General Staff Building

The General Staff Building stretches along Palace Square with a 580-meter curved facade punctuated by a central triumphal arch opening toward Nevsky Prospekt. Inside, five large atriums capped with glass roofs form the New Big Enfilade, connecting different sections of the museum space.

Built between 1819 and 1829 under architect Carlo Rossi's direction, the structure was part of Saint Petersburg's major urban redesign during the early 1800s. The building emerged from Russia's ambitions to reshape the city with grand neoclassical architecture.

The eastern wing houses the Hermitage's collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including works by Matisse, Picasso, and other modern artists. Walking through these galleries, you can follow the evolution of European painting from the late 1800s onward.

Visitors enter through the eastern wing entrance, which opens into the gallery spaces with their glass-roofed atriums. Wearing comfortable shoes is advisable, as exploring the collections involves walking through interconnected galleries over considerable distances.

The central triumphal arch, decorated with sculptures by Stepan Pimenov and Vasily Demuth-Malinovsky, commemorates Russia's 1812 victory over Napoleon. This artistic treatment transforms the passageway into one of the most striking war monuments in Russian history.

Location: Saint Petersburg

Architects: Carlo Rossi

Architectural style: classicism

Part of: Hermitage Museum, historic centre of Saint Petersburg

Website: http://hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/explore/buildings/locations/building/B60/?lng=ru

GPS coordinates: 59.93810,30.31720

Latest update: December 6, 2025 21:28