Winter Palace, Guest Suites

[Cathy]

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

[Dmitry2]

the suite of rooms along the first floor of the palace that faces the admirality was the #1 Guest Suite for visiting crowned heads and heads of state.  There were several other suites along this side of the palace and down the arms of the palace leading back to the Neva.

I will get further details and post them.  I will be able to give you the present rooms and uses.

[Cathy]

Oh Dmitry2, thank you so much for this information and I do hope you post more.  Many of my pictures of the outside of the Winter Palace are from the Admiralty side because that was how I approached the Palace walking from my hotel. At that time there had been scaffolding and tarps from the corner of the buiding while the outside was refurbished. And I do remember being able to see the tarps from the inside so I must have visited at least the corridor! How exciting.
Thanks so much, Cathy

[Louise]

What would be really neat is too see pictures of the visiting royalty suites in Alexander/Catherine/Pavlosk Palaces.  I think it would also interesting to see seating arrangements of State Dinner's, etc.

I have this book, Louisa Lady in Waiting to Queen Victoria, Edward and George, and in the book there are diagrams of seating arrangements and who stayed where.

Louise

[Cathy]

Hi Goula
Wow, thank you so very much for this information - I now have my floor plan out and am identifying the rooms.  I have a little more to work with now.

Dmitry2 - you were going to "...I will be able to give you the present rooms and uses...."

Do you know, Goula?

Thanks, Cathy

[Cathy]

I was also wondering where guests stay today?  At the Winter Palace?  Or the Catherine Palace?
For example, where would Pres. Putin and his many guests have stayed while touring the 'new' Amber room? Or, where would Prince Charles, Duke of Windsor have stayed when he visited St. Petersburg a few years ago?  Or, the Princess Michael of Kent in the late 90s when she visited the Alex. Palace?
So many questions thanks for your replies everyone.
Cathy

[brnbg aka: liljones1968]

Or, where would Prince Charles, Duke of Windsor have stayed when he visited St. Petersburg a few years ago?

do you mean 'the prince of wales'?

[Cathy]

Thanks liljones1968, my mistake - I did mean the Prince of Wales. Cathy

[Cathy]

Hi Harald, thanks for the link.  While in St. Petersburg, my sister and I stayed at the Astoria - I loved it so much. We walked everyday to the Grand to have a tea or Coke, to get/leave a taxi and to visit the WC.  It truly was 'grand'.  If we go back, we may stay there but I do prefer the Astoria (my romantic envisionment of the past). I had no idea that royalty stayed there - I thought that 'palaces' were the only suites, if available, that they would stay in Europe.  I know that Russian does not have an active monarchy but historically, residences remain, which I thought would provide better security than a hotel.  In Canada, we provide hotel space with security, or large stately homes if available but no palaces - sigh.
Cathy

[Cathy]

A Caviar Bar!!!!  Let me rethink my preference for our next visit.  I love Russian caviar.
Cathy

[leanora]

I add that the foreigns ambassadors were not received in the Winter palace (used only by royalties) but in the Tauride palace in which a suite of rooms were reserved for them.... The Duma installed in the Tauride palace after 1905.

[londo954]

You are forgettiung the New Years Ceremony were Ambassadors were recieved at the Winter Palace