Originally named Mikhail Castle in honor of the Archangel Mikhail, the Engineer's Castle was erected in 1800 as the residence of Paul I. Paul, realizing that his hold on power was weak, had the residence built as a fortress to protect himself from assassination. Constructed on a medieval model (complete with secret rooms and passages, and four canals acting as a moat with drawbridges), the complex did foil Paul's enemies for awhile. Unfortunately for Paul, the castle couldn't protect him forever, and on 11 March 1801 (forty days after moving in) Paul was murdered in his sleep.

Following Paul's murder, Alexander I assumed power. Mikhail Castle took on several roles, none of which included housing the Tsar. Between Paul's death and 1822, the complex served as barracks for the Imperial Guard, headquarters for the institute for the blind, and the Chancellery of the Ministry of Instruction and Religious Affairs.

In 1822, the Military Engineering School moved into the building, thus the building assumed the name "Engineer's Castle."

Situated immediately outside of the main entrance to the Engineer's Castle sits an equestrian statue of Peter I. The construction of the statue had begun while Peter I was still alive, and his death mask was used as a model. Paul had the statue placed outside of his residence with the inscription "To the great-grandfather, the great-grandson."

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Jake Fey
e-mail: x9e0@music.stlawu.edu
RUSS 248A SPTP: Via the WWW to Russia. St. Lawrence University. Project 2
Text - Copyright © 1997. Jake Fey
Revised - 7 April 1997
URL: "file:///A|/RUSSIA2/engcast.htm"