What is Winter Palace?
The '''Winter Palace''' in [[Saint Petersburg|St. Petersburg]], [[Russia]], is one of the greatest and largest [[palace]]s. From 1732 to 1917, it was the official residence of the [[Russia]]n [[Tsar]]s. It was built on the shores of the [[Neva River]] between 1754 and 1762. Tsar [[Nicholas I]], in the 19th century, was responsible for the palace's present appearance and layout. He made many changes to the interior of the palace, and was responsible for its complete rebuilding after the fire of 1837.<ref>Budberg, Moura 1969. ''Great Palaces'' (The Winter Palace, 194–201). London: Hamlyn. {{ISBN|0 600 01682 X}}.</ref> [[File:Winter Palace Facade II.jpg|thumb|center|700px|The Winter Palace]] On 30 October 1917, the palace was declared to be part of the [[Hermitage Museum]]. Today, the palace, as part one of the world's most famous museums, attracts an annual 3.5 million visitors. == Gallery == <gallery> File:Palace Square02 2006.jpg|Palace Square at night File:WinterPalaceLibrary.jpg|Winter Palace Library File:Golden Drawing Room.jpg|The Golden Drawing Room File:Armorial Hall, Winter Palace, St Petersburg (Hermitage), 1730, ZM.JPG|The Armorial Hall File:Field Marshal's Hall, Sadovnikov.jpg|The Field-Marshall's Hall, by Sadovnikov, 1852. File:St GeorgesHallWP.jpg|The St Georges Hall by Ukhtomsky, 1862. File:Avant-salle.jpg|The Great Ante-Chamber (waiting room), Ukhtomsky 1861. File:Krendovsky Throne Room of Empress Maria Fiodorovna 1831.jpg|The Throne Room of Empress Maria Fiodorovna, ~1831. File:Nicholas II of Russia painted by Earnest Lipgart.jpg|Nicholas II, last Tsar of all the Russias, in the Nicholas Hall of the Winter Palace. </gallery> == References == {{Reflist}} {{Europe-stub}} [[Category:Palaces in Russia]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Saint Petersburg]]