 Palace shell, with a riverside frontage stretching for 500 meters, remained in place until December 1796, when Catherine's successor Paul, eager to obliterate the memory of his mother's undertakings, ordered the palace to be demolished and materials to be reused for construction of St. Michael's Castle in St. Petersburg.Demolition, authorized by Paul on December 7, 1796 actually commenced in May 1797, starting with connecting galleries.By January 1801 six of nine building were completely demolished, three other were razed during Alexander's reign.