The Michajlovsky Castle, also known as the Castle of Engineers, is located in the center of St. Petersburg and is one of the most original monuments of Russian architecture of the 18th – 19th century. The Michajlovsky Castle is the only building in Russia in romantic neoclassical style, which combines the characteristics of a medieval castle with those of a secular European palace.
In the middle of the 13th century, it was the third Summer Palace of Empress Elisabeth, where Grand Duke Paul Petrovich (Paul I), son of Catherine II, was born. When he took the throne at the age of 42, Emperor Paul I ordered the demolition of the old wooden palace and the construction of a new royal residence.
The following legend explains why this specific place was chosen: "A soldier who was on duty during the night shift near the old Summer Palace […] swore that the Archangel Michael appeared and ordered him to tell Paul I that a church was to be built on this site in his honour. Appearing before the Tsar, the soldier reported the message of the Archangel, to which Paul answered: "The order of the Archangel Michael will be fulfilled."
The majestic complex, St. Michael’s Palace, was designed by Vincenzo Brenna in the late 1790s. It was situated on an island, bordered to the north and east by two rivers, while to the south and west by two specially dug canals. The system of interlocking fortifications, surrounding the palace and the Konnetabl Square opposite, included canals, semi-bastions, drawbridges and cannons. In appearance, the new royal residence represented the artistic tastes and originality of its owner and main creator: Emperor Paul I.
Each of the four facades of the castle is distinguished by its architectural style. At the beginning of the 19th century, the abandoned palace was used as a School of Engineering.
