The events of 1917–1919 did not allow many wealthy families to take their precious belongings out of Russia. They hid them in their estates, hoping for a quick return.

The love story of Catherine II and Grigory Orlov is widely known. It is also known that Catherine gave birth to a son by Orlov. The baby was born secretly in the Winter Palace. Somehow, Catherine managed to hide her pregnancy! Incredible but true – her husband, Emperor Peter III, remained unaware, or perhaps he knew. The boy was given into the care of Catherine’s wardrobe master, Vasily Shkurin, who raised him as his own son (he had his own sons as well).

Alexey Bobrinsky – the illegitimate son of Catherine II, from whom the Bobrinsky family line began. There is a legend that Catherine II, before her death, gifted her son her personal jewels.

The last Count Alexey Alexandrovich.

During the First World War, he generously offered his palace for use as a Red Cross hospital. Then, in 1917, it was used as barracks for women’s and Latvian battalions. By this time, Bobrinsky no longer had the means to maintain the palace – all his bank accounts were frozen. Attempts to obtain funds to maintain the hospital were unsuccessful.

At that time, the palaces of Saint Petersburg began to attract the attention of thieves and robbers… The country was in disorder and chaos, leading to food shortages. Rumors spread that the former owners, who had already fled to Europe, had hidden treasures in their palaces. Also, the wine cellars attracted crowds... The Bobrinsky Palace was saved from looting by a decree that nationalized it along with the Stroganov and Shuvalov palaces.

After this happened, the owner Alexey Bobrinsky left for southern Russia, then to Kiev, from there to Constantinople, and further to France, where he died. Alexey Alexandrovich left Russia in a hurry, practically fleeing. It is assumed that he hid the jewels in a secret place somewhere near his palace. The continuation of the story is this – in 1930, the Leningrad GPU received a letter from France from a certain Bobrinsky, who offered the Soviet government a deal. The essence was that he indicated the location of the treasure with Catherine the Great’s jewels! Bobrinsky demanded half the value of the treasures for himself.

An investigation was conducted – the French secret service reported that the Bobrinskys lived very modestly in France, which suggested that the treasures had indeed not been taken out of Russia. The deal with Bobrinsky was refused, and a search began on the family estate on the outskirts of Saint Petersburg – only several jars with gold coins were found, but not the main Catherine treasures. Historians, after analyzing the situation, concluded that the treasure must be in the palace on Galernaya Street – during the escape, everything needed had to be at hand, and they did not manage to take it away.

Currently, the Bobrinsky Palace houses classrooms – it was transferred to Saint Petersburg University. Before that, a large-scale renovation was carried out because it was in terrible condition – none of its former luxury remained. No treasure was found during the repairs.

Whether the treasure exists or not, or perhaps it was found long ago, remains a mystery to this day.

Sources:

https://dzen.ru/a/XIIa0ABezQC-Zv8W

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%94%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%86_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%85