On May 12th and 13th from 12:00 to 16:00 pm, the Saint Petersburg Hermitage Museum will not only display its world famous “Madonna Benoit” by Da Vinci, “The Return of the Prodigal Son” by Rembrandt but will also display … cats.
Cats have been considered one of the main symbols of the museum for as long as the Hermitage has been open. Like the Crowns in the Tower of London Fortress, the Hermitage would not be the same without its beloved cats.
On May 12th and 13th we invite you to a celebration dedicated to the furry staff of the museum. You will be able to enjoy thematic exhibitions, competitions and even excursions to the basement of the Winter Palace, home to the wonderful felines.
The history of the Hermitage is closely connected with its tailed guardians, and the beginning of this tradition starts with Peter the Great. According to the legend, while on one of his numerous trips to Holland, he bought a cat named Basil who became the first Palace pet. This tradition was later passed on to Elizaveta Petrovna, who ordered that the best mousers from Kazan be brought to Saint Petersburg. It was Catherine II – the founder of the Hermitage as a museum – who made the cats the official guards of the art galleries, a position the furry employees still hold to this day.
Every year, the Winter Palace organises a well-deserved celebration for these tailed workers. It was organized for the first time in 1998, and in 2005 it received the status of annual and international celebration.
In the Great Winter Court, a solemn opening ceremony is usually held accompanied by a military band. Then the results of the children’s drawing contest are announced, the best of which are exhibited in the Jordanian staircase.
Did you know that … each Hermitage cat has its own passport, a uniform in the form of a yellow collar as well as a veterinary card. The animals are officially registered as qualified specialists in riding the museum from rodents. Currently, the Hermitage contains about 80 cats. Sometimes they are more, and sometimes less. All Hermitage cats are up for adoption.
In Saint Petersburg, the people are very fond of their furry neighbours and in the city, there are several “cat” sculptures and monuments.
Want to see a few of them and find out why they deserve so much love? Hurry up to book a tour of the cat’s trails and, of course, of the Hermitage!
