The betskoi house is located on Dvortsovaya embankment – the most interesting monument of Russian architecture of the 18th century It is in the area between the Palace embankment and field of Mars, Summer garden and Suvorov square.

In the early 18th century on this place was the regimental barracks. In 1725, in accordance with satin Meyer in 1725 there was a pool, and in 1731 - guardroom. But in 1750 by the architect F. B. Rastrelli here was built the Opera house (two-story wooden building, which stood Here until 1773 in 1755 gave the first Russian Opera "Cephalus and procris" A. P. Sumarokov. At the end of the 18th century (1784-1787.) at this place by order of Catherine II, was elevated to the house of Ivan Ivanovich betskoi.

The name of I. I. Betskoy known for his role in laying the basic foundations of education in Russia. He is the author of the reform of school education, was Director of the gentry army corps, and President of the Academy of arts. Betsky, A. A. raised the Grand Dukes Constantine and Alexander Pavlovich.

Ivan moved to a house on the Palace embankment in 1789 mansion Often Betskoy was still called the Palace, since its modest interior decoration outside, it looked much richer than most homes, the building was entered and a hanging garden. The building consisted of Tsaritsyn meadow - storey building, from the Neva is three storied. Hull were joined together by the Summer garden with a covered gallery, and a one-story wing.

The author of the architectural design of the building is still unknown. There is a theory that the building was designed by Vallin de La Mothe. The basis of this hypothesis is that the facades of the building in the early classical style. In another version of the project author is I. E. Starov, who in 1784. was invited as the chief architect headed Betsky of the office of building houses.

The owner of the Palace balls and masquerades were not satisfied, he had a considerable collection of works of art. In this house was visited by famous people such as Denis Diderot, king of Poland, Stanislaw August. Here was held the evening for pupils subordinate Betsky educational institutions.

Many rooms of the mansion was rented out. In betskoi house in 1791-96 he lived Krylov Ivan Andreevich. Here he opened a printing house, in which he printed the journals of the St. Petersburg mercury" and "Spectator".

When I. I. Betskoy died in 1795 the house was owned by his daughter Elena, and in 1822, the house passed into the possession of her daughters. In 1830 betskoi house was bought by the Treasury and transferred to the Prince P. G. Oldenburg. Then the building was rebuilt by architect V. P. Stasov In place of the hanging gardens was built on the floor, where the ballroom. In addition, there was arranged a Protestant chapel. In the 1850s took another reconstruction of the mansion, bringing his height was the same on all sides.

Peter Georgievich of Oldenburg was known in the educational field. He founded the law school, a girls ' school, several public schools. Prince as a lawyer participated in the trial and the peasant reforms of the 1860s In the house of Oldenburg regularly held musical evenings, and after that held on the Champ de Mars parades here gathered colleagues Prince and other officers.

In 1917 year, the son of Peter G. sold the house Interim government, which forwarded it to the Ministry of education. Works of art were transferred to the Hermitage. After the revolution there were communal flats.

Currently betskoi house belongs to the University culture. The building connects to the house Saltykov, which also belongs to the University.