The Kunstkamera museum has everything from Siamese twins to encephalitis-swollen skulls, and from a giant skeleton to jarred tumours. Though I should warn you, it isn’t for everyone. If you’re easily squeamish you might want to pass.
Personally, I don’t think you should leave it out of your St Petersburg itinerary. It’s a fascinating museum, if a little odd, well, very odd. Then there’s the building itself which is rather old and dusty around the edges.
Interestingly, KunstKamera was the first museum in Russia. It was opened by Peter the Great in 1727 and is now currently housed inside the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography.
You could call KunstKamera within a museum which should iron out any confusion for people looking for its precise location. Look for the Russian Museum of Ethnography and you’ll find it tucked away within its walls.
Also read → 10 Best Things to Do in St Petersburg
True to his name, Peter the Great really can be described as a great man and leader. One of the reasons he opened KunstKamera was to educate his country about science in order to combat prejudice.
At that time in history people ascribed physical abnormalities or disabilities to supernatural powers so opening this museum was a way of raising the awareness of medical conditions that can be explained scientifically as opposed to make-belief nonsense.
His foreward thinking ways were in line with the Enlightenment school of thought, characterised by intellectual and scientific discovery. Originating in Western Europe, Enlightenment influenced Tsar Peter during a trip to Europe in the 17th Century. He used the principles of reason, scepticism, and science to reform Russian society at the time.
As you can see, the displays at the Kunstkamera are not for the faint-hearted. I wouldn’t advise taking your children to visit, and I’d give it a hard pass to pregnant women. A really hard pass.
However, if you’re curious to learn more about biological deformities, science in the 17th and 18th century, and prevailing schools of thought during the time of Peter the Great, it is worth going inside. One thing is for sure, you won’t forget it anytime soon.
Similar museums around the world
If you live in the UK and want to experience a similar museum, I suggest visiting the Surgeons’ Hall Museums in Edinburg and the Hunterian Museum in London. Both are fascinating places and the collection of both museums can be attributed to brothers William and John Hunt.
William was an anatomist and John was a surgeon. As a result of their professions, they amassed an impressive collection of artefacts and specimens in their pursuit of understanding disease and human abnormalities.
In London there is also the Grant Museum of Zoology where you can find my adopted Loris. Just look at my her… isn’t she adorable? Ok, I appreciate that this might make me look strange to some of you. So I should disclose that I adopted this monkey to help support the museum.
Thinking of all the museums I’ve visited, KunstKamera is not only the weirdest museum in St. Petersburg, but among the whole world.
General Information about KunstKamera
How to get there: 3 Universitetskaya Embankment, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russia
Admission Fee: 250 RUB adults; 150 RUB children/student
Opening Times: 11am-6pm daily; closed Mondays and the last Tuesday of every month
Website: www.kunstkamera.ru/en/
Now then, what’s the weirdest museum you’ve ever visited?
Museum of the Month is a series where I share my experiences of visiting unique and often strange museums from around the world. My aim is to rebuff the notion that museums are boring. Join me on my quest!
12 responses
Possibly even the weirdest museum in Russia, or the world!
Actually, why did I say Russia? And indeed, possibly the world! But I’m not sure… the Penis Museum in Iceland takes a lot of beating! 😀
Wow Russia, I’m so happy for you that you made it there, Shing 🙂 I’m always up for trying new adventures (within reason of course) and would definitely go to this museum. That is amazing that this was opened by Peter the Great and “to educate his country about science and combat prejudice”. I love history. Sorry I’ve been away but it’s been a very rough patch for me personally. I hope all is well with you, my friend 🙂
Hi Mike! Russia was a whirlwind of sensory punches! Yes, aren’t the motives behind this museum great? It’s good to hear from you, I hope you’re doing better and you’ve been doing things you enjoy.
This is truly a creepy and unusual museum, I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere quite like this, I’m usually more into art 🙂
Hahaha, don’t get me wrong, the Tate Modern is my favourite museum in the world 😉
Only surpassed by the Sex Museum in St. Petersburg – it’s in an STI clinic waiting room and has Rasputin’s penis pickled in a jar.
NOOOOOOO WWAAAAAAYYYYY! Years before I went to Russia I had read that Rasputin’s pickled penis could be found somewhere in a jar but then when I finally got round to visiting Russia my hopes of seeing it began to disappear! The more I read of its location the more it seemed to be an urban myth!
I was so close to going to the Sex Museum but I didn’t have time. However, had I known that Rasputin’s jewels were laid inside there I would have gone but I don’t ever recall reading anything about it on their website – surely if it were there they would have that information in big capital letters?!!!
Did you see it and do you have a post about this? I NEED to know more!!
P.S. Nice to meet you, awesome that you lived in Russia for a while!
Great blog! I love the museum series!
I’ve had the chance to see this kind of “cute stuff” in the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow University… Very creepy but scientifically relevant I guess 🙂
Hi Nanda, glad you like the museum series! Ahhh I’ve been wanting to go to the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow ever since I went to the one in London at the beginning of the year! It is a bit creepy isn’t it? But highly delicious! 😀
I live in St. Petersburg, we have more than 200 museums
Well you probably have never seen the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia, Pa. One whole display is things people have swallowed. Truly amazing.