Ropsha Palace

[Liam]

Does anyone have any information on the Ropsha Palace?

In `Imperial palaces of Russia`, it says that the palalce is now derelict and practicly a ruin. Is this still the case?

[Antonio_P.Caballer]

Hello Liam,
You can find photographs of this palace in Anna Virubova´s albums in the Digital Photobase of the Yale University, Beinecke library. The palace is completely ruined. Now there´s nothing left but the walls. I assume it was destroyed during the wwii.
Antonio.

[Dimitri]

Does anyone actually have any pictures of the interiors and a floor plan?
Was the palace not really used and when it was not in use was in just shut up?

[Dimitri]

I have seen pictures of Nicholas at Ropsha but did he actually spent a large amount of time there?

[Joanna]

There is a site with a photograph of Ropsha but I am curious as it is different from the photographs in the Yale albums with N&A. Could this view be from the rear of the palace? Or was there another palace within Ropsha park?

http://lenobl.h1.ru/main.php?part=3&item=10

Here is another site of Ropsha with the facade that I remember from the Yale albums in scaffolding:

http://regionavt.spb.ru/hs/ropsha2.html

Joanna

[Joanna]

There is an interesting article pertaining to the history of violets by John Perfect of "Isaac Oldaker - Forty Years A Pensioner".  "... In 1804 [Isaac] was put in charge of the gardens of the Imperial Palace at Ropsha...Here in extensive kitchen gardens and a large range of greenhouses,  exotic and other fruit and vegetables were grown, including grapes, peaches, pineapples and melons  -  as well as flowers  -  on a scale sufficient to supply the demands of the imperial palace of St. Petersburg and the surrounding area..."

What is fascinating is the story of how in 1812 when he "... was relieved of his duties on the grounds of ill health and was to receive 1500 roubles a year until he recovered, even if he were living abroad...", he continued to call himself Gardener to his Majesty and managed to keep receiving his pension. "...It is not suprising that in 1832 someone pencilled on a document on Russian  "Can he really have been ill since 1812?" The last pension, for 1851, was drawn on March 13th  1852,  five days after his death.    No-one thought to inform the Russian authorities of his demise.    Only on September 13th   1854,  was the award cancelled, as it had not been claimed for more than two years."

http://www.sweetviolets.com/SWEETVIOLETS/Historyfolklore.htm

Joanna

[Joanna]

I am curious which branch of the Imperial family had use of Ropsha. Was this a private estate passed down similar to the Konstantinovich's Strelna and Pavlovsk or was it part of the Imperial property allocated to different members for their use?

In "Russia in Original Photographs 1860-1920" by Marvin Lyons, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1977, there are photographs of GD Vladimir and GD Maria Pavlovna at Ropsha c1894, July 22, 1900 (name day of MP) and July 15, 1906 (name day of V). This is a twelve year span of their family gatherings at Rophsa. Although the estate is south of and not on the Gulf of Finland, was this where they established themselves during the season when the court was at Peterhof?

A curious footnote to one of the photographs at Ropsha. It is c1894 and Marvin Lyons has identified one of the group as Mme. Pistolekors (later Paley) and she is seated next to GD Paul.

Joanna

[BobG]

Joanne,
I have read that Ropsha was Grand Duke Vladimir and Maria Pavlovna's palace (in The Grand Dukes, Divid Chavchavadze), but I'm not sure how and when it came into their possession.  I have not found any other reference of their having another palace in Peterhof and it does seem remote from there as most of the Imperial family seemed to have homes there.  

I too would love to see if anyone has any interior photos or plans of the palace.  It would also be great to get some more history on it.
Bob

[Antonio_P.Caballer]

Joanne,
I have read that Ropsha was Grand Duke Vladimir and Maria Pavlovna's palace (in The Grand Dukes, Divid Chavchavadze), but I'm not sure how and when it came into their possession.  I have not found any other reference of their having another palace in Peterhof and it does seem remote from there as most of the Imperial family seemed to have homes there.  

I too would love to see if anyone has any interior photos or plans of the palace.  It would also be great to get some more history on it.
Bob

Hello Bobg,

It seems that many different branches of the family lived there, if only for a short time. I always thought it was the property of the Vladimirs, but given that Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna had also her own bedroom at the palace, i wonder who really owned it...

[BobG]

was it part of the Imperial property allocated to different members for their use?

Maybe Joanna was right: I had never heard of any family other than the Vladimir's using the palace.  Interesting that Alexandra Iosifovna would have rooms here with Strelna and Pavlosk being relatively close by.  The Tsar certainly had far more properties available to him and his family than we currently document.  Hence the lack of information about places like Ropsha.  Here is the only mention of it I have found on a russian web site (Translated online)

In XIX Ropsha turns to capital suburb where there came members of imperial family on hunting and fishing. Before revolution Ropsha - NikolayII's pleasure, hunting and fishing manor.

Although I don't recollect any references of Nicholas spending time here.
Bob

[Joanna]

Although I don't recollect any references of Nicholas spending time here.

Hi Bob,

There is a sequence of photographs at Yale of Nicholas and Alexandra at Ropsha that appear to be c1907 or within that time period. If Nicholas had used this property for hunting, the visits may have been similar to when he went to Gatchina for a day's hunting. There are excerpts from his diaries of the late 1800's early 1900's where he writes of these trips whether with his family/suite or with a visiting royal guest. What we need is access to these early diaries to search for references to Ropsha!

Joanna

[nigbil]

Can someone please tell me about this palace, who lived there, what was its function and location?

[jfkhaos]

Peter III was imprisoned and murdered at Ropsha.

[Reco]

Ropsha ( Ponwa ) map

[Reco]

A view of Ropsha from Anna´s albums