They seemed especially impressed by the museum’s newly restored George Hall.
From the Hermitage, the two leaders headed on to the suburban imperial estate Tsarskoye Selo, stopping over by the Saviour Cathedral on Spilt Blood. During this impromptu stopover, the two leaders strolled along the embankment, chatting with passers-by.
Once at Tsarskoye Selo, Mr Putin and Mr Schroeder went to see the Catherine Palace and its partially restored Amber Room.
In the Picture Room, Russian businessman Timur Timerbulatov presented Mr Schroeder with a painting by 17th-century artist Christoph Paudiss. Once part of the Dresden Gallery collection, the canvass had until recently been considered lost during World War II.
See also
Russian-German Inter-Governmental Consultations
April 9 − 10, 2001