From the assassination of Paul I to Tilsit: The British in Russia and their travel writings (1801–1807)
Journal: Journal of European Studies
Year: 2012

Russia’s popularity as a destination for British grand tourists had grown steadily during the reign of Catherine II and was increased when the traditional routes through France to Italy were blocked as a result of the French Revolution. However, Paul I’s change of allegiances from Britain to France threatened to remove even the possibilities of the ‘northern tour’ until his assassination in March 1801 once more brought the British in numbers to St Petersburg and to Moscow for the coronation of t