The Grand Hotel Europe has witnessed much history since being built in 1824. Grand Balls and Banquets, wars, two revolutions and the comings and goings of Gorky, Gogol, Anna Pavlova and Dostoyevsky. It was little wonder that the 'old lady' on Nevsky Prospekt was looking faded and run-down, her art nouveau architecture looking anything but 'nouveau'! A few years ago, however, she underwent a sparkling transformation to become an historic gem. The art nouveau decorations of her guest rooms have been uncovered and lovingly renovated, at the same time as carefully adding all the refinements of a 5-star hotel.