4: The Kitchen

One of the numerous kitchens in the palace this one was used to heat and to serve meals for the grand dinners held on the floor above. "It is well known that there is no other place in St Petersburg where one dines as well as in the palace of the Prince," wrote one of his contemporaries. The brick vault serving as an extraction hood has survived from the early 18th century. It is suspended from a wooden beam and rests on a metal tie-rod supported by two stanchions. The stove has been reconstructed using authentic bricks. To the right of the door leading into the Grand Vestibule one can see part of the original arched doorway that has been laid bare. The display includes a painted wall clock (Netherlands, late 17th century), Russian and foreign kitchen utensils made of copper, pewter, glass, ceramics and wood, as well as a large bowl cut from a solid piece of linden wood and used for brewing beer. Particularly noteworthy are engraved pewter articles - a Russian-made chetvertina goblet with an image of St George and a Seasons of the Year dish made in Germany in 1644.