The Russian Museum is the country’s first state museum of Russian fine arts. It was founded by Alexander III. Later, in 1895, Nicholas II signed a decree “On the establishment of a special institution called the “Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III” and on the assignation for this purpose of the Mikhailovsky Palace with all its outbuildings and a garden”. The grand opening of the Russian Museum for visitors took place on March 19 (7), 1898. The collection of the Russian Museum was based on objects and works of art transferred from the Winter Palace, Gatchina and Alexander Palaces, the Hermitage, the Academy of Arts and private collections.

At present, the collection of the Russian Museum includes about 420,000 exhibits and covers all historical periods and trends in the development of Russian art, its main branches and genres, movements and schools for more than 1000 years: from the 10th to the 21st century. This number includes paintings, drawings, sculpture, decorative and folk art, numismatics, as well as archive materials.

The main retrospective exposition of the museum is located in the Mikhailovsky Palace (architect Carlo Rossi, 1819-1825), built for Emperor Paul I’s son, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, and in the Benois Wing, originally built as an exhibition pavilion of the Academy of Arts (architect L.N. Benois and I.S. Ovsyannikov, 1914-1919).

Among the exhibits of the museum one can find iconography by A. Rublev and Dionisius, portraiture by D. Levitsky, F. Rokotov and A. Venetsianov, sculptures by F. Shubin and S. Pimenov, mosaics of the 18th century, works by K. Bryullov, F. Bruni, I. Aivazovsky, I. Repin, V. Surikov and creative associations “World of Art”, “Knave of Diamonds”, “Blue Rose”, the creations of the early 20th century avant-garde artists V. Kandinsky, K. Malevich and P. Filonov, the art pieces by masters of social realism and severe style, nonconformists and conceptualists.

The complex of the Russian Museum also includes the Marble and Stroganov Palaces, the Mikhailovsky Castle, the House of Peter I and unique garden and park ensembles – the Summer Garden with the Summer Palace of Peter I and the Mikhailovsky Garden.

Temporary exhibitions, guided tours, concerts, festivals and other events are held in all branches of the museum, including the Summer and Mikhailovsky Gardens.

Mikhailovsky Palace: 191186, Saint Petersburg, Inzhenernaya st., 4
Benois Wing: 191186, Saint Petersburg, Griboedov Canal emb., 2

Mikhailovsky Castle: 191186, Saint Petersburg, Sadovaya st., 2

Marble Palace: 191186, Saint Petersburg, Millionnaya st., 5/1

Stroganov Palace: 191186, Saint Petersburg, Nevsky prospect, 17

House of Peter I: 197046, Saint Petersburg, Petrovskaya embankment, 6

Mikhailovsky Palace:

The facility is partially accessible to people with disabilities and other people with limited mobility. For visitors in wheelchairs, the exposition of the 1st floor is available. In front of the entrance there is a sign with the phone number +7 812 314 64 24, which you can call to get assistance.

Benois Wing:

The facility is partially accessible to people with disabilities and other people with limited mobility. For visitors in wheelchairs, the exposition of the 1st floor is available. In front of the entrance there is a sign with the phone number +7 812 314 64 24, which you can call to get assistance.

Stroganov Palace:

The facility is partially accessible to people with disabilities and other people with limited mobility. The entrance to the palace for visitors in wheelchairs is located in the courtyard. In order to use the entrance, press the staff call button. Museum services are provided on the 1st and 2nd floors. The palace is equipped with a wheelchair lift and portable ramps. Please contact the administrator.

Marble Palace:

The facility is partially accessible to people with disabilities and other people with limited mobility. The entrance to the palace is equipped with a ramp. Near the entrance to the ramp there is a staff call button. Museum services are provided on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd floors. The palace is equipped with a wheelchair lift and a portable ramp. Please contact the administrator.

Mikhailovsky Castle:

The facility is partially accessible to people with disabilities and other people with limited mobility. The entrance to the territory of the castle is carried out through the bridge with a cobbled surface. The entrance area of the castle is not equipped with lifting devices. Wheelchair access to the building is obstructed. Museum services are provided on the 1st and 2nd floors. Please contact the administrator.

House of Peter I:

The facility is partially accessible to people with disabilities and other people with limited mobility. The entrance area is equipped with ribbed flooring. The entrance to the House is by stairs. Services in the museum are provided on the 1st floor, divided into two levels. To move between levels, one can use a removable ramp. Please contact the administrator.