Richelievsky Lyceum is one of the most important institutions that largely determined the development of the city. The Lyceum was the second educational institution of this type in the whole Russia (after the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum in St. Petersburg), the first in Ukraine, famous families of Odessa, Moscow, St. Petersburg sent their children here. One of the first students were the sons of Princes Chetvertinsky and Volkonsky, Count St. Prix, future town governors S.M. Vorontsov and G.G. Marazli studied here.
The foundation of the lyceum dates back to 1817, it was opened thanks to the initiative of the Governor-General of Novorossiya Duke A.E. Richelieu, hence the name of this descriptive attraction of Odessa. According to rumors, a few years after addressing Alexander I, when the Lyceum finally opened, Richelieu even shed a tear — at that time he was already the Prime Minister of France.
Initially, the Richelieu Lyceum was located on Deribasovskaya Street, 16, in a two-story building opposite the house where the famous artist Kandinsky lived. Only noble children were admitted to this educational institution, they were prepared for public service. Lyceum students wore a beautiful uniform, its attributes were triangular hats and swords. Even Mendeleev and Pirogov, the poet A. Mitskevich taught in the first building of the Lyceum, Alexander I and Nicholas I visited here, A. S. Pushkin, V. A. Zhukovsky, I. Bunin, K. A. Batiushkov and other famous figures of science and art talked to the gymnasium students.
From the moment of its opening until May 29, 1837 the lyceum was classified as a secondary school, and since 1837 it received the status of a higher educational institution.
In 1865 the Richelievsky Lyceum was transformed into the Novorossiysk Imperial University, but in 1857 it moved to a specially built in 1852-1857 years, designed by architect A.S. Shashin building on Dvoryanskaya Street, 2. The building became the most majestic and significant construction on this street, its facades were designed in Renaissance forms, in the rusticated walls — widely spaced arched openings, ending with a profiled cornice with an entrance risalite in the middle. In the center of the building were organized lobby, church and grand staircase, and to the left and right — corridors, on both sides of which were located variously designed and shaped classrooms. Today, the building built for the Novorossiysk Imperial University has become the main building of the Mechnikov Odessa State University.
But the Richelievsky Lyceum did not disappear after the renaming. And today in Odessa there is this educational institution — the current Richelievsky Lyceum is located in a two-storey building built in 1843 by the architect K.O. Dallakva on Elizavetinskaya Street, 5, it is a part of Odessa University.
It is interesting that the former lyceum buildings on Deribasovskaya and Lanzheronovskaya Streets, connected from the side of Ekaterininskaya Street by a one-story building with a high gate, were not forgotten. Together with the house No. 14 on Ekaterininskaya Street attached to the complex, they were named «Wagner’s House» — in honor of the famous Odessa merchant who bought the complex and owned the first department store in the city.
A lot has changed in Odessa since the Richelievsky Lyceum was founded, and perhaps this city would never have become the way it is now without the founding of this famous educational institution. Lyceum in its time made Odessa the educational center of Ukraine, attracting to the city famous figures who favorably influenced its fate. If you go on vacation in Odessa, do not miss the opportunity to see the famous Risheliev Lyceum — one of the most significant sights of Odessa, the history of which is associated with a number of bright names for Odessa and the world.
Website: www.rl.odessa.ua