Cottage Bezborodko, or "Kushelev cottage", is on Sverdlovskaya embankment in Saint 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. Is a monument of classical architecture.

A place where the Sverdlovskaya embankment branches off Piskarevsky Avenue bears the name of the road. In the XVIII century there was found a source of healing mineral water. In 1770-ies on this spot was erected a manor house in the Gothic style, most likely, Bazhenov. The plot on the banks of the river Neva from 1782 became proficient Chancellor Alexander Andreyevich Bezborodko. In the years 1783-1784 for him, by Giacomo Quarenghi, the main building was rebuilt. The architect did not build the house again, and used the existing structures. Therefore, the house not only keeps the elements of construction Bazhenova, but, probably, the Swedish estates, presumably located here before the founding of St. Petersburg.

The main three-storey building with round towers at the corners were connected by arcuate in plan 2 galleries with umya symmetrical side wings. On the North side of the house was a large landscape Park in the English style is a favorite place for country walks. In addition, were built garden buildings. The garden was decorated with marble sculptures, canals, pavilions. In front of the house on the embankment was built quay with sphinxes of granite. In the years 1857-1860, during the overhaul by the architect E. J. Schmidt, the mansion was acquired by its present appearance.

After the death of Bezborodko, there lived the Princess K. I. Lobanov-Rostovsky, his niece, who was raised a son of his sister – A. G. Kushelev. Later he began to call himself count Kushelev-Bezborodko. Since that time, and the country became well-known now name – cottage Kushelev-Bezborodko.

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

Overall the house is built in the architectural forms of eclecticism. The Central facade of the mansion designed in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Finish pink marble. Deep in the area were built with a greenhouse, a library and a theatre.

Count Kushelev-Bezborodko, writer and philanthropist, was fond of collecting rare paintings. In his mansion were the richest of their meeting. Each Petersburger and guest of the Northern capital on certain days could absolutely free to look at the picture. Then he shook V. V. Krestovsky, A. F. Pisemsky, V. S. Kurochkin, been passing through A. Dumas.

After the death of count mansion was acquired by the family of the Emperor. Lived here Prince Nicholas, Princess Ekaterina Mikhailovna Yuryev, placed in the house of personal belongings of the murdered Tsar Alexander II.

In its original form in the mansion remained a number of state rooms, Grand staircase and the decoration of the Windows and doors. The most beautiful Small halls of the marble Palace are gold, White and Blue living rooms, living room "Meissen porcelain", a Large office and others.

The wings of the mansion are related to each other in an unusual fence that separates the front garden from the waterfront (mid XIX century). It is made in the form of sculptures 29 are the same lions that hold in the teeth of iron chains. All the lions are mounted on square pedestals, which is the Foundation of Pudozh stone. In St. Petersburg many statues of lions, but in most cases this watch lions that keep a paw on the ball. So much Lviv – only here. Behind them, in front of the house, is an ordinary fence.

Now in the Small marble Palace is the European Institute, where the training of students for international programs in the field of history and Economics, sociology and law.