The Yusupov Palace is one of the best known aristocratic palaces of St. Peterbsurg acclaimed for its rich history and its magnificent interior design.
The history of the palace dates back to the epoch of Peter the Great who founded the new Russian capital in early 18th century. The palace and estate took nearly 200 years to acquire its present shape with contributions from the best architectural talent of the time: J.-B. Vallain de la Motte, A.M. Mikhailov 2nd, B. Simone, H. Monigetti, W. Kennel, A. Stepanov, A, Vaitens, and A. Beloborodov.
Between 1830 and 1917 the palace was owned by the elite aristocratic family of the Yusupovs - rich industrialsts and connoisseurs of fine art. Over the years the Yusupovs accumulated immesurable wealth which rivalled that of the Romanovs.
The palace went down in Russian history as the place where the mysterious monk Grigory Rasputin was assassinated. Rasputin came from a Siberian village to later become the spiritual mentor and friend of Nicholas II and the Royal Family in the early 20th century. He was assassinated on the night of December 17, 1916 in the private annex of the young Prince Felix Yusupov, now housing a historical exhibit recreating the assassination scene.
The Yusupov Palace is one of the few St. Petersburg mansions to have retained the original interior decorations. Visitors can marvel the beauty of an art gallery, private mini-theater, and luxurious private quarters of the Yusupovs.
