Mariinsky Palace

The Mariinsky Palace (Russian Мариинский дворец ) is a palace on St. Isaac's Square in St. Petersburg. Along with the Winter Palace and the Tauride Palace, it is one of the three "political" palaces of Saint Petersburg and played a major role in the events of 1917 and 1991.

The neo-classical palace was built in the years 1839-1844 according to the project of architect Andrei Stackenschneider. It lies on the southern side of the Isaac square directly on the Moika. Prior to his establishment was located at this point, another palace dating back to 1768, belonged to the General-Field Marshal Sachar Tschernyschow. In the years 1825-1839 the previous palace housed a cavalry military school, where Mikhail Lermontov studied also.

After 1845 the palace was the official residence of the Russian Dukes of Leuchtenberg and got its name in honor of the daughter of Emperor Nicholas I, the Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna. 1884 Marie palace was bought by the state. He subsequently housed time the State Council of the Russian Empire and the Council of Ministers.

Between 1945-1991 worked the Leningrad Soviet here. During the August coup in Moscow here entrenched supporters of the coup, while the citizens have erected barricades around the palace. Today, the Mariinsky Palace serves as the seat of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg.