The State Hermitage Museum - one of the largest and most significant art and historical museums in Russia and in the world. The museum Located in Saint Petersburg. Hermitage was founded by Catherine 2 in 1674. A collection of paintings and works of art grew. Under Nicholas 1 in 1852 Hermitage has been open to the public since. In the museum objects of art from the Stone Age to the end of the 20th century, paintings by Russian and foreign artists, monuments, samples ceramics, and many many other.