From Thursday 13th till Sunday 16th the Bailliage’s 2016 Grand Chapitre took place in Saint Petersburg with an additional optional programme in Moscow for several days afterwards. We were delighted to have the participation of a significant party of members from the Bailliage of Lebanon, led by Bailli Délégué Arlette Mabardi.

The programme started traditionally with a “Welcoming” dinner in the Vodka Room Restaurant. The evening included a guided tour of the adjacent Vodka Museum opened six years ago and still the only one in Russia.

The following day was the excursion to the Catherine Palace and a Russian style lunch in the Podvorye Restaurant. In the evening visits to the Mariinsky and Michalovsky Theatres gave those who wished to partake the opportunity to enjoy wonderful ballet performances. After the cultural events a late dinner was served in the Caviar Bar of the Belmond Grand Hotel Europe.

On the Saturday there was a daytime tour including visits to a farmers’ market, the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Hermitage Art Museum. A late luncheon in the Bellevue Restaurant at the top (9th floor) of the Kempinski Hotel was much enjoyed not only for the food but also for the spectacular view over the rooftops of the city which was the Imperial capital at one time.

The Induction Ceremony, held late afternoon in the Golden Room of the Musical Comedy Theatre, was presided over by International Vice-President Marie Jones in accordance with the international guidelines.

Besides our international guests and visitors, notable attendees from the Bailliage of Russia were Conseiller Culinaire Jonas Grip, Leonid Garbar (Bailli of Saint Petersburg) and Vladimir Efimov (Bailli of Moscow) with delegation from the country’s capital city.

After the Induction Ceremony the Gala Dinner at the Belmond Grand Hotel Europe Hotel - celebrating its 140th anniversary this year - was in the Restaurant l’Europe with some 40 members and guests in attendance. The restaurant brims with timeless elegance; it is Russia’s oldest continually serving restaurant.

On the Sunday there was a visit to the Yusupov Palace and lunch in Stroganoff Steak House. We said our farewells to one and all, especially the Lebanon delegation which left for Moscow on the “Sapsan” (Russian for Peregrine Falcon) high speed train to Moscow.

Saint Petersburg has a significant historical and cultural heritage. This Grand Chapitre gave everyone a good insight into what the city has to offer.

Based on a report by Bailli Délégué Henri Everaars