Grand Kremlin Palace architect. Review of the excursion to the Grand Kremlin Palace. Entrance to the palace

The Grand Kremlin Palace today is the residence of the head of our state. This building remembers the adoption of thousands of fateful decisions and hundreds of summits. To visit the capital and not see the Kremlin Palace is something that even a traveler who has stayed in a mini-hotel, remote from the center of the metropolis, cannot forgive himself.

The appearance 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 lived up to the hopes of the brightest sovereign.

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

The laying of the temple in 1812, dedicated to Christ the Savior, again prompted the rulers to the idea that the erection of a palace building in honor of the renewal of the capital is necessary. A whole “quartet” of eminent architects of that time — Chicherov, Bakarev, Rikhnet, Gerasimov, whose work was directed by Konstantin Andreyevich Ton — worked on the development of the layout. This master of his craft was the author of the design of the Temple to Christ the Savior. He also became the founder of the Byzantine-Russian style in architecture.

The palace was built not only anew, but also became the central part of the ensemble. House churches, the Golden Tsaritsyna and the Grenade Chambers, as well as the Terem Palace, were to be joined by him.

Construction Success K.A. The tone was a foregone conclusion. The basis of the construction fits perfectly into the Moscow layout. However, the construction itself was innovative. 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 a completed look by the middle of the 19th century, when the Armory and Apartments reunited with the BKD air passage. He became worthy of the royal family and delighted the inhabitants and guests of the patronage with its monumentality and beauty.

BKD: a look from the outside

The front side of the palace is directed to the river. And this view presents an optical illusion. The two-story building seems to be a floor above.

Natural stone in the lining of the basement and carved platbands on the windows is designed to inspire respect for what is happening behind these walls.

The central part of the palace was a tribune with a gilt balustrade. On one side of it were the clocks that had not stopped since the opening of the building, on the contrary - the clock bells. The main entrance welcomes the front door with marble columns.

In the total area of \u200b\u200bthe palace - 125 m., 25 t. m., and its height is 47 meters.

Museum of the Russian Palace Interior

The complex has 700 rooms for various purposes. There are five halls for the presentation of orders, and there are no counting rooms in the front half, like office premises. The front hall with a festive staircase reflects the luxury of the best ceremonial decorations. There is also Own half.

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

Walk around the Grand Kremlin Palace

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

Recognized as regal, the front room of 60 meters in white and gold trim inspires awe. The hall is crowned with marble plaques of the names of the defenders of the country, who received the Order of St. George the Victorious.

Here are sculptures and bas-reliefs reflecting the battle of St. George and the snake. The authorship of the works belongs to I. Vitali and P. Kladsh.

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 Victory Parade of 1945 and the first man to be in space.

Another chamber of the palace complex dedicated to the Order is the Order of St. Vladimir. An octagonal pink marble room with a bronze chandelier under the ceiling and additional domed lighting. This hall opens passageways 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 chambers of Alexandrov and St. Andrew were united. The total area was 1615 sq.m., and up to three thousand people gather here. So in due time they solved the problem of where to meet the Supreme Council of the republic.

A lovely 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 a throne room for the imperial spouses.

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

From this hall, visitors enter the front door for guests and the bedchamber. Then they are met by a Walnut dressing room, after which their own half opens their gaze.

Imperial chambers

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

In this part of the palace, the Baroque style is in harmony with Rococo and Classicism, which gives integrity and coziness to the family half of the building.

In the Grand Kremlin Palace tangible interweaving of the past, present and future. Here history was created and is being created.

March 24th, 2015

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

How many different palaces we visited on our travels. But the most important in his hometown - the Grand Kremlin Palace remained completely unattainable for us. In the Kremlin you can officially visit the Armory, the Diamond Fund, cathedrals, but the beautiful Grand Kremlin Palace for some reason is not included in the list of visits. It’s strange. Delegations of all kinds of foreigners drive there and individual excursions for some organizations apparently to raise the level of patriotism. We always dreamed of getting there, and as soon as we had the opportunity to visit the BKD, we took advantage of this opportunity with pleasure. The object is modal. Therefore, you can shoot here, but here you can’t. What is again connected with this is not clear. But these are the rules. As a result, it was possible to shoot in the front rooms in the Faceted Chamber, but not on the ground floor and in the Terem Palace. But still, what he saw is amazing.
1. The Grand Kremlin Palace is one of the most massive structures inside the Kremlin. The palace began to be built 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 buildings of the Kremlin were not lost as a result of large construction. And in the end, the Grand Kremlin Palace is connected with the Terem Palace and the Faceted Chamber and is one with them.

2. Let's start with the Faceted Chamber. Far away are the doors that lead onto the Red Porch.

3. And this room itself is the Holy Canopy. By the way, the Faceted Chamber was restored in 2012 and now appears before visitors in all its splendor. By the way, maybe someone knows what kind of thing is on the right side of the wall? Maybe it's ducts for ventilation or heating.

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

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

5. Murals in arches on religious topics. It is surprising that during the time of Peter the Great, the murals were painted over and the vaults were covered with a rag depicting a two-headed eagle.

6. A little more flooring.

7. There are very beautiful chandeliers.

8. And the door handles.

9. Door portals are also very richly decorated.

10. The Faceted Chamber. Here all the walls are painted. It can be seen, by the way, that the walls in the chamber are quite thick.

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

12. The arches 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 a reception in honor of the coronation of Alexander III. The royal place is noteworthy. A kind of podium with a canopy.

Here is another interesting. Interior before restoration of historical appearance. Draped walls, whitewashed arches. Around the pillar shelf 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 remained authentic.

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

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

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

18. As I understand it, the murals on the walls mainly tell about plots from royal life.

19. Another general view of the room. By the way, the hall is not so big. Many now rent rooms for celebration of weddings and more.

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

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

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

23. The hall is named after the Order of St. Vladimir. By the way, the upholstery of banquets here is just the same in the color of the ribbon of the order.

24. A staircase leads to the Terem Palace.

It is interesting that during the Russo-Japanese War, a sewing workshop was organized in the halls of the Kremlin Palace where they sewed things for shipment to the front. But in the Vladimir Hall there was a packing of things.

25. A ceiling with a translucent lamp that lets light in. The vaults are decorated with gilded ornaments and images of the orders of St. Vladimir. Here is a very beautiful gilded chandelier.

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

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

28. The same thing on 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. Tall ceilings.

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

Here is an interesting shot of the Soviet era. It looks like a Kremlin tree for Soviet pioneers.

32. In the niches of the plate with the names of the cavaliers of the order. Upholstery of banquets also repeats the coloring 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 is decided in white, stucco molding on arches and supporting columns. Gold here is only the image of St. George stars.

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

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

36. Parquet is cherished and is not allowed to walk on it. No wonder, such a beauty.

37. In the ceiling, the stucco molding of the ceiling, disguised as water, as I think, the ventilation holes are visible.

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

39. Gorgeous bronze gilt chandelier.

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

41. The next hall is Aleksandrovsky. It is interesting that in Soviet times, the Alexander and the next Andreevsky halls were combined, all the beauty was dismantled.

It looked like this. It was a conference room of the Supreme Council of the USSR. Pretty sad.

42. In the mid-90s, it was decided to reconstruct the Alexander and St. Andrew Hall 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 doorway is an image of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. Even the chairs are decorated with his image.

44. A very elegant hall, and even curtains in tone with the sash.

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

And here is again a photo from the Russo-Japanese War.

46. \u200b\u200bThere 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. Next is another hall - Andreevsky. It was he who was the throne room of the Kremlin Palace. Accordingly, there is a throne, or rather three, and above them the sign of the all-seeing eye.

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

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

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

And one more thing.

53. It is just the miniatures painted on the columns at the top.

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

54. Coats of arms of Russian provinces are above the first row of windows around the perimeter.

55. In the design again stucco with gilding.

56. Over three throne places a canopy of ermine. They say that .... ermine is not real! The thrones are not real either - they are copies, but the real thrones are preserved, now they are in the Armory.

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

58. Once again, take a look at the throne. Very festive.

59. By the way, the side windows of the Andreevsky and Aleksandrovsky halls overlook the Moscow River, from here a beautiful view of the Swamp island and Zamoskvorechye should open.

Other halls of the second floor are not accessible for visiting, since there are working premises of the President of Russia. And even in his absence no one is allowed there. We also visited the Malachite Hall, which runs parallel to the Andreevsky and Aleksandrovsky Halls, the Terem Palace - a very beautiful, authentic place, as well as the living quarters of the emperor and his family on the ground floor, but it was impossible to rent in all these rooms, but it’s a pity there is something look!

P.S.
I usually find all archived photos on

The Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, a beautiful yellow building, proudly towering above the Kremlin next to the golden domes of the cathedrals, is closed to the general public. In the Kremlin you can visit the Armory, Kremlin Cathedrals. But tickets to visit the Grand Palace cannot be bought at the Kremlin box office. However, he who seeks will find. About visiting the Grand Kremlin Palace my review.

Interiors of the Grand Kremlin Palace

Honestly, I do not really like visiting Red Square. But still, you have to do this when necessary, when friends come from other cities and drag it here, in the heart of the capital. However, this time, I planned to visit the Kremlin quite consciously, because there are legends about the beauty of the Grand Kremlin Palace. It is his halls that are shown on television during the inauguration of the president, the presentation of awards to prominent figures.

The idea to go on an excursion to the Grand Kremlin Palace came by chance when viewing topics on a social network. One of the users, said that despite the fact that the palace is a regime enterprise, you can get there with the company, and indicated its name. I found the agency’s website on the Internet, and lo and behold, there was one empty seat for the next excursion to the Grand Kremlin Palace. The cost of the tour is quite high - in the agency where I purchased the tour, it cost 2900. Wow, you say. But in other agencies, the same tour was offered at a price above 4 thousand!

For those who want to get on this tour, scoring "Excursion to the Grand Kremlin Palace", you can find offers from tour companies. Usually a full prepayment for the tour is required. However, the tour is carried out only on weekdays, at a time inconvenient for working people, in the morning. In addition, the date of the excursion can be postponed, because this is not a museum, but the current residence of the President.

What is included in this price? The excursion to the Grand Kremlin Palace lasts 1.5 hours and is carried out as part of a group of 20-25 people, only accompanied by a guide. During this tour, visitors are given the opportunity to visit the halls where the president of the country and other senior representatives of other countries visit. You can see the Faceted Chamber, St. Andrew's and Vladimir Halls, Alexander Hall, the famous Geogiev Hall, the Terem Palace. All these rooms are in the same building.

On the eve of the tour, the organizers in full of participants warned: you can’t be late even for a minute, otherwise you can’t let the whole group go, you can take pictures in the palace only at the command of the guide, of course you should not bring any piercing and cutting objects with you. In general, they intimidated to the fullest.

In the Arbatskaya metro, where we were assembled an hour before the tour, everyone was like a bayonet at the time. The group consisted mainly of grandparents. Yes, yes, and this despite the cost. There is some explanation for this, because the tour is carried out only on weekdays in the morning. In addition, it is carried out only several times a month. Moreover, the date of its holding may be postponed. In general, there are many difficulties with her.

Exactly at 10-00 we were at a glass near the Kutafya tower, through which visitors were admitted to the Kremlin. Thus, we were one of the first in the Kremlin, which allowed me to make several shots of a completely empty Kremlin.

Entrance to the Kremlin

Passing by the most beautiful ancient cathedrals, we came to the Grand Kremlin Palace.

Cathedral Square

The Grand Kremlin Palace and the Tsaritsyna Chamber.

Here we again had to wait a bit until we were invited inside.

The large and beautiful yellow building of the Grand Kremlin Palace was built on the initiative of Nicholas I in 1838-1850. designed by architect Konstantin Ton. The palace was used as the imperial residence during the stay of the emperor and his family in Moscow. The palace includes about 700 rooms. This palace can also be called the matryoshka palace, because the architect combined several buildings built in different centuries into one large palace. Such a cathedral palace turned out.

Entrance to the Grand Kremlin Palace

Next to the large Kremlin Palace is a 16th-century building with a staircase decorated with lions.

Tsaritsyna pay

Grand Kremlin Palace

The staircase is decorated with figures of lions - symbols of royal power.

Lions decorating the stairs

Decoration of the windows of the Queen's board

Entrance to the palace

A thorough search awaited us at the entrance to the Grand Kremlin Palace - everyone had their passports checked, all things on the tape were enlightened. When asked if someone has weapons or piercing and cutting objects, one dandelion granny admitted that she has a gas spray. The guards laughed and asked her to leave a spray can with them, and at the exit they gave everything to her.

Back to the tour. We left things in the wardrobe and waited for the guide. The saddest thing for me was that it was practically impossible to photograph in the palace, so I won’t be able to show the chic halls of the Faceted Chamber, the Terem Palace and the ceremonial chambers of the emperors in my post.

What is included in the Grand Kremlin Palace

Pomegranate Chamber - one of the oldest rooms of the palace. A huge chamber for the 15th century with arches that rest on a single pillar in the middle. The walls of the Pomegranate Chamber are painted by Palekh masters. On the ceiling are scenes from the Bible. Today, receptions are held at a high level. Unfortunately, photographing in this room is strictly impossible.

Terem Palace - ceremonial halls of the 16th century.

St. Andrew's Hall - The grand throne room, named after the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.
In the Alexander Hall there is a gorgeous golden decoration and parquet from 30 species of wood.

Very interesting Vladimir Hall, which combines the buildings of the Grand Palace.

St. George's Hallnamed in part St. George the Victorious.

Perhaps I will show in a post what I managed to photograph.

Vladimir Hall

Vladimirsky Hall - its feature is that it connects a number of buildings of the XV, XVII and XIX centuries. The hall is crowned by a dome with a light window.

Vladimir Hall

The ceiling of the Vladimir Hall is decorated with orders. In the photo you can see the sign of St. Vladimir. The motto of the order is "Benefit, Honor and Glory."

Vladimir Hall

There is also a magnificent staircase, which can often be seen in photographs of senior persons.

The main staircase of the Vladimir Hall

Chandelier in the Vladimir Hall

There were lamps in the corners of the hall.

Lamps in the Vladimir Hall

The walls of the Vladimir Hall are lined with pink marble.

Vladimir Hall

In the next photo you can assess the height of the Vladimir Hall.

Vladimir Hall

St. George's Hall

This hall impressed me the most due to its size and beauty. Its length is 60 meters and a height of 17 meters. The arch of the hall is described on the pylons, which are crowned with statues of Victory, the work of the sculptor Vitali.

St. George's Hall

Geogrievsky Hall

Parquet in the St. George Hall has been preserved for more than 150 years (parquet excursions and the project were created by academician Solntsev). Therefore, you can walk here strictly along the paths.

St. George's Hall

Parquet fragment

Front doors

St. George's Hall

Alexander Hall

St. Andrew's Hall

Chairs upholstered in red velvet were made in our time at Russian enterprises.

In the Andreev Hall

A look at St. George's Hall.

St. George's Hall

St. Andrew's Hall

The throne room dedicated to the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called is the most pompous and solemn of the halls of the grand enfilade.

In the western part of the hall are three imperial thrones, and above them rises the sign of the all-seeing eye, covered with gold leaf.

St. Andrew's Hall

I was very sorry that I have no opportunity to show all the interiors, but for those interested, you can watch a wonderful online publication here and get a complete picture.

After visiting the Grand Kremlin Palace, I walked a little more along Cathedral Square and took a picture of the Palace from the other side.

View of the Grand Kremlin Palace

Perhaps this is where I will finish my story. I can only say that I was very impressed by the beauty and power of this building. The magnificence of the halls is so striking that it is beyond words. If you ever want to visit such an excursion, I recommend that you definitely take the opportunity and visit it.

Hotel booking in St. Petersburg

Hotel booking in Golden Ring cities

Booking hotels in Crimea - summer is coming!

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

39. Gorgeous bronze gilt chandelier.

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

41. The next hall is Aleksandrovsky. It is interesting that in Soviet times, the Alexander and the next Andreevsky halls were combined, all the beauty was dismantled.

It looked like this. It was a conference room of the Supreme Council of the USSR. Pretty sad.

42. In the mid-90s, it was decided to reconstruct the Alexander and St. Andrew Hall 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 doorway is an image of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. Even the chairs are decorated with his image.

44. A very elegant hall, and even curtains in tone with the sash.

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

And here is again a photo from the Russo-Japanese War.

46. \u200b\u200bThere 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. Next is another hall - Andreevsky. It was he who was the throne room of the Kremlin Palace. Accordingly, there is a throne, or rather three, and above them the sign of the all-seeing eye.

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

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

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

And one more thing.

53. It is just the miniatures painted on the columns at the top.

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

54. Coats of arms of Russian provinces are above the first row of windows around the perimeter.

55. In the design again stucco with gilding.

56. Over three throne places a canopy of ermine. They say that .... ermine is not real! The thrones are not real either - they are copies, but the real thrones are preserved, now they are in the Armory.

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

58. Once again, take a look at the throne. Very festive.

59. By the way, the side windows of the Andreevsky and Aleksandrovsky halls overlook the Moscow River, from here a beautiful view of the Swamp island and Zamoskvorechye should open.

Other halls of the second floor are not accessible for visiting, since there are working premises of the President of Russia. And even in his absence no one is allowed there. We also visited the Malachite Hall, which runs parallel to the Andreevsky and Aleksandrovsky Halls, the Terem Palace - a very beautiful, authentic place, as well as the living quarters of the emperor and his family on the ground floor, but it was impossible to rent in all these rooms, but it’s a pity there is something look!

P.S.
I usually find all archived photos on

In 1838, on the initiative of Nicholas I, on the Borovitsky Hill, they began to build the Grand Kremlin Palace on the site of the dismantled palaces of Ivan III and Elizaveta Petrovna. The construction was completed in 1849. Almost a hundred years before this, attempts were made to create a new palace. So, in 1768, the architect Bazhenov presented his model of the building, located from the banks of the Moscow River along the entire Borovitsky hill. In 1770 a part of the Kremlin wall was broken and in 1773 a new residence was solemnly laid. But a year later it was decided that such a grandiose project was not practical and the construction was stopped. The destroyed Kremlin wall was restored and instead of a pompous palace, the building of the Moscow Senate was built.

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

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

According to the idea of \u200b\u200bthe authors, the Palace complex, which will later become known as the Grand Kremlin Palace, was supposed to include, in addition to the largest scale construction, part of the preserved structures of the royal residence - the Golden Tsaritsyna Chamber, the Grenade Chamber, house churches and the Terem Palace.

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

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

The main facade of the building faces the river and from this angle it seems to be three-story, although in fact it has only two floors. The first floor looks like a closed gallery, the basement is framed by natural stone, the second floor is decorated with carved window frames made of white stone. In the center of the palace there is a tribune with a gilded balustrade, on the one side of which to this day there are operating hours, and on the other - clock bells. Near the main entrance there is a lobby with marble columns. The total length of the Kremlin Palace is 125 meters; its area is 25,000 square meters. m. and a height of 47 m.

The palace complex includes about 700 rooms for various purposes, including 5 order rooms, reception rooms of the front half, living quarters of its own half, office premises of the first floor, and a lobby with a main staircase.

One can talk endlessly about interiors and interior decoration. No wonder the palace is called the museum of the Russian ceremonial interior. The palace is rightly called the museum of the Russian palace interior. The decoration is eclectic - from the elements of the Renaissance to the Byzantine style. Moreover, any of its elements is striking in its subtlety, grace and quality of work, original taste and quality of execution.

Each palace hall in its own way is a work of architecture and art, but true connoisseurs of architecture consider St. George Hall the most magnificent. It is in it that marble marble plaques with the names of the military, awarded the most revered Russian award, are located - the Order of St. St. George the Victorious. Among the awarded were such historical figures as Mikhail Kutuzov, Alexander Suvorov and Peter Bagration. This six-meter-high white-gold hall, with huge bronze chandeliers, with powerful pylons truly leaves an unforgettable impression. To all, it is here that there are marble statues of the sculptor Ivan Vitali and bas-reliefs depicting St. George and the serpent, authorship of Pavel Kladsh. It is this hall that plays an important role in Russian history - cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was welcomed here, here in 1945 the participants of the Victory Parade were welcomed.

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

The meeting room is the largest room of the palace complex. It appeared only in 1933 in connection with the unification of the Alexander and St. Andrew Halls. Windows facing the Moskva River, 1615 square meters. square meters, with a capacity of up to 3000 visitors - made this particular hall in Soviet times the seat of the Supreme Council of the USSR.

The Catherine’s Hall is a very cozy and beautiful room of the Front half of the palace, which received its name in honor of the only female Russian order. In the past, it was the throne room of the Russian empresses. Gilded chandeliers, gray moire walls, ornaments made from pieces of malachite, delicate crystal of candelabra - everything here is of great historical and artistic value.

After the Catherine’s Hall, you can get into the front room and the front bedchamber, which today is a real museum of imperial life of the 19th century. The fireplace, lined with jasper, columns of greenish marble, heavy monolithic furniture - all this emphasizes the nobility of the decoration of the premises intended for high-ranking government officials.

The last room of the front half of the palace is a Walnut dressing room, in the decoration of which walnut panels are used.

The private half of the palace with the living quarters of the emperor and his family located in it is also an example of sophistication and interior masterpiece. A mixture of Baroque, Rococo, Classicism styles makes the seven rooms of the Own half conceptually integrated. The Emperor’s office, the Empress’s office, bedroom, boudoir, dining room, reception, living room - for each room, its decoration was chosen.

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

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

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