Andreevsky and alexandrovsky halls of the Kremlin. Grand Kremlin Palace. State Kremlin Palace

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

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

That is why elements of the Byzantine-Russian style are used in the design of the building (to show the dynastic connection with the Byzantine emperors), and 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 telling Russian history and glorifying the Russian army.

The Grand Kremlin Palace - a brief description

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

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

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

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

Georgievsky hall

It 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 emblem of the order is a gold cross covered with white enamel with the image of George slaying a snake.

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

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

The flooring is genuine parquet, made in 1845, made of 20 valuable wood species brought from South-East Asia and South America... One of the hall's decorations 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 molding, and the sculptures of the hall are white, the names of the gentlemen of St. George and military units on the boards are gold. Six bronze chandeliers are also gilded.

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

Alexander Hall

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

The Alexander Hall is also huge, its length is 31 meters, width - 21 meters and height - 20 meters. Konstantin Ton used elements of the Byzantine-Russian style in its design. Parquetry with intricate floral designs, created in 1843, looks like a fabric carpet, shining under a layer of varnish.

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

Historical canvases, created by the professor of historical painting of the Academy of Arts Fyodor Moller, tell about the life of St. Alexander Nevsky. Pictures 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 tall windows, reflected in numerous mirrors, fills the entire space. The walls are decorated with white and pink marble, while the red velvet upholstery matches the color of the sash. Between the twisted gilded columns - the coats of arms of the lands of the Russian Empire.

Andreevsky hall

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

The four-sided columns of the St. Andrew's Hall form three naves. In the eastern side of the premises 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 mother of the emperor. Above the throne place is a canopy made of ermine fur. The vault depicts an all-seeing eye in radiance - the Orthodox symbol of the Trinity.

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

Andreevsky Hall is striking in 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 signs of the order - the image of a two-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 the Kiev prince Vladimir, during which 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.

In its form, this is an unusual hall. In plan, it is a square with a side of 16 meters, but niches are made 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 into which penetrates through a round lantern, and in the evening the hall is illuminated by a magnificent bronze chandelier. One of the hall's decorations is the arches adorning 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 is inaccessible, in which the President of Russia holds official meetings and negotiations.

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 Fatherland." The award had two degrees. The order of Catherine of the first degree was awarded to princesses by birthright, and the second degree was awarded to court ladies. The first lady to be awarded this order was Peter's wife, Catherine I.

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

Own half

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

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

Excursions to the Great Kremlevskiy Palace

The Grand Kremlin Palace and the Faceted Chamber can only be visited as part of a guided tour by appointment. The cost of the excursion is from 4 thousand rubles (2019), the duration is about 1.5 hours. We 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 items as possible on the tour. Before visiting, several security checks are carried out as at the airport. Photography is only permitted in a few state rooms.

Big Kremlin Palace erected by Konstantin Ton at the direction of Nicholas I for more than ten years - 1838 to 1849. As conceived by the great creators, the grandiose structure became reliable and in line with the status of the first capital of the capital.

View of the palace from the side of the Moscow River

The long 125-meter facade of the palace stretches along the embankment of the Moskva River. Almost all Russians will recognize his appearance, 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 by the author architectural project the famous Russian architect Konstantin Andreevich Ton became the palace building.

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

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

The main palace halls are named after Russian orders. State awards and credentials are presented in five of the most luxuriously decorated rooms. 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, guided tours of the palace premises are allowed for organized groups.

Terem Palace

View of the southern facade of the palace

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

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

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

Arsenal

Arsenal building

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

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

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

State Kremlin Palace

View of the Kremlin Palace from the 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 bright facades are impressive. They are faced with beautiful Ural marble and anodized aluminum.

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

Senate Palace

View of the domed hall of the Senate from the courtyard

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

This palace was visited by many famous statesmen of Russia, and various bodies of the Russian government sat in it. In the 1920s, V.I. Lenin, and later the government of the USSR held its meetings in the majestic building of Kazakov.

The rounded dome of the Senate Palace is clearly visible from the side of Red Square. Under 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 expressive building of the Faceted Chamber belongs to the old Kremlin palaces. It was built at the end of the 15th century by Marco Ruffo and Pietro Antonio Solari (Peter Fryazin), Italian architects who worked for Tsar John III.

The palace got its name due to the decoration of the facade on the east side with faceted or "diamond" rustic stone. This is how the rich Italian palaces were decorated during the Renaissance. The Faceted Chamber played the role of reception rooms for the Grand Dukes. The Boyar Duma met in it and Zemsky Councils were held. In this palace, the victories of the Russian army were celebrated more than once. And along the Red Porch, the sovereigns went to the coronation ceremony to the Assumption Cathedral.

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 in Moscow permanently, 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, like all the grand ducal and boyar mansions of that time, it 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 the 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 by 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 very same princely palace 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 today.

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 jewelry from it was stolen, all the wooden parts 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, 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 of the colossal and grandeur of the palace. In addition, the empress calculated that the whole of Europe would talk about the palace built during the war with the Turks, and the empress-builder would be compared with the Roman emperors.

V.I.Bazhenov was ordered to design a gigantic palace and was immediately relieved of all other duties. The architect creates a project for a colossal palace, which was supposed to cover the entire Kremlin mountain so that all 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 at 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 its total area is 25,000 square meters.

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

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 with 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 the expression "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, which remained almost unchanged from the F.-B. Rastrelli palace, brought some revival to the appearance of the main facade.

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 authorities 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. In its halls, important nationwide ceremonies are held, 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 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. et al. Kremlin. China town. Central squares // Architectural monuments of Moscow. - M .: Art, 1983 .-- S. 339