Alexander Palace

Alexander Palace is a neoclassical residence in Pushkin marked by a central portico with white columns and symmetrical wings. The two-story building extends over considerable length and displays clear, restrained facades without heavy ornamentation.

Catherine the Great commissioned the palace starting in 1792 and gifted it to her grandson, the future Alexander I. After 1905 it became the main residence of Nicholas II, who lived here until his exile in 1917.

The name honors Alexander I, Catherine the Great's grandson, for whom the building was originally intended. Today the estate functions as a public museum where visitors walk through chambers and view furnishings from the era of the last tsars.

The museum is open most days except Tuesdays, with visiting hours ending in the afternoon. Guided tours in several languages help visitors understand the rooms, and booking in advance avoids waiting times.

Nicholas II and his family occupied this residence until their departure for Tobolsk in August 1917. The private living quarters of the last tsar were restored and reopened only recently after decades of closure.

Location: Pushkin

Inception: 1793

Founders: Catherine II of Russia

Architects: Giacomo Quarenghi

Architectural style: classicism

Part of: Tsarskoye Selo, Alexander Palace and park, including the Park of Farm

Website: http://tzar.ru/museums/palaces/alex_ander

GPS coordinates: 59.72111,30.39278

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:04