“A Gentleman in Moscow” is a TV show based on Amor Towles‘s best-selling book of the same name. It tells the story of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov (Ewan McGregor ), a prince who is locked up in the Moscow Metropol Hotel during the Russian Revolution and has to stay there. Rostov has a full life, even though he is stuck in the hotel. He meets many interesting people, other guests and forms relationships over the years.
These include a smart young girl Nina Kulikova (Alexa Goodall) who gives him access to the hotel’s secrets and a beautiful actress Anna Urbanova (McGregor’s wife, Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who keeps the deposed nobleman’s love for life and love alive. With Russia’s troubled past as a backdrop, the show looks at themes like strength, friendship, and finding meaning in strange situations. The story of Rostov and his character are made up, whether is the Metropol Hotel is this real place.
Is Metropol Hotel A Real Place in A Gentleman In Moscow Series?
Yes, the Metropol Hotel really exists in Moscow, Russia. A lot of the events in Amor Towles’s book “A Gentleman in Moscow” happened in this place. There is a posh hotel in Russia called the Hotel Metropol, but in the movie A Gentleman in Moscow, it is called the Metropol Hotel. During the Russian Revolution, the rise of the Soviet Union, World War II, and the Cold War, the hotel has been through a lot of interesting times in history.
In the late 1800s, Savva Mamontov, a rich Russian industrialist, wanted the Hotel Metropol to be a grand cultural center called the “palace of the arts.” The building began in 1899, and builder William Walcot was in charge. It was supposed to hold up to 3,000 people. But because of money problems, it had to be turned into a fancy hotel. It first opened to the public in 1905.
Early Years and Grandeur: The Hotel Metropol quickly became known for being high-class and luxurious. Its great location in the middle of Moscow, close to famous sights like the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre, made it a favorite among Russian royalty and people from other countries. Elevators, refrigerators, and phones in the guest rooms were some of the most modern features that the hotel had to offer at the time.
Part in the Russian Revolution: The Hotel Metropol was there during the 1917 Russian Revolution. As the Bolsheviks took over, the hotel turned into a battleground where groups fighting each other got very violent. During this troubled time, the hotel kept running and welcoming guests, even though it had damage like broken windows and bullet holes in the walls.
The Soviet era and nationalization: After the revolution, the Soviet government took over the Hotel Metropol and turned it into the “Second House of the Soviets.” As a hub, it was used by Soviet institutions, politicians, and important people from other countries. During the Soviet era, the hotel fell into disrepair and neglect, but it still stood as a symbol of wealth and kindness.
Restoration and Modernization: The Hotel Metropol went through a lot of work to be fixed up in the late 1980s, during Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika and glasnost changes. The goal was to keep its historic charm and take it back to being a top travel location. The hotel became a symbol of strength and cultural heritage in post-Soviet Russia after the repair work was finished.
Ownership and History: As of 2019, the Hotel Metropol is owned by Alexander Klyachin, who also is proprietor of the Moscow-based Azimut Hotels, a Russian hotel company. Its rich history, beautiful architecture, and ideal setting continue to bring people from all over the world. It offers a unique mix of history, luxury, and hospitality.
When people watch “A Gentleman in Moscow on Showtime,” they are not only drawn into the story of Count Rostov, but they are also given a glimpse into the real history and impact of the Metropol Hotel. Its halls still carry the sounds of a time long gone, when aristocrats and rebels mingled and left their mark on Russia’s culture.
