A prison in Russia was sold at auction to be transformed into a hotel and museum.

The famous "Kresty" prison in the Russian city of St. Petersburg has been sold at auction with the aim of transforming it into a hotel, restaurants, museum, and spaces for art exhibitions, according to its new owner.

The notorious Russian prison complex, which was a landmark in St. Petersburg, housed revolutionaries, isolated ministers, and Soviet dissidents in the past. It is located in the old city center and dates back to the late 19th century.

It was sold for over 1.1 billion rubles (equivalent to more than 12.56 million dollars) to the Russian real estate development company "Kai VC," according to the official government auction site.

Kai VC stated in an official statement that they intend to "breathe new life" into the historic building by transforming it into a museum preserving the memory of "Kresty" and its rich history, as well as establishing a hotel, restaurants, and art exhibitions.

The statement mentioned that the project will be "one of the most ambitious construction projects in St. Petersburg" aimed at attracting visitors and those interested in the city's rich history, as reported by Russian media.