Suvorov Museum | Russia Travel

Suvorov Museum - Dedicated to a Military Master-Mind

The Suvorov Museum in St Petersburg is also known as the Suvorov Memorial Museum or the Aleksandr Suvorov Memorial Museum. This museum was the first memorial museum established in Russia, and was launched in 1904. Architect Alexander von Gogen, with the assistance of Hermann Grimm, were responsible for the construction of the building. On the exterior of the host building, there are two historically based mosaics that depict the “Suvorov Crossing of the Alpes” and “Suvorov leaving home for the campaign of 1799”.

The Suvorov Museum is dedicated to a great and most outstanding military strategist, general and army commander, in the history of Russia. The museum is dedicated to Aleksandr Vasilyevich Suvorov, who served the state during the reign of both the Empress Catherine the Great and Tsar Paul I. Aleksandr Suvorov was born on 24 November 1729, and followed in the footsteps of his father General Vasiliy Ivanovich Suvorov, by dedicating his life and most of his 72 years, to the military and to serving the Russian Tsars. During the Crimean war that raged in 1799, Suvorov and his troops found themselves trapped without reinforcements within Switzerland, fighting an extremely difficult battle amongst the harsh terrain of the Alpes. Suvorov, even at 72 and facing ill health, chose to fight his way home. His successful escape saw the loss of all his guns and a third of his men. He earned the admiration of Europe, who gave him the nickname of “the Russian Hannibal”. Even though Suvorov was willing to keep on fighting the following year, Tsar Paul I decided to recall all his forces from Europe, and over mere suspected misdemeanors, the Tsar stripped Suvorov of all his rank, titles and command. And as legend would recall, Aleksandr Suvorov died with a broken heart on 18 May 1800 in St Petersburg, due to his denial of recognition and service. Suvorov was laid to rest in the chapel at the Aleksandr Nevskiy Cemetary.

Josef Stalin would revive the memory of Generalissimo Aleksandr Suvorov almost 150 years later to restore Russian morale during the Nazi invasion, by creating the Order of Suvorov.

The Suvorov Museum was closed to the public for 10 years, whilst under going restoration. The museum now hosts a collection of over 100 000 items, amongst them there are many personal belongings such as graphics, furniture, portraits and documents that once belonged to Suvorov. The Suvorov Museum also exhibits Russia’s largest collection of tin soldiers, with approximately 60 000 soldiers on display. The most valued exhibit is the “Suvorov Living Heritage” which features the book by Generalissimo Suvorov which has his 10 precepts for soldiers, with most of the information being Russian, and that was published in 1806.

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