Что вокруг?(en)

A specific place among Moscow districts is occupied by Basmanny one. Initially, it was an artisanal settlement inhabited by specialists in basma stamping meaning a special ancient technique of embossment of figures and images on books and icon frames. This ancient decoration technique having appeared in Ruthenia in X century, in XII century, had been already widely used also in other handicraft sectors, e.g., in making bread loaves.

This district, namely the area of underground station Baumanskaya and its surroundings, once accommodated the Foreign Quarter. And Johann Gregory supported by Peter the First opened in this location his famous drugstore what was warmly welcomed by the local folk. The sovereign endowed the druggist with the first letter of grant which both permitted the druggist to do his favorite business and eliminated competition in the surroundings. Thus, as a tribute to traditions and history, the hotel was named after the Gregory having been a famous local druggist in XVIII century.

"Resinetial hous of P. V. Schapov" is the official title of this building which is over one and a half of century in age. Pavel Vasilyevich Schapov collected a unique library of rare books including those having been printed before 1708. The second storey of this building was specially designed for storing this collection. Library of P.V. Schapov constituted the basis for book stocks of the Museum and National Public Historical Library.

All the external decor of this building gave an unusual impression compared to other residential buildings in Moscow in that time. Its outside appearance resembled an Italian palazzo. The front side was richly decorated with white-stone carven and stucco elements. The residential house of Schapov undoubtedly represents a unique historical and cultural as well as architecture and memorial value.

In September 2016, the building was included in Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage Objects (monuments of history and culture) of nations of the Russian Federation as an object of cultural heritage of regional importance under the name "Residential house of P.V. Schapov, 1867, architect A. O. Vivien".

The Gregory Hotel building is one among a small number of architectural monuments (white-stone Moscow) whose front side has been saved in such a form. And nowadays visitors of this hotel, among which, there undoubtedly is a lot of amateurs of antiquity, historical heritage, traditions, and culture, can delight in viewing this unique complex, and enjoy its specific ambience.

The house address: Baumanskaya ST., house 58/3, building 5. Decades later, it is deemed as "residential" again, now as a hotel. This means that it begins its new history which is going to be more bright and successful. And everyone can join this history to become its hero since the hotel warmly welcomes each and every visitor!