The Staraya Derevnya Storage Facility
Staraya Derevnya is the Hermitage’s restoration and storage centre, where the part of the enormous collection that does not fit in the galleries on Palace Embankment is kept. It practises open storage: the holdings are shown to the public, and you may even catch restorers at work. It is a quite different Hermitage — the museum’s “backstage”.
What you can see
The routes through the centre lead past specially equipped storerooms displaying objects long inaccessible to the wider public:
- carriages and coaches of the imperial court;
- furniture, tapestries and decorative art;
- paintings, icons and sculpture from the reserves;
- costumes, arms and other collections;
- open restoration workshops, where monuments are brought back to life.
It is a rare chance to understand how storage and restoration work in one of the world’s largest museums.
Why a museum needs a storage facility
Only a small part of the Hermitage’s collection is on display in the galleries — in all the museum holds over three million items. The rest is kept in reserve, and Staraya Derevnya is a modern complex built specially for such storage and for restoration. The idea of open storage is not to hide the reserves away entirely but to show them to the public in purpose-built storerooms: the visitor sees what usually stays “backstage”. Restoration workshops also operate here, and part of the route passes them, so you can sometimes watch specialists at work — which makes a visit quite unlike a tour of the state rooms.
Who will enjoy it and how to plan
Staraya Derevnya is for those who have already seen the grand Hermitage and want something unusual: to view the museum “from the inside”, to see carriages, costumes and restoration up close. It is a separate trip to the north of the city (metro Staraya Derevnya), so it is usually planned as its own outing rather than “on the way”. The sessions are small and run to a schedule, so book ahead and arrive for the start. Children and anyone who likes machinery often find the open storage of carriages and furniture especially interesting. It makes more sense as a self-contained programme for the day than as something squeezed in alongside the Main Complex.
How to visit
- Address: Zausadebnaya Street 37A; the nearest metro is Staraya Derevnya.
- Visiting is by session only, in a guided tour along routes set by the museum; there is no open entry.
- The centre keeps its own schedule (usually Tuesday to Sunday; closed Monday), which may differ from the Main Complex. Confirm the session times, availability and price on the official website, and book ahead.
In its session-only model Staraya Derevnya resembles the Gold Rooms. For tickets in general, see the tickets page.
FAQ
What is Staraya Derevnya? The Hermitage’s restoration and storage centre with open storage of the reserves — carriages, furniture, paintings, costumes and restoration workshops.
Where is the storage facility? Zausadebnaya Street 37A; metro Staraya Derevnya.
Can I come without a tour? No — visiting is by session only, in a guided tour; book ahead.
How does it differ from the Main Complex? It shows the reserves and restoration rather than the state display, and it has its own address and schedule.
This is an unofficial, informational website. The hours, sessions and prices change — confirm them on the official museum website before your visit.