The Grand Kremlin Palace - all the splendor of the presidential residence! Grand Kremlin Palace Georgievsky Hall of the Kremlin a n seslavin photos.

In 1838, on the initiative of Nicholas I, on Borovitsky Hill, they began to build the Grand Kremlin Palace on the site of the dismantled palaces of Ivan III and Elizabeth Petrovna. Construction was completed in 1849. Almost a hundred years before that, attempts were made to create a new palace. So, in 1768, the architect Bazhenov presented his model of the building, located from the banks of the Moscow River along the entire Borovitsky Hill. In 1770 a part of the Kremlin wall was broken and in 1773 a new residence was solemnly laid. But a year later, it was decided that such a grandiose project was inappropriate and the construction was stopped. The destroyed Kremlin wall was restored and instead of a pompous palace, the building of the Moscow Senate was built.

But the beginning of construction in 1812 again showed the need to build a palace in honor of the renewal of Moscow.

A group of specialists was invited to work on the project - Bakarev, Gerasimov, Rikhnet, Chichagov. The project was headed by the architect K.A. Ton, the author of the project of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the founder of the so-called Byzantine-Russian style.

As planned by the authors, the Palace complex, which will later be called the Grand Kremlin Palace, was supposed to include, in addition to the largest building, a part of the surviving structures of the royal residence - the Golden Tsaritsyna Chamber, the Pomegranate Chamber, house churches and the Terem Palace.

The chief architect Ton did not seek to build an innovative complex of buildings, he took as a basis the planning and architectural elements of familiar historical buildings already familiar to Muscovites. But during the construction, the most advanced and modern techniques and technologies were used, for example, lightweight brick vaults, new roof structures, cement and other most innovative building materials for that time.

Only in 1851, after the construction of the Armory and the Apartments, connected by an air passage with the palace complex, the Grand Kremlin Palace became a single architectural ensemble worthy of the imperial family and became one of the wonders of the city for Muscovites and foreigners.

The main façade of the building faces the river, and from this angle it looks like it has three floors, although in fact it has only two floors. The first floor looks like a closed gallery, the basement is framed with natural stone, the second floor is decorated with carved window frames made of white stone. In the center of the palace there is a platform with a gilded balustrade, on one side of which there is still a working clock, and on the other - hour bells. Near the main entrance is a vestibule with marble columns. The total length of the Kremlin Palace is 125 m, its area is 25,000 sq. m., and the height is 47 m.

The palace complex includes about 700 rooms for various purposes, including 5 order halls, reception rooms of the Front Half, living quarters of the Own Half, service rooms on the first floor, and a lobby with a front staircase.

You can talk endlessly about interiors and interior decoration. It is not for nothing that the palace is called the museum of Russian ceremonial interior. The palace is rightly called a museum of Russian palace interiors. The decoration is eclectic - from Renaissance elements to Byzantine style. At the same time, any of its elements strikes with subtlety, elegance and quality of work, original taste and quality of performance.

Each palace hall is a work of architecture and art in its own way, but true connoisseurs of architecture consider the St. George Hall to be the most majestic. It is in it that marble plaques of memory with the names of the military, awarded the most revered Russian award, the Order of St. George the Victorious. Among the awardees were such historical figures as Mikhail Kutuzov, Alexander Suvorov and Pyotr Bagration. This sixty-meter white and gold hall, with huge bronze chandeliers, with powerful pylons, truly leaves an unforgettable impression. In addition, marble statues by the sculptor Ivan Vitali and bas-reliefs depicting St. George and the snake, by Pavel Kladsh, are located here. It is this hall that plays an important role in Russian history - cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was welcomed here, here in 1945 the reception of participants in the Victory Parade took place.

The Vladimir Hall got its name in honor of the Order of St. Vladimir. The hall is made in the form of an octahedron, lined with pink marble and, in addition to a huge bronze chandelier, has additional lighting through the dome. From this hall you can get to the Terem Palace, the Pomegranate Chamber and many other rooms of the palace.

The Assembly Hall is the largest room in the palace complex. It appeared only in 1933 in connection with the unification of the Alexander and Andreevsky halls. Windows overlooking the Moscow River, 1615 sq. square meters, with a capacity of up to 3,000 visitors - made this hall in Soviet times the meeting place of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Catherine's Hall is a very cozy and beautiful room in the front half of the palace, which got its name in honor of the only female Russian order. In the past, it was the throne room of Russian empresses. Gilded chandeliers, gray moire walls, malachite pieces, fine crystal candelabra - everything here is of great historical and artistic value.

After the Catherine's Hall, you can get to the Front Room and the Front Bedchamber, which today are a real museum of the imperial life of the 19th century. A fireplace lined with jasper, greenish marble columns, heavy monolithic furniture - all this emphasizes the nobility of the decoration of the premises intended for high-ranking government officials.

The last room of the front half of the palace is the Walnut Wardrobe, which is decorated with walnut panels.

The private half of the palace with the living quarters of the emperor and his family located in it is also an example of sophistication and interior masterpiece. A mixture of baroque, rococo, classicism styles make the seven rooms of the Own Half a conceptual whole. The Emperor's office, the Empress's office, a bedroom, a boudoir, a dining room, a reception room, a living room - each room had its own decoration.

The dining room is decorated with artificial stone and statues of mythological heroes. In the rest of the rooms of this half of the palace, you can see a lot of porcelain items, unique chandeliers, furniture of soft shapes, curved outlines, a lot of huge mirrors, pompous inlay and stucco patterns, parquet and doors made of precious woods with unique patterns.

At present, the entire ensemble of the Grand Kremlin Palace, with the exception of the Armory, which is a museum, is the Residence of the President of the Russian Federation. It is here that important state meetings at the highest level, award ceremonies, and diplomatic receptions are held.

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(Russian Grand Kremlin Palace; English Grand Kremlin Palace)

Opening hours: The palace is closed to the public. You can visit it only as part of organized excursions, upon prior request, with the submission of passport data and agreement on the date of the visit.

The Grand Kremlin Palace is one of the palaces of the Moscow Kremlin. It stands on a high Borovitsky hill. The palace was built in the period from 1838-1849. Previously, there was a palace on this site, built in the 18th century by the architect B.-F. Rastrelli, and before that - the Grand Duke's Palace of Ivan III. The first stone buildings of the Grand Kremlin Palace were built by the Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin in 1499-1508.

Historically, after the transfer of the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg, the Kremlin palaces lost their former significance. During the reign of Tsarina Anna Ioannovna, who spent most of her time in Moscow, more attention was paid to palaces, but the large Kremlin Palace, of that time, was increasingly dilapidated. Under Anna Ioannovna, on the basements of the old palace, the new imperial apartments "Winter Annenhof" were erected - a wooden palace in the Baroque style (architect B.-F. Rastrelli).

Under Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, the imperial court again lived in St. Petersburg, but in the Kremlin, anyway, it was decided to build a new royal residence. The new building outwardly resembled the Great Peterhof Palace.

When Catherine II ascended the throne, this palace was recognized as not corresponding to the greatness of the Russian Empire, it was decided to replace it with a new building. The new palace was to be located throughout the riverside territory of the Kremlin, extending from the banks of the Moskva River to the entire Borovitsky Hill.

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. The destroyed Kremlin wall and towers were restored, and instead of a grandiose palace, only a building was built for the Moscow branch of the Senate.

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. The design of the palace was entrusted to the famous architect Konstantin Ton, the author of the project of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. As a model for the stylistic solution of the proposed palace, Ton was instructed to take the design solution of the Kolomna Palace (1836, architect Stackenschneider, the project was not implemented), which developed the composition of the Kremlin Terem Palace in monumental forms.

Initially, the Grand Kremlin Palace and the Armory were considered as a single complex, which was to be built simultaneously. In 1842, the construction was divided into two phases.

The palace building forms a rectangle with a courtyard. Externally, the palace is decorated in the style of previous centuries: its facades are decorated with carved white stone pediments, and the windows are carved platbands with double arches and a weight in the middle, as in the towers of the 17th century. From the main façade, the building appears to be three stories high, but it actually has only two floors. Arched windows separated by thin walls make this first floor of the palace look like a closed gallery. In the center of the palace above the roof is a tribune, completed with a gilded balustrade.

The length of the Kremlin Palace is 125 meters, the height is 47 meters, and the total area is 25,000 m². The palace complex, known as the Grand Kremlin Palace, in addition to the building of the palace itself, includes 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 total number of rooms in the palace complex reaches 700. Five halls of the palace (Georgievsky, Vladimirsky, Alexandrovsky, Andreevsky and Ekaterininsky), named after the orders of the Russian Empire, are currently used for state and diplomatic receptions and official ceremonies, and the palace itself is the main residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

When 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 of the first tier of the palace is a remake of the basement of Aleviz; the terrace on top of the arcade repeats the old promenades and connects the ensemble in space; the winter garden, above the new passage, resembles the hanging gardens of antiquity; carved figured framing of window openings of the double-height second floor, profiled pilasters between them; the central elevated part with kokoshniks, covered with a dome, echoes the architecture of the Terem Palace. But Ton was not afraid to innovate in the construction of the palace - it was the first building in Russian architecture with large-span lightweight brick vaults and metal roof trusses.

P the front entrance of the Grand Kremlin Palace is inconspicuously located in the southern facade of the building, that is, from the side of the Moscow River, from where the visitor enters the marble lobby with monolithic columns made of Serdobol granite (Serdobol is a city on the shores of Lake Ladoga). On the left side of the vestibule is the so-called Own half of Their Imperial Majesties, stretching in a long suite of rooms along the main facade. Four bronze floor lamps, cast and assembled in Moscow at the Krumbyugel factory, became a remarkable decoration of the main palace entrance.

A staircase consisting of sixty-six gentle steps leads to the second floor of the Grand Kremlin Palace, to the main halls. The main staircase is decorated with yellow Kolomna marble, which is used to line the columns along the flights and flights of stairs. The lancet arches of the main staircase are set on this marble colonnade. The flights of the stairs are illuminated by twelve bronze chandeliers, made in the same style as the floor lamps of the front lobby.

On the second floor, on both sides of the main staircase, ten pylons of yellow Kolomna marble frame side platforms - galleries. On the right hangs a painting depicting the battle of Dmitry Donskoy with the Tatars on the Kulikovo field in 1380. It was painted in 1850 by the French artist A. Yvon, a student of P. Delyaroche. The left platform leads to the Ceremonial Halls.

The magnificent interior decoration of the palace is made in different styles, from the Renaissance to the Byzantine-Russian style. The most beautiful hall is Georgievsky, named after the Order of St. George the Victorious - the highest and most revered order in the Russian army, established by Empress Catherine II in 1769 to reward officers and generals. The motto of the order is "For Service and Courage". It was the most honorable award for the military, the highest order of the Russian army. The appearance of the St. George Hall in the Grand Kremlin Palace thus turned the imperial residence into a monument to the feats of arms of Russian weapons. This hall does not impress with boundless luxury, but rather with rigor and scale.

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. Here are the names of 545 regiments, naval crews and batteries, and more than 10,000 names of officers and generals awarded this order. Among the Knights of the Order of St. George are such people as Alexander Suvorov, Mikhail Kutuzov, Pyotr Bagration, Fedor Ushakov, Pavel Nakhimov.

St. George's Hall is the largest room in the palace. It is 61 meters long, 20.5 meters wide and 17.5 meters high. White and gold are the main colors of the St. George Hall, white are the vaults, walls and sculptures, gold is the names of the Knights of St. George and military formations on the boards and faces of the piols. The hall is decorated with 18 powerful twisted columns covered with ornaments and crowned with statues of victories with laurel wreaths and memorable dates. Marble statues on pylons allegorically symbolize the regions and kingdoms that make up the multinational state. On the southern and northern walls of the room there are bas-reliefs depicting St. George and a snake, their author is Pavel Kladsh. The signs of the order adorn the upper part of the walls of the snow-white St. George's Hall.

During ceremonial receptions, officers gathered in the hall, on whose uniforms the same signs sparkled that adorn the walls of the hall. In 1945, in the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, a solemn reception was held for the participants in the Victory Parade on Red Square. Here, the world's first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, was greeted with honors.

To illuminate the hall, there are six openwork gilded bronze chandeliers, weighing 1,300 kilograms each, 40 wall sconces, and gilded furniture upholstered in silk, the colors of the St. George ribbon. The ceiling is decorated with stucco molding in the form of a floral ornament. The original parquet, made in 1845, has been preserved in the St. George's Hall. It took 20 rare species of wood to complete it: Indian rosewood, African padouk, beech, ash, plane trees and many others.

The Alexander Hall was built in honor of the Order of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, established on May 25, 1725 by Empress Catherine I. The order's motto is "For Labor and the Fatherland." Six historical canvases were created and mounted in the upper niches of the end sides of the hall. On the western side there are military exploits of the prince, on the eastern side there are scenes from his peaceful life, the builder of monasteries, an enlightened and just ruler.

The hall has a rectangular shape and occupies the central part of the second floor, along the southern facade of the Grand Kremlin Palace. In the central part of the hall there is a large elliptical dome resting on four powerful pylons. In the golden bas-reliefs of the dome, the signs of the order with the monogram S.A. - Sanctus Alexander - Saint Alexander are clearly distinguished. Two-headed eagles are located at the corners of the dome and above the massive gilded doors.

Huge two-tiered windows of the Alexander Hall face south and literally flood all the rooms with light reflected in numerous mirrors. The walls are decorated with white and pink artificial marble, red velvet, furniture is upholstered in the color of the sash. The luxurious gilded decoration of the hall is in harmony with the unique parquet floor made of 20 species of trees.

According to the project of Academician F.G. Solntsev, in the St. Petersburg workshop of Yegor Skvortsov, enfilade swing doors were made, covered with wooden carvings and gilding. An important decorative element of the decoration of the hall was made by Vasily Krumbyugel copper gilded and silver-plated coats of arms of the provinces and regions of the Russian Empire, painted with oil paints on gold and silver boards in the form of enamel.

Andreevsky Hall (throne room), which was the main hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace in the 19th century, has been recreated in its original splendor. Andreevsky Throne Hall was erected in honor of the highest order of Russia - the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, established by Peter the Great on March 10, 1698. The motto of the order is "For Faith and Loyalty". St. Andrew's Hall - these are gilded doors with order crosses and chains of the St. Andrew's Order, 10 bronze chandeliers and 35 sconces, two unique fireplaces made of gray-violet jasper, as well as three thrones under an ermine and a unique parquet mosaic made of many precious woods. The walls of the hall are covered with blue silk fabric in the color of St. Andrew's ribbon.

This is one of the five ceremonial order halls of the Grand Kremlin Palace, located along the main ceremonial southern facade of the palace. Its huge space is strictly organized by five pairs of powerful pillars. They divide its entire volume into three naves - large, central and smaller side ones. With its gilded lancet vaults, two rows of majestic tetrahedral pylons, with the image of the All-Seeing Eye, in golden rays, above the imperial throne - the hall resembles a temple.

At its eastern wall, three throne places rise, under ermine canopies. During the coronation of Emperor Nicholas II, they were intended for the emperor, empress, and dowager empress - the mother of Nicholas II. The imperial throne is overshadowed by a tent, with an entrance of six steps, covered with golden brocade. The tent is decorated with a magnificent ermine mantle. On the plafond of the tent is placed the state emblem of the Russian Empire - a double-headed eagle. The wall above the tent is also decorated with the image of the state emblem, and on the sides of the tent there are double-headed eagles with the St. Andrew's cross on their chest.

Andreevsky Hall is illuminated through eighteen windows and two balcony doors to the south.oh the walls, cut through, in two tiers, strictly one above the other. On the opposite side are the doors leading to the Cavalry Guard Hall and the Anteroom. The Andreevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace hosts the most solemn events of national importance.

Mirrored doors in the northern wall of the Georgievsky Hall lead to the Vladimirsky Hall. Vladimir Hall conveys the history of the Order of St. Vladimir, one of the first Russian princes. It was founded in honor of Prince Vladimir of Kyiv, under whom Rus was baptized. The motto of the Order of St. Vladimir is "Benefit, Honor and Glory". Many honored citizens were awarded the order, including one of the creators of the Kremlin Palace, the architect Konstantin Ton.

This tall, octagonal hall of the 19th century links together the palaces of five centuries. The walls and pilasters of the Vladimir Hall are lined with pink marble. The Vladimir Hall impresses with its artistic design: pink marble walls and pilasters, stucco gilded ornaments of vaults and cornices give this hall a fabulous beauty. The vault of the Vladimir Hall resembles Russian tents, the arches of the bypass side galleries, as if repeating the outlines of ancient arches.

The wide arches of the first tier are replaced by triple, tighter arches of the second tier to move into the dome vaults covered with solid, gilded stucco. This stucco gilded ornament was made, as on the cornices, by the sculptors the Dylev brothers.

In this hall, during the day, light enters the glass lantern on the vault of the dome, and in the evening it is illuminated by a huge gilded bronze chandelier, which weighs about three tons. It is lowered to the height of the galleries of the second tier, and seems to be floating in the center of the space. The floor, according to the drawing of Academician F. G. Solntsev, is made of numerous precious woods. From the hall you can get to the Faceted Chamber, the St. George Hall, the Terem Palace and other rooms of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

Catherine's Hall is located on the front half of the palace - in the past it was the throne room of Russian empresses. It is located somewhat away from the suite of ceremonial order halls on the second floor of the Grand Kremlin Palace. The Order of St. Catherine was established by Peter I in 1714 - this is the only female order in Russia, its motto was "For love and fatherland." In the middle of the 19th century, it was here that the throne of Her Imperial Majesty was located.

Catherine's Hall is relatively small - its length is 21 meters. The splendor of this hall is successfully combined with the special sophistication of decoration, comfort and intimacy. The badges of the order with the motto "For Love and Fatherland", sprinkled with large artificial diamonds, are located on the walls and doors of the hall. The gilded image of the Order of St. Catherine, placed on a silver field, also adorns the doors of the throne room of the Empress.

The hall is illuminated by gilded bronze chandeliers and six crystal candelabra, unusual in design and beauty, made at the imperial glass factory in St. Petersburg. The walls are upholstered with gray moire, and with a scarlet sash. On massive pillars there are pilasters decorated with a pattern made of small pieces of malachite. The vaults and cornices of the hall are decorated with gilded stucco. The parquet of the Catherine Hall is of high artistic value.

The Green Living Room adjoins the Catherine's Throne Hall. It is designed to receive especially honored guests.

The ceiling of the semicircular hall is painted with floral ornaments, and the walls are upholstered with fabric (artist Giuseppe Colombo Artari). The arrangement of furniture here was thought out and coordinated with the architectural features of the living rooms.

The main decoration of the living room are richly inlaid furniture, bronze crystal chandeliers and floor lamps. In the front drawing room there are three huge chandeliers, two of which are made in the Chinese style and one is in the Japanese style. The furniture was upholstered in gold brocade with a green pattern. The same fabric was also used for wall upholstery.

Behind the Catherine's Hall, in the front half, there are the former royal front drawing room and front bedchamber. The interior of the Front Drawing Room (now the Red Living Room) is exceptionally ornate. It has an alcove with monolithic gray-green marble columns that are in perfect harmony with the bright crimson upholstery of the walls and furniture. For facing the fireplace, green-blue jasper is used with a beautiful wavy pattern, well presented by a Russian master stone cutter who managed to emphasize the advantages of the Ural ornamental stone.

The red living room is decorated in the Renaissance style. It is decorated with white, pinkish gray and green marble. In the 19th century, silver brocade with golden flowers covered the walls and "Gambsian" furniture. Pilasters, friezes and columns supporting the vaults were fully combined with them. Rosewood doors, inlaid with gilded bronze and boule-style mother-of-pearl, lead to the adjoining Green Room and the Catherine Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

The private half, intended personally for the emperor and his family, is located on the ground floor of the palace. The enfilade of residential premises of the Own half is stretched along the main facade of the palace, and consists of seven main residential and four small passage rooms intended for duty and waiting for courtiers. The interiors of the Own Half correspond to the monumental architecture of the palace, and at the same time, they are characterized by intimacy and homeliness. In the design of these rooms, the decorators used the artistic methods of the Baroque, Rococo, Classicism styles.

The private half consists of seven rooms: the Dining Room, the Living Room, the Study of the Empress, the Boudoir, the Bedroom, the Study of the Emperor and the Reception Room. Despite the fact that each room is designed in its own style, all rooms together represent one whole. The own half is a museum of Russian residential palace interiors, almost completely preserved without significant alterations and additions.

The artists involved in the decoration of the palace paid great attention not only to architectural details, but also to the selection of furniture, candelabra, fireplaces, and chandeliers. Fireplaces are made of malachite and marble. Boudoir, Living Room, Study and Bedroom are decorated with a variety of porcelain products - these are vases, floor lamps, a chandelier that looks like a luxurious bouquet topped with a pineapple fruit. A significant place in the former living rooms of the palace is occupied by bronze items - clocks, candelabra. On the fireplaces made of malachite and marble are clocks of French work - they were ordered specifically for the Grand Kremlin Palace.

Lighting was essential. It was supposed to give even more splendor to the interiors, so each crystal chandelier in the palace is original, each has its own design and shape of pendants. Huge mirrors, as well as gilding, inlay, molding, carving, give the rooms of the palace an unusually solemn and pompous look. Interior doors made of precious wood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, tortoise shell, made on spikes without a single nail. Patterns of doors, in the palace, are never repeated. For covering the walls, as well as for curtains and other things, a fabric of a certain color was used in each room. Those that were particularly dilapidated were made anew by craftsmen from Pavlovsky Posad.

The enfilade of the Own half opens with a huge Dining Hall. Its walls are lined with white and yellow artificial marble. Vaulted ceilings, with stucco decoration, rest on a massive central pillar, which visually connects the appearance of this room with the architectural design of the Faceted Chamber. The decorative principles of classicism are used in the decoration of the Dining Room. Here is a calm combination of tones of artificial marble, white marble statues of the mythological characters of Leda and Hymen, vases in the Borghese style.

The boudoir of the Empress is created in soothing colors, the walls and furniture are upholstered in pink silk. Boudoir furniture includes 24 pieces of various shapes: sofas, tables and chairs. The furniture is made of walnut wood.

In the boudoir there is also one of the most beautiful fireplaces of the palace, as if hewn from a single stone - the malachite plates are so tightly fitted and polished. The shape, proportions, gently curved lines of all its designs only emphasize its beauty, and the overlaid gilded decorations add a special sophistication. The mantel clock attracts attention with its intricate shape and bizarre mechanism. The enamel circle is a calendar that shows the months, days of the week and the phase of the moon (lower part of the clock). Above it is a vase-shaped clock with a fixed lizard-shaped hand and two rotating dials. Arabic numerals indicated minutes, while Roman numerals indicated hours. All this is in a bronze, gilded design.

Behind the Boudoir of the Empress is the Bedchamber. Blue-pearl tones, combined with white and gold, create the feeling of a clear night sky. The bedchamber is dominated by two colors - blue and gold. The bedchamber of the Empress is luxurious and refined at the same time. An atmosphere of peace and piety reigns here.

The entirely gilded furniture set was created in the Renaissance style. There are 31 items in this headset. The white Carrara marble fireplace is decorated with a clock called "Night".

Watch "Night" is a dial in the form of a dark blue ball with applied numbers, stars and two bronze figures of cupids on the sides, stands on a gilded stand, with cast gilded female figures.

The study of the Empress is emphatically decorative and decorated in the boule style. The dominant color is dark crimson, consonant with the spirit of the interior of French palaces of the late 17th - early 18th centuries. Huge mirrors, the manufacture of which was started in Russia at that time, and the chandelier repeatedly reflected in them increase the feeling of pomposity, fabulous luxury.

The elegance of the interior is given by gilded stucco decorations of walls and vaults, doors, excellently made of precious woods, and inlaid with tortoise shell, bronze, and mother-of-pearl. Unknown craftsmen made them without a nail and glue, on spikes. The furniture here is upholstered in silk and gold fabric. Exquisite gilded clocks and vases complement the decoration of the Cabinet.

The drawing room of the Empress is snow-white and gold, eight gypsum bas-reliefs are symbols of the arts, four more depicting the seasons adorn it. The furniture set, in the style of Louis XV, made of turquoise wood, is also gilded and upholstered with patterned damask. The furniture, here, is of soft, curvaceous designs, rocael style, decorated with whimsical swirls and flowers in abundance.

The main decoration of the living room are porcelain products - vases and floor lamps. The ceiling is decorated with a large chandelier with stucco flowers, reminiscent of a lush bouquet topped with a pineapple. It was made by ceramists of the St. Petersburg Imperial Porcelain Factory, in a single copy, especially for the interiors of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

Currently, the entire complex of the Grand Kremlin Palace, except for the Armory, is the main residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

I do not think that you have to visit the Grand Kremlin Palace every day. Therefore, we have a unique opportunity to see not only this building from the outside, but also to visit its beautiful halls. And I must say, it's amazing.

The Grand Kremlin Palace - a monumental yellow building with white architraves, a facade overlooking the Moscow River, stretching from west to east for 125 meters, was built by decree of Emperor Nicholas I, as a palace-monument of Russian history and the glory of the Russian army. In 1838-1849 it was built by Russian architects D.N. Chichalov, P.A. Gerasimov, A.N. Bakarev, F. Richter and others under the direction of K.A. Ton. The palace was the temporary residence of the imperial family during their stay in Moscow. From the outer facade, the palace looks like a three-story building, but actually consists of two floors. The first floor protrudes forward and forms an open terrace at the top. Arched windows separated by narrow walls give it the appearance of a closed gallery. The plinth is lined with natural stone. The two-tier facade of the second floor is dissected by pilasters and completely decorated with carved white-stone window frames in the style of Russian architecture of the 17th century. All photos and comments to them gborisova

Door portal of the Andreevsky Hall. Andrew's Order Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the eldest of the Russian orders, established by Emperor Peter I in 1698 in the name of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, St. baptism originally limits our enlightened. The Imperial Order of St. Andrew the First-Called has only one degree. Its signs are as follows: 1) a blue cross in a two-headed eagle crowned with three crowns, representing St. Apostle Andrew and having Latin letters at four ends: - S. A. P. R., meaning: Sanctus Andreas Patronus Russiae, and on the other side, in the middle of the eagle, a charter on which the motto of the order is written: "for faith and fidelity"; 2) a silver star, having in the middle, in a golden field, a double-headed eagle crowned with three crowns, and in the middle of the eagle is the St. Andrew's Cross; in a circle, in a blue field, at the top is the motto of the order in gold letters, and below are two connected laurel branches; the star is worn on the left side; 3) blue ribbon over the right shoulder; and on the order holiday and other days, when the highest orders will be given to the cavaliers to be in full dress, instead of a ribbon, an order cross on a gold chain.

When awarding the order to non-Christians, the image of St. The Apostle, his name and cross is replaced by the image of the Imperial Russian Eagle. The signs complained of for military exploits are joined by two crossed swords. Order attire consists of: 1) A long, green velvet coat, lined with white taffeta with silver-eyed cragens, tied with silver. laces, with the same tassels; on its left side a more ordinary star is embroidered; 2) superwest white eyelet, with gold lace, the same fringe and with a cross sewn on the chest; 3) a black velvet hat with a red feather and with the cross of St. Andrew the Apostle, sewn from a narrow blue ribbon. The cavaliers of this order are considered all in the third class, even if they were in the service below this class, and at the same time they are made cavaliers of St. Alexander Nevsky, the White Eagle and St. Anna of the 1st class, even if they did not have them before. - Cavaliers celebrate the day of the establishment of this order - November 30, and the order was given a cathedral named after him on Vasilyevsky Island. St. Petersburg are under special care and care of the cavaliers of this order. and Moscow. educational homes (St. Law vol. I, Uchr. Ord. Art. 291 et seq.). Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron. - St. Petersburg: Brockhaus-Efron. 1890-1907.

Andreevsky hall from the moment of construction was the main one in the palace. In its eastern side there are three throne places under ermine canopies. All parts of the royal place: the canopy, the steps of the footstools and the thrones are covered with precious golden brocade. The canopy inside is upholstered with ermine fur (today the ermine on the royal mantle is artificial - the old mantle that covered the thrones was sold in 1925). There are three throne places. During the coronation of Emperor Nicholas II, they were intended for the emperor, empress and dowager empress - the mother of Nicholas.

The imperial throne is overshadowed by a tent, with an entrance of six steps. On the plafond of the tent is placed the state emblem of the Russian Empire - a double-headed eagle.

St. Andrew's Throne Hall On the days of the coronation celebrations, the Emperor and Empress received congratulations in the St. Andrew's Hall. Representatives of different nationalities, classes and religions were invited to Moscow from all over the country. The sovereign and empress greeted them standing. The throne room of Russian emperors impresses with its size and dazzling luxury. Cross vaults rest on 10 tetrahedral columns, forming three naves. The vaults, columns and pylons are covered with gilded stucco molding in the form of a floral pattern. And the capitals are decorated with the sign of the order - a double-headed eagle, against which there is a blue cross with the image of the crucified apostle. The walls are covered with silk moire, decorated with chains and the badge of the Order. On the frieze of the longitudinal walls are placed 48 titular coats of arms of Russian monarchs. "For Faith and Loyalty" is the motto of this order.

Dome of the Vladimir Hall. Vladimir Hall is named after the Order of St. Vladimir. Order of St. Vladimir was dedicated to the holy Prince Vladimir, popularly called the "Red Sun", who brought the light of Christ to Russia. The order was established in 1782 as an award for outstanding service in the military and civil service, as well as for long service. The motto of the order is "Benefit, Honor and Glory". The octahedral double-height hall of St. Vladimir, in contrast to the Georgievsky hall, is illuminated by overhead light through the dome. The vault of the Vladimir Hall resembles tents, and the arches of the bypass side galleries seem to repeat the outlines of the ancient arches. The dome is crowned with a light lantern. In the evening, the hall is illuminated by a huge gilded bronze chandelier.

St. George's Hall is the largest ceremonial hall in the entire palace: length 61 m, width 20.5 m, height 17.5 m. The combination of white and gold creates a feeling of solemnity with its simplicity. Powerful pylons support the vaulted ceiling, decorated with stucco molding in the form of floral ornaments and rosettes. All eighteen pylons are crowned with marble statues (sculptor Ivan Vitali) - allegorically symbolizing the regions and kingdoms that make up the multinational state. Structurally, each pylon consists of a high hollow zinc column, decorated with stucco and crowned with a capital of the Corinthian order. On the southern and northern walls are bas-reliefs depicting St. George and the snake (sculptor Pavel Kladsh). The parquet floor resembles a gigantic patterned carpet. The floor is laid out with a pattern of more than 20 different types of wood - birch, ash, Indian rosewood, plane tree, plane trees, etc. In the evenings, the hall is illuminated by six bronze gilded openwork chandeliers. Each weighing 1300 kg. and 40 wall lamps. The signs of St. George were: a gold cross with white enamel depicting George slaying a snake, a black and orange ribbon and a gold star with the motto "For Service and Courage". The signs of the Order adorn the upper part of the walls of the St. George's Hall. The names of the Knights of St. George and the names of regular military formations awarded this order are inscribed in gold on the wall plaques. They were awarded to soldiers and officers for bravery and courage shown in battle, and for long service: 25 years in the army and 18 in the navy. Over 11,000 heroes have been awarded the order throughout its history. During the solemn consecration of the palace in April 1849, Metropolitan Filaret of Moscow said: "The hall of George the Victorious should become a temple of glory for the victorious Russian army." This hall has witnessed many historical events.

The signs of St. George were: a gold cross with white enamel depicting George slaying a snake, a black and orange ribbon and a gold star with the motto "For Service and Courage". The signs of the Order adorn the upper part of the walls of the St. George's Hall. During ceremonial receptions, officers gathered, on whose chest there were the same signs that adorn the walls of the hall. On the walls of the St. George Hall there are marble plaques carved in gold letters with the names of 545 regiments, naval crews and batteries and more than 10 thousand names of officers and generals who were awarded the St. George Order, among them such names as: Suvorov, Kutuzov, Ushakov, Nakhimov. During the solemn consecration of the palace in April 1849, Metropolitan Filaret of Moscow said: "The hall of George the Victorious should become a temple of glory for the victorious Russian army." The original parquet made in 1845 has been preserved in the Georgievsky Hall. More than 20 precious wood species from Southeast Asia and South America are used in its ornament. This hall hosts international conferences, diplomatic and government receptions, awarding ceremonies with orders and medals.

This is one of the most impressive halls of the Kremlin Palace. Large and solemn, it is named after the Order of St. George the Victorious, established in 1769 by Empress Catherine II and which became the highest award in the Russian army. The Holy Great Martyr has long been revered in Russia as the personification of military prowess. Under Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, there was even a certain prototype of this order. A coin with the image of George the Victorious was awarded to soldiers for bravery. At that time, it was worn on a sleeve or hat. George the Victorious, in addition, since ancient times was considered the patron saint of Moscow. From the time of its foundation, the image of the saint adorned the coat of arms of the ancient capital, and later became part of the coat of arms of Russia. During the solemn consecration of the palace in April 1849, Metropolitan Filaret of Moscow said: "The hall of George the Victorious should become a temple of glory for the victorious Russian army." On the walls of the St. George's Hall, gold stars and orders with the motto "For Service and Courage" are depicted. The names of 545 regiments, naval crews and batteries and more than 10 thousand names of officers and generals awarded the Order of St. George the Victorious are carved on marble slabs. Among them are the names of Field Marshals A. V. Suvorov, M. I. Kutuzov, General P. I. Bagration, Admirals F. F. Ushakov, P. S. Nakhimov. On both sides of the hall rise 18 twisted columns topped with allegorical statues of victories. The ceiling is decorated with stucco molding in the form of a floral ornament and rosettes. The parquet floor of the hall is exceptional in beauty and virtuosity. It is lined with a pattern of 20 different types of wood - birch, ash, Indian rosewood, plane tree, plane trees, etc. In the semicircles of the transverse walls there are high relief statues of St. George on a horse by the sculptor Peter Klodt.

The Alexander Hall, to which gilded doors lead from the St. George Hall, is huge: 31.5 meters long, 21 meters wide and 20 meters high. In the design of this hall, the architect Konstantin Ton used elements typical of Byzantine-Russian architecture. Prince Alexander of Novgorod, patron of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, a state award of the Russian Empire from 1725 to 1917, established by Catherine I, was famous for piety and courage.

The dome of the Alexander Hall is a hemisphere supported by massive pylons. In its stucco gilded cortuses, the signs of the Order are placed: a cross and a star with the monogram S.A. The state emblem is depicted on the sides - a two-headed eagle with a royal crown, scepter and orb. The house, like the world there is a surprise, ... the house is green red, pre-cunningly created The honesty of the kingdoms is splendidly prepared. Its beauty is powerfully equal to Solomon's beautiful dress ... Gold shines brightly everywhere, the Royal House of being is beauty. I always look at writings, I learn many strange stories... Four parts of the world are written, Aki are cunningly sculpted on copper... Buslaev F. I. Historical anthology of Church Slavonic and Old Russian languages. M., 1861. S. 1197.

Entrance to the Andreevsky throne room. The parquet in the halls of the palace was made in 1843 by Moscow craftsmen. His contemporaries called him beautiful, durable and elegant at the same time. The exquisite patterns and weaves of the parquet pattern resemble a real woven carpet. In March 1960, Petr Moller, professor at the Academy of Arts, offered to paint a picture on the theme of the life of St. Alexander Nevsky, patron of the Order. Six historical paintings were created and mounted in the upper niches of the end sides of the hall: on the western side - the military exploits of the prince, on the eastern side - scenes from his peaceful life: the builder of monasteries, an enlightened and wise ruler.

Ceiling vaults of the Alexander Hall Sail vaults, decorated with orders, carry a spherical dome with the same signs, framed by state emblems in triangular ornaments on four sides. The house, like the world there is a surprise, ... the house is green red, pre-cunningly created The honesty of the kingdoms is splendidly prepared. Its beauty is powerfully equal to Solomon's beautiful dress ... Gold shines brightly everywhere, the Royal House of being is beauty. I always look at writings, I learn many strange stories... Four parts of the world are written, Aki are cunningly sculpted on copper... Buslaev F. I. Historical anthology of Church Slavonic and Old Russian languages. M., 1861. S. 1197.

Huge, two-tiered windows of the Alexander Hall face south and literally flood all the rooms with light reflected in numerous mirrors. The walls are decorated with white and pink artificial marble. The furniture is upholstered in red velvet in the color of the sash. On the walls between the twisted columns are the coats of arms of the lands that were part of the Russian Empire.

Carved massive doors are decorated with order crosses. In the 19th century, the main hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace was the Andreevsky (throne) hall. In the mid-90s of the XX century, the Andreevsky Hall was restored to its original splendor. The hall is decorated with 10 gilded pylons and gilded doors with order crosses and chains of the St. Andrew's Order, established by Emperor Peter I. The walls are covered with blue, the colors of the St. Andrew's ribbon, silk moire, decorated with chains and signs of the order. The coats of arms of the provinces and regions of Russia are placed above the windows. The dome of the hall is noteworthy, in the complex stucco gilded patterns of which order signs with the motto “Benefit. Honour. Glory".

In addition, you have the opportunity to get acquainted with other halls of the Grand Kremlin Palace. Hall of the inauguration of the President of Russia! Red Porch. Proud of beauty, craftsmen, history and Russia!

The Grand Kremlin Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings of the historical and architectural complex of the Moscow Kremlin. The building was erected on the initiative of Emperor Nicholas I at the end of the 19th century on the site of the ancient grand ducal palace of Ivan III and the palace of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna built on its basis in the 18th century.

The beginning of the reign of NicholasIwas overshadowed by the Decembrist uprising in December 1825, and therefore, more than his predecessors, he needed external attributes of power. The ruler wanted to build new spacious ceremonial halls for holding palace ceremonies, and in addition, the Grand Kremlin Palace was supposed, firstly, to demonstrate the historical continuity of power, and, secondly, to show its brilliance and strength.

That is why elements of the Byzantine-Russian style are used in the design of the building (to show the dynastic connection with the Byzantine emperors), and five main halls of the Grand Kremlin Palace are dedicated to the highest awards of the Russian army.

In accordance with its ceremonial function, the Grand Kremlin Palace is not so much a building as a monument that tells Russian history and glorifies the Russian army.

Grand Kremlin Palace - brief description

The main task of the architects was to solve the problem of the unity of the architectural ensemble of the ancient Kremlin and the new palace. The construction was carried out according to the project of Konstantin Ton. The palace complex included ancient buildings - the Faceted Chamber and the Golden Tsaritsyna Chamber, the Terem Palace and palace churches.

At the same time, the tendency towards gigantism, characteristic of Ton and his time, was clearly manifested in the architecture of the building. A large-scale two-story yellow building with high arched windows stretches along the Moskva River for 125 meters, and its height is 37 meters and it looks like a three-story building, although the building has two floors.

Entering the palace from the main entrance, you will find yourself in the front lobby, the vault of which is supported by four gray columns made of granite brought from Karelia, from the city of Serdobol (now the city of Sortavala). The lobby is illuminated by four bronze floor lamps, each with 13 Carcel lamps (invented by the Swiss craftsman Carcel).

The guests climbed the main staircase to the second floor, its steps (there are 66 in total) are low and wide, so that it would be convenient for ladies in elegant evening dresses to climb and the procession would take on a particularly solemn look. The walls of the lobby are decorated with yellow marble brought from Kolomna near Moscow.

St George's Hall

This is one of the most monumental and beautiful halls dedicated to the highest order of the Russian Empire - the Order of St. George the Victorious. The badge of the order is a gold cross covered with white enamel depicting George slaying a snake.

The order has four degrees of distinction. They were awarded to officers and military units for courage and courage shown in battle, as well as for long service. In total, this honorary military title was awarded to about 11 thousand gentlemen and regular military formations. You will see their names on the wall boards of the hall.

Each of the pylons of the hall ends with a twisted column and a sculpture by Ivan Vitali, symbolizing the region or kingdom of the Russian Empire.

The flooring is an authentic parquet made in 1845, made of 20 precious woods brought from Southeast Asia and South America. One of the decorations of the hall is a copy of the monument to the great Novgorod heroes Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, installed on Red Square.

The main colors of the hall are white and gold: the vault decorated with stucco and the sculptures of the hall are white, the names of the Cavaliers of St. George and military formations on the boards are gold. Six chandeliers cast in bronze are also gilded.

St. George's Hall surprises with its severity and scale. This is a temple of Russian valor, a monument to the feats of arms of Russian weapons. As before, government receptions and meetings are held here, awards are presented.

Alexander Hall

The Alexander Hall is dedicated to the Order of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky. Prince Alexander was known for his piety and courage. The order in his honor was established by Catherine I in 1725, and the motto of the award is "For Labor and Fatherland".

The Alexander Hall is also huge, 31 meters long, 21 meters wide and 20 meters high. Konstantin Ton used elements of the Byzantine-Russian style in its design. The intricate floral parquet, created in 1843, looks like a fabric carpet that glistens under a layer of lacquer.

Under the dome are the signs of the order - a cross and a star with the monogram of St. Alexander, in the corners - images of a double-headed eagle.

Historical canvases, created by Fyodor Moller, professor of historical painting at the Academy of Arts, tell about the life of St. Alexander Nevsky. The paintings on the western side of the hall tell about the military exploits of the prince, and on the eastern side we see scenes from his peaceful life.

The light from the high windows, reflected in numerous mirrors, fills the entire space. The walls are decorated with white and pink marble, and the red velvet in the furniture upholstery matches the color of the sash. Between the twisted gilded columns are the coats of arms of the lands of the Russian Empire.

Andrew's Hall

Andreevsky Hall (Throne) was the main hall of the Kremlin Palace. It is dedicated to the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, established by Peter in 1698. The motto of the order is "For Faith and Loyalty".

The tetrahedral columns of St. Andrew's Hall form three naves. In the eastern side of the room there is a throne, consisting of three thrones, one of them was intended for Nicholas II, the second - for his wife Alexandra Feodorovna, and the third - for the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, the emperor's mother. Above the throne place is a canopy made of ermine fur. The vault depicts the all-seeing eye in radiance - the Orthodox symbol of the Trinity.

During the days of the coronation, guests from all the lands of the Russian Empire gathered in the Andreevsky Hall to congratulate the emperor.

St. Andrew's Hall is striking in its luxury - vaults, columns and pylons are covered with gilded stucco, and the capitals (the upper parts of the columns and pylons) are decorated with signs of the order - the image of a double-headed eagle, against which is St. Andrew crucified on the cross.

Vladimir Hall

The Vladimir Hall is dedicated to another high military award - the Order of St. Vladimir, established in honor of Prince Vladimir of Kyiv, under whom Russia was baptized.

The motto of the order is "Benefit, honor and glory", and its sign is a golden cross covered with red enamel. The creator of the Grand Kremlin Palace, Konstantin Ton, was also awarded this order.

In its form, this is an unusual hall. In plan it is a square with a side of 16 meters, but niches are made at its corners, and as a result, the Vladimir Hall looks more like an octagon.

The vault of the hall resembles an ancient tent, daylight into which penetrates through a round lantern, and in the evening the hall is illuminated by a magnificent bronze chandelier. One of the decorations of the hall is the arches decorating the side galleries.

Vladimir Hall connects the main halls of the Grand Kremlin Palace with the Palace of Facets and the Terem Palace.

Ceremonial order halls can be viewed during the tour. Only the Catherine Hall, where the President of Russia holds official meetings and negotiations, is not accessible.

Catherine's Hall

The Catherine Hall is dedicated to the Order of St. Catherine, established by Peter the Great. The motto of the order is "For love and fatherland". The award had two degrees. The Order of Catherine of the first degree was awarded to princesses by birthright, and the second degree to court ladies. The first lady to be awarded this order was Peter's wife, Catherine I.

Unusually beautiful candelabra appeared here in 1856, when the coronation of Alexander II took place. Two crystal candlesticks were brought from the Winter Palace of St. Petersburg, and four others were taken from the Museum of the Imperial Glass Factory.

own half

The residential part of the building is located in the southern part of the Kremlin Palace. Here, in the so-called "Private Half", were the chambers of the emperor and empress. The enfilade consists of six main rooms:

• The bedchamber of the Empress with luxurious furniture and exquisite decoration. In the design, mainly two colors are used - blue and gold. An atmosphere of peace and piety prevails here.
• In the boudoir of the Empress (lady's morning room) there is one of the most beautiful fireplaces of the palace, decorated with polished malachite plates. Overhead gilded details in the form of beads, garlands and rosettes give it a special sophistication
• The Empress's study was decorated at the request of its first mistress, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, in the Boule style (named after a furniture maker of the 17th century). Here, in the decoration of furniture and doors, a special type of inlay was used, when plates of tortoise shell and copper were superimposed on a wooden base. Also gorgeous upholstery fabric with gold thread
• The living room of the Empress is snow-white with gold trim. Eight plaster bas-reliefs are symbols of the arts, four more depict the seasons. The main decoration of the room is a unique pineapple chandelier, a symbol of hospitality and cordiality.
• The dining room is decorated in a traditional classic style. Stucco ornamentation on the vault, white and yellow marble in the decoration of the walls, in the niches - marble vases with antique scenes, sculptures of Leda, the beloved of Zeus and the god of marriage Hymineus.

Excursions to the Grand Kremlin Palace

The Grand Kremlin Palace and the Palace of Facets can only be visited as part of an excursion by appointment. The cost of the tour is from 4 thousand rubles (2019), duration is about 1.5 hours. You must be prepared for the fact that the date and time of the tour may be postponed due to official events. It is recommended to take as few personal items as possible on the tour. Before visiting, several inspections are carried out as at the airport. Photography is only allowed in a few front rooms.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was built by Konstantin Ton at the direction of Nicholas I for more than ten years - 1838 to 1849. As the great creators intended, the grandiose building became reliable and corresponding to the status of the capital.