Griffins from Saint-Petersburg

There is a small pavilion near the side platform of the Vitebsky railway station that rarely attracts passengers' attention. The building is very beautiful, but low, only one floor, not counting the semi-basement, and it is located far from the main building with its ticket offices, waiting rooms, storage rooms, kiosks and cafes. But this building looks smart and very elegant.

The entrance to the building from the Vvedensky Canal is decorated with griffins. Griffins are the arms of the Romanov dynasty. In the Armory in Moscow is stored the flag of the boyar Nikita Romanov of the 17th century, in the main field of which the griffin is depicted. This banner became a basis for the development of the image of the coat of arms of Russian Emperors, approved in the 19th century. We could have known nothing about the history of this building in advance, but to conclude that it was used by the Emperor's family just by looking at these gryphons on the porch.