was assassinated in his own bedroom by a group of officers who organized a coup. After Paul's death the royal family moved back to the Winter Palace and the Mikhailovsky Castle was abandoned until 1819 when it was given to the army's Main Engineering School (later Nikolayevskaya Engineering Academy). Since then was the Mikhailovsky Castle called also the Engineer Castle. In the next century was the interior of the castle changed according to the needs of the Engineer School but it's exterior did not change. In the 1990's the Mikhailovsky Castle became a branch of the Russian Museum and is today open to the public.