The State Hermitage Museum was founded in the late 1700s, and is the second largest museum in the world today, with more than 3 million items as part of the collection housed here. When availing State Hermitage Museum tickets, you can get a chance to take a walk back in time, as the museum is housed inside the Winter Palace of Peter the Great, which was the home of Russian emperors up until the year 1917. The museum is also a great place to visit if you a history buff and wish to learn about the rich past and heritage of Russia, whilst also marvelling at the extensive selection of exhibits, ranging from French Neoclassical and Impressionist art, to Italian Renaissance as well as Flemish Baroque exhibits and displays. During your visit to the museum, you can also discover Russian art from the 11th to 19th centuries, in addition to an Egyptian antiquity collection from the 19th century as well as art from the prehistoric times. The State Hermitage Museum also has the largest collection of paintings in the world, with around 17,000 paintings displayed here, thereby making it a great place to visit in St Petersburg.
The State Hermitage Museum was built, and then opened during the reign of Catherine the Great, in 1764, when she purchased over 225 paintings from Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky. Subsequently, artworks by Flemish as well as Dutch artists, such as Rubens, Rembrandt, Jacob Jordaens, Antoon van Dyck, Frans Hals, Hendrick Goltzius, Dirck van Baburen, Hendrick van Balen as well as Jan Steen and Gerrit van Honthorst were collected for display in the Hermitage.
The museum was also further expanded during the 19th century when a lot of other imperial collections were added to it. Some of these included Greek and Scythian relics, which were discovered during excavations on ancient burial sites like Pereshchepina, Pazyryk and others in southern Russia. The expansion of the museum also introduced the world to one of the richest ancient gold collections, which included a significant part of the treasures found in Troy. It was also during this time when Nicholas I commissioned the construction of a public museum to house this ever-expanding collection.
After the October RevolutionAfter the Revolution of 1917, the imperial Hermitage was declared to be the property belonging to the soviet state. The collection was then also expanded further, when a lot of the private art collections from different palaces belonging to the Czars were distributed to the museums of the soviet state. Works by Gauguin, Picasso as well as Matisse and Van Gogh were also acquired after the October Revolution.
After WWIIPost the second World War, the government tried to compensate for the losses, and thereby transferred artworks acquired by the Red Army in Germany. This included 74 impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, which were later unveiled to the public as Hidden Treasures of the Hermitage.
In the twenty-first centuryAs of the 21st century, the State Hermitage Museum has expanded to the nearby buildings, owing to its ever increasing collections. It was also featured in a 24-hour-long Japanese documentary, which is said to be the longest film ever to be made about the Hermitage. Several areas of the museum as well as the Winter Palace have also been featured in many films, from Anna Karenina to Golden Eye and Russian Ark.
As of the 21st century, the State Hermitage Museum has expanded to the nearby buildings, owing to its ever increasing collections. It was also featured in a 24-hour-long Japanese documentary, which is said to be the longest film ever to be made about the Hermitage. Several areas of the museum as well as the Winter Palace have also been featured in many films, from Anna Karenina to Golden Eye and Russian Ark.
One of the best collections that you can discover with your State Hermitage Museum tickets is that of the Egyptian Antiquities, which date back to 1852 and include the famous Castiglione Collection. This collection is located inside a large hall on the ground floor in the eastern wing of the museum, and boasts of artefacts from ancient Mesopotamia, Babylon, Nimrud as well as Dur-Sharrukin.
The collection of classical antiquities can be found in the rooms on the ground floors of the Old as well as the New Hermitage buildings. These contain Greek artefacts from as early as the 5th century BC, in addition to Hellenistic sculpture and jewellery pieces, ancient Greek pottery, roman marble and bronze sculptures, as well as works of applied art from the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD, among other things.
The Prehistoric Art collection is one attraction that you must not miss out when you avail your State Hermitage Museum tickets. The collection is located on the ground floor of the western wing of the Winter Palace. It contains artefacts from the Palaeolithic to the Iron ages, all of which were excavated in Russia and parts of the former Russian empire and Soviet Union. You can also find a collection of artworks and items from the nomadic tribes of the Altai from Bashadar and Pazyryk sites, which includes the oldest surviving knotted-pile carpet and wooden chariot in the world, from the 4th to 3rd centuries BC.
There are four rooms located on the ground floor of the New Hermitage building which houses jewellery and decorative arts from the 4th century BC all the way to the early 20th century AD. You can also find jewellery pieces from Caucasus, Asia as well as Pontic steppes in the museum, such as the Sarmatian and Scythian gold. Other highlights of this collection include an 18th century golden Peacock Clock, a mosaic collection and applied arts from the 12th to 15th centuries.
When using your State Hermitage Museum Tickets, head over to the rooms on the first floor of the Old Hermitage, which is known for its collection of Italian Renaissance exhibits. The rooms were designed between 1851 and 1860, and feature works by famed Italian Renaissance artists, such as Giorgione, Titian, Veronese as well as Leonardo da Vinci. In the eastern wing of the New Hermitage, you can find sculptures as well as tapestries and paintings by Raphael from the 15th to 16th centuries.
Located on the first floor of the New Hermitage are three interior spaces, which boasts of some of the most spectacular works of Italian and Spanish fine art from the 16th to 18th centuries, in addition to Russian lapidary works of the 19th century. These also include works like Crouching Boy by Michelangelo and paintings by El Greco, among other artists.
Use your State Hermitage Museum tickets to explore the Knights’ Hall, located in the eastern wing of the New Hermitage. The room, which was designed to display a collection of coins, now houses a collection of arms and armours from western Europe, dating back to the 15th to 17th centuries.
Located in the southern and western wings of the New Hermitage are rooms and galleries that house artworks from the Dutch Golden Age as well as Flemish Baroque paintings from the 17th century. These include numerous artworks by artists like Rembrandt, Van Dyck as well as Rubens, in addition to paintings by Jan Brueghel the Elder, Jan van Goyen, Ferdinand Bol and others.
With your State Hermitage Museum tickets, you can also marvel at the spectacular collections of German, Swiss, British and French fine art in the museum. These collections are located on the first floor rooms in the southern end of the Winter Palace. In addition to 16th century German fine art and French fine arts from the 15th to 18th centuries, you can also discover British applied and fine art from the 16th to 19th century in these rooms.
The Russian Art collection of the museum can be found in the eastern, northern and western ends of the first floor of the Winter Palace. The collection boasts of thousands of works of Russian arts from the 11th to the 19th centuries, and are a major attraction of the State Hermitage Museum.
Another major collection highlight that you can witness with the State Hermitage Museum tickets is that of the French Neoclassical, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. The collection boasts of many works by famous artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet as well as Renoir, and is housed on the fourth floor of the eastern wings of the General Staff Building.
Located in the General Staff Building of the museum is an extensive collection of Modern, German Romantic as well as other artworks from the 19th and 20th centuries. These include works by Matisse, Derain, Picasso, Petrocelli, Giacomo Manzu and other notable artists. You can also find German romantic art of the 19th century and oriental artworks from China, India, Mongolia, Central Asia, Tibet, and Byzantium in these galleries.
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Best time of year - The best time of the year to visit the State Hermitage Museum is between the months of October to April, during the low season in the city. It is during these months when the museum is quieter, with lesser crowds, and when you can explore the museum at your own pace.
Best time of day- The best time of the day to pay a visit to the State Hermitage Museum is during the early morning hours, right when it opens for the day, around 10:30 a.m. In addition to beating the rush of crowds, you can also have ample time to see the different artefacts and displays in the museum if you come here during this time.
When should I avoid - Avoid visiting the State Hermitage Museum on the first Thursdays of the month, since entry is free on these days.
Make sure that you arrive as early to the museum as possible, since there over 350 rooms available to explore, which will take a lot of time.
It is advisable to book your State Hermitage Museum tickets online, in advance, to save some time and avoid the waiting lines here, which can take several hours.
If you are planning to visit the State Hermitage Museum, try visiting on the first Thursday of every month or on December 7th, when the entry to the museum is free.
It is also important to note that the Gold Room and Diamond Room, located in the Treasure Gallery are available to visit only via guided tours
How long does it take to see everything in the Hermitage museum?
Whilst it would take you years to see everything in detail in the Hermitage Museum, owing to its collection of more than 3 million items and artefacts, if you wish to glance through everything in the museum, you need at least 3 to 5 hours.
What is the Hermitage Museum famous for?
The Hermitage Museum is famous for being the largest art museum in the world in terms of gallery space, in addition to being the second largest art museum in the world by area. Dating back to 1764, the museum is also famous for holding a collection of around 3 million items, including one of the largest collections of Renaissance Italian and Baroque Dutch art. You can also find an extensive collection of artworks of French and Flemish painters here, in addition to archaeological artefacts from all over the world, ranging from ancient Greek sculptures, to Asian art as well as a numismatic collection.
How many paintings are in the State Hermitage Museum?
As of today, the State Hermitage Museum houses around 17,000 paintings, along with 600,000 graphic works and millions of other findings and artworks.
Should I book the tickets for the State Hermitage Museum in advance?
Yes, it is best to book your State Hermitage Museum tickets in advance. By doing so, you can not only secure your visit to this popular attraction, but also enjoy a skip-the-line entry to the museum, without having to wait for long hours in the queues.
What is the best way to reach the State Hermitage Museum?
The best way to reach the State Hermitage Museum is by availing the metro. You can take a metro to the Admiralteyskaya station, which is located just a short walk away from the museum.
How can I get the tickets for the State Hermitage Museum?
You can book the State Hermitage Museum tickets online. Not only is this the best way to get your tickets and secure your visit to the museum, but pre-booking tickets online will also help you save on time, energy and money during your visit.