I have always been amazed by how such monumental buildings like The Ropshinsky Palace, located in Russia, could be left to decay and crumble. The Ropshinsky Palace had been built in 1715 by the Imperial Family of the Russian Empire as a gift to an important noble in the royal court. The palace switched hands many times in its history and returned to the Imperial Family who expanded it into an enormous and elaborate palace that many of the Tsar's would use as their hunting residence when they could get away from the city and the royal court. Imagine having an entire palace just for hunting and fishing!
The Ropshinsky Palace, like many Imperial Palaces, became abandoned and severely neglected following the fall of Imperial Russia and the rise of Communism in 1917. The communist government decided that anything associated with the Imperial Family should be destroyed or kept from the public mind. This included the many palaces in Russia. Lucky for the Ropshinsky Palace it was tucked away in the countryside and although abandoned it stood against the elements for many years and did not fall victim to the burning of other Imperial Palaces when Nazi's pulled out of Russia in WWII. However during WWII war reserves were stationed in the palace and severely damaged the structure upon their departure. Since then the palace has remained abandoned and it was not until after the fall of Soviet Russia that the palace came to light again.
I always thought it was amazing that something that was so beautiful could be allowed to fall apart despite nothing having been wrong with it when it was abandoned. The cost of the palace would of been astounding and with little maintenance would still be today a shinning example of Imperial Russia and the grandeur of a time long lost. Now with a government that does not fear its past, Russia is proposing to restore the once great palace, like many of its others, but it makes me wonder if perhaps it is too late to save it. Too often does war or political unrest destroy cultural marvels.
-Nathan
