Особняк Матильды Кшесинской

The mansion of Matilda Kshesinskaya is a bright representative of the Northern modern. It is the oldest building on the Troitskaya Square of Saint Petersburg. Nowadays the museum of the political history of Russia is located in the mansion. Before the building belonged to the Russian prima ballerina assoluta who performed in the Mariinsky Theatre — Matilda Kshesinskaya.

The mansion was built in 1906 by the architect Alexandre von Hohen and A. Dmitriev, who designed the interior. The building belongs to the Northern modern style, which was special for Saint Petersburg. The style was influenced by national romanticism of the Swedish and Finnish architecture. There are spacious rooms with free window planning. The design uses contrasts and includes stylish materials, such as marble of different colors, maiolica, bricks and forged metal. There is also a  winter garden in the mansion.

The mansion of Matilda Kshesinskaya is located close to the Peter and Paul Fortress and St Petersburg Mosque. The Petrograd side of the city was one of the most fashionable regions back in the 20th century. The building was placed almost on the shore of the Neva river. 

In 1917 the ballerina left her wonderful mansion after getting several threatening letters. Within several days, her house was occupied by some representatives of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. They made it some sort of an oratory, where Vladimir Lenin performed on April 3. Kshesinskaya went to court with a request to free her house, and it was confirmed. However, the Bolsheviks refused to implement the court order.

Later, the mansion was seized by the Russian Provisional Government. The ballerina left Petersburg, but still tried to fight for her mansion from abroad. Sadly, she never returned to Russia, got married and stayed till the end of her days abroad, in Paris.

The mansion of Matilda Kshesinskaya was a special platform of many public organizations. In 1991 it became the Museum of the Political History of Russia. Unfortunately, the previous interiors were destroyed. There you can see restored stairs with balustrade and rotunda, white hall and winter garden. However, parquet and tiled floor in the winter garden are authentic.

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