The Fountain House is the ancestral possession of the Sheremetevs from 1712 to 1917 and is the oldest of the three noble estates that have survived within the boundaries of St. Petersburg. Many events took place under its roof that influenced the course of Russian history; it witnessed the forbidden love of Count Sheremetev and PraskovyaZhemchugova and its tragic denouement. Moreover, today, as for many years, the palace is closely associated with music – its collection contains musical instruments that belonged to members of the royal family and famous composers.