Engineers Castle

(Inzhenernyi Zamok), in Leningrad (until 1823, Mikhailovskii Zamok), Russian architectural monument.

The Engineers’ Castle was constructed in 1797–1800 by the architect V. F. Brenna, according to the design of the architect V. I. Bazhenov, as a residence for Emperor Pavel I (who was murdered here Mar. 12 [24], 1801). Built in the classical style, it is square-shaped and has an eight-cornered courtyard in the interior. At the beginning of the avenue leading up to the castle, there are two three-storied pavilion-guardhouses, which were designed by Bazhenov and which have rooms in the rounded shape that was characteristic of his structures. An equestrian statue of Peter I (bronze, 1743–44, sculptor B. C. Rastrelli) was set up in front of the Engineer’s Castle in 1800. In 1948, Kleno-vaia Avenue (architect N. V. Baranov and others) was built, linking the pavilion-guardhouses (from Inzhenernaia Street) with Manezhnaia Square, and the land adjoining the castle on the south was cleared of structures of later origin and planted with trees and gardens.