Vorontzov Palace - Odessa

[AkshayChavan]

I am looking for photos of Vorontzov Palace at Odessa. I have searched the net but not found any photos. Does the palace still exist?

[Athena]

[BobG]

I went looking online for this palace for you.  I THINK it still exists but may now be the City Coucil Building of Odessa.

Can anyone confirm this.

There are many pictures of the Bellvedere, but very few of the palace.
BobG

[Douglas]

Bob:

 I believe this palace is now the Palace of Pioneers.  The building is  a clubhouse  for children to sing, dance and do artwork.

There are several photos available if one does a Google search under 'Images'.

 I copied the info below from an Odessa website.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Vorontsovsky Dvorets (Vorontsov Palace) - Built in 1827 in classical Russian style, this palace was once the residence of Count Vorontsov, who served as Pushkin's guardian while the poet lived and worked (he was employed as a civil servant) here in exile. Pushkin considered Vorontsov to be a harsh chaperone and taskmaster, describing him as a "vandal, a cad, and a petty egoist," in letters to the writer Ivan Turgenev. The flamboyant Pushkin - known for his philandering - had an affair with Vorontsov's wife (perhaps history's most definitive case of "poetic justice"). Vorontsov was Governor of Novorossiisk (New Russia), a region that surrounded Odessa. His palace became the headquarters of the Odessa Soviet (a sort of city hall) after the Bolshevik Revolution, and later was restored to and became the Palace of Pioneers. Located at the far northeastern end of Primorsky Bulvar.

[helenazar]

I am looking for photos of Vorontzov Palace at Odessa. I have searched the net but not found any photos. Does the palace still exist?

A.C. I visited Odessa several years ago and remember seeing this palace. I also have a picture book from Odessa, which I am pretty sure will contain a current photo of the palace. I am not home right now so can't check, but will try to remember to do it when I get home and post the photo. If I forget, please email me and remind me.

Helen

[helenazar]

Bob:  I believe this palace is now the Palace of Pioneers.  I copied the info below from Odessa website.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

... served as Pushkin's guardian while the poet lived and worked (he was employed as a civil servant) here in exile. Pushkin considered Vorontsov to be a harsh chaperone and taskmaster, describing him as a "vandal, a cad, and a petty egoist," in letters to the writer Ivan Turgenev. The flamboyant Pushkin - known for his philandering - had an affair with Vorontsov's wife (perhaps history's most definitive case of "poetic justice"). Vorontsov was Governor of Novorossiisk (New Russia), a region that surrounded Odessa. His palace became the headquarters of the Odessa Soviet (a sort of city hall) after the Bolshevik Revolution, and later was restored to and became the Palace of Pioneers. Located at the far northeastern end of Primorsky Bulvar.

Yes, Pushkin did not seem to have any love lost for this man... There is a statue of Vorontsov in Odessa, and if I remember correctly, the verse Pushkin used to describe him in the insriptions are as follows:

"Half-merchant, half-cad, but hope remains that he will become something whole some day...", or something to that effect  

Also, I heard that Leo Tolstoy based the character of Anna Karenina's husband on this man, but I don't know how true that is.

[helenazar]

BTW, Odessa is not in the Crimea, but southern Ukraine (although on the Black Sea)  .

[AkshayChavan]

I was reading the biography of Prince Micheal Vorontzov. In this biography it was written that Pushkin was the lover to Princess Vorontzov. Prince Micheal himself suspected that Pushkin was the father of his youngest daughter. Pushkin would openly boast of his exploits with Princess Vorontzov.

[helenazar]

Pushkin would openly boast of his exploits with Princess Vorontzov.

Wasn't she a Countess?

[Reco]

The legend said :

Vorontsev Palace
This 150-year old estate sits on gorgeous real estate ovelooking the coastline. Unfortunately, it's dilapidated and grafitti-covered, as well as off-limits to any sightseeers.

[Athena]

[Athena]

[Athena]

[AkshayChavan]

Wasn't she a Countess?

Count Micheal Vorontzov was raised to the title of Serene Prince Vorontzov for his part in wars against Napoleon. So Counts Vorontzov became Serene Princes Vorontzov.

Thank you all for the wonderfull photos. I read somewhere that large parts of the palace were demolished during soviet era.

[helenazar]

Here is what it says about the Vorontsov Palace in my Odessa book, and also some more photos...