How many halls are there in the large Kremlin palace? St. Andrew's Hall of the Kremlin: history and photos. We apologize for the inconvenience caused

This majestic yellow building with white decor, topped with a dome in the center of the facade, is depicted on thousands of postcards, on the pages of art albums, and 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, existed already in the first half of the 12th century. They were located opposite the Faceted Chamber - on the highest place in the Kremlin. These palace buildings were small wooden mansions that served as temporary summer quarters for the princes, and in winter the Moscow princes lived in heated huts.

In the 13th century, when the princes settled permanently in Moscow, the old location on the Kremlin hill turned out to be cramped, and the grand-ducal palace had to be moved to the east. In the 14th century, Grand Duke Ivan Danilovich Kalita significantly expanded his courtyard, and instead of a wooden church<Спаса на Бору>built a stone temple.
Taking into account the almost monastic lifestyle of the prince, it can be assumed that his palace was small in size and distinguished by its simplicity of decoration.

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

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 placed in the courtyard.

As noted in the chronicle 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 and his family lived in the upper superstructures - 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 carry out this task, he invited experienced architects from Italy, who began their work with the complete destruction of the Kremlin's wooden antiquities and replacing them with new majestic buildings.

The construction of Ivan III completely changed the appearance of the Kremlin. Fortified by a double, and in some places a triple row of walls with loopholes, towers, drawbridges and portcullises in the gates, decorated with golden-domed cathedrals and magnificent palace Since then, the Kremlin has 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 current 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 wealth and power of the state. During this time, many alterations were made to it, new parts and individual buildings were added. More than once, along with the Kremlin and the entire city, the palace burned down, but it always rose from the ashes even more extensive and beautiful.

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

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

Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov

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

The time of greatest prosperity of the Kremlin Palace was the 17th century. The splendor of the palace was unspeakable: it was all painted bright colors and gold, decorated with artistic carvings, precious carpets and fabrics, 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 royal space and grandeur of the Kremlin Palace fell into disrepair.

Anna Ioannovna

Left without proper care, the palace chambers deteriorated and fell into disrepair. Gradually, the royal palace fell into such a state that it became impossible to live in it. Therefore, in 1730, 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 extensive enough and was inferior to the previous ones in the luxury of decoration, so they subsequently decided to rebuild it. Empress Elizabeth Petrovna again instructed Rastrelli to erect a new stone building on the site of the dilapidated reception chambers of the old palace.

Winter Kremlin Palace

This building is called the Kremlin 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

Vasily 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 (design by V. I. Bazhenov).

He diligently studied Moscow, its special architectural system<первопрестольной столицы>, the Kremlin ensemble that has developed over centuries. The architect himself explained his plan 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. At its center I planned a square with an amphitheater for public meetings. Here are obelisks and a triumphal column, and on the sides of this crown are equestrian figures of trumpeting glory.

From here there are roads to the gates of the Kremlin, into the depths of Russia, roads to St. Petersburg, Yaroslavl and Vladimir. I do not imagine the Kremlin as an impregnable fortress, in which it was once convenient to hide from enemies, but as a place of virtue, enlightenment and national glory. Therefore, I intend to turn its beauty towards the capital of the capital.

Thus, the grandiose palace, located on the Kremlin hill, would unite 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 heavenly dome, was supposed to accommodate many people and have the same meaning as the squares of ancient Russian cities where people’s veche gathered.

The architect showed his first sketches to Count G. G. Orlov, and he, amazed by the titanic plan of V. I. Bazhenov, told Catherine II about it, who also came to admiration for the colossality and grandeur of the palace. In addition, the empress calculated that all of Europe would talk about the palace, built during the war with the Turks, and the empress-builder would be compared to 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 the cathedrals and temples, all the ancient Kremlin buildings would fit in its courtyard.

Bazhenov's project

This grandiose structure was supposed to surpass the palaces of all European states in its size and architectural merits.
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 devoted assistants who shared his plans. Therefore, a special<экспедиция по строительству Большого Кремлевского дворца>led by Lieutenant General M.M. Izmailov.

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

At the same time, preparations for construction began. 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, Tainitskaya and two more towers, as well as the fortress walls between them.

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

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

The Grand Kremlin Palace was conceived by the architect as a temple of the glory of the Russian people. The forest of columns framing the square was like a victory wreath, crowning the Russian people for their exploits for the glory of the fatherland. V.I. Bazhenov sought to carry this idea throughout 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 basement resting on a massive stepped base - a stylobate. The lighter upper part, in which the ceremonial rooms of the palace were located, rested on it. In addition to the columns, this part was richly decorated with stucco, figures of flying<побед>, vases, sculptures and monograms. The lower ground floors were supposed to house office space.

All the luxury of the palace's interior was concentrated on its main floor. The hall with Corinthian columns in two rows, which was approached by galleries with colonnades and a vestibule with a rotunda in the center, stood out for its particularly beautiful decoration. The lobby of the palace was a kind of gazebo made of twelve columns of pink marble, followed by another belt of columns.

Now the preserved model of the palace is exhibited in the Museum of Architecture. Shchusev.

The model of the Grand Kremlin Palace and the unprecedented project were indeed talked about, with delight and envy, in all European capitals. However, unexpected obstacles arose on the way to realizing the plan. First, a plague epidemic broke out in Moscow, and then, when work began at the Tainitsky Gate, the Archangel Cathedral cracked and threatened to slide down, as a result of which all work was suspended.

And then came 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 to their previous form. This was a terrible blow for V.I. Bazhenov.

Nicholas I

Historically, after the capital was moved 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 disrepair or were destroyed by fires.

Until 1812, there were no new attempts to renovate the palace, but the start of 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 for 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 it has only two floors. The ground floor projects forward and forms an open terrace. Thanks to arched windows separated by thin partitions, this level of the palace looks like an enclosed gallery. The base is lined with natural stone. The two-tier 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 two sides, and hour bells on the other two. Now only the clock works.
Further on there is an open area with a flagpole. Until 1917, the tribune kokoshniks were decorated with double-headed eagles, above which were the coats of arms of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Astrakhan, Poland and Taurida. Next to the main entrance to the Palace there is a marble vestibule with polished granite columns. The Kremlin Palace is 125 meters long, 47 meters high, and has a total area of ​​25,000 square meters.

View of the Middle Golden Chamber in the second half of the 17th century. Miniature of 1673 from the “Book of 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 buildings from the period of the 15th-17th centuries, which in the past were part of the grand duke and then the royal residence (the Faceted Chamber, the Golden Tsarina Chamber, the Terem Palace, palace churches) .

The ensemble of the Grand Kremlin Palace was finally formed when the Armory Chamber and Apartments were built in 1851, connecting to the palace complex by an air passage. The total number of rooms in the palace complex reaches 700. The palace has five ceremonial order halls (St. George, Vladimir, Alexandrovsky, Andreevsky and Catherine). 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.

When constructing 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 floor is reminiscent of the basement of the architect Aleviz, and the terrace above it looks like an ancient walkway. The winter garden located 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, Thon used a new technique - it was the first structure in Russian architecture with long-span lightweight brick vaults and metal roof trusses. 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 Renaissance to Byzantine-Russian. Each palace hall deserves a separate description. Perhaps the most beautiful is St. George's, named after the Order of St. St. George the Victorious - the highest and most revered order in the Russian army, established in 1769 to reward officers and generals.

The motto of the order was the expression “For service and courage.” In the hall there are marble plaques with the carved names of 545 regiments, naval crews and batteries and more than 10,000 names of officers and generals awarded this order. Among the holders of the Order of St. George are such people as Alexander Suvorov, Mikhail Kutuzov, Pyotr Bagration, Fyodor Ushakov, Pavel Nakhimov.

On June 1, 1773, the ceremonial laying of the new palace took place. However, it soon became clear that such large-scale construction was impractical and work was stopped in 1774. Later, the fortress wall and previously dismantled towers along the Moscow River were restored (before 1778, according to the design 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, the “house of public places” (1776-88, architect M. F. Kazakov)

Work on the existing palace building was limited to updating the interiors and facades, installing a mezzanine and a portico in the center of the main facade of the residential floor facing the river (around 1800, according to the design of 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. Tamansky, according to the design of V. P. Stasov) and later added another floor (1823, architect V. . P. Stasov). The building acquired a rather monotonous appearance, characteristic of that time (see the Governor's Palace in the Kazan Kremlin) - the massive arcade of the first floor, which remained almost unchanged from the palace of F.-B. Rastrelli, brought some revival to the appearance of the main facade.

The palace complex, in addition to the newly built building, also included buildings of the 16th-17th centuries: the Faceted Chamber, the Terem Palace, the Golden Tsarina Chamber and palace churches, including the oldest building in Moscow that has survived to this day - the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin on Senya (1393). ). In the inner space there was one of the oldest churches in the capital - the Cathedral of the Savior on Bor, demolished by the Soviet authorities in 1933.

With its main façade the palace faces the Kremlin embankment. The exterior decoration of the building uses motifs from the Terem Palace: for example, the windows are made in the tradition of Russian architecture and decorated with carved frames 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. Thus, its five ceremonial halls - Georgievsky, Andreevsky, Aleksandrovsky, Vladimirsky and Catherine - are named after the five orders of the Russian Empire, and their design is designed 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, sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR have been held there, for which the Andreevsky and Aleksandrovsky halls were demolished and, according to the design of the architect I. A. Ivanov-Shits, rebuilt into one large meeting hall in 1933-1934.

By decision of the President of Russia in 1994-98. St. Andrew's and Alexander's halls were restored to their original forms.

As of 2012, the Grand Kremlin Palace serves as the ceremonial residence of the President of Russia. Important national ceremonies are held in its halls, such as the presentation of state awards or credentials, etc.
Halls of the palace

Imperial throne in St. Andrew's Hall










By 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. St. Andrew's Hall became the throne room of the large palace and the main imperial hall of the Moscow Kremlin. In 1932 it was turned into a conference hall where party congresses were held. The restoration of the hall to its original forms was carried out in 1994-1998







.Alexander Hall

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

Vladimirsky Hall

The hall is named in honor of the Order of St. Vladimir. The Vladimir Hall is located in the peculiar center of the palace and leads to the Faceted Chamber, St. George's Hall, Terem Palace and other premises of the Kremlin Palace. It so happened that this hall seems to connect 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 overhead light through the dome. The walls and pilasters of the Vladimir Hall are lined with pink marble.
St. George's Hall

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

This hall has witnessed many historical events. In 1945, a ceremonial reception for the participants of the Victory Parade took place here. In 1961, the first cosmonaut of the planet, Yu. A. Gagarin, was honored in the St. George Hall.
This is the largest hall of the palace after St. Andrew's Hall. It is covered with a barrel 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 famous military units and the names of the St. George Knights are written in gold letters. Among them are the names of famous Russian commanders 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 framing the double-height windows.

In the piers between the niches there are 18 twisted columns cast from zinc and covered with a spiral-shaped ornament. Each column carries an allegorical statue of victories with a laurel wreath and a memorable date. One of the statues represents the reunification of Ukraine with Russia, a number of others are associated with the entry of other nations into Russia. All statues were made by 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 photos - Ancov, the author of the photo.
Literature

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. A little more parquet.

7. There are very beautiful chandeliers here.

8. And door handles.

9. The door portals are also very richly decorated.

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

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

12. The vaults themselves are also richly painted.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24. The staircase leads to the Terem Palace.

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

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

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

28. The same goes for door handles.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

39. Chic bronze gilded chandelier.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

47. Gilded columns.

48. The view is very formal.

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

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

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

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

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

And here's another.

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

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

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

55. The design is again stucco with gilding.

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

57. The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called is the only one that is equipped with a chain. That is, the ceremonial version of the holder 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 Alexander halls overlook the Moscow River, from here there should be a beautiful view of Bolotny Island and Zamoskvorechye.

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

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

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

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

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

Grand Kremlin Palace - brief description

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

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

Entering the palace from the main entrance, you will find yourself in the front lobby, the arch 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 containing 13 Carcel lamps (invented by the Swiss master Carcel).

Guests climbed to the second floor along the main staircase, its steps (66 in total) were low and wide, so that it was comfortable for ladies in elegant evening dresses to climb and the procession took on a particularly solemn appearance. The walls of the lobby are decorated with yellow marble brought from Kolomna near Moscow.

St. George's Hall

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

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

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

The flooring is original parquet made in 1845, made from 20 valuable types of wood brought from Southeast Asia and South America. One of the decorations of the hall is a copy of the monument to the great Novgorod heroes Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, erected on Red Square.

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

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

Alexander Hall

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

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

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

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

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

St. Andrew's Hall

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

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

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

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

Vladimirsky Hall

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

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

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

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

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

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

Catherine Hall

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

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

Own half

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

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

Excursions to the Grand Kremlin Palace

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

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

The Grand Kremlin Palace today is the residence of the head of our state. This building remembers thousands of fateful decisions and hundreds of summit 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.

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 Peter the Great's daughter Elizabeth. The idea to erect this building came to Nicholas I in 1838. Construction lasted 11 years, and it met the hopes of His Serene Highness.

Attempts to improve the empty space have been made for a century. In the second half of the 18th century, according to the design of the architect Bazhenov, 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 occupied by the Senate building.

The foundation of the temple in 1812, dedicated to Christ the Savior, again prompted the rulers to the idea 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 supervised by Konstantin Andreevich Ton. This master of his craft was the author of the project of the Temple of Christ the Savior. He also became the founder of the Byzantine-Russian style in architecture.

The palace was not just rebuilt, but also became the central part of the ensemble. It was to be joined by the house churches preserved from the previous rulers, the Golden Tsaritsyna and the Pomegranate Chamber, as well as the Terem Palace.

Construction success K.A. The tone was a foregone conclusion. The foundation of the structure fits perfectly into the Moscow layout. However, the construction itself was carried out innovatively. Thus, 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 appearance by the middle of the 19th century, when the Armory Chamber and Apartments were reunited with the BKD by an air passage. It became worthy of the royal family and delighted residents and guests of the throne with its monumentality and beauty.

BKD: a view from the outside

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

Natural stone in the cladding of the plinth and carved frames 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 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 welcomes guests with a front door with marble columns.

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

Museum of Russian Palace Interior

The complex has 700 premises for various purposes. There are five halls for presenting orders, and there are countless reception rooms in the Front Half, as well as service rooms. The front hall with its festive staircase reflects the luxury of the best ceremonial decorations. There is also one's own half.

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

Walk through the Grand Kremlin Palace

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

The 60-metre-long, regal, white-and-gold front room is awe-inspiring. The hall is crowned with marble memory boards of the names of the country's defenders who received the Order of St. George the Victorious.

Here 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 of the 1945 Victory Parade and the first man in space.

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

Meeting room

The most spacious hall of the building appeared only in 1933, when the Alexander and St. Andrew's chambers were combined. The total area is 1615 sq.m., and up to three thousand people gather here. So at one time they solved the problem of where to meet the Supreme Council of the Republic.

A nice 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, inclusions of 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 greeted by the Walnut dressing room, after which their own half opens to their eyes.

Imperial Chambers

The once residential part of the palace consists of seven chambers, which have retained the spirit of sophisticated chic and brevity. In the Own Half, the workrooms of the sovereigns and empresses are adjacent to the bedchamber, boudoir, dining room, reception room and guest hall.

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.

In the Grand Kremlin Palace, the interweaving of the past, present and future is palpable. History was and is being made here.