The collection is huge and very exciting. The main building of the Hermitage Museum is the Winter Palace which was once the main residence of the Russian Tzars. The Baroque Winter Palace was built in 1754-62 and Catherine the Great was the first monarch to live there. Many of the impressive interiors have been remodeled after the huge fire of 1837. Some of the best Russian and foreign architects worked hard to make this residence of the Russian tzars one of the world's most laxurious palaces.
Theater is used both for lectures and concerts.
It had been calculated that if you decide to spend only one minute in front of each exhibit, you will have to stay in the Hermitage for 11 years.