# Sevastyanov House, Yekaterinburg > Sevastyanov House is Yekaterinburg’s most ornate 19th-century mansion, at Lenin Avenue 35 on the City Pond. It’s a state residence for official receptions, so there’s no museum, ticket desk or opening hours. Seeing the façade is free at any time and takes 15–45 minutes. Inside is open only on rare pre-arranged group visits. It’s a 3-minute walk from the Plotinka. Web page: https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/sevastyanov-house - City: [Yekaterinburg](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg), Russia - YesGo score: 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 45 min - Entry: Free, outside only - Opening hours: Outside: any time, free; inside: only on occasional pre-arranged group visits, no regular schedule - With kids: Fine with kids - Address: Prospekt Lenina 35, corner of Ulitsa Gorkogo, on the City Pond - Seeing it from outside: Free, any time; the house is fenced, so you can’t walk up to the walls - Going inside: No ticket desk or walk-in entry; only occasional pre-arranged group visits - ID: Passport or other photo ID required for any visit inside - Website: The building has no tourist website or phone line - Payment for guided walks: Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards don’t work in Russia — check how the guide takes payment - Metro: Ploshchad 1905 Goda — about 10 minutes on foot - Coordinates: 56.83907, 60.60607 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **1817** — mine surveyor Ivan Polkov begins a three-storey stone house on this corner (source: Russian Wikipedia, “Дом Севастьянова”; Yekaterinburg Tourist Information Service) - **1866** — architect Alexander Paduchev redesigns the façades for Nikolai Sevastyanov (source: Russian Wikipedia; Red Line of Yekaterinburg website) - **5,000 ₽ note** — the 2023-design banknote shows the house on the front, beside the Europe–Asia obelisk and Iset Tower (source: Bank of Russia, 5,000-rouble banknote description; Russian Wikipedia) - **1860** — the year Sevastyanov bought the house from merchant Stepan Medvedchikov (source: Russian Wikipedia; Yekaterinburg Tourist Information Service) - **Eclectic** — Gothic Revival, neo-Baroque and Moorish touches on one façade (source: Russian Wikipedia; Red Line of Yekaterinburg website) - **District court** — what the building housed after Sevastyanov sold it to the state, until 1917 (source: Russian Wikipedia; E1.ru, 26.06.2015) - **House of Trade Unions** — its Soviet-era name, when the regional trade-union council worked here (source: Russian Wikipedia; E1.ru, 26.06.2015) - **2008–2009** — full reconstruction for the SCO and BRIC summits, restoring the historic white, green and terracotta colours (source: Russian Wikipedia; Yekaterinburg Tourist Information Service) - **3-rouble coin** — a 2008 silver Bank of Russia coin in the “Architectural Monuments of Russia” series shows the house (source: Russian Wikipedia; Red Line of Yekaterinburg website) - **Federal** — protected cultural heritage status (source: Russian Wikipedia; Red Line of Yekaterinburg website) > **It’s not a museum — you can’t just walk in** Sevastyanov House is a working government residence used for official receptions. There’s no ticket office, no opening hours and a fence keeps you off the lawn. Almost every visitor sees it **from the outside only**, which is free at any hour. Tours sold online as “Sevastyanov House tours” are city walks that stop at the façade — they don’t take you inside. ## Can you go inside Sevastyanov House? Realistically, no — not on a normal trip. The house doesn’t sell tickets or publish a schedule. Interior visits do happen, but rarely: one-off programmes run by local institutions (the Ural architecture university’s Museum of Architecture and Design has held one) or groups that apply officially in advance. Older published rules describe the process: a group writes to the administration with a date and head count, visits take place on weekdays only when no official event is on, and everyone shows photo ID at the door. We couldn’t confirm these rules are still current, so treat them as a guide, not a promise. If you’re in Yekaterinburg for a day or two, plan to admire it from the street. A guided city walk is still worth it: guides explain the façade, the owners and the legends, and the house is on almost every central route. ## A short history of the house In 1817 mine surveyor **Ivan Polkov** began a three-storey Neoclassical stone house with a belvedere on this corner of the pond. By the mid-1840s it belonged to merchant Stepan Medvedchikov, and in August 1860 it was bought by **Nikolai Sevastyanov**, a retired civil servant who had made money in shipping, coal, copper smelting and gold mining. In 1866 architect **Alexander Paduchev** gave it the fairy-tale façade you see today. Sevastyanov didn’t stay long: in 1874 he moved to St Petersburg and the state bought the house for 40,000 roubles to use as the district court. Soldiers wrecked the interiors in 1917; in Soviet times it became the regional trade-union headquarters, the **House of Trade Unions**. After years as offices the building was rebuilt in 2008–2009 for the SCO and BRIC summits held in Yekaterinburg, with a new wing and a reception hall. In 2013 it hosted meetings during the Russia–EU summit. ## The golden roof legend Every guide tells it: Sevastyanov supposedly asked permission — some say from the Tsar himself — to gild the dome of his corner rotunda. He was refused, because in Russia gold domes were for churches, and as a punishment had to walk to church every morning in **cast-iron galoshes**. It’s a good story, but only a story. There’s no document behind it, and Yekaterinburg historians point out that the image of Sevastyanov as an eccentric millionaire largely took shape in Soviet times. Enjoy it as local folklore, and look up at the green dome that never got its gold. ## What to look for: style and details - **The style** — eclectic: pointed Gothic Revival arches, frothy neo-Baroque stucco and Moorish patterns around the windows. - **The domed corner rotunda** — the building’s signature, visible from the Plotinka and across the pond. - **The colours** — white, green and terracotta, restored to their historic scheme during the 2008–2009 rebuild. - **The cast-iron fence and gates** — as close as you’ll get, and photogenic in their own right. - **The banknote angle** — pull out a new 5,000-rouble note and match it to the view from Lenin Avenue. - **Inside, on photos only** — a colonnaded Ionic hall with a mirrored vault, a round hall under the rotunda with a tiled stove, and a Rococo marble fireplace. ## How to get to Sevastyanov House 1. Take the metro to **Ploshchad 1905 Goda**, the central station on Lenin Avenue (Prospekt Lenina). 2. Walk east along Lenin Avenue towards the water for about 5 minutes to the [Plotinka](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/yekaterinburg-plotinka), the old dam on the Iset. 3. Cross the dam along the avenue. Right after it, on your left at the corner of Ulitsa Gorkogo, is the turquoise-and-white house — 3 minutes from the Plotinka. 4. The address for taxis and maps is **Prospekt Lenina 35**. The map on this page opens in Yandex Maps, which works best in Russia. 5. For the classic view, step back onto the Plotinka or the embankment opposite so the rotunda and the pond fit in one frame. ## Is Sevastyanov House worth it? Yes, as a stop rather than a destination. It’s the prettiest façade in Yekaterinburg and sits right on the main walking route by the Plotinka, so it costs you no detour. Give it **15 minutes** for photos, or 30–45 if you stroll round the block and along the pond. Don’t travel across town just for it, and don’t expect to see the rooms. Pair it with the dam, the embankment and the [Church on the Blood](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/yekaterinburg-church-on-the-blood), about 15 minutes’ walk away. The best light is in the morning, when the façade faces you from the Plotinka with fewer people around; in the evening the house is lit up, and in winter the turquoise walls look striking against the snow. ## Before you go Tick off what’s ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] I know it’s outside-only unless a group visit is confirmed - [ ] Walking from Ploshchad 1905 Goda via the Plotinka - [ ] Picked my photo spot: the Plotinka or the far bank - [ ] Passport with me if I’ve arranged a visit inside - [ ] Roubles or a working payment method for any guided walk ## Sevastyanov House, the Plotinka or the Church on the Blood | | Sevastyanov House | Plotinka | Church on the Blood | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | 19th-century mansion, state residence | The dam and square where the city began | Church on the site of the Ipatiev House | | Entry | Outside only, free | Free, open-air | Free | | Inside | Rare group visits by arrangement | — | Yes, daily | | Time | 15–45 min | 20–40 min | 30–60 min | Sevastyanov House and the Plotinka are three minutes apart — treat them as one stop. The Church on the Blood is about 15 minutes further on foot. ## Yekaterinburg history: compare and choose Every history stop in Yekaterinburg rated by YesGo. - [Church on the Blood](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/yekaterinburg-church-on-the-blood) — YesGo score 55/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · Free entry to the church - [Plotinka Dam](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/yekaterinburg-plotinka) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free - [Yeltsin Center](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/yeltsin-center) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Museum 400 ₽, building free - [Sevastyanov House](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/sevastyanov-house) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free, outside only - [Yekaterinburg Opera and Ballet Theatre](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/yekaterinburg-opera-theatre) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · 300–20,000 ₽, depends on the show - [Ganina Yama](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/ganina-yama) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry - [White Tower](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/yekaterinburg-white-tower) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free outside; interior closed for now ## Sevastyanov House and the centre in half a day Start at the Plotinka, cross to Sevastyanov House, walk up to the Church on the Blood and loop back along the river to the Yeltsin Center. Add it to your route — YesGo sorts out the timing and walks. 1. [Plotinka Dam](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/yekaterinburg-plotinka) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free 2. [Sevastyanov House](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/sevastyanov-house) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free, outside only 3. [Church on the Blood](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/yekaterinburg-church-on-the-blood) — YesGo score 55/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · Free entry to the church 4. [Yeltsin Center](https://yesgo.io/russia/yekaterinburg/yeltsin-center) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Museum 400 ₽, building free ## Not to be confused with Despite the wedding photos taken at its fence, Sevastyanov House is not a registry office, and it has no museum. Its Soviet name, House of Trade Unions, is still used by locals for the same building — not a separate place. ## Tips - Don’t look for a ticket desk — there isn’t one. Seeing the house from outside is free at any time. - The classic shot is from the Plotinka towards the rotunda; after dark the façade is floodlit. - Don’t hang around the gates or photograph the guards — it’s a working government building. - Want to see the rooms? Watch the city museums’ and tour bureaus’ announcements — one-off visits exist, but they’re rare and need booking. - The house is on the Red Line, a painted walking trail through the centre; follow it on to the Church on the Blood. - Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards haven’t worked in Russia since March 2022 — carry roubles for guided walks, cafés and taxis. - A guided walk makes the façade and its legends far more interesting, and almost every central route stops here. ## Questions ### Can you go inside Sevastyanov House? Not as a regular visitor. It’s a government residence with no ticket office. Interior visits happen only occasionally, for groups that arrange them in advance, on weekdays, with photo ID. ### Where is Sevastyanov House? At Prospekt Lenina 35, on the corner of Ulitsa Gorkogo by the City Pond — 3 minutes from the Plotinka and about 10 minutes’ walk from Ploshchad 1905 Goda metro. ### What is Sevastyanov House used for today? It’s a state residence for official receptions. Sources variously call it the President’s Yekaterinburg residence, the governor’s residence or the regional House for Honoured Guests. ### Is Sevastyanov House worth visiting? Yes, as a quick stop on the Plotinka walk: it’s the city’s most beautiful façade. Allow 15–45 minutes, and don’t expect to get inside. ### What architectural style is Sevastyanov House? Eclectic — Gothic Revival pointed arches, neo-Baroque stucco and Moorish motifs. Architect Alexander Paduchev gave it this look in 1866. ### Who was Sevastyanov? Nikolai Sevastyanov was a retired civil servant turned businessman in shipping, coal, copper and gold. He bought the house in 1860 and sold it to the state in 1874. ### Is Sevastyanov House on a banknote? Yes. The 2023-design 5,000-rouble note shows it on the front, with the Europe–Asia obelisk and Iset Tower. A 2008 silver 3-rouble coin also features it. ### Is the golden roof story true? It’s a local legend: Sevastyanov was supposedly refused a gilded dome because gold was reserved for churches. No document confirms it. ### How do I get to Sevastyanov House? Take the metro to Ploshchad 1905 Goda, walk 5 minutes east along Lenin Avenue to the Plotinka and cross the dam; the house is on your left. ## How we checked The building has no official website, ticket office or schedule, so everything about getting inside is marked “checking”: the application process (letter to the administration, weekdays only, ID at the door) comes from the Sverdlovsk governor’s website and a 2015 E1.ru report, the first group visit from a 2012 EAN report, and a one-off interior tour from the Museum of Architecture and Design’s archive; the governor’s site wouldn’t load on 30.10.2026, so we couldn’t confirm the rules are current. Nash Ural says there are no interior tours at all — sources disagree, so we say “rare and by arrangement”. Sources also disagree on who uses the building now (President’s residence, governor’s residence, House for Honoured Guests), so we give all three. The sale to the state is dated 1874 by Wikipedia and E1.ru and 1880 by the city tourist service; we use 1874. The cost of the reconstruction appears in only one source and is left out. The banknote is confirmed by the Bank of Russia and Wikipedia. Walking times are our estimate from the map. There is no English Wikipedia article on the house. ## Sources - Russian Wikipedia: “Дом Севастьянова”; Wikidata Q4165394 - Yekaterinburg Tourist Information Service: “Sevastyanov House” - Red Line of Yekaterinburg website: “Sevastyanov House (residence of the President of Russia)” - Bank of Russia: description of the 2023-design 5,000-rouble banknote - E1.ru: “Sevastyanov House in Yekaterinburg: history, photos, how to join a tour”, 26.06.2015 - EAN news agency: “First tour held in Sevastyanov House”, 27.07.2012 - Oblastnaya Gazeta: on the virtual tour of the residence, 03.12.2013 - Museum of Architecture and Design, Ural State University of Architecture and Art: tour archive, “Sevastyanov House” - Nash Ural; Sputnik8: “Sevastyanov House” --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.