Small Hermitage

The Small Hermitage is an art museum housed in a classical building with a two-story white and green facade adorned with symmetrical windows and ornate stone carvings. The structure contains multiple galleries that display European paintings and decorative objects spanning different historical periods.

The museum began in the 1760s as a private royal collection before expanding into one of Europe's major art institutions. Its creation marked an important moment when a Russian ruler actively sought and acquired significant European artworks.

The building displays European artworks spanning multiple periods, from paintings by Flemish artists to decorative objects from the Renaissance and Baroque eras. Visitors can observe how the collection reflects the tastes and interests of 18th-century nobility and the artistic movements valued across the continent.

Access to the museum runs through the Winter Palace courtyard, and multilingual guided tours are available. Plan to spend enough time exploring the galleries, as the layout spans multiple levels connected by stairs.

The building was designed by a French architect and connects two separate pavilions through gallery corridors. This unusual arrangement created an intimate space for viewing art that differed from the public museums of that era.

Location: Dvortsovy Municipal Okrug

Founders: Catherine II of Russia

Architectural style: classicism

Part of: Hermitage Museum

Website: http://hermitagemuseum.org/html_Ru/05/hm5_2_2.html

GPS coordinates: 59.94112,30.31582

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:03