The Small and New Hermitage, and the Atlantes

The “Hermitage” is not one building but an ensemble of several wings on Palace Embankment. Besides the grand Winter Palace, the Main Museum Complex includes the Small, Large (Old) and New Hermitage, as well as the Hermitage Theatre. Understanding this layout makes navigation far easier.

The Small Hermitage

The earliest of the “Hermitage” wings was built under Catherine the Great (architects Vallin de la Mothe and Felten) specially for the growing collection — and it is from here that the whole museum took its name. At its centre is the Hanging Garden, a real garden at first-floor level, and beside it the elegant Pavilion Hall with the famous Peacock Clock.

The Large (Old) Hermitage

The next wing, also from Catherine’s reign (architect Felten), was built for the picture gallery. Adjoining it is the wing by the Winter Canal with the Raphael Loggias — a faithful copy of the Vatican gallery. Here too are the rooms of Italian painting (see Italian Renaissance).

The New Hermitage and the Atlantes

The New Hermitage (architect Leo von Klenze) is the first building in Russia raised specifically as a public museum; it opened in 1852. It is easy to recognise by its portico with ten granite Atlantes — mighty figures supporting the porch on the Millionnaya Street side. They were carved in the 1840s by the sculptor Alexander Terebenev, and today the “Atlantes” are one of the museum’s most photographed symbols. It is in the New Hermitage that the Knights’ Hall (243) and the Rembrandt room (254) are found.

The Hanging Garden and grand staircases

A few details to notice as you cross from wing to wing. The Hanging Garden of the Small Hermitage is a real garden, with trees and lawns, laid out on the vaults of the first floor: in summer it is a green oasis among the palaces. In the Large (Old) Hermitage the grand Council Staircase (named after the neighbouring Council of State, not the Soviet era) is one of the most impressive interiors of the 19th century. And in the New Hermitage, besides the Atlantes, look out for the enfilade of spacious, purpose-built exhibition rooms — they still serve the use for which they were made.

How it all fits together

The wings are connected by passages, and visitors usually move between them without even noticing the boundaries. To avoid getting lost, navigate by the floor plan and room numbers. The building history is told on the history of the museum page.

Beyond the Main Complex, the Hermitage also has separate sites with their own addresses and tickets: the Menshikov Palace on Vasilyevsky Island, the Hermitage Theatre, and the Staraya Derevnya storage and restoration centre.

FAQ

How do the Small, Large and New Hermitage differ? The Small is the earliest, with the Hanging Garden and Pavilion Hall; the Large (Old) was built for the picture gallery; the New is the first purpose-built museum, with the Atlantes.

Where are the Hermitage Atlantes? At the portico of the New Hermitage on the Millionnaya Street side — ten granite figures by Terebenev.

Are all the wings on one ticket? The buildings of the Main Complex are connected and seen on one ticket; separate tickets are needed for the treasure galleries and the branches.

Why is the museum called the “Hermitage” if the palace is the Winter Palace? The name comes from the Small Hermitage, the wing Catherine the Great built for her collection; in time it spread to the whole museum.

This is an unofficial, informational website. The availability of individual wings and rooms changes — confirm details on the official museum website.