Topics

1

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Crowns in Conflict

« on: July 13, 2004, 01:53:37 PM »

Has anyone read: Crowns in Conflict: The Triumph of the Tragedy of European Monarchy, 1910-1918 by Theo Aronson?  Is it factual or fiction?
Thanks Cathy

2

Imperial Russian Antiques / Winter Palace, Faberge Display

« on: July 08, 2004, 04:21:22 PM »

Would anyone know where in the Winter Palace, Nicholas and Alexandra had all the gifts that they distributed to visiting Royals and dignataries. Many of the gifts were Faberge. Was there a vault or a display room and where located or has anyone seen a photograph of such a room.
Thanks
Cathy

3

Palaces in St. Petersburg / Winter Palace, Guest Suites

« on: July 08, 2004, 04:12:29 PM »

Would anyone know if there were (and where) rooms or a suite of roomsthat the Emperors' guests-of-distinction may have resided in.
For example, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria had what is known as the Emperor's Guesthouse, a palace (hotel) that he paid for from his private purse in 1908, completed in a manner laid down by himself and to be made available as required for his guests. It is known today as the Parkhotel Schoenbrunn, well within walking distance of Schoenbrunn, the summer palace of Franz Joseph and Sissi, in Vienna.
In St. Petersburg's Winter Palace, across the Dark Corridor from the rooms of Nicholas and Alexandra were the suite of rooms of Alexander II that remained as they were when he died in 1881.  From Nicholas' library down to Palace Square were the suite of rooms of Alexander II's wife Empress Marie that were possibly also left as is when she died in 1880.
So where did the visiting Kings and Emperors reside when they were on official visits to St. Petersburg?
Thanks Cathy

4

The Alexander Palace / Children's Island

« on: April 18, 2004, 11:20:45 PM »

Hi

Would anyone have any information about the house on the Children's Island.  Has anyone
been inside?  Are there pictures of the interior?  I was there in '96; although unable to visit
the interior of the Palace (so jealous of those that have) I did extensive walks around the
grounds.  I noticed a concrete dock/ramp on the Palace side of the water and wondered if
that was a launch site for the family to visit the island in the summer (asumming they could
walk on the ice in the winter).
Was the house damaged during the occupation?  Was it restored in any way?  It looks in very good shape.

Thanks for any information.
Cathy