Cottage Bezborodko or "Kushelev Dacha", located on the waterfront of the Sverdlovsk St. Petersburg. This is the second building in the city after the Marble Palace marble. Therefore, the estate is often called the second or small marble palace. It is a monument of classical architecture.

The place where the branches of Sverdlovsk embankment Piskarevskiy avenue is called Polustrovo. In the XVIII century here it was discovered the healing power of mineral water. In 1770-ies in this place was built the manor house in the Gothic style, it is likely to Bazhenov. Site on the banks of the Neva River since 1782, he became chancellor of owning Alexander Bezborodko. In 1783-1784 years, for him, the project Quarenghi, the main building was rebuilt. The architect did not build a house from scratch, and use of existing facilities. Therefore, the house keeps not only the elements of construction Bazhenov, but probably, and Swedish manor, presumably settling down here before the founding of St. Petersburg.

The main three-storey building with round towers at the corners was put together in terms of the arc-shaped galleries with 2 umya symmetrical side wings. On the north side of the house it was laid out a large landscaped park in the English style - a favorite place of country walks. In addition, it was built garden buildings. The garden was decorated with marble sculptures, TV, garden furniture. Before the house was built on the waterfront pier with sphinxes of granite. In the years 1857-1860, in the course of restructuring by architect E.Ya. Schmidt, the mansion acquired quite a sight.

After the death of the princess lived here Bezborodko KI Lobanov-Rostovsky, his niece, who raised the son of his sister - AG Kushelev. Later, he began to call himself Count Kushelev-Bezborodko. It is from this time and acquired a cottage now known name - giving Kushelev-Bezborodko.

After 1917, there was a hospital named after Karl Liebknecht. In the years 1960-1962 there were carried out reconstruction work, and the building was equipped with a TB hospital.

The whole house is built in the architectural forms of the eclectic. The central facade of the mansion built in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Finishing - pink marble. In the depths of the site were built greenhouse, library and theater.

Count Kushelev-Bezborodko, writer and philanthropist, he was fond of collecting rare paintings. His mansion is the richest of their meeting. Each Petersburger and guests of the Northern capital on certain days can absolutely free to see the picture. Then there were VV Krestovskiy, AF Pisemsky, VS Kurochkin, been passing by Alexandre Dumas.

After the death of Count mansion was purchased by the family of the emperor. Lived here, Prince Nicholas, Princess Catherine M. St. George, located in the house of personal belongings of the murdered emperor Alexander II.

In its original form in the mansion remained a number of ceremonial rooms, grand staircase and elements of windows and doors. The most beautiful halls of the Small marble palace is gold, White and Blue room, living room "Dresden china" Great room and others.

The wings of the mansion are connected to one another unusual fence that separates the garden from the waterfront (mid XIX century). It is made in the form of 29 identical statues of lions that hold the teeth in the iron chain. All Lions are set to square pedestals, under which are the foundations of the Pudozh stone. In St. Petersburg, many sculptures of lions, but in most cases, this guard lions that hold the paw on the ball. So many lions - only here. Behind them, in front of the house is an ordinary fence.

Now Small marble palace is the European Institute, where the training of students on international programs in the field of history and economics, sociology and law.