Who designed the great Kremlin palace. The Grand Kremlin Palace - all the splendor of the presidential residence! The origin and location of the palace

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

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

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

In the 13th century, when the princes settled permanently in Moscow, the old place on the Kremlin hill turned out to be cramped, and the grand ducal palace had to be moved to the east. In the XIV century, the Grand Duke Ivan Danilovich Kalita significantly expanded his courtyard, and instead of the wooden church<Спаса на Бору>built a stone temple.
Taking into account the prince's almost monastic lifestyle, it can be assumed that his palace was small in size and was distinguished by simplicity of decoration.

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

Under Dmitry Donskoy and his son Vasily Dmitrievich, the Grand Ducal Palace became much larger and was distinguished by some splendor. The roof of the embankment tower was gilded, and a clock was set in the courtyard.

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

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

Despite the beauty and relative luxury of the 15th century Kremlin Palace, its character, like the entire Kremlin, was rustic. For all the buildings, except for the Kremlin walls and several churches, were wooden, there were no large and majestic buildings at all.

The palace remained this way until the end of the 15th century, when Prince Ivan III began to create a capital that would correspond to the greatness and glory of the Russian state. To fulfill this task, he invited experienced architects from Italy, who began their work with the complete destruction of the Kremlin's wooden antiquity and its replacement with new majestic buildings.

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

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

Konstantin Andreevich Ton

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

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

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

Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov

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

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

But in the 18th century, when the Russian capital was moved to St. Petersburg, all this luxury, the regal space and grandeur of the Kremlin Palace fell into disrepair.

Anna Ioannovna

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

Rastrelli

However, this palace was not large enough and was inferior to the previous ones in the luxury of decoration, so later it was decided to rebuild it. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna again commissioned Rastrelli to erect a new stone building on the site of the dilapidated reception rooms of the old palace.

Winter Kremlin Palace

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

Vassily Bazhenov

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

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

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

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

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

From here are the roads to the gates of the Kremlin, deep into Russia, the roads to St. Petersburg, Yaroslavl and Vladimir. I do not think of the Kremlin as an impregnable fortress, in which it was once convenient to hide from enemies, but as a place of virtue, enlightenment and people's glory. Therefore, I intend to wrap its beauty to the capital of the capital.

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

The architect showed his first sketches to Count G.G. Orlov, and he, struck by the titanic design of V.I.Bazhenov, told about him to Catherine II, who also came into admiration for the colossal and grandeur of the palace. In addition, the empress calculated that the whole of Europe would start talking about the palace built during the war with the Turks, and the empress-builder would be compared with the Roman emperors.

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

Bazhenov's project

This grandiose building in its size and architectural merit was supposed to surpass the palaces of all European states.
In the stormy and ardent imagination of V.I.Bazhenov, bold and majestic architectural images arose.

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

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

Preparations for construction began at the same time. Workers began to dismantle old and dilapidated Kremlin buildings, the building was demolished<приказов>, standing in front of the Archangel Cathedral, demolished a number of small churches, Taynitskaya and two more towers, as well as the fortress walls between them.

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

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

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

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

All the luxury of the interior decoration of the palace was concentrated on its front floor. The hall with Corinthian columns in two rows, to which galleries with colonnades and a vestibule with a rotunda in the center, stood out for the particular beauty of the decoration. The lobby of the palace was a kind of pavilion of twelve columns of pink marble, followed by another belt of columns.

now the surviving model of the palace is on display in the Museum of Architecture named after Shchusev.

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

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

Nicholas I

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

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

From the main façade, the building appears to be three stories high, but in reality there are only two stories. The first floor protrudes forward and forms an open terrace. With arched windows separated by thin walls, this level of the palace looks like a closed gallery. The plinth is faced with natural stone. The two-tiered facade of the second floor is divided by pilasters and decorated with carved white-stone window frames, made in the style of the 17th century. The rooms on the second floor are double-height.

In the center of the palace, above the roof, there is a tribune, completed with a gilded balustrade. The tribune is covered with a figured roof, and on its slopes there are clocks on both sides, and clock bells on the other two. Now only the clock is in effect.
Further, an open area with a flagpole is arranged. Until 1917, the kokoshniks of the tribune were decorated with double-headed eagles, over which were located the coats of arms of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Astrakhan, Poland and Taurida. Next to the main entrance to the Palace is a marble lobby with polished granite columns. The Kremlin Palace is 125 meters long, 47 meters high, and the total area is 25,000 square meters.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The motto of the order was "For Service and Courage". The hall contains marble plaques with the names of 545 regiments, naval crews and batteries, and more than 10,000 names of officers and generals who were awarded this order. Among the holders of the Order of St. George are such people as Alexander Suvorov, Mikhail Kutuzov, Peter Bagration, Fedor Ushakov, Pavel Nakhimov.

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

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

The palace complex, in addition to the newly built building, also included structures of the 16th-17th centuries: the Faceted Chamber, the Terem Palace, the Golden Tsaritsin's Chamber and palace churches, including the oldest surviving building in Moscow - the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin on Seny (1393 BC). ). In the inner space there was one of the most ancient temples of the capital - the Cathedral of the Savior on Bor, which was demolished by the Soviet government in 1933.

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

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

By decision of the President of Russia in 1994-98. The Andreevsky and Alexandrovsky Halls have been restored to their original forms.

As of 2012, the Grand Kremlin Palace serves as the ceremonial residence of the President of Russia. Its halls host important nationwide ceremonies, such as the presentation of state awards or credentials, etc.
Halls of the palace

Imperial throne in St. Andrew's Hall










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







.Alexander Hall

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

Vladimirsky hall

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Grand Kremlin Palace today is the residence of the head of our state. This building remembers thousands of fateful decisions and hundreds of high-level meetings. To visit the capital and not see the Kremlin Palace is something that even a traveler who is staying in a mini-hotel far from the center of the metropolis cannot forgive himself.

The origin and location of the palace

The palace complex is located on Borovitsky Hill on the site of the once demolished palaces of Ivan the Third and the daughter of Peter the Great Elizabeth. The idea to erect this building was visited by Nicholas I in 1838. The construction lasted 11 years, and it justified the hopes of His Serene Highness.

Attempts to ennoble the empty space have hitherto been undertaken for a century. In the second half of the 18th century, according to the project of the architect Bazhenov, the construction of the residence began, but a year later the construction was frozen due to the inexpediency of the pompous project. The place of the unfinished palace was taken by the Senate building.

The foundation of the temple in 1812, dedicated to Christ the Savior, again prompted the rulers to think that the construction of a palace building in honor of the renovation of the capital was necessary. A whole "quartet" of eminent architects of that time worked on the development of the layout - Chicherev, Bakarev, Rikhnet, Gerasimov, whose work was directed by Konstantin Andreyevich Ton. This master of his craft was the author of the project of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. He also became the founder of the Byzantine-Russian manner in architecture.

The palace was not only erected anew, but also became the central part of the ensemble. The house churches, the Golden Tsaritsyna and the Pomegranate Chambers, as well as the Terem Palace, which had been preserved from the previous rulers, were supposed to join it.

Construction success K.A. The tone was a foregone conclusion. The base of the building fits perfectly into the Moscow layout. However, the construction itself was carried out innovatively. So for the first time during construction in the capital, lightweight brick vaults, cement mortar, updated types of roofs and much more appeared.

The complex acquired its complete appearance by the middle of the 19th century, when the Armory and the Apartments were reunited with the BKD by an air passage. He became worthy of the royal family and delighted the inhabitants and guests of the throne with its monumentality and beauty.

BKD: a look from the outside

The front side of the palace is directed towards the river. And this angle represents an optical illusion. The two-story building seems to be one floor higher.

The natural stone in the plinth cladding and carved window frames are meant to inspire respect for what is happening behind these walls.

The central part of the palace was a tribune with a gilded balustrade. On one side of it there is a clock that has not stopped since the opening of the building, on the contrary - the bells of the clock. The main entrance meets the guests of the main entrance with marble columns.

The total area of ​​the palace is 125 sq. M., 25 sq. M. m., and its height is 47 meters.

Museum of Russian Palace Interior

The complex has 700 rooms for various purposes. There are five halls for awarding orders, and the reception rooms in the Front half, as well as the service rooms, are innumerable. The front hall with the festive staircase reflects the luxury of the finest ceremonial decorations. There is also an Own half.

The interiors of the halls are made in an eclectic style. Here the details of the Renaissance are organically intertwined with elements of the Byzantine and Russian stylistics. The ceremonial interiors are luxurious, high quality and tasteful.

Walk through the Grand Kremlin Palace

All halls of the complex are unique creations of architecture and art. Among the brilliant enfilades, you can get confused. But where would everyone like to look?

Recognized as regal, the 60-meter-long ceremonial room in white and gold trim is awe-inspiring. The hall is crowned with marble plaques of the names of the country's defenders who received the Order of St. George the Victorious.

There are statues and bas-reliefs reflecting the battle of St. George and the serpent. The authorship of the works belongs to I. Vitali and P. Kladsch.

The hall dedicated to the heroic saint is a historical witness to the most important celebrations in our history. He greeted the participants in the 1945 Victory Parade and the first person in space.

Another chamber of the palace complex, dedicated to the order - the Order of St. Vladimir. An octagonal pink marble room with a bronze ceiling chandelier and additional dome lighting. This hall opens passages to other palace chambers, among them the Pomegranate Chamber and the Terem Palace.

Conference hall

The most spacious hall of the building appeared only in 1933, when the Alexander and Andrew Chambers were united. The total area was 1615 square meters, and up to three thousand people gather here. So in due time they solved the problem of where the Supreme Council of the republic should meet.

A sweet and cozy place in the front half of the palace complex is dedicated to the only Russian order with a female name. At one time, this chamber served as the throne room for the imperial spouses.

The decoration used gilded chandeliers, moire decor on the walls, interspersed with malachite pieces and thin crystal in the manufacture of candelabra. All this has no historical or artistic value.

From this hall, visitors enter the Guest Room and the Bedchamber. Then they are met by the Walnut Dressing Room, after which the Own half opens up.

Imperial chambers

The former residential part of the palace consists of seven chambers, which have retained the spirit of refined chic and laconicism. In the Own half, the offices of sovereigns and empresses are adjacent to a bedchamber, a boudoir, a dining room, a reception room and a guest room.

In this part of the palace, the baroque style is in harmony with rococo and classicism, which gives integrity and comfort to the family half of the building.

The interweaving of the past, present and future is palpable in the Grand Kremlin Palace. History has been and is being made here.

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

How many different palaces we have visited in our travels. But the most important in our hometown - the Grand Kremlin Palace - remained completely unattainable for us. In the Kremlin, you can officially visit the Armory, the Diamond Fund, cathedrals, but for some reason the most beautiful Grand Kremlin Palace is not included in the visit list. Weird. Delegations of all kinds of foreigners are taken there and separate excursions for some organizations, apparently to raise the level of patriotism. We have always dreamed of getting there and as soon as we had the opportunity to visit the BKD we gladly took this opportunity. The object is secure. Therefore, here you can shoot, but here you can not. What is the reason for this, again, it is not clear. But these are the rules. As a result, it was possible to shoot in the ceremonial halls in the Faceted Chamber, but not on the first floor and in the Terem Palace. But all the same, what he saw is amazing.
1. The Grand Kremlin Palace is one of the most massive structures inside the Kremlin. The 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-scale construction. And as a result, the Grand Kremlin Palace is connected with the Terem Palace and the Faceted Chamber and makes one whole with them.

2. Let's start with the Faceted Chamber. There are doors in the distance that lead to the Red Porch.

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

4. Beautiful painting and gilding around - looks very rich.

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

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

6. A little more parquet.

7. There are also very beautiful chandeliers.

8. And doorknobs.

9. The door portals are also very richly decorated.

10. The Faceted Chamber. All the walls are painted here. It can be seen, by the way, that the walls in the ward are quite thick.

11. In the middle of the chamber there is a pillar on which the vaults of the ceiling 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 is noteworthy. A kind of podium with a canopy.

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

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 have remained authentic.

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

16. The painting of the lower part of the walls looks very cool, as if it is covered with a cloth.

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

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

19. Another general view of the room. By the way, the hall is not that big. Many now rent rooms and more to celebrate weddings.

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

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

22. The hall is very solemn and beautiful. In fact, it connects the state rooms 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 banquets here is just the same in the color of the ribbon of the order.

24. The staircase leads to the Terem Palace.

Interestingly, during the Russo-Japanese War, a sewing workshop was organized in the halls of the Kremlin Palace where they sewed things to be sent to the front. But in the Vladimir Hall, the packing of things took place.

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

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

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

28. The same goes for the door handles.

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

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

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

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

32. In the niches there are tablets with the names of the knights of the order. The upholstery of the banquets also repeats the colors of the St.George ribbon.

33. There is not so much gilding in the decoration of the St. George Hall as in the rest of the BKD. Everything here is decided in white colors, stucco molding on the vaults and supporting columns. Gold here is only the image of St. George's stars.

34. Once again, we appreciate the awesome parquet flooring. A large number of varieties of wood, a complex pattern is a very delicate work.

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

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

37. In the ceiling you can see the ceiling stucco disguised as water, I think, ventilation holes.

38. Another view. Note the sculptures on the pillars between the windows.

39. Luxurious gilded bronze chandelier.

40. The numbers are impressive. The hall is 61 meters long, 20.5 meters wide, and 17.5 meters high. 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. Interestingly, in Soviet times, the Alexandrovsky and the next Andreevsky halls were united, all the beauty was dismantled.

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

42. In the mid-90s, it was decided to reconstruct the Alexandrovsky and Andreyevsky 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 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 room, and even curtains to match the order ribbon.

45. Ttu, again, full symmetry, openings on the "blank" wall repeat the window. Mirrors also give the effect of light pouring out of windows.

And here is another photo from the times 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 ceremonial.

49. On the door handle again the image of the order.

50. Further there is one more 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 the sign of the all-seeing eye.

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

52. Decorating the walls 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 just the painting of the miniatures on the columns at the top.

Parquet is being restored. 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 decoration is again stucco with gilding.

56. Above the three throne places canopy of ermine. They say that .... the ermine is not real! The thrones are also not real - they are copies, but the real thrones have survived, now they are in the Armory.

57. The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called is the only one that is completed with a chain. That is, the ceremonial version of the knight of the order should 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 Alexandrovsky halls overlook the Moskva River, a beautiful view of Bolotny Island and Zamoskvorechye should open from here.

Other halls on the second floor are inaccessible for visiting, since there are the working premises of the President of Russia. 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 is 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 rent in all these rooms, which is a pity, there is something look!

P.S.
All archived photos I usually find on

(Russian Grand Kremlin Palace; English Grand Kremlin Palace)

Opening hours: the palace is closed for free visits. You can visit it only as part of organized excursions, upon prior request, with the submission of passport data and the approval of the date of the visit.

The Grand Kremlin Palace is one of the palaces of the Moscow Kremlin. It stands on the high Borovitsky hill. The palace was built between 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 Ducal 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 a significant part 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, new imperial apartments "Winter Annenhof" were erected on the basements of the old palace - a wooden baroque palace (architect B.-F. Rastrelli).

Under Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, the imperial court once again resided 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 inconsistent with the greatness of the Russian Empire, it was decided to replace it with a new building. The new palace was supposed to be located throughout the entire riverine territory of the Kremlin, extending from the bank of the Moskva River to the entire Borovitsky Hill.

On June 1, 1773, the ceremonial laying of the new palace took place. However, it soon became clear that such a large-scale construction was impractical and the work was stopped in 1774. The destroyed Kremlin wall and towers were restored, and instead of the grandiose palace, only the building for the Moscow branch of the Senate was built.

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 an example of 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 viewed as a single complex, which was to be built at the same time. In 1842, 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 decorated with carved platbands with double arches and a weight in the middle, as in the 17th century towers. From the main façade, the building appears to be three stories high, but in reality there are only two stories. With arched windows separated by thin walls, this first floor of the palace looks like a closed gallery. In the center of the palace, above the roof, there is a tribune, completed with a gilded balustrade.

The Kremlin Palace is 125 meters long, 47 meters high, 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, also includes some structures 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 Tsaritsina Chamber, 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 ceremonial residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

When building 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 Aleviz's basement; the terrace on top of the arcade repeats the old festivities 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 introduce innovations in the construction of the palace - it was the first building in Russian architecture with large-span lightweight brick vaults and metal roof truss structures.

NS The entrance to the Grand Kremlin Palace is inconspicuously located in the southern facade of the building, that is, from the side of the Moskva River, from where the visitor enters the marble lobby with monolithic columns of Serdobolsk granite (Serdobol is a city on the shores of Lake Ladoga). On the left side of the vestibule there 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 Krumbugel factory, have become a wonderful 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 ceremonial halls. The main staircase is decorated with yellow Kolomna marble, with which the columns are faced along the spans and flights of the staircase. This marble colonnade has pointed arches of the main staircase. The flights of the stairs are illuminated by twelve bronze chandeliers, made in the same style as the floor lamps of the Main 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 there is 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. Delaroche. The left landing leads to the State Rooms.

The magnificent interior decoration of the premises of the palace is made in different styles, from the Renaissance to the Byzantine-Russian style. The most beautiful hall is St. George's, 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 award 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 amaze with its boundless luxury, but rather its severity and scale.

The longitudinal walls of the hall are cut with deep niches. In the niches and on the walls there are marble plaques on which the names of the famous military units and the names of the gentlemen 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 who were awarded this order. Among the holders of the Order of St. George are such people as Alexander Suvorov, Mikhail Kutuzov, Peter Bagration, Fedor Ushakov, Pavel Nakhimov.

The George Hall is the largest room in the palace. Its length is 61 meters, width - 20.5 meters, height - 17.5 meters. White and gold are the main colors of the St. George Hall, white are the vaults, walls and sculptures, gold are the names of St. George knights and military units on the boards and edges 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. The marble statues on pylons allegorically symbolize the regions and kingdoms that make up the multinational state. On the south and north walls of the room, there are bas-reliefs depicting St. George and the serpent, their author is Pavel Kladsh. The insignia of the order adorn the upper part of the walls of the snow-white St. George Hall.

During ceremonial receptions, officers gathered in the hall, on whose uniforms the same signs that adorn the walls of the hall sparkled. In 1945, in the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, a reception was held for the participants of 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, in the colors of St. George's ribbon. The ceiling is decorated with stucco in the form of floral ornaments. The original parquet floor, works of 1845, has been preserved in the St. George Hall. To complete it, it took 20 rare types of wood: Indian rosewood, African paduk, beech, ash, plane tree and many others.

The Alexander Hall was built in honor of the Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky, established on May 25, 1725 by Empress Catherine I. The motto of the order is "For Labor and Fatherland." Six historical paintings were created and mounted in the upper niches of the end sides of the hall. On the west - the military exploits of the prince, on the east - scenes from his peaceful life, a 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 insignia of the order with the monogram S. A. - Sanctus Alexander - Saint Alexander stand out brightly. At the corners of the dome and above the massive gilded doors, there are double-headed eagles.

Huge, in two tiers, 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 order ribbon. The luxurious gilded decoration of the hall is in harmony with the unique parquet floor of 20 species of trees.

According to the project of academician F.G. Solntsev, in the Petersburg workshop of Yegor Skvortsov, enfilade swing doors were made, covered with wood carving and gilding. An important decorative element of the hall's decoration was the gilded and silver-plated copper coats of arms of the provinces and regions of the Russian Empire made by Vasily Krumbugel, 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. St. Andrew's 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 order's motto is “For Faith and Loyalty”. Andreevsky Hall - gilded doors with order crosses and chains of the Andreevsky Order, 10 bronze chandeliers and 35 sconces, two unique fireplaces made of gray-violet jasper, as well as three throne under ermine and a unique parquet mosaic made of many valuable species of wood. The walls of the hall are covered with blue silk fabric, the color of the St. Andrew's ribbon.

This is one of the five ceremonial order halls of the Grand Kremlin Palace, located along the main front southern facade of the palace. Its huge space is strictly organized by five pairs of powerful supports. They divide its entire volume into three naves - the large, central and smaller side naves. With its gilded pointed 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 there are three throne places, under ermine canopies. During the coronation of Emperor Nicholas II, they were intended for the emperor, empress, and empress dowager - the mother of Nicholas II. The imperial throne is overshadowed by a tent, with an entrance in six steps, covered with gold brocade. The tent is adorned with a magnificent ermine robe. The state emblem of the Russian Empire, a two-headed eagle, is placed on the canopy of the tent. The wall above the tent is also decorated with the image of the state emblem, and on the sides of the tent there are two-headed eagles with St. Andrew's cross on their chest.

St. Andrew's Hall is illuminated through eighteen windows and two balcony doors to the south.oh walls, cut, in two tiers, strictly above each other. On the opposite side there are doors leading to the Cavalry Hall and the Avanzal. The most solemn events of national importance are held in the Andreevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

Mirrored doors in the north wall of the St. George Hall lead to the Vladimir Hall. The Vladimir Hall conveys the history of the Order of St. Vladimir, one of the first Russian princes. It was established in honor of the Kiev prince Vladimir, under whom the baptism of Rus took place. The motto of the Order of St. Vladimir is “Benefit, Honor and Glory”. Many honored citizens were awarded orders, including one of the founders of the Kremlin Palace - the architect Konstantin Ton.

This tall, octahedral 19th century hall links together palaces from five centuries. The walls and pilasters of the Vladimir Hall are faced 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 it were, repeat the outlines of ancient arches.

The wide arches of the first tier give way to triple, tighter arches of the second tier, in order to go into the dome vaults covered with solid gilded stucco molding. This stucco gilded ornament is made, as on the cornices, by the Dylev brothers, modelers.

In this hall, during the day, light enters the glass lantern on the dome vault, and in the evening it is illuminated by a huge gilded bronze chandelier, the weight of which is about three tons. It is lowered to the height of the second-tier galleries, and, as if, hovers in the center of the space. The floor, according to the drawing of Academician FG Solntsev, is made of numerous valuable types of wood. From the hall you can get to the Faceted Chamber, St. George Hall, Terem Palace and other premises of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

On the front half of the palace is the Catherine Hall - in the past it was the throne room of the Russian empresses. It is located somewhat apart 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 women's 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.

The Catherine Hall is relatively small - its length is 21 meters. The splendor of this hall is successfully combined with a special sophistication of decoration, comfort and intimacy. Signs of the order with the motto "For Love and Fatherland", showered 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 empress's throne room.

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 a scarlet band of the order ribbon. On the 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 molding. The parquet floor of the Catherine Hall is of high artistic value.

The Green Drawing Room adjoins the Catherine Hall's throne. It is designed to receive guests of special honor.

The ceiling of the semicircular hall is painted with floral patterns, 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 is richly inlaid furniture, bronze crystal chandeliers and floor lamps. In the grand living room there are three huge candelabra, two of which are in the Chinese style and one 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 Hall, in the Front half, there are the former Tsarist Front Living Room and the Front Bedchamber. The interior of the Front Living Room (now the Red Living Room) is exceptionally decorated. It has an alcove with monolithic columns of gray-green marble, which is in perfect harmony with the bright crimson upholstery of the walls and furniture. For facing the fireplace, jasper is used in a green-blue tone with a beautiful wavy pattern, well submitted by a Russian master stonecutter who managed to emphasize the merits 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, the walls and "Hambs" furniture were covered with silver brocade with golden flowers. Pilasters, friezes and columns supporting the vaults were fully combined with them. Rosewood doors, inlaid with gilded bronze and mother-of-pearl in the boule style, lead to the adjacent Green Living Room and the Catherine Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

Its own half, intended personally for the emperor and his family, is located on the first floor of the palace. The suite of living quarters The own half stretches along the main facade of the palace, and consists of seven main living rooms and four small walk-through 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 premises, 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 Empress's Office, the Boudoir, the Bedroom, the Emperor's Office and the Reception Room. Despite the fact that each room is designed in its own style, all rooms together form one whole. Its own half is a museum of the Russian residential palace interior, practically completely preserved without significant alterations and additions.

The artists who were decorating the palace paid great attention not only to the architectural details, but also to the selection of furniture, candelabra, fireplaces and chandeliers. The fireplaces are made of malachite and marble. The Boudoir, Living Room, Study and Bedroom are decorated with a variety of porcelain products - 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 objects made of bronze - clocks, candelabra. On the fireplaces made of malachite and marble, there are hours of French work - they were ordered specially for the Grand Kremlin Palace.

The lighting was essential. It was supposed to add 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, modeling, carving, give the rooms of the palace an unusually solemn and pompous look. Interior doors made of precious wood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, turtle shell, made on thorns without a single nail. The patterns of the 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 especially dilapidated were made anew by masters from Pavlovsky Posad.

The suite of its own half opens with a huge dining room hall. Its walls are faced with white and yellow artificial marble. The vaulted ceilings, with stucco decoration, are supported by a massive central pillar, which visually connects the appearance of this room with the architectural solution of the Faceted Chamber. The decorative principles of classicism are used in the decoration of the Dining Room. There is a calm combination of tones of artificial marble, white marble statues of the mythological characters Leda and Hymeneus, vases in the Borghese style.

The Empress's boudoir is designed in soothing colors, walls and furniture are upholstered in pink silk. The furniture for the Boudoir includes 24 items - of different shapes: sofas, tables and chairs. The furniture is made of walnut.

One of the most beautiful fireplaces of the palace is also located in the boudoir.It seems to be hewn from a solid stone - so tightly fitted and polished plates of malachite. The shape, proportions, smoothly curved lines of all its designs only emphasize its beauty, and the overlaid gilded decorations add special sophistication. The mantel clock attracts attention with its intricate shape and intricate mechanism. The enamel circle is a calendar that shows the months, days of the week and the phase of the moon (the bottom of the clock). Above it is a vase-shaped clock with a fixed lizard-shaped hand and two rotating dials. Arabic numerals indicated minutes, and Roman numerals indicated hours. All this is in bronze, gilded decoration.

Behind the Empress Boudoir is the Bedchamber. Blue pearlescent tones, combined with white and gold, create the feeling of a clear night sky. Two colors dominate in the bedchamber - blue and gold. The Empress's bedchamber is luxurious and exquisite at the same time. An atmosphere of peace and piety reigns here.

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

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

The Empress's study 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 production of which was begun in Russia at that time, and the chandelier reflected in them many times increase the feeling of pomp and fabulous luxury.

The gilded moldings of walls and arches, doors, excellently made of precious woods and inlaid with a tortoise shell, bronze, and mother-of-pearl, add elegance to the interior. Unknown craftsmen made them without nails and glue, on thorns. The furniture here is upholstered in silk and gold fabric. Exquisite gilded clocks and vases complement the decoration of the Cabinet.

The Empress's drawing-room is snow-white with gold, eight Gibson bas-reliefs are symbols of the arts, and four more, depicting the seasons, adorn it. The furniture set, in the style of Louis XV of turquoise wood, is also gilded and upholstered with patterned damask. The furniture here is of soft curving, rocael style, decorated in a variety of whimsical curls and flowers.

The main decoration of the living room is porcelain products - vases and floor lamps. The ceiling is decorated with a large chandelier with molded flowers, reminiscent of a lush bouquet topped with a pineapple fruit. 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.