Hot Hotels :: St Petersburg's Grand Hotel Europe
Orient-Express' Grand Hotel Europe, located in the heart of St. Petersburg, recently completed an extensive restoration project to 10 of its historic suites. Located on the hotel's Historic Floor, each suite has its own original interior that reflects the rich history of both the hotel and St. Petersburg. From Pavarotti to Romanov, the suites were named and inspired by famous Russians and guests who left their mark on the hotel.
The spacious suites offer up to 1,044 square feet and 14 foot-high ceilings. Each suite has a vestibule, living room, bedroom and large bathroom, with windows looking out on the picturesque center of St. Petersburg - Arts Square, with its monument dedicated to the great poet, Alexander Pushkin, and the building of the Noble Assembly.
Original 19th century features and styles were retained as a result of the restoration work carried out by French designer Michel Jouannet, who is renowned for his work on other Orient-Express Hotels, such as Hotel Cipriani in Venice, and the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro. Dating back to the 1820s, the Grand Hotel Europe building is classified as a national and cultural landmark and is under a preservation order as a historical monument.
The Suites
No. 105: The Pavarotti Suite celebrates the Italian tenor, who stayed in this suite during his final tour in 2004. It has always been a favorite with musicians due to the antique grand piano in the living room. The interior is stylized in the spirit of the finest opera houses in the and the color scheme is dominated by hues of gold and red, with the bathroom finished in contrasting types of black and pink marble.
No. 107: The Dostoevsky Suite is named after the renowned Russian writer Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, who was a frequent guest of the hotel. To capture his mood, the designer chose tones that are fresh, yet deep and serious, with wallpaper featuring a 19th century style pattern, and a large desk for literary work in the living room.
No. 109: The Imperial Yacht Suite commemorates the Russian royal yacht, the Derzhava, which stunned contemporaries with the unprecedented opulence of its interiors. Shades of marine colors dominate the color scheme of the suite, and the bathroom is decorated in green and cream marble.
No. 112: The Faberge Suite is named in honor of the renowned Russian jeweler, Carl Faberge. The interior is designed in the finest traditions, embodying his works of art. The color scheme contains shades of pink, lilac and golden tones, and the suite is furnished with light, almost white colored furniture encrusted with precious stones and patina.
No. 113: The Mariinsky Suite honors the Mariinsky Theatre and its celebrated guests such as Anna Pavlova and the great choreographer, Marius Petipa. The suite is decorated in light blue tones to match those of the interior of the Mariinsky Theatre, and has a theatrical ambience to it.
No. 119: The Stravinsky Suite is named after the great composer Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky, for whom the Evropeiskaya Hotel, as the Grand Hotel Europe was then known, was the first port of call when he returned to Russia 48 years after emigrating. His music is associated with spring and general awakening, and so the interior has joyful hues of spring-like green and the bathroom is decorated in green marble.
No. 121: The Romanov Suite is named in honor of the Imperial Russian dynasty, members of which regularly frequented the hotel. This suite has a truly palatial atmosphere and is furnished with antique furniture featuring decorative gold molding.
Suite No. 123: The Rossi Suite is named after the architect Carlo Rossi, who designed both the hotel's fa?ade and the architectural ensemble of the adjacent Arts Square and Mikhailovskaya Ulitsa, on which the hotel is located. The suite is decorated in classic "Rossi" white and yellow - the colors that are used in many of the architect's masterpieces around St. Petersburg.
No. 125: The Amber Suite is named in honor of the famous Amber room at the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo, which is often referred to as 'the eighth wonder of the world'. It features warm amber tones, in keeping with its name, and the bathroom is made with pink and yellow marble.
No. 127: The Lidval Suite is named in honor of Fyodor Ivanovich Lidval, one of the greatest architects working in St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 20th century who helped redesign the interiors at Grand Hotel Europe from 1908 to 1914. The suite consists of a large living room with a winter garden on a small, glass-covered veranda.
The historic suites start from RUB 51,480 (approximately USD$1,677) per room per night. For more information on Grand Hotel Europe, visit www.grandhoteleurope.com.
by Megan Smith
, EDGE Assistant Travel Editor
Megan is the Assistant Travel Editor for EDGE Publications. Based in Australia, she has been published in gay and lesbian publications in both America and Australia, and she has been on assignment as a travel-writer for Let's Go travel guides in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.
