All about the big Kremlin Palace. Investments for the Grand Kremlin Palace

This majestic yellow building with white decor, crowned with a dome in the center of the facade, is depicted on thousands of postcards, on the pages of art albums, in all guidebooks to the Moscow Kremlin. The Grand Kremlin Palace is a pearl of architecture, a historical monument and at the same time a “living heart” modern Russia, because here is the official residence of the President of the country.

View of the Kremlin at the end of the 17th century

The first palace buildings in the Kremlin, in all likelihood, already existed in the first half of the 12th century. They were located opposite the Faceted Chamber - on the highest place in the Kremlin. These palace buildings were small wooden mansions, which served as temporary summer quarters for the princes, and in winter the Moscow princes lived in heated huts.

In the XIII century, when the princes settled permanently in Moscow, the old place on the Kremlin hill turned out to be cramped, and the grand duke's palace had to be moved to the east. In the XIV century, Grand Duke Ivan Danilovich Kalita significantly expanded his courtyard, and instead of a wooden church<Спаса на Бору>built a stone temple.
Taking into account the almost monastic way of life of the prince, it can be assumed that his palace was small in size and distinguished by the simplicity of decoration.

M. Makhaev. View of the Kremlin from Zamoskvorechye. 1763

Under Dmitry Donskoy and his son Vasily Dmitrievich, the Grand Duke's palace became much more extensive and was distinguished by some splendor. The roof of the embankment tower was gilded, and a clock was placed in the yard.

As noted in the chronicle under 1404,<на всякий час ударяет молотом в колокол, размеряя и расчитывая часы нощные и дневные; не бо человек ударяше, но человековидно, самозвонно и самодвижно, страннолепно некако сотворено есть человеческой хитростью, преизмечтано и преухищрено>.

As for the arrangement of the palace itself, it, like all the grand ducal and boyar mansions of that time, consisted of small mansions connected by passages. In the second tier of the palace there were reception chambers, and the prince himself and his family lived in the upper superstructures - towers; the lower tier was intended for persons who made up the princely court and servants.

Despite the beauty and relative luxury of the 15th-century Kremlin Palace, its character, like that of the entire Kremlin, was rural. For all buildings, except for the Kremlin walls and several churches, were wooden, large and majestic buildings it wasn't at all.

This palace remained until the end of the 15th century, when Prince Ivan III set about creating a capital that would correspond to the greatness and glory of the Russian state. To fulfill this task, he invited experienced architects from Italy, who began their work with the complete destruction of the Kremlin wooden antiquities and replacing them with new majestic buildings.

The construction of Ivan III completely changed the face of the Kremlin. Fortified with a double, and in some places a triple row of walls with loopholes, towers, drawbridges and portcullises in the gates, decorated with golden-domed cathedrals and magnificent palace Since then, the Kremlin has become the beauty and pride of Russia, a worthy embodiment of its strength and greatness.

The princely palace itself became a model for all subsequent palace buildings, its features are visible in the current Grand Kremlin Palace. So, the semicircular windows of the lower tier in the current palace correspond to the arches of Aleviz Fryazin, broken only during the reconstruction of the palace by K. Ton; the outer gallery corresponds to the outer passages, the Faceted Chamber and the lower tier still exist.

Konstantin Andreevich Ton

The main features of the original construction of Ivan III, the Kremlin Palace retained until the end of the century, although it was constantly decorated and expanded in accordance with the growth of wealth and power of the state. During this time, many alterations were made in it, new parts and separate buildings were added. More than once, together with the Kremlin and the whole city, the palace burned, but it always rose from the ashes even more spacious and beautiful.

In the Time of Troubles, when the Poles were sitting in the Kremlin, royal palace was subjected to terrible devastation: all the jewels from it were stolen, all the wooden parts were burned. The palace chambers were without roofs, floors, doors and windows, so that the newly elected Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov had nowhere even to settle.

Lopyalo K.K. - View of the Grand Kremlin Palace V.I. Bazhenov. Reconstruction.

Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov

During the entire time of his reign, he restored the palace, put it in order, expanded and decorated, so that Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich got the palace in full improvement.

The time of the highest prosperity of the Kremlin Palace was the 17th century. The splendor of the palace was unspeakable: it was all painted with bright colors and gold, decorated with artistic carvings, precious carpets and fabrics, filled with beautiful gold and silver utensils.

But in the eighteenth century, when Russian capital moved to St. Petersburg, all this luxury, the royal spaciousness and grandeur of the Kremlin Palace fell into disrepair.

Anna Ioannovna

Left without proper care, the palace chambers dilapidated and fell into disrepair. Gradually, the royal palace came to such a state that it became impossible to live in it. Therefore, in 1730, the ruler Anna Ioannovna ordered the architect Rastrelli to build a new wooden palace - not far from the building of the current Arsenal.

Rastrelli

However, this palace was not extensive enough and was inferior to the former in the luxury of decoration, so it was subsequently decided to rebuild it. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna again instructed Rastrelli to erect a new stone building on the site of the dilapidated reception chambers of the old palace.

Winter Kremlin Palace

This building, called the Kremlin winter palace, captivated Catherine II, and she commanded<Кремлевский дворец со всеми принадлежностями, а паче старинного строения не переменяя ни в чем, содержать всегда в надлежащей исправности

Vasily Bazhenov

The next stage in the history of the Grand Kremlin Palace is associated with the name of the Russian architect V.I. Bazhenov. In the 1770s, he began to think about creating a new plan for Moscow, worthy of this great city.

Grand Palace in the Moscow Kremlin (project by V. I. Bazhenov).

He diligently studied Moscow, a special architectural system<первопрестольной столицы>, the ensemble of the Kremlin that has developed over the centuries. The architect himself explained his plan in this way.

Model of the Kremlin Palace. Portico of the facade facing the Moscow River.

I decided to combine all the Kremlin antiquities into a single ensemble. I planned a square with an amphitheater for public meetings as its center. Here are obelisks and a triumphal column, and on the sides of this crown are equestrian figures of trumpeting glories.

From here - the roads to the gates of the Kremlin, into the depths of Russia, the roads to St. Petersburg, Yaroslavl and Vladimir. I do not think of the Kremlin as an impregnable fortress, in which it was once convenient to hide from enemies, but as a place of virtue, enlightenment and national glory. Therefore, he intends to turn its beauty to the capital of the capital.

Thus, the grandiose palace, located on the Kremlin hill, would unite the famous Kremlin cathedrals and historical buildings in its courtyard. According to the plan of V. I. Bazhenov, the square, like a giant hall, covered with a heavenly dome, was supposed to accommodate many people and have the same meaning as the squares of ancient Russian cities, where the people's veche gathered.

The architect showed his first sketches to Count G. G. Orlov, and he, amazed by the titanic plan of V. I. Bazhenov, told about him to Catherine II, who also admired the colossality and grandeur of the palace. In addition, the empress calculated that the whole of Europe would talk about the palace built during the war with the Turks, and the empress-builder would be compared with the Roman emperors.

V. I. Bazhenov was ordered to design a gigantic palace and was immediately relieved of all other duties. The architect creates a project for a colossal palace, which was supposed to cover the entire Kremlin mountain so that all the cathedrals and temples, all the ancient Kremlin buildings would fit in its courtyard.

Bazhenov project

This grandiose building in its size and architectural merit should have surpassed the palaces of all European states.
Bold and majestic architectural images arose in the stormy and ardent imagination of V.I. Bazhenov.

Of course, V. I. Bazhenov could not master such a grandiose project alone, he needed dedicated assistants who shared his ideas. Therefore, a special<экспедиция по строительству Большого Кремлевского дворца>headed by Lieutenant General M.M. Izmailov.

In the Kremlin, near the bell tower of Ivan the Great, a<модельный дом>, in which skillful carvers performed a model of the Grand Kremlin Palace, which cost 30,000 rubles. They made it from linden, specially selected during the dismantling of the royal palace in the village of Kolomenskoye.

At the same time, preparations for construction began. The workers began to disassemble the old and dilapidated Kremlin buildings, the building was demolished<приказов>, which stood in front of the Archangel Cathedral, demolished a number of small churches, Taynitskaya and two more towers, as well as the fortress walls between them.

Today, the best-preserved fragments of the model are again presented to visitors of the State Museum of Architecture. A.V. Shchusev in the constant exposure mode. It reminds us of the time of brilliant and bold projects that are the glory of the Russian state.

Project of the Kremlin Palace. Architect M. Kazakov.
Such a decisive demolition of the Kremlin antiquities excited many: some reproached V.I. Bazhenov for disrespect for historical buildings, others supported his bold undertaking.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was conceived by the architect as a temple of the glory of the Russian people. The forest of columns that framed the square was like a wreath of victory that crowned a Russian man for exploits for the glory of the fatherland. V. I. Bazhenov sought to carry out this idea in his entire project - both in the general plan of the entire structure, and in its individual parts and details.

The main building of the palace was designed by V. I. Bazhenov as four-story. The two lower floors were a grandiose plinth resting on a massive stepped base - a stylobate. A lighter upper part relied on it, in which the front rooms of the palace were located. In addition to the columns, this part was richly decorated with stucco, figures of flying<побед>, vases, sculptures and monograms. In the lower basement floors it was supposed to place service premises.

All the luxury of the interior decoration of the palace was concentrated in its main floor. The hall with Corinthian columns in two rows stood out with special beauty of decoration, to which galleries with colonnades and a vestibule with a rotunda in the center approached. The vestibule of the palace was a kind of gazebo of twelve columns of pink marble, behind which was another belt of columns.

Now the surviving model of the palace is on display at the Museum of Architecture. Shchusev.

The model of the Grand Kremlin Palace and the unprecedented project were really talked about, with enthusiasm and envy, in all European capitals. However, unexpected obstacles arose on the way to the implementation of the plan. First, a plague epidemic broke out in Moscow, and then, at the beginning of work at the Tainitsky Gate, the Archangel Cathedral cracked and threatened to slide down, as a result of which all work was suspended.

And then followed the official order of Catherine II to stop all construction work on the territory of the Kremlin. It was also indicated that it was necessary to fill up all the ditches, dismantle the foundation, and restore the walls and towers in their original form. This was a terrible blow for V.I. Bazhenov.

Nicholas I

Historically, after the transfer of the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg, the Kremlin palaces lost their former significance. Some of them were used by various Moscow government departments, the rest gradually fell into disrepair or died from fires.

Until 1812, there were no new attempts to renovate the palace, but the beginning of the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior again raised the question of building a new Kremlin palace, which would symbolize the renewal of Moscow. The new residence was built on the initiative of Nicholas I. In 1837, the architect Konstantin Ton, the author of the project for the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, was commissioned to develop a project for a new palace in the Kremlin

From the main façade, the building appears to be three stories high, but it actually has only two floors. The first floor protrudes forward and forms an open terrace. Arched windows separated by thin walls make this level of the palace look like an enclosed gallery. The plinth is lined with natural stone. The two-tier facade of the second floor is divided by pilasters and decorated with carved white-stone window casings, made in the style of the 17th century. The rooms on the second floor are double-height.

In the center of the palace above the roof is a tribune, completed with a gilded balustrade. The stands are covered with a figured roof, and clocks are placed on its slopes on both sides, and hour bells on the other two. Now only hours are running.
Next is an open area with a flagpole. Until 1917, the kokoshniks of the tribune were decorated with double-headed eagles, above which were the coats of arms of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Astrakhan, Poland and Taurida. Next to the main entrance to the Palace is a marble vestibule with polished granite columns. The length of the Kremlin Palace is 125 meters, the height is 47 meters, and the total area is 25,000 square meters.

View of the Middle Golden Chamber in the second half of the 17th century. Miniature of 1673 from the "Book of the election of Mikhail Fedorovich to the kingdom ...

The palace complex, known as the Grand Kremlin Palace, in addition to the building of the palace itself, included some buildings of the period of the 15th-17th centuries, which in the past were part of the grand ducal, and then the royal residence (the Faceted Chamber, the Golden Tsaritsyna Chamber, the Terem Palace, palace churches) .

The ensemble of the Grand Kremlin Palace was finally formed when in 1851 the Armory and Apartments were built, connected to the palace complex by an air passage. The total number of rooms in the palace complex reaches 700. There are five ceremonial order halls in the palace (Georgievsky, Vladimirsky, Alexandrovsky, Andreevsky and Ekaterininsky). The halls are named after the orders of the Russian Empire.

Now the premises of the palace are used for holding state and diplomatic receptions, various official ceremonies, in addition, the palace serves as the main residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

Erecting the palace complex, Konstantin Ton to some extent repeated the layout of the previous palace, and the architectural design echoes the legendary architectural structures of antiquity. For example, the arcade on the first floor reminds of the basement of the architect Aleviz, and the terrace above it looks like an old promenade. The winter garden arranged over the passage can be compared with hanging gardens. The decor of the facades of the second floor is somewhat similar to the design of the Terem Palace, located next door.

During the construction of the Grand Kremlin Palace, Ton applied a new technique - it was the first building in Russian architecture with large-span lightweight brick vaults, metal roof truss structures. Also, a new building material, cement, was used in the construction of the building.

The magnificent interior decoration of the palace is made in different styles, from the Renaissance to the Byzantine-Russian. Each palace hall deserves a separate description. Perhaps the most beautiful is Georgievsky, named after the Order of St. George the Victorious - the highest and most revered order in the Russian army, established in 1769 to reward officers and generals.

The motto of the order was the expression "For service and courage." In the hall there are marble plaques carved with the names of 545 regiments, naval crews and batteries and more than 10,000 names of officers and generals awarded this order. Among the holders of the St. George Order are such people as Alexander Suvorov, Mikhail Kutuzov, Pyotr Bagration, Fedor Ushakov, Pavel Nakhimov.

On June 1, 1773, a solemn laying of the new palace took place. However, it soon became clear that such a large-scale construction was inexpedient and work was stopped in 1774. Later, the fortress wall and the previously dismantled towers along the Moskva River were restored (until 1778, according to the project of M. F. Kazakov). An echo of such a large-scale construction can be considered the erection of a building for the Moscow branch of the Senate (the modern Senate Palace), or, as it is called in the project, “houses of government offices” (1776-88, architect M. F. Kazakov)

Work on the existing building of the palace was limited to updating the interiors and facades, installing a mezzanine and a portico in the center of the main facade of the residential floor facing the river (about 1800, according to the project of architect N. A. Lvov).
After the war of 1812, the building was restored in the forms of classicism (1816-1817, architects A.N. Bakarev and I.T. Tamansky, according to the project of V.P. P. Stasov). The building acquired a fairly monotonous appearance, characteristic of that time (see the governor's palace in the Kazan Kremlin) - a massive arcade of the first floor, which remained almost unchanged from the palace of F.-B. Rastrelli, brought some revival to the appearance of the main facade.

In addition to the newly built building, the palace complex also included buildings of the 16th-17th centuries: the Palace of Facets, the Terem Palace, the Golden Tsarina's Chamber and palace churches, including the oldest building in Moscow that has survived to the present day - the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin on Senyah (1393). ). In the inner space there was one of the oldest churches in the capital - the Cathedral of the Savior on Bor, demolished by the Soviet authorities in 1933.

With its main facade, the palace overlooks the Kremlin embankment. The exterior decoration of the building uses the motifs of the Terem Palace: for example, the windows are made in the tradition of Russian architecture and are decorated with carved architraves with double arches and a weight in the middle. According to the idea of ​​Nicholas I, the palace was to become a monument to the glory of the Russian army. So, its five ceremonial halls - Georgievsky, Andreevsky, Aleksandrovsky, Vladimirsky and Ekaterininsky - are named after five orders of the Russian Empire, and their design is designed in the appropriate style.

Initially, the palace served as the Moscow residence of Russian emperors and their families. After the Bolsheviks came to power, it did not function. Since 1934, sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR were held in it, for which Andreevsky and Alexander Halls were broken and, according to the project of architect I. A. Ivanov-Shitz, in 1933-1934 they were rebuilt into one large meeting room.

By decision of the President of Russia in 1994-98. Andreevsky and Alexander halls were restored to their original forms.

As of 2012, the Grand Kremlin Palace serves as the main residence of the President of Russia. Important national ceremonies are held in its halls, such as the presentation of state awards or credentials, etc.
Palace halls

Imperial throne in St. Andrew's Hall










By personal order of Nicholas I, even during the construction of the palace, the hall was dedicated to the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. Andreevsky Hall became the throne room of a large palace and the main imperial hall of the Moscow Kremlin. In 1932, it was turned into a meeting room where party congresses were held. The restoration of the hall in its original forms was carried out in 1994-1998.







.Alexander Hall

The Alexander Hall, adjacent to Andreevsky, got its name in honor of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, established by Catherine I in 1725. Just like the Andreevsky Hall, in the 1930s it was destroyed and turned into a meeting room of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Restored in 1994-1998.

Vladimir Hall

The hall is named after the Order of St. Vladimir. The Vladimir Hall is located in the center of the palace and leads to the Palace of the Facets, the St. George Hall, the Terem Palace and other premises of the Kremlin Palace. It so happened that this hall, as it were, links the buildings of the 15th and 19th centuries. And the hall itself is small, with a single window on the ceiling, and is illuminated by overhead light through the dome. The walls and pilasters of the Vladimir Hall are lined with pink marble.
St George's Hall

The largest of all the halls of the Kremlin Palace is Georgievsky (61x20.5x17.5 meters). All white with gold<чертог Георгия Победоносца предназначен быть храмом славы победоносного русского воинства

This hall has witnessed many historical events. In 1945, a solemn reception for the participants of the Victory Parade was held here. In 1961, the first cosmonaut of the planet Yu.A. Gagarin was honored in the Georgievsky Hall.
This is the largest hall of the palace after the Andreevsky Hall. It is covered with a cylindrical vault and richly decorated with stucco. The longitudinal walls of the hall are cut with deep niches. In the niches and on the walls there are marble boards on which the names of the famous military units and the names of the Knights of St. George are written in gold letters. Among them are the names of famous Russian commanders and naval commanders - A. V. Suvorov, M. I. Kutuzov, F. F. Ushakov, P. S. Nakhimov and others. The names of the heroes are also written on the marble corbel framing the double-height windows.

In the piers between the niches, 18 twisted columns were placed, cast from zinc and covered with a spiral ornament. Each column carries an allegorical statue of victories with a laurel wreath and a commemorative date. One of the statues personifies the reunification of Ukraine with Russia, a number of others are associated with the entry of other peoples into Russia. All statues are made by the sculptor I.P. Vitali. The decoration and moldings of the hall are dedicated to the victories of the Russian army in the 15th-19th centuries.

Many thanks for the wonderful photo-ancov, the author of the photo.
Literature

Libson V. Ya., Domshlak M. I., Arenkova Yu. I. and others. The Kremlin. China town. Central squares // Architectural monuments of Moscow. - M .: Art, 1983. - S. 339

The Grand Kremlin Palace is located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. The building of the palace was built in 1838-1849 by Russian architects under the direction of K.A. Ton. The group of architects included: Richter, Gerasimov, Chichagov, Bakarev and Shokhin. The construction of the palace was started by order of Emperor Nicholas I. The length of the palace is about 125 meters, and the height of the palace is 47 meters. The palace building is rectangular in plan, with a large courtyard.

The construction of the Grand Kremlin Palace began simultaneously with the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, entrusted to the same architect Ton. The building of the palace was supposed to symbolize the revival of Moscow after the war of 1812. The architecture of the palace was supposed to organically connect with the old buildings of the Kremlin. As a model of style, Konstantin Ton was instructed to take the architectural design of the Kolomna Palace by the architect Stackenschneider, which was not brought to life. So the project of a monumental building was born.

In addition to the constructed building, the palace complex included buildings of the 16th-17th centuries - the Faceted Chamber, the Golden Tsaritsyna Chamber, the Terem Palace and palace churches. The main facade of the building is located along the Kremlin embankment. The exterior decoration of the building is made in the traditions of Russian architecture. The windows are decorated with double arches and carved architraves.

The palace was conceived as a monument to the glory of the Russian army. 5 halls were equipped: Georgievsky, Vladimirsky, Aleksandrovsky, Ekaterininsky and Andreevsky. The halls are named after orders of the Russian Empire. The design of the halls is designed in the style corresponding to the name.

Andreevsky Hall, by order of Nicholas I, was dedicated to the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. This is the throne room of the palace and the main imperial hall of the Kremlin. The last restoration of the hall was carried out in 1994-1998. Andrew's Hall was restored to its original form.

The Alexander Hall adjoins the Andreevsky Hall. The hall was named in honor of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. This order was established by Catherine I in 1725. The hall was restored to its original form in 1994-1998.

Vladimir Hall is named after the holy Prince Vladimir. The hall is located in the center of the palace and leads to other rooms of the palace: to the St. George's Hall, to the Faceted Chamber, to the Terem Palace and other rooms. The hall is illuminated through the dome. The cladding of the walls of the hall is made of pink marble.

St. George's Hall is the most ceremonial of the halls of the palace. Named in honor of the Order of St. George the Victorious, which was established by Catherine II in 1769. This order became the highest award of the Russian Empire.

Nowadays, the Kremlin Palace is the main residence of the President of the Russian Federation. It hosts state and diplomatic receptions and official ceremonies.

View of the palace from the Moskva River

The long 125-meter facade of the palace stretches along the embankment of the Moscow River. Almost all Russians recognize its appearance, even those who have never been to the capital. The huge palace appeared in the Kremlin in the middle of the 19th century, during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I. And the famous Russian architect Konstantin Andreevich Ton became the author of the architectural design of the palace building.

The idea to build a new palace in Moscow was born after Russia's victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. The burnt-out city was rebuilt, and the Russian tsar wanted a new building to appear in it, which could emphasize Moscow's connection with folk traditions. Nicholas I dreamed that the palace would turn into a monument to all Russian soldiers. In accordance with the wishes of the sovereign, the architect prepared a project for the building in the so-called pseudo-Russian style. Construction took 10 years and was completed in 1849.

The majestic palace rises to 47 m, and the total area of ​​​​its premises is 25 thousand square meters. m. This is not a single building, but a whole architectural complex, which includes nine temples and chambers of the 16th-17th centuries, the Terem Palace, 700 halls and rooms, as well as a long vestibule.

The main palace halls are named after Russian orders. State awards and credentials are presented in the five most luxuriously decorated halls. In addition, official celebrations are held here.

Although today this palace is considered the residence of the President of the country, you can get inside it. Tours of the palace premises are allowed for organized groups, subject to prior booking.

Terem Palace

View of the southern facade of the palace

The complex of the Grand Kremlin Palace includes a unique five-story building that appeared in the heart of the city at the beginning of the 16th century. This is an unusual Terem Palace, the author of the initial project of which was the famous Italian master of architecture Aleviz Fryazin. The building received its final appearance in the 1630s, when Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich ruled Russia.

In the first half of the 17th century, most city buildings were wooden. When a stone five-story building was erected in the Kremlin, Muscovites perceived it as a real miracle! The inhabitants were especially impressed by the uppermost floor - the golden-domed Teremok, in which the Boyar Duma then met.

The Terem Palace is made of stone in the tradition of Russian wooden architecture, and its interiors are richly decorated with colorful wall paintings. Colored glass is inserted into the palace windows, and there are tiled stoves and carved wooden furniture in the rooms.

Arsenal

Arsenal building

The first building of the arsenal was built at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1737, the so-called Great or Trinity Fire took place in Moscow, as a result of which the city center was almost completely burned out. Strongly got from the fire and the Kremlin arsenal.

At the end of the 18th century, the arsenal was restored under the guidance of the famous architect Matvey Kazakov. However, during the war of 1812 the building was damaged again. French troops retreating from Moscow blew up the Kremlin storehouse. That two-story building, which has survived to this day, was erected in the traditions of classicism in 1815-1828.

The square building stands near the Nikolskaya Tower. You can't get inside it. Today, the historical building houses the services of the commandant's office and the premises where the military personnel of the Presidential Regiment live. These are the soldiers who guard the Kremlin and take part in the guard of honor at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and near the Eternal Flame.

State Kremlin Palace

View of the Kremlin Palace from Senate Square

The "youngest" palace building on the Kremlin territory appeared in 1961. Before the collapse of the USSR, it was called the "Kremlin Palace of Congresses". A new spacious palace was built for public and official events. Its light facades are impressive. They are lined with beautiful Ural marble and anodized aluminum.

In the 1960s-1980s, participants of party congresses came here. Nowadays, performances and theatrical performances are shown in a large building, and on New Year's Eve the palace gathers children to the country's main Christmas tree.

Senate Palace

View of the domed hall of the Senate from the courtyard

A beautiful palace for meetings of the Governing Senate was erected by order of Catherine II in the 1770s-1780s. The Russian Empress entrusted the construction of the palace to Matvey Kazakov, and the eminent architect prepared a brilliant project of a triangular building in the best traditions of classicism.

Many well-known statesmen of Russia have visited this palace, and various bodies of Russian power have sat in it. In the 1920s, V.I. Lenin, and later in the majestic building of Kazakov, the government of the USSR held its meetings.

The rounded dome of the Senate Palace is perfectly visible from Red Square. Below it is a spacious Catherine Hall, where all major events are held with the participation of the President of the country. A richly decorated marble staircase leads to the entrance to the hall.

The dome rises 29 meters above the floor of Catherine's Hall. Sections of the walls between the window openings look very solemn. They are decorated with bas-reliefs depicting portraits of Russian princes and tsars. Today, the Senate Palace houses the working and representative offices of the President, as well as the presidential library.

Faceted Chamber

View of the Palace of Facets from Cathedral Square

The expressive building of the Faceted Chamber belongs to the ancient Kremlin palaces. It was built at the end of the 15th century by Marco Ruffo and Pietro Antonio Solari (Peter Fryazin), Italian architects who worked for Tsar John III.

The palace got its name because of the decoration of the facade on the eastern side with faceted or “diamond” rustication. This is how rich Italian palaces were decorated during the Renaissance. The Faceted Chamber played the role of the reception rooms of the Grand Dukes. The Boyar Duma met in it and the Zemsky Sobors were held. The victories of the Russian army were celebrated in this palace more than once. And along the Red Porch, the sovereigns passed to the coronation ceremony at the Assumption Cathedral.

Not everyone has been there. Virtual tour of the Russian "Forbidden City".

Andreevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace of the Moscow Kremlin. Imperial throne. via

On the site President of Russia kremlin.ru, signed "Administration of the President of the Russian Federation", where the first three sections are called: Russia. State. Putin(interestingly, is this a hint that Putin is president forever?), on the page Kremlin it says like this:

"The Kremlin is open! Welcome!
Getting into the Moscow Kremlin is not difficult. No one is forbidden.[...]" It seems to me that it is brilliantly said.

2.

Andreevsky front hall on a watercolor by Konstantin Andreevich Ukhtomsky, 1849. The decoration in the Russian-Byzantine style was designed by Fyodor Grigoryevich Solntsev. via

"But, no matter how many times you visit the Kremlin, no matter how well you get to know its sights, some places in the Kremlin will probably remain inaccessible to you. These are buildings and territories that are reserved for state institutions and services that ensure the activities of the President of Russia .

A virtual tour will help fill this gap. It opens hitherto, unfortunately, objects closed to tourists, which are part of the Kremlin complex of the President's residence. Moreover, it opens - in a unique pictorial detail.

The Senate Palace and the Grand Kremlin Palace will appear before you in every detail - down to the inscriptions on the spines of books in the cabinets of the Presidential Library, and barely noticeable details of the ancient paintings of the Faceted Chamber. You will examine every stone, every piece of furniture, every monogram on high ceilings, every leaf in the Kremlin gardens as if you were in close proximity to them.

And according to the good old tradition: article from AD Russia magazine unchanged about the interior of the Grand Kremlin Palace:

We usually see the interiors of the Grand Kremlin Palace only on TV - as a background of political events. We brought them to the fore.

Grand Kremlin Palace

The Grand Kremlin Palace has about seven hundred rooms. The main staircase made of Revel stone leads to the second floor to the five main order halls. Its walls are made of artificial marble (the columns are made of real marble), the interior is designed in the spirit of the Renaissance and allows you to appreciate the innovative construction solutions of Konstantin Ton, who blocked a large span with metal structures. Figured castings on the ceiling are made of cement - an innovative technique at the time of the construction of the palace.

3.

Vladimir Hall

The Vladimir Hall is one of the most unusual in the palace. In plan, it is a square with a side of sixteen meters, but niches arranged at the corners give it the appearance of an octahedron. The decor reproduces the colors of the Order of St. Vladimir. The hipped sixteen-sided vault is made up of hollow ceramic pots - to facilitate construction and improve acoustics. The hall is illuminated by overhead light through a special opening. The stairs lead to the old part of the complex - the Terem Palace.

4.

Andrew's Hall

Andreevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, built in 1849 by Konstantin Ton, in the 19th century was considered the main one in the suite of ceremonial rooms dedicated to the main orders of the Russian Empire. Andreevsky Hall, as its name implies, glorifies the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the very first Russian order established by Peter I in 1699. Ten gilded pylons of the hall and gilded doors are decorated with chains and crosses from the symbols of the order. At the end of the hall there are three throne places with an ermine canopy above them, above the windows are the coats of arms of the Russian provinces.

5.

Alexander Hall

The Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, founded in 1725 by Catherine II, is dedicated to the Alexander Hall in the Grand Kremlin Palace. Its walls are lined with pink marble, the domed ceiling and the sailing vaults bearing it are covered with images of the order's emblems and stars.

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The same stars are woven on the backs of the chairs: the velvet of their upholstery is the same color as the sash. On the walls of the hall there are paintings from the life of Alexander Nevsky. This hall, like Andreevsky, was rebuilt in Soviet times and restored in the 1990s. Sometimes the hall is used for meetings of the State Council.

7.

St George's Hall

St. George's Hall - the first in the front suite of the Grand Palace. Its theme is the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George, established by Catherine II in 1769. On the walls of the hall there are marble panels with the names of the knights of the order (golden chests with lists once stood along the southern wall of the room).

8.

The main motif of the decor is the order cross, on top of the columns there are statues - allegories of the lands and kingdoms that became part of Russia from the 15th to the 19th centuries. They were created by Ivan Vitali. In the photo below - carved doors leading from St. George's Hall to Alexander's.

9.

Anteroom

Anteroom - a small room leading from the main staircase to St. George's Hall. The central place on its light green walls is occupied by a painting by the famous French battle painter Adolphe Yvon, depicting the Battle of the Kulikovo Field (1850).

10.

Terem Palace

The holy vestibule is located in the oldest part of the Grand Kremlin Palace complex - the Terem Palace. It was built in 1635 by a team of Russian craftsmen - Bazhen Ogurtsov, Trefil Shaturin, Antip Konstantinov and Larion Ushakov. From the Red Porch overlooking the Cathedral Square, through the Holy Vestibule you can get to the Faceted Chamber and the Vladimir Hall.

11.

Faceted Chamber

The Faceted Chamber of the Terem Palace is the oldest building in the palace complex. It was built in 1491 by Italian architects Marco Ruffo and Piero Antonio Solari and served as the throne room for Tsar Ivan III. Zemsky Sobors and meetings of the Boyar Duma were held here, and foreign ambassadors were received. The walls of the chamber are decorated with paintings of the 16th century with religious subjects. In 1668 they were renovated by the painter Simon Ushakov with a team of craftsmen from Palekh.

12.

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The main building of the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin. It was built in 1479 by the Italian Aristotle Fioravanti. In 1547, it was here that the first Russian tsar, Ivan IV the Terrible, was crowned.

13.

Original article.

• In past residence of emperors, today it is the main residence of the President of Russia.
• huge palace, the construction of which lasted 10 years, appeared in the Kremlin in the 19th century under Nicholas I.
• The building includes the remains of earlier buildings: the Terem Palace, nine churches and the Palace of Facets.
• The Grand Kremlin Palace is 125 meters long and 47 meters high, and the total area of ​​the building is 25,000 sq.m..
• The residence has a huge lobby, about 700 rooms and five halls, which are used for high-level meetings and state ceremonies.
• The Malachite Foyer is open to visitors, where you can see portraits of all Russian sovereigns.

The Grand Kremlin Palace is a unique architectural ensemble and a landmark museum for Moscow. Once it housed the chambers of the imperial family, and now it is the main residence of the President of Russia. The palace is open to the public only as part of organized tours, which are held according to a schedule agreed in advance with the Federal Security Service. The private quarters of the emperors with authentic furnishings, the throne and order halls, luxurious interiors and murals - the Palace impresses with its beauty and grandeur.

Palace construction

Back in the reign of Empress Catherine II, the architect Vasily Bazhenov proposed to build a giant new palace in the Kremlin, but due to the complexity and high cost, his project was not implemented. The new residence in the Kremlin appeared by decree of the grandson of the Empress, Nicholas I. The palace was built for almost ten years, from 1838 to 1849. Work on it brought together outstanding Russian artists and architects - N. Chichagov, V. Bakaryov, N. Shokhin, P. Gerasimov, F. Solntseva.

The author of the project is a recognized master Konstantin Ton. Emperor Nicholas I was directly involved in the search for an architectural style for the palace. It was decided to build a new residence in the tradition of "Byzantine-Russian architecture". It is believed that the image with its monumental forms, created by Andrei Stackenschneider, was taken as the basis for the project. On the site of old buildings of the XV - XVIII centuries. erected a building striking in its size and harmony of lines. The length of the Grand Kremlin Palace is 125 meters, the height is 47 meters, the total area is 25,000 square meters. From the outside it looks like it has three floors, but it actually has two floors.

During a detailed study of the project, the experts found many similarities with palace buildings of the 15th-18th centuries that stood on this site earlier. The windows of the lower tier in the modern palace correspond to the arches of the basement of the palace of the 15th century, the outer gallery corresponds to the outer passages, and the terrace looks like an old promenade. The palace also had a Winter Garden - a kind of repetition of the hanging gardens of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Particularly valuable parts of previous buildings were included in the Grand Kremlin Palace: the Terem Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, nine temples (the oldest of which dates back to the 14th century), the Faceted Chamber of the 15th century. The residence has about 700 rooms, a huge lobby and five stately halls.

In 1849 the palace was consecrated in the presence of Emperor Nicholas I. At the same time, construction began in the same style of the building. With its construction, the ensemble of the Grand Kremlin Palace was finally formed. The buildings are connected by an overpass. After the socialist revolution of 1917 and the relocation of the Soviet government to Moscow, many of the premises of the palace began to be used as residential. Today, the Palace hosts the inauguration ceremony of the President of Russia, high-level meetings are held, orders are awarded - high state awards of the Russian Federation.

Visitors can enter the Kremlin Palace from the Cathedral Square. Nearby is the front porch of the Faceted Chamber of the Kremlin, it is decorated with figures of lions and closed with a gilded lattice.

Style decision of the ensemble

The appearance of the Palace is emphatically strict: it is decorated with a large number of stucco elements, which partially copy the decorative decorations of the 17th century. So that the building does not stand out from the general ensemble of the Kremlin, its external design uses "elements of the Russian style", characteristic of earlier buildings. From the upper vantage point, it can be seen that the ground floor of the palace protrudes forward and forms an open terrace. The arched windows of the first tier are separated by thin walls and outwardly resemble a closed gallery lined with natural stone. The second floor with two tiers of windows is divided by pilasters and decorated with decorative architraves in the "Russian style" with double arches and a weight in the middle. The palace ends with a "tribune" - an architectural elevation, which is crowned with a golden balustrade. It is decorated with "kokoshniks" - semicircular decorative elements and historical coats of arms of the kingdoms that were part of the Russian Empire: Moscow, Kazan, Astrakhan, Taurida, Finland and Poland.

Halls of the Palace

The lobby of the palace is a suite of marble-trimmed halls with polished granite columns. A huge front staircase leads to the second floor. The vault covered with arches, the red carpet, the main entrance of the palace facing the Moscow River - this part of the palace is easily recognizable from the memorable footage of the inauguration ceremonies of Russian presidents. It was on this ladder that B. Yeltsin, V. Putin and D. Medvedev climbed before taking the oath. Going upstairs, each visitor sees a huge painting “Whoever comes to us with a sword will die by the sword”, created by the artist S. Prisekin in 1983.

The round entrance hall, located in the center of the palace, is called Vladimirsky. It is dedicated to the Order of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir. Ruled at the end of X - beginning of XI centuries. the prince of Kiev was able to rally the tribes of the Eastern Slavs and adopted the Orthodox religion as the state religion. The hall is shaped like the Roman Pantheon, it is also illuminated from above by a round window.

The oldest building in the palace (and the whole of Moscow) is built in 1487‒1491. Marco Ruffo and Antonio Solari. Outside, it is decorated with rustication and resembles the buildings of the Italian Renaissance. In front of its entrance is the Red Porch, where complaints were usually made to the tsar in the 15th-17th centuries. The chamber has unique frescoes on biblical scenes, parquet of rare beauty and interiors shining with gold.

- This is the hall of the most honorary military order of the Russian Empire - the Order of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. The order was approved by Empress Catherine II in 1769 for military merit and bravery on the battlefield. Meetings of the Knights of St. George were held here. The names of 545 army formations and more than 10,000 names of officers and generals are carved on the walls. Among them are the great Russian commanders of the 18th-19th centuries: A. Suvorov, M. Kutuzov, P. Bagration, F. Ushakov, P. Nakhimov.

Alexander Hall named in honor of the Order of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, which was established in 1725 by Empress Catherine I in honor of the patron saint of St. Petersburg.

Andrew's Hall dedicated to the highest order of the Russian Empire and modern Russia - the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. Andrew's Hall was originally considered the main imperial hall Moscow Kremlin, the throne of the emperor was installed in it. The restored throne under a canopy decorated with velvet and ermine fur can still be seen today. In Soviet times, a monument to V. Lenin was erected on the site of the throne, and congresses of the Communist Party and sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR were held in the hall itself. Nowadays, the inauguration ceremonies of the President of Russia are held here. Above the throne to see the image of the Radiant Delta - the All-seeing eye of the Lord in the rays of glory. This is the personification of God's patronage of power.

Dedicated to the female order of St. Catherine. It is located away from the main premises of the Palace and was also the throne room of the emperors. It is closed to visitors.

Here you can also see the unique Terem Palace- the residence of the Moscow tsars of the XVII century. It was built in 1635‒1636. on the foundation of a palace of the 15th century, has an enfilade structure. In his last room there is a bedroom, next to it - the personal chambers of the king. The interiors amaze with wealth and luxury, the beauty of tiled stoves and wall paintings. Walk into it