Designed by A.Gauguin in Northern modern style, the mansion was built for Mathilda Kshesinskaya, prima ballerina assoluta of the Imperial Russian Ballet, in 1906. It was noted in Russia not only for its high architectural value, but, in the first place, because of its scandalous fame. Kschesinskaya  was a close friend of both Nicholas II, who was executed in 1918, and his cousin the Grand Duke André, whom she married in 1921. She left Russia in 1920 and, for 30 years, taught in Paris. The mansion was presented by Nicolas II to Mathilda Kshesinskaya soon after breaking, on Nicolas’s initiative, their affair. After the February revolution of 1917 the mansion was the headquarters of Bolsheviks, who came to power in October 1917. In 1919 it became Russia’s first museum of history and revolution. Named in 1991 ‘The museum of political history of Russia’, it describes the most important events of Russia’s history during the last two centuries.

Open: 10:00 - 17:30

Closed:  Sat. / Su.

Address: Ulitsa Kujbysheva 2-4

Nearest metro station: Gorkovskaya

Tel.: +7 (812) 247 42 59