What does the Hermitage consist of?

Every year, three million people visit the Hermitage, the largest art and historical museum in the world. The exhibitions and expositions of the Hermitage occupy five buildings: Winter Palace, Small Hermitage, Old Hermitage, Court Theatre and New Hermitage. Most of us believe that the Hermitage is a general concept, the name of the most famous museum. In fact, it is a large complex of 7 buildings connected by transitions, and built at different times and for different purposes. Winter Palace. This is the main building of the Hermitage: the former winter residence of the Russian emperors from 1762 to 1904. The current building is the fifth in a row built by the Italian architect B.F. Rastrelli in the style of lush Baroque with elements of rococo in 1754-1762. However, today's splendor of the interiors of the palace, we also owe the greatest architects who created and restored the premises after the fires: Auguste Montferrand, Karl Rossi, Giacomo Quarenghi, Vasily and Vladimir Stasov, Alexander Bryullov and many others. The Little Hermitage. It was this building, built in 1764-1775 by architects Wallen-Delamot and Felten for Catherine II, and was originally called the Hermitage - from the French ermitage - a place of solitude. Here, after daily worries in a narrow circle of close people, the Empress loved to retire, play cards, and dine. The premises of the Small Hermitage also housed paintings and sculptures acquired by Catherine II, which became the basis of the collection of the future museum. The Grand Hermitage (Old Hermitage). The building was built in 1771-1787 by the architect Felten specifically to house the palace art collections, since even before the construction of the Small Hermitage building was completed, it became clear that the ever-increasing collection of works of art simply would not fit into such a small building. In the XIX century, the building was reconstructed first by Quarenghi, and then by Stackenschneider. And in addition to the collections, living quarters were equipped here, and the decor of the interiors became more luxurious. New Hermitage. The first building in Russia specially built for a public art museum. Built in the style of St. Petersburg "eclectic". The grand opening to the public took place in 1852, and the sculptures for the exhibition were selected personally by Emperor Nicholas I. Stunning Atlanteans bearing the transverse beams of the portico also appeared on this building for the first time in modern architecture. The Hermitage Theatre. This building was built in 1783-1787 by the design of Giacomo Quarenghi on the site and using the foundations of the Winter Palace of Peter I. In addition to performances with the participation of famous actors of that time, amateur performances with the participation of the city nobility were played here. Balls and masquerades were also held here. Today, classical opera and ballet performances are successfully staged in the theater. The Winter Palace Reserve House. This is the youngest building of the Hermitage complex. It was built at the end of the XIX century. Built, of course, not on empty ground - since 1710 there were buildings that constantly changed the owners and appearance. And the purpose of the building has changed dramatically more than once - from the high-class palace to the apartment house. Now a large-scale reconstruction of the building is being completed, which will allow adapting the internal premises to the needs of the museum complex. The Hermitage Garage of His Imperial Majesty is difficult for ordinary visitors to see - it is located in the courtyard of the Hermitage. It was built in 1911 from an innovative material at that time – cinder blocks – especially for Nicholas II. Interestingly, the red-brick color exactly repeats the color of the Winter Palace of that time. Nowadays, the garage is used for its intended purpose.