Where is the large Kremlin palace located? Investments for the Grand Kremlin Palace

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

St. Andrew's 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(I wonder if this is a hint that Putin is president forever?), on the page Kremlin it says this:

"The Kremlin is open! Welcome!
Getting to the Moscow Kremlin is not difficult. No one is forbidden.[...]" I think it was said brilliantly.

2.

St. Andrew's State Hall in a watercolor by Konstantin Andreevich Ukhtomsky, 1849. The decoration in the Russian-Byzantine style was designed by Fyodor Grigorievich Solntsev. via

“But, no matter how many times you visit the Kremlin, no matter how well you become acquainted with its sights, some places in the Kremlin probably remain inaccessible to you. These are buildings and territories that are reserved for government institutions and services that support the activities of the President of Russia .

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

The Senate Palace and the Grand Kremlin Palace will appear before you in every detail - right down to the inscriptions on the spines of books standing 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 insides of the Grand Kremlin Palace:

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

Grand Kremlin Palace

The Grand Kremlin Palace has about seven hundred rooms. The main staircase made of Reval 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 covered a large span with the help of metal structures. The figured castings on the ceiling are made of cement - an innovative technique at the time of construction of the palace.

3.

Vladimirsky 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 the niches arranged in the corners give it the appearance of an octahedron. The decor reproduces the colors of the Order of St. Vladimir. The sixteen-sided hipped vault is made of hollow ceramic pots to lighten the structure and improve acoustics. The hall is illuminated by overhead light through a special opening. The staircase leads to the old part of the complex - the Terem Palace.

4.

St. Andrew's Hall

St. Andrew's Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, built in 1849 by Konstantin Ton, in the 19th century was considered the main one in the enfilade of ceremonial rooms dedicated to the main orders Russian Empire. St. Andrew's Hall, as its name suggests, 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 are three throne seats with an ermine canopy above them, and above the windows are the coats of arms of the Russian provinces.

5.

Alexander Hall

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

6.

The same stars are woven on the backs of the chairs: the velvet upholstery is the same color as the sash. Along the walls of the hall there are paintings from the life of Alexander Nevsky. This hall, like Andreevsky, was rebuilt in Soviet time 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 is the first in the front suite 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 holders of the order (golden caskets with lists once stood on the southern wall of the room).

8.

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

9.

Antechamber

The antechamber is a small room leading from the main staircase to the 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, facing Cathedral Square, through the Holy Entrance Hall you can get to the Faceted Chamber and the Vladimir Hall.

11.

Faceted Chamber

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

12.

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The main building of the Kremlin's Cathedral Square. 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.

"The earth begins
as you know, from the Kremlin"
(c) V. Mayakovsky.

How many different palaces have we visited on our travels? But the most important thing in hometown- The Grand Kremlin Palace remained completely unattainable for us. In the Kremlin you can officially visit the Armory Chamber, the Diamond Fund, cathedrals, but for some reason the beautiful Grand Kremlin Palace is not on the visit list. Strange. Delegations of all kinds of foreigners and separate excursions for some organizations are taken there, apparently to raise the level of patriotism. We always dreamed of going there and as soon as we had the opportunity to visit the BKD, we gladly took advantage of this opportunity. The object is secure. That’s why you can shoot here, but not here. What this is connected with is again unclear. But those are the rules. As a result, it was possible to film in the state rooms of the Faceted Chamber, but not on the ground floor or in the Terem Palace. But what he saw was still amazing.
1. The Grand Kremlin Palace is one of the most massive buildings inside the Kremlin. Construction of the palace began at the same time as the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Its construction was completed in 1849. The palace was supposed to symbolize the new Moscow. However, the old Kremlin buildings were not lost as a result of large construction. And as a result, the Grand Kremlin Palace is connected with the Terem Palace and the Faceted Chamber and forms one whole with them.

2. Let's start with the Chamber of Facets. Here in the distance are the doors that lead to the Red Porch.

3. And this room itself is the Holy Entrance. By the way, the Chamber of Facets was restored in 2012 and now appears before visitors in all its splendor. By the way, does anyone know what that thing is on the right side of the wall? Maybe these are the air ducts of the ventilation or heating system.

4. Beautiful painting and the gilding all around looks very rich.

By the way, here is an archival photo. Here you can see that the current parquet is much more interesting than in the photo from the beginning of the last century.

5. Paintings in arches on religious themes. It is surprising that in the time of Peter I the paintings were painted over and the vaults were covered with a rag with the image of a double-headed eagle.

6. A little more parquet.

7. There are very beautiful chandeliers here.

8. And door handles.

9. The door portals are also very richly decorated.

10. Chamber of Facets. All the walls are painted here. It can be seen, by the way, that the walls in the room are quite thick.

11. In the middle of the chamber there is a pillar on which the ceiling vaults rest.

12. The vaults themselves are also richly painted.

13. Very beautiful. By the way, the carpet on the floor is also a restored authentic part of the interior.

Here is the reception in honor of the coronation of Alexander III. The royal place attracts attention. A kind of podium with a canopy.

Here's another interesting thing. The interior before restoration of its historical appearance. The walls are draped, the vaults are whitewashed. Around the pillar are shelves with dishes.

And here is the same interior after restoration. Even the royal place looks different.

14. Now there is no royal place in the interior; most likely it was lost in Soviet times, since the chamber was used for receptions in modern times. But the lamps remained authentic.

15. In general, the Chamber of Facets is a special place. For example, the coronation of Alexander III was celebrated here, meetings of the boyar duma were held here, and the capture of Kazan in 1552 was also celebrated here. A place with a lot of history.

16. The painting on the lower part of the walls also looks very cool, as if it were covered with fabric.

17. Very, very beautiful authentic lamps. Fine work.

18. I understand that the paintings on the walls mainly tell about scenes from the life of the king.

19. More general form premises. By the way, the hall is not that big. Many people now rent premises or even larger ones to celebrate weddings.

20. However, as I already said, this place is not simple, but with history. By the way, the pattern of the carpet is clearly visible here. In general, the Faceted Chamber looks very authentic... in the old Russian way, so to speak. It was very interesting to visit here.

21. We leave the Faceted Chamber and passing through the Holy Entrance Hall we find ourselves in the Vladimir Hall.

22. The hall is very solemn and beautiful. In fact, it connects the state halls of the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Faceted Chamber and the old Terem Palace.

23. The hall is named after the Order of St. Vladimir. By the way, the upholstery of the banquettes here is exactly the same color as the order’s ribbon.

24. The staircase leads to the Terem Palace.

It's interesting that during Russo-Japanese War In the halls of the Kremlin Palace, a sewing workshop was organized where things were sewn to be sent to the front. But in the Vladimir Hall the packing of things took place.

25. Ceiling with a translucent lantern that lets light in. The vaults are decorated with gilded ornaments and images of the Order of St. Vladimir. There is also a very beautiful gilded chandelier.

26. The doors leading to the St. George's Hall repeat their shape as the windows on the facade of the building.

27. On the glass there is an ornament and an image of the Order of St. George.

28. The same goes for door handles.

29. The most pompous, most beautiful of all the halls is St. George's Hall.

30. There is a beautiful and complex pattern on the parquet. Huge gilded chandeliers. High ceilings.

31. The hall is huge. There are windows in two rows on both sides.

Here is an interesting shot from Soviet times. It looks like a Kremlin Christmas tree for Soviet pioneers.

32. In the niches there are tablets with the names of the holders of the order. The upholstery of the banquettes also follows the colors of the St. George ribbon.

33. The decoration of the St. George's Hall does not have as much gilding as in other parts of the BKD. Everything here is done in white colors, with stucco on the vaults and supporting columns. The only gold ones here are the images of the St. George's Stars.

34. Let’s appreciate the amazing parquet flooring again. A large number of varieties of wood, a complex pattern - this is a very delicate work.

35. Very beautiful. On the left side, the shape of the niches for nameplates follows the shape of the windows, as does the far wall with doors. So St. George's Hall was designed in the spirit of symmetry.

36. The parquet is protected and walking on it is not allowed. No wonder, such beauty.

37. In the ceiling you can see water camouflaged ceiling moldings, I think they are ventilation holes.

38. Another view. Pay attention to the sculptures standing on the columns between the windows.

39. Chic bronze gilded chandelier.

40. The numbers are impressive. The length of the hall is 61 meters, width 20.5, ceiling height - 17.5. The ceiling is supported by 18 pylons. The weight of one of the six chandeliers is 1.3 tons

41. The next hall is Alexandrovsky. It is interesting that in Soviet times, the Alexander and the next St. Andrew’s halls were united, all the beauty was dismantled.

It looked like this. This was the meeting room of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Quite sad.

42. In the mid-90s, a decision was made to reconstruct the Alexander and St. Andrew’s halls in their original form. And from 1994 to 1998 they were restored. In fact, these are replicas of the original interiors.

43. There is much more gilding here, especially after the “modest” St. George’s Hall. On the doors there is an image of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. Even the chairs are decorated with his image.

44. A very elegant hall, and even the curtains match the ribbon.

45. Here again, there is complete symmetry, the openings on the “blank” wall repeat the window openings. Mirrors also give the effect of light pouring from the windows.

Here is another photo from the time of the Russo-Japanese War.

46. ​​There are also luxurious chandeliers and a richly decorated ceiling with images of orders woven into the ornament.

47. Gilded columns.

48. The view is very formal.

49. On the door handle there is again an image of the order.

50. Next is another hall - Andreevsky. It was he who was the throne room of the Kremlin Palace. Accordingly, there is a throne, or rather three, and above them is the sign of the all-seeing eye.

51. Doors between the halls. Each is decorated with a ribbon with its own order.

52. Wall decoration and curtains in the color of the ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called - blue.

Here is a unique photo from the 90s. Restorers at work.

And here's another.

53. This is exactly what the miniatures on the columns at the top are painting.

Restoring parquet. In general, it is very interesting to see how all this was done.

54. Above the first row of windows along the perimeter are the coats of arms of the Russian provinces.

55. The design is again stucco with gilding.

56. Above the three throne seats there is an ermine canopy. They say that.... ermine is not real! The thrones are also not real - they are copies, but the real thrones have been preserved, now they are in the Armory.

57. The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called is the only one that is equipped with a chain. That is ceremonial version The holder of the order must include such a chain, which is depicted on the doors of the hall.

58. Let's take another look at the throne. Very festive.

59. By the way, the side windows of the Andreevsky and Alexander halls overlook the Moscow River, from here it should open beautiful view to Bolotny Island and Zamoskvorechye.

Other rooms on the second floor are not accessible to the public, as they contain the working premises of the Russian President. And no one is allowed there even in his absence. We also visited the Malachite Hall, which runs parallel to the Andreevsky and Alexander Halls, the Terem Palace - a very beautiful, authentic place, as well as the living quarters of the emperor and his family on the first floor, but it was impossible to film in all these rooms, which is a pity, there is something there look!

P.S.
I usually find all archival photos on

Throughout its history, the Moscow Kremlin has been a citadel of power; flowed in the grand ducal and royal palaces everyday life rulers of Rus'. This life is so closely connected with the history of the state, it forms such an important part of the concept of the “Kremlin” that it is impossible to pass over the local palaces in silence. Despite the fact that access to them is closed to the general public, let us at least briefly look into their past and present.

Since the time of Ivan Kalita, the princely palace occupied the most a nice place- on Borovitsky Hill overlooking the river. It was traditionally wooden and small.
Ivan III expanded his holdings in the Kremlin and in 1492 ordered the Italian architects, who had earned praise for the Palace of Facets, to build stone palaces.

Ivan the Terrible continued to expand the mansions with wooden buildings. The main attraction of the then palace was the Golden Chamber of the throne on the site of the current St. George's Hall.

Boris Godunov built his wooden palace on the roof of a stone building, so that the royal family lived at a dizzying height for those times. The sudden death of the sovereign interrupted his even larger projects.

Empress Elizabeth ordered the dilapidated Godunov chambers to be rebuilt. The new palace turned out to be pretentious and uncomfortable, so Catherine II preferred to stay in the houses of nobles in Moscow. Under Alexander I, they tried to restore order to the royal home and repair it after the Napoleonic fire. In 1817, wooden walls were quickly erected on the old basement, lined with bricks on both sides. Even at that time it was not serious.

Architect Konstantin Ton, author of the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Armory Chamber, as well as the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (1794-1881)

Nicholas I, who loved Moscow and the Kremlin more than his predecessors, undertook to rectify the situation.
To build a new palace, he hired the architect Konstantin Ton, who pleased the emperor with his design for the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Both of these buildings were supposed to confirm the triumph of the Russian national idea. The imperial residence, called the Grand Kremlin Palace, took a whole decade to build and became a worthy neighbor to ancient monuments.

The facade of the palace is familiar to us: it is one of the visual symbols of Moscow and all of Russia.

The palace was built in 1838-1849 and opened on April 3, 1849, Easter. The length of the main facade of the building from the side of the Moscow River from west to east is 125 m, the height with the dome and flagpole is about 50 m. From the north, the Palace is connected to the Terem Palace, from the east it is adjacent to the Faceted Chamber, and from the west - the Armory. The building occupies about 3.5 hectares.

The architect faced a difficult task. The emphatically national tastes of Nicholas I determined the style of the new palace as ancient Russian. This was consistent with the surrounding architectural ensemble. At the same time, the palace, intended for magnificent, crowded ceremonies, inevitably had to become a huge structure, incompatible with the traditions of ancient Russian architecture. But a way out was found. Konstantin Ton used national motifs to decorate the facade, surrounding the windows with white stone carvings. The main halls of the second floor received two rows of window openings, which creates the impression of a mansion with small windows. Because of this, the two-story palace looks like a three-story one from the outside. The interior of the palace is a riot of imperial luxury. Eclectic style, magnificent decoration, abundance of the most valuable materials in decoration - a real architectural feast.

1. Boyarskaya site.
2. Vladimirsky Hall.
3. St. George's Hall.
4. Alexander Hall.
5. St. Andrew's Hall.
6. Cavalry Hall.
7. Catherine Hall.
8. State apartments of the Empress.
9. Church of the Nativity of the Virgin.
10. Terem Palace.
11. Golden Tsarina's Chamber.
12. Palace churches.
13. Church of the Laying of the Robe.
14. Holy canopy.
15. Faceted Chamber.
16. Blagoveshchensky cathedral

The Soviet era spared this building, but still made serious changes here, since some rooms of the palace were used for mass political events.

In the 1990s, the facade and two halls of the palace were returned to the appearance they had before the revolution. In the kokoshniks under the roof above the central entrance, five double-headed eagles were again installed instead of the Soviet coat of arms and four letters “USSR”, and above them were the coats of arms of the former kingdoms and regions of the former Russia (St. Petersburg, Kazan, Moscow, Polish and others).

They say that there are about 700 rooms and halls in the palace buildings, but we will walk (at least in our imagination) only through the most remarkable ones. Including the famous ceremonial halls, named after the main Russian orders: Vladimir, St. George, Alexander, St. Andrew and Catherine.

Materials from all over the Russian Empire were used in the decoration of the palace. A wide main staircase with 58 steps and five landings, made of Revel stone (Revel - now Tallinn), leads to the second floor. Before going up, you should turn left from the lobby and go into the so-called Own Half - the imperial apartments. The Emperor and his family stayed here when he came to Moscow from northern capital- St. Petersburg, however most For a time these seven rooms were empty. The inlaid furniture, crystal chandeliers, porcelain floor lamps, malachite pilasters and bronze mantel clocks are striking. Much of this decoration was created by the work of Russian craftsmen.

We pass the dining room, living room, the empress's office, boudoir, bedchamber, reception room and find ourselves in the emperor's office, a corner in the building. From here you have a wonderful view of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Moscow River. The walls of the office are partially upholstered in ash, and otherwise in green material. Six paintings on the walls depict events related to the War of 1812. But no one has worked here for a long time. Let's return to the lobby and go up the main staircase to the second floor, to the halls. Straight ahead is the entrance to the antechamber (the hallway in front of the main hall). Past two huge crystal vases, five-meter-high doors lead into it, made from a single walnut board without glue or nails. Once upon a time there was a painting by Ilya Repin depicting Alexander III with a deputation from peasants - volost elders, and since the 1950s - a canvas with Lenin's speech at the Third Komsomol Congress. Nowadays, visitors in the antechamber are greeted by a painting by artist Sergei Prisekin “Whoever comes to us with a sword will die by the sword.”

From here we find ourselves in, perhaps, the most famous hall - Georgievsky, which looks now the same as a hundred years ago. It is named in honor of the military order of St. George the Victorious, established by Catherine II in 1769, and is the largest in the palace (area - 1250 sq. m, height - 17.5 m). Some “progressive” critics at one time stated that the decoration of these halls testifies “to a pretentious, but poorly developed artistic taste and is capable of striking with its pomp only an uncultured man in the street.” We are probably among the latter, because what we saw is truly amazing. The names of the famous are written in gold on the marble boards in the niches and on the walls. military units And St. George Knights, among whom are Emperors Alexander II and Alexander III, great commanders Alexander Suvorov, Mikhail Kutuzov. The names appeared on the boards until the end of the 19th century. On 18 columns (nine columns on each side) there are marble female figures with shields depicting the coats of arms of various lands. They symbolize the victories of Russian weapons and lands that became part of Russia over five centuries (from Perm land in 1472 to Armenia in 1828, including Little Russia - Ukraine).

The bronze mantel clock on one of the walls depicts St. George the Horseman. On the opposite wall is a clock in the form of a scaled-down model of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky on Red Square. Giant bronze chandeliers are reflected in the parquet flooring, made from different types of wood - a real work of art, made according to the drawings of academician of painting Fyodor Solntsev in the 19th century.

Decoration of the Alexander Hall. Now members of the State Council gather for meetings there

In the 19th century, each hall had its own significance during palace ceremonies.
In Georgievskoye, the Emperor was met by Moscow officials, representatives of the nobility and honorary citizens. In 1945, in this hall of Russian military glory, a gala reception for participants of the Victory Parade.

Followed by Alexander Hall. Its huge wall mirrors reflect the Moscow River and the entire panorama outside the window. This hall is dedicated to the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, which was established by Catherine I in 1725. In the gold decorations on the ceiling and arches there are bas-reliefs with the signs of this order and the mysterious letters “S.A.”, which actually mean Sanctus Alexander, that is, "Saint Alexander". Six oblong-shaped paintings, three above the doors on both sides, illustrate legendary episodes from the life of Alexander Nevsky, including the Battle of the Ice in 1242 and the refusal to worship idols in the Horde. In the bas-relief above the doors, on one side the prince is depicted as a warrior, and on the other - in the form of a schema monk, which symbolizes his earthly and heavenly glory. In this hall, the city ladies greeted the emperor on his ceremonial exits.

In 1933-1934, the Alexander Hall was combined with the neighboring Andreevsky Hall to host the 17th Congress of the CPSU(b). The result was a long, pencil-shaped room, called the Meeting Hall, where party congresses and sessions of the Supreme Council took place. In a niche built on the site of the imperial throne, a 10-meter marble statue of Lenin was installed. On June 12, 1990, the state sovereignty Russian Federation - an event that became the basis for a new holiday. Restoration of Russian statehood and revival national symbols responded with changes here too. Both halls were completely restored in 1995-1999.

St. Andrew's Hall named after the first Russian order - St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called, established by Peter I in 1698. Order chains and stars are depicted on the doors. St. Andrew's crosses are at the top of the columns. This is the throne room, the most important hall of the Kremlin palaces. Here, during the coronation celebrations, the emperor and his wife received congratulations from their subjects. Until the end of the 19th century, on the throne place stood an imperial chair, decorated with carvings in the Old Russian style. Then, under a canopy with an ermine canopy, three chairs were installed - the reigning Emperor Nicholas II, the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, the emperor's mother. Their monograms were depicted on the backs of the thrones. On the back of the canopy is a double-headed eagle, and above the canopy is the state emblem of Russia with archangels on both sides, the inscription “God is with us” and the coats of arms of all kingdoms and lands. Above this place is depicted the “All-Seeing Eye in Radiance” - the Orthodox symbol of the Trinity. One of the palace grenadiers on duty was always at the throne.

The meeting hall of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the RSFSR, built in the 1930s from the Alexander and St. Andrew's halls. In place of the imperial thrones stood a statue of V.I. Lenin about 10 meters high

All the same, with the exception of the grenadier, will be seen by those who are lucky enough to visit the palace today.
By the way, the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called was restored in 1998 as the highest award in Russia, and a little later, St. Andrew’s Hall again acquired a ceremonial function: the inauguration of President Vladimir Putin took place here.

In the 1930s, the bypass gallery adjacent to the Alexander and St. Andrew's halls, which was turned into the Meeting Hall, was also dismantled.
In its place, the foyer of the Meeting Hall was built. At the same time, on the site of the demolished Church of the Savior on Bor, a service building was built in the courtyard. At the end of the 1990s, both the foyer and the service building were completely redone according to the design of the artist Ilya Glazunov, who created new small state rooms in the service building (Petrovsky, Shtofny, Kaminny, Red and Green) for receptions and negotiations; the foyer again became a gallery, even more pompous than in the days of the empire, and on the walls are portraits of the rulers of Russia over ten centuries - from the legendary Prince Rurik to Nicholas II (by Ilya Glazunov’s son, Ivan).

Proceeding further from St. Andrew's Hall and turning north, we find ourselves in the Cavalry Guard Hall, where a military guard was located in the palace during the emperor's stay. Personal guards traditionally consisted of Circassians (as the Caucasian mountaineers were then called), so the furniture in the hall - a sofa and chairs - was symbolically made from Caucasian wood - plane trees. The painting corresponding to the place depicted a review of Alexei Mikhailovich’s troops at the Novodevichy Convent in the 17th century. In the 1930s, the hall was converted into a room where NKVD workers were located during congresses and various events. The current furniture in the hall is made of Karelian birch.

The cavalry guards, handsome officers in white uniforms, formed the empress's honorary escort. According to etiquette, the expression “to have entry for the cavalry guards” meant that this person can enter the half of the palace where the throne room is located Catherine Hall and the Empress's state chambers.

In this hall, under a canopy of crimson velvet, stood the throne of the empress (now its place is near east wall free). The magnificent floor lamps remained in their places in the hall. The hall is dedicated to the Order of St. Catherine, which Peter I established in 1714 in honor of his wife Catherine I. As is known, in 1711, during the Prut campaign, the future empress helped Peter I save the Russian army from captivity by bribing the Turkish commander-in-chief with her jewelry. Only ladies were awarded the order, and only 12 people could have the first degree at a time, not counting those of imperial blood. The honorable duty of the cavalry ladies of the order was to be present in this hall at ceremonies along with the ladies of the court. We can recognize in this interior the place of negotiations at the highest level - it is often shown on TV.

This is followed by apartments in greenish, gold and red tones with gilded furniture - the state living room and the state bedchamber of the empress. At the end of the suite of rooms we pass through the front dressing room, lined with dark walnut panels, and find ourselves in the Maid of Honor corridor of the Terem Palace, into which the windows of the rooms of the court ladies looked out. At the end of this corridor, in 1959, a Winter Garden of marble and mirrors was built, which has a pool with a fountain and more than 120 views tropical plants. From here a small staircase leads to the last main hall - Vladimirsky.

The hall is dedicated to the Order of St. Prince Vladimir, established by Catherine II in 1782. The motto of the order is “Benefit, Honor and Glory”, and among the recipients are the architect Konstantin Ton, the historian and writer Karamzin and many others who, with their labors, brought great benefit to the Fatherland and gained unfading honor and glory.

The structure 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 foundation in the 18th century.

Beginning of the reign of NicholasIwas overshadowed by the Decembrist uprising in December 1825 and therefore he, more than his predecessors, needed the external attributes of power. The ruler wanted to build new spacious state halls for holding palace ceremonies, and in addition, the Great Kremlin Palace had to, firstly, demonstrate the historical continuity of power, and, secondly, show its splendor 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 the 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 glorifying the Russian army.

Grand Kremlin Palace - brief description

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

At the same time, the architecture of the building clearly showed the tendency towards gigantism characteristic of Ton and his time. Large two-story building yellow color with high arched windows stretches along the Moscow River for 125 meters, and its height is 37 meters and it looks like three floors, although the building has two floors.

Entering the palace from the main entrance, you will find yourself in the main vestibule, the vault of which is supported by four columns gray, 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 containing 13 Carcel lamps (invented by the Swiss master Carcel).

Guests climbed to the second floor along the main staircase, its steps (66 in total) were low and wide, so that it was comfortable for ladies in elegant evening dresses to climb and the procession took on a particularly solemn appearance. 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 in white enamel with the image of George slaying the serpent.

The Order has four degrees of distinction. They were awarded to officers and military units for courage and bravery demonstrated in battle, as well as for length of service. In total these honorable military rank About 11 thousand cavaliers and regular military units were awarded. 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 original parquet from 1845, made from 20 valuable species wood brought from South-East 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, erected 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 St. George cavaliers and military formations on the boards are gold. Six chandeliers cast from 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 military exploits of Russian weapons. As before, government receptions and meetings are held here, and awards are presented.

Alexander Hall

The Alexander Hall is dedicated to the Order of St. 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, its length is 31 meters, width - 21 and height - 20 meters. Konstantin Ton used elements of the Byzantine-Russian style in its design. Designed in 1843, the parquet flooring, with its intricate floral designs, looks like a fabric carpet that shines under a layer of varnish.

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

Historical paintings created by Fyodor Moller, a professor of historical painting at the Academy of Arts, tell the story of 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.

Light from high windows, reflected in numerous mirrors, fills the entire space. White and pink marble are used to decorate the walls, and red velvet in the furniture upholstery matches the color of the order ribbon. Between the twisted gilded columns are the coats of arms of the lands of the Russian Empire.

St. Andrew's Hall

St. Andrew's 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 fidelity.”

The tetrahedral columns of St. Andrew's Hall form three naves. On 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 seat there is a canopy of ermine fur. The vault depicts all-seeing eye in radiance - the Orthodox symbol of the Trinity.

On the days of the coronation, guests from all lands of the Russian Empire gathered in St. Andrew's Hall to congratulate the emperor.

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

Vladimirsky Hall

The Vladimir Hall is dedicated to another high military award - the Order of St. Vladimir, established in honor of Prince of Kyiv Vladimir, under whom the baptism of Rus' took place.

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

This is an unusual hall in its shape. In plan, it is a square with a side of 16 meters, but there are niches in the corners, and as a result, the Vladimir Hall looks more like an octagon.

The vault of the hall resembles an ancient tent, daylight which is entered 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.

The Vladimir Hall connects the state rooms of the Grand Kremlin Palace with the Faceted Chamber and the Terem Palace.

The ceremonial order halls can be viewed during the tour. Only the Catherine Hall, in which the President of Russia holds official meetings and negotiations, is inaccessible.

Catherine 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 the 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 awarded this order was Peter's wife, Catherine I.

Extraordinarily 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

In the southern part of the Kremlin Palace there is a residential part of the building. Here, in the so-called “Own Half,” were the chambers of the emperor and empress. The suite consists of six main rooms:

• The Empress's bedchamber is furnished with luxurious furniture and exquisite decoration. The design mainly uses two colors - blue and gold. An atmosphere of peace and piety prevails here
• In the Empress's boudoir (the lady's morning room) there is one of the most beautiful fireplaces in the palace, decorated with polished malachite plates. Overlaid gilded details in the form of beads, garlands and rosettes give it a special sophistication
• The Empress's office was decorated at the request of its first owner, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, in the boule style (named after a 17th-century furniture maker). Here, a special type of inlay was used in the decoration of furniture and doors, when plates of tortoiseshell and copper were placed on a wooden base. The upholstery made of fabric with gold thread is also magnificent.
• The Empress's living room is snow-white with gold trim. Eight plaster bas-reliefs are symbols of art, another four 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 there are marble vases with ancient subjects, sculptures of Leda, the beloved of Zeus and the god of marriage Hyminaeus.

Excursions to the Grand Kremlin Palace

The Grand Kremlin Palace and the Chamber of Facets can only be visited as part of a guided tour by appointment. The cost of the excursion 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 excursion may be postponed due to official events. It is recommended to take as little personal belongings as possible on the excursion. Before visiting, several security checks are carried out, just like at the airport. Photography is permitted only in a few state rooms.

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

View of the palace from the Moscow River

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

The idea to build in Moscow new palace born after Russia's victory in Patriotic War 1812. The burned city was being rebuilt, and the Russian Tsar wanted a new building to appear in it that 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 design 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 churches 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 take place here.

Although today this palace is considered the residence of the President of the country, you can get inside it. Subject to prior registration, tours of the palace premises are permitted to organized groups.

Terem Palace

View of the southern façade of the palace

The Grand Kremlin Palace complex 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 Russia was ruled by Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich.

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

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

Arsenal

Arsenal building

The first arsenal building was built in early XVIII century. In 1737, the so-called Great or Trinity Fire occurred in Moscow, as a result of which the city center almost completely burned out. The Kremlin arsenal also suffered greatly from the fire.

IN late XVIII century, the arsenal was restored under the leadership 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 workshop. The two-story building, which has survived to this day, was erected in the traditions of classicism in 1815-1828.

The square building stands not far from the Nikolskaya Tower. You can't get inside it. Today, the historical building houses the commandant’s office services and premises where military personnel of the Presidential Regiment live. These are the soldiers who guard the Kremlin and participate in honor guards at the Tomb 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-colored facades are impressive. They are lined with beautiful Ural marble and anodized aluminum.

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

Senate Palace

View of the domed Senate hall from the courtyard

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

Many famous Russian statesmen visited this palace, and various bodies of Russian government met in it. In the 1920s, V.I.’s office was located here. 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 clearly visible from Red Square. Below it is the spacious Catherine Hall, where all the main events with the participation of the President of the country take place. A richly decorated marble staircase leads to the entrance to the hall.

The dome rises 29 m above the floor of the Catherine Hall. The 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 Faceted Chamber from Cathedral Square

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

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