Mikhailovsky Castle is the largest architectural monument erected on the site of the Summer Palace of Elizaveta Petrovna. Immediately after the death of Empress Catherine II, Paul I ordered to dismantle the palace and proposed a sketch of the future castle himself. In 1784, work on the design of the building began, and this process lasted twelve years. The construction was completed only in 1800.

The project was led by famous architects Vincenzo Brenna and Vasily Bazhenov, who received an order from the emperor to build a castle. The construction was completed in four years, but after the bloody events of March night in 1801, the castle lost its status and was taken over by the Ministry of the Imperial Court. In 1823, the Nikolaev Engineering School was located in an empty building, in honor of which the residence received its second name.

The building of the Mikhailovsky Castle combines atypical architectural solutions and techniques, and therefore stands out among the examples of Russian classicism. The building is called one of the brightest symbols of the reign of Paul I, because it reflects the tastes and vision of its creator. In documents of the XVIII century it was mentioned that the palace of St. Michael (as it was called then) from the west and south was surrounded by the Church and Resurrection canals, dug specifically to strengthen the defense. For the same purpose, the architects developed a system of defensive structures around the castle with cannons, drawbridges and semi-bastions. In the middle of the square in front of the palace, a monument to Tsar Peter I was erected, designed by architect Rastrelli during the lifetime of Paul I.

Today, some parts of the castle and the restored halls are open to the public. They contain permanent museum exhibitions of the Pavlovskaya era. Temporary exhibitions of the Russian Museum are also being held.