State halls of the large Kremlin palace. St. Andrew's Hall of the Kremlin: history and photos. Entrance to the palace

The museum-apartment of Nikolai Semenovich Golovanov (1891–1953), a great conductor, composer and pianist, traces its history back to 1969, when, after the death of the musician’s sister, this apartment became part of the Russian national museum music.

The basis of the funds was the rich heritage of the musician: his
collections of paintings, sculpture, applied art, library, archive and music library. Over the years, the value of this heritage has steadily increased.

Golovanov’s status as a conductor and composer has changed: now this master is recognized as great. The amazing concentration of spirituality, creative energy, and the true scope of his creativity are striking. His personality is also attractive, first of all, his loyalty to the high moral principles laid down from childhood and his uncompromising, selfless service to art.

The conductor’s memorial apartment with its various rarities is also amazing for its concentration of spiritual values. The house itself in Bryusov Lane, in which it is located, is a cultural monument. It belonged to the Bolshoi Theater. Since 1935, such luminaries of Moscow vocal art as A. V. Nezhdanova, N. A. Obukhova, I. S. Kozlovsky, A. S. Pirogov, M. P. Maksakova lived here. Golovanov lived here for about twenty years (1935–1953). It was during these years, leading the All-Union Radio Orchestra and later Bolshoi Theater, he became a leading figure in the musical life of Moscow. Three rooms of this apartment (study, living room, dining room) are memorial. Here, almost every object remembers Golovanov. And in the former bedroom, archive materials are concentrated, allowing one to trace the musician’s path.

The initial stage was studying at the Synodal School of Church Singing (1900–1909), which took place under the guidance of such masters as choirmasters V. S. Orlov, N. M. Danilin, composers P. G. Chesnokov, A. D. Kastalsky, Vikt. S. Kalinnikov. Golovanov wrote in his declining years: “The Synodal School gave me everything: moral principles, principles of life, iron discipline, the ability to work hard and systematically, instilled in me a sacred love of work.”

The next stage is studying at the Moscow Conservatory in the class of composition and theory with S. N. Vasilenko and A. A. Ilyinsky. At the same time, Golovanov did not lose contact with the Synodal School, becoming its teacher and assistant regent of the famous Synodal Choir. From 1915 until almost last days– work at the Bolshoi Theater (albeit with three forced breaks). These were the culminating years in the life of the theater. Under the direction of Golovanov and his eminent “team” (artist F. F. Fedorovsky, directors L. V. Baratov, B. A. Pokrovsky and other outstanding masters), such masterpieces were created as productions of “Boris Godunov”, “Sadko”, “ Khovanshchina" 1948–1950.

No less effective is Golovanov’s leadership of the Big Radio Symphony Orchestra. His activities in Moscow during the Great Patriotic War were especially important. Live broadcasts of the orchestra’s performances lifted the spirits of even people far from music. In a photograph from 1943 we see the conductor during the first performance in the USSR of S. V. Rachmaninov’s Third Symphony. The exhibition also reflected Golovanov’s composing work. different years, from the piano variations of childhood to the spiritual chants of the 1940s.

A special section is dedicated to the long-term union of Golovanov with A.V. Nezhdanova: the musician was the accompanist and husband of the great singer. Entering the memorial rooms of the Museum, visitors are immediately immersed in the world of art. Paintings by first-class artists (I. I. Levitan, M. V. Nesterov, K. A. Korovin and many others), sculptural portraits, antique furniture in the Empire style, stucco on the ceilings - everything creates a unique atmosphere. At the same time, Golovanov’s “handwriting” is felt. Already in the layout of the apartment, features of theatricality are visible: the living room correlates with the office, like a theater hall and stage. The doors with bronze mythological figures are also remarkable. Although the genres and themes of paintings and sculptures presented in the memorial rooms are varied, each room has its own dominant features. The study is the most “musical” room. There are many portraits of composers, conductors, as well as figures of art and literature. In the living room, a significant place is occupied by images related to religious themes and images that embody the ideals of female beauty. The dominant theme in the dining room is travel in time and space: Russia and England, Italy and Egypt, India and the fabulous Berendey kingdom, deep antiquity and the 20th century. They come to life on paintings architectural masterpieces world - the Taj Mahal mausoleum painted by V.V. Vereshchagin, Pskov Kremlin by V.V. Meshkov, Venetian Palace doges in the painting by I.K. Aivazovsky.

And another attraction of the Museum is its visitors in the past and present. After all, Golovanov was visited by many outstanding musicians and artists. The owner of the apartment loved to organize a feast on holidays and memorable days. The regulars were the singers of the Bolshoi Theater who lived in the same house - Obukhova, Maksakova, Pirogov, Kozlovsky... And after the opening of the Museum (1974), conductors B. E. Khaikin, K. P. Kondrashin, G. N. Rozhdestvensky, F. Sh. Mansurov, Yu. I. Simonov. Among the concert visitors are composer V. A. Gavrilin, ballerina E. S. Maksimova, singer Z. A. Dolukhanova. And at the present time, the Museum has a lot of things that attract conductors, professional musicians, art connoisseurs, music lovers, and a wide range of people seeking to touch the world of beauty.

I don’t think that you have to visit the Grand Kremlin Palace every day. Therefore, we have a unique opportunity to see not only this building from the outside, but also to visit its beautiful halls. And I must say, it’s amazing.

The Great Kremlin Palace - a monumental yellow building with white platbands, a facade overlooking the Moscow River, stretching from west to east for 125 meters, was built by order of Emperor Nicholas I as a palace-monument to Russian history and the glory of the Russian army. In 1838-1849 it was built by Russian architects D.N. Chichalov, P.A. Gerasimov, A.N. Bakarev, F. Richter and others under the leadership of K.A. Ton. The palace was the temporary residence of the imperial family during its stay in Moscow. From the outside façade, the palace looks three-story, but actually consists of two floors. The ground floor projects forward and forms an open terrace above. Arched windows separated by narrow partitions give it the appearance of an enclosed gallery. The base is lined with natural stone. The two-tier facade of the second floor is divided by pilasters and completely decorated with carved white stone window frames in the Russian style. architecture XVII century. All photos and comments for them gborisova

Door portal of St. Andrew's Hall. St. Andrew's Order Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the eldest of the Russian orders, established by Emperor Peter I in 1698 in the name of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called, St. Baptism originally enlightened our borders. The Imperial Order of St. Andrew the First-Called has only one degree. Its signs are as follows: 1) a blue cross in a double-headed eagle crowned with three crowns, representing St. crucified on it. Apostle Andrew and having Latin letters at the four ends: - S. A. P. R., meaning: Sanctus Andreas Patronus Russiae, and on the other side, in the middle of the eagle, a charter on which is written the order’s motto: “for faith and fidelity”; 2) a silver star, having in the middle, in a golden field, a double-headed eagle, crowned with three crowns, and in the middle of the eagle there is a St. Andrew's cross; in a circle, in a blue field, at the top is the order’s motto in gold letters, and at the bottom are two connected laurel branches; the star is worn on the left side; 3) blue ribbon over the right shoulder; and on the order's holiday and other days, when the cavaliers will be ordered to be in full attire, instead of a ribbon there will be an order cross on a gold chain.

When conferring the order on non-Christians, an image of St. The Apostle, his name and the cross are replaced by the image of the Imperial Russian Eagle. The badges awarded for military exploits are accompanied by two crosswise swords. The order's attire consists of: 1) A long, green velvet cap, lined with white taffeta with silver eyes, tied in silver. cords, with the same tassels; on its left side there is a more ordinary star embroidered; 2) supervest white glazet, with gold braid, the same fringe and with a cross sewn on the chest; 3) a black velvet hat, with a red feather and the cross of St. Andrew the Apostle, sewn from a narrow blue ribbon. The gentlemen of this order are all considered to be in the third class, even if they were in the service below this class, and at the same time they are made knights of St. Alexander Nevsky, the White Eagle and St. Anna of the 1st class, even if they did not have such before. - The cavaliers celebrate the day of the establishment of this order - November 30, and the order was given a cathedral named after him on Vasilyevsky Island. Petersburg are under the special care and care of the gentlemen of this order. and Moscow educational homes (St. Z. t. I, Uchr. Ord. art. 291 et seq.). Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron. - St. Petersburg: Brockhaus-Efron. 1890-1907.

St. Andrew's Hall has been the main one in the palace since its construction. In his east side three throne seats rise under ermine canopies. All parts of the royal seat: the canopy, the steps of the footstools and the thrones are covered with precious gold brocade. The canopy inside is upholstered with ermine fur (today the ermine on the royal mantle is artificial - the old mantle that covered the thrones was sold in 1925). There are three throne seats. During the coronation of Emperor Nicholas II, they were intended for the emperor, empress and dowager empress - Nicholas's mother.

The imperial throne is shaded by a tent, with an entrance of six steps. The state emblem is placed on the ceiling of the tent Russian Empire- double-headed eagle.

St. Andrew's Throne Hall During the days of the coronation celebrations, the Emperor and Empress received congratulations in the St. Andrew's Hall. Representatives of different nationalities, classes and religions were invited to Moscow from all over the country. The Emperor and Empress greeted them standing. The throne room of Russian emperors amazes with its size and dazzling luxury. The cross vaults rest on 10 tetrahedral columns, forming three naves. The vaults, columns and pylons are covered with gilded stucco in the form of a floral pattern. And the capitals are decorated with the sign of the order - a double-headed eagle, against which there is a blue cross with the image of a crucified apostle. The walls are covered with silk moire, decorated with chains and the sign of the Order. On the frieze of the longitudinal walls there are 48 titular coats of arms of Russian monarchs. “For faith and fidelity” is the motto of this order.

Dome of the Vladimir Hall. The Vladimir Hall is named after the Order of St. Vladimir. Order of St. Vladimir was dedicated to the holy Prince Vladimir, popularly called the “Red Sun”, who brought the light of Christ to Rus'. The Order was established in 1782 as a reward for outstanding achievements in military and civil service, as well as for long service. The motto of the order is “Benefit, honor and glory.” The two-height St. Vladimir Hall, octagonal in layout, unlike the St. George Hall, is illuminated by overhead light through the dome. The vault of the Vladimir Hall resembles tents, and the arches of the bypass side galleries seem to repeat the outlines of ancient arches. The dome is crowned with a light lantern. In the evening, the hall is illuminated by a huge gilded bronze chandelier.

St. George's Hall is the largest main hall in the entire palace: length 61 m, width 20.5 m, height 17.5 m. The combination of white and gold creates a feeling of solemnity with its simplicity. Powerful pylons support vaulted ceiling, decorated with stucco molding in the form of floral patterns and rosettes. All eighteen pylons are topped with marble statues (sculptor Ivan Vitali) - allegorically symbolizing the regions and kingdoms that make up the multinational state. Structurally, each pylon consists of a tall hollow zinc column, decorated with stucco and topped with a capital of the Corinthian order. On the southern and northern walls there are bas-reliefs depicting St. George and the snake (sculptor Pavel Kladsh). The parquet floor resembles a gigantic patterned carpet. The floor is laid out with a pattern of more than 20 different types of wood - birch, ash, Indian rosewood, plane tree, plane tree, etc. In the evenings, the hall is illuminated by six bronze gilded openwork chandeliers. Each weighing 1300 kg. and 40 wall lights. The signs of St. George were: a gold and white enamel cross with the image of George slaying the serpent, a black and orange ribbon and a gold star with the motto “For service and courage.” Signs of the Order decorate the upper part of the walls of St. George's Hall. The names of the St. George Knights and the names of regular military units awarded this order are inscribed in gold on the wall plaques. They were awarded to soldiers and officers for bravery and courage shown in battle, and for length of service: 25 years in the army and 18 in the navy. Over the entire existence of the order, it was awarded to over 11 thousand heroes. At the solemn consecration of the palace in April 1849, Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow said: “The palace of St. George the Victorious should become a temple of the glory of the victorious Russian army.” This hall has witnessed many historical events.

The signs of St. George were: a gold cross with white enamel with the image of George slaying the serpent, a black and orange ribbon and a gold star with the motto “For service and courage.” Signs of the Order decorate the upper part of the walls of St. George's Hall. During receptions officers gathered, on whose chests were the same signs that decorate the walls of the hall. On the walls of the St. George's Hall there are marble plaques with the names of 545 regiments, naval crews and batteries carved in gold letters and more than 10 thousand names of officers and generals who were awarded the Order of St. George, among them such names as: Suvorov, Kutuzov, Ushakov, Nakhimov. At the solemn consecration of the palace in April 1849, Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow said: “The palace of St. George the Victorious should become a temple of the glory of the victorious Russian army.” The original parquet flooring from 1845 has been preserved in the St. George's Hall. More than 20 valuable types of wood from South-East Asia And South America. This hall hosts international conferences, diplomatic and government receptions, and award ceremonies of orders and medals.

This is one of the most impressive halls of the Kremlin Palace. Large and solemn, it is named after the Order of St. George the Victorious, established in 1769 by Empress Catherine II and which became the highest award in the Russian army. The Holy Great Martyr has long been revered in Rus' as the personification of military valor. Under Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, there was even a certain prototype of this order. A coin with the image of St. George the Victorious was awarded to soldiers for bravery. At that time it was worn on a sleeve or on a hat. St. George the Victorious, in addition, has been considered the patron saint of Moscow since ancient times. Since its foundation, the image of the saint has adorned the coat of arms ancient capital, and later became part of the coat of arms of Russia. At the solemn consecration of the palace in April 1849, Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow said: “The palace of St. George the Victorious should become a temple of the glory of the victorious Russian army.” On the walls of the St. George's Hall are depicted golden stars and insignia of the order with the motto “For service and bravery.” The names of 545 regiments, naval crews and batteries and more than 10 thousand names of officers and generals awarded the Order of St. George the Victorious are carved on the marble slabs. Among them are the names of field marshals A.V. Suvorov, M.I. Kutuzov, General P.I. Bagration, admirals F.F. Ushakov, P.S. Nakhimov. On both sides of the hall there are 18 twisted columns topped with allegorical statues of victories. The ceiling is decorated with stucco in the form of floral patterns and rosettes. The parquet floor of the hall is exceptional in its beauty and virtuosity. It is lined with a pattern of 20 different types of wood - birch, ash, Indian rosewood, plane tree, plane tree, etc. In the semicircles of the transverse walls are high-relief sculptures of St. George on a horse by the sculptor Peter Klodt.

The Alexander Hall, into which gilded doors lead from the St. George's Hall, is huge: 31.5 meters in length, 21 in width and 20 in height. In the design of this hall, architect Konstantin Ton used elements characteristic of Byzantine-Russian architecture. Prince Alexander of Novgorod, patron of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, a state award of the Russian Empire from 1725 to 1917, established by Catherine I, was famous for his piety and courage. The motto of the Order “For Labor and the Fatherland” was later placed on the star.

The dome of the Alexander Hall is a hemisphere that rests on massive pylons. In its molded gilded kortushki there are signs of the Order: a cross and a star with the monogram of S.A. On the sides is the state emblem - a double-headed eagle with a royal crown, scepter and orb. A house where the world has astonishment...a green red house, cunningly created by the Honesty of the kingdoms, molded together. Its beauty is powerfully comparable to Solomon’s beautiful coat... Gold shines brightly everywhere, The royal house of being shows beauty. I always look at the writings, I learn many wonderful stories... The four parts of the world are written, Aki are cunningly sculptured on copper... Buslaev F.I. Historical anthology of the Church Slavonic and Old Russian languages. M., 1861. P. 1197.

Entrance to St. Andrew's throne room. The parquet in the halls of the palace was made in 1843 by Moscow craftsmen. Its contemporaries called it beautiful, durable and elegant at the same time. Exquisite patterns and weaves of parquet design resemble a real woven carpet. In March 1960, Peter Moller, a professor at the Academy of Arts, proposed painting a painting on the theme of the life of St. Alexander Nevsky, patron of the Order. Six historical paintings were created and mounted in the upper niches of the end sides of the hall: on the western side - the military exploits of the prince, on the eastern - scenes from his peaceful life: a builder of monasteries, an enlightened and wise ruler.

Ceiling vaults of the Alexander Hall Sail vaults, decorated with order insignia, carry a spherical dome with the same insignia, framed by state emblems in triangular patterns on four sides. A house where the world has astonishment...a green red house, cunningly created by the Honesty of the kingdoms, molded together. Its beauty is powerfully comparable to Solomon’s beautiful coat... Gold shines brightly everywhere, The royal house of being shows beauty. I always look at the writings, I learn many wonderful stories... The four parts of the world are written, Aki are cunningly sculptured on copper... Buslaev F.I. Historical anthology of the Church Slavonic and Old Russian languages. M., 1861. P. 1197.

The huge, two-tier windows of the Alexander Hall face south and literally flood all the rooms with light reflected in numerous mirrors. White and pink artificial marble is used to decorate the walls. The furniture is upholstered in red velvet in the color of the order ribbon. On the walls between the twisted columns are the coats of arms of the lands that were part of the Russian Empire.

The carved massive doors are decorated with order crosses. In the 19th century, the main hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace was the St. Andrew's (throne) hall. In the mid-90s of the 20th century, St. Andrew's Hall was restored to its original splendor. The hall is decorated with 10 gilded pylons and gilded doors with order crosses and chains of the St. Andrew's Order, established by Emperor Peter I. The walls are covered with blue, the color of the St. Andrew's ribbon, silk moiré, decorated with chains and signs of the order. The coats of arms of the provinces and regions of Russia are placed above the windows. Notable is the dome of the hall, in the complex molded gilded patterns of which are woven order insignia with the motto “Benefit. Honor. Glory".

In addition, you have the opportunity to get acquainted with other halls of the Grand Kremlin Palace. Hall of the inauguration of the President of Russia! Red Porch. I am proud of the beauty, craftsmen, history and Russia!

His Majesty the Moscow Kremlin. Part 7. The Grand Kremlin Palace

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 the “living heart” of modern Russia, because it is located here official residence President of the country.

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 in Moscow permanently, the old place on the Kremlin hill turned out to be cramped and large princely 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.

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 giant 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>, which stood 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 a Russian man for his exploits for the glory of his 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 the 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

we find ourselves in the Chamber of Facets

it was only recently restored

we go up the stairs to the second floor

on the left, behind the scenes, the staircase to the Terem Palace




going up the stairs we find ourselves in the royal chambers













St. Andrew's Hall

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

St. George the Victorious, as the personification of military valor, has been revered in Rus' since ancient times. The reward for valor and feat of arms was first a coin with the image of St. George, which was introduced at the end of the 16th century. In 1769, Catherine II established a special military order, which was awarded for exploits, bravery and courage in battle. The motto of the order is<За службу и храбрость>.



The decoration of the St. George's Hall fully corresponds to its purpose. Its decoration and wonderful stucco decorations are dedicated to the victories of the Russian army over the centuries; insignia of the Order of St. George, 1st degree, are placed on the vaults and in the piers between the columns.

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 cavaliers 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.

St. George's Hall is illuminated by 3 thousand electric light bulbs placed in six gilded openwork chandeliers, wall sconces and cornices. The parquet floor of the St. George's Hall is made from several dozen valuable types of wood according to the drawings of Academician F. G. Solntsev. The furniture consists of gilded banquettes covered with silk moiré in the colors of the St. George ribbon. In this hall of Russian glory in 1945, participants in the Victory Parade over the Nazi invaders were received.


Catherine Hall
The Catherine Hall is located in the ceremonial half of the Grand Kremlin Palace, somewhat away from the enfilade of ceremonial order halls on the second floor of the Grand Kremlin Palace. In past centuries, it was the throne room of the emperors of Russia. Architect - Konstantin Ton.

The hall received its name in honor of the only women's order in Russia - the Order of St. Catherine, established by Peter I in 1713. The parquet floor of the hall is decorated with gilded images of this order. Also, the insignia of the order with the motto “For Love and the Fatherland”, sprinkled with large artificial diamonds, are located on the walls and doors of the hall. The Catherine Hall entered the modern history of Russia as the meeting place of the leaders of the G8 countries during a meeting in Moscow on April 19-20, 1996 on nuclear safety and the fight against illegal trade in nuclear materials. Nowadays, the Catherine Hall hosts official and ceremonial events with the participation of the President of Russia, in particular, ceremonies for presenting state awards and prizes

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

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

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

4. Beautiful painting and 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 in the time of Peter I the paintings were painted over and the vaults were covered with a rag with the image of a double-headed eagle.

6. A little more parquet.

7. There are very beautiful chandeliers here.

8. And door handles.

9. The door portals are also very richly decorated.

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

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

12. The vaults themselves are also richly painted.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18. I understand that the paintings on the walls mainly tell stories 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 their shape as the windows on the facade of the building.

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

28. The same goes for door handles.

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

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

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

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

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

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

34. Let’s appreciate the amazing parquet flooring again. A large number of 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. 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 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 the public, as they contain the working premises of the Russian President. And no one is allowed there even in his absence. We also visited the Malachite Hall, which runs parallel to the Andreevsky and Alexander Halls, the Terem Palace - a very beautiful, authentic place, as well as the living quarters of the emperor and his family on the first floor, but it was impossible to film in all these rooms, which is a pity, there is something there look!

P.S.
I usually find all archival photos on

Address: Russia, Moscow, Moscow Kremlin
Start of construction: 1838
Completion of construction: 1849
Architect: K. A. Ton
Halls of the palace: Andreevsky, Alexandrovsky, Vladimirsky, Georgievsky, Ekaterininsky
Coordinates: 55°44"59.4"N 37°36"57.2"E
Object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation

The Grand Kremlin Palace is a building of extraordinary beauty, and the view and decoration of all its premises is literally breathtaking! Unfortunately, this building is a government agency and a sensitive facility, so it is almost impossible to get there on a tour.

The story about the Grand Kremlin Palace should begin with the history of its construction, which dates back several decades and many events.

However, the next empress, Catherine II, did not like the new palace - in her opinion, it was too modest and did not fully correspond to the greatness of the Russian Empire. Therefore, once again the decision was made to rebuild the Moscow imperial residence. Architect V.I. Bazhenov a project for a new palace was developed.

View of the southern façade of the Palace

The scale of the construction was supposed to be considerable - the palace was supposed to occupy the entire Kremlin territory near the river, starting from Borovitsky Hill to the very bank of the Moscow River. To implement this project, several objects were destroyed on the territory of the Kremlin. For example, orders located east of the Archangel Cathedral were demolished. Part of the Kremlin wall between the First, Second and Petrovskaya Nameless Towers and the Tainitsky Gate was also destroyed. The official foundation of the new palace was carried out in 1773. But, what is most interesting, already in 1774, a year after the solemn ceremony, the project was recognized as too large-scale and inappropriate for the tasks that it was supposed to meet. As a result, almost all the destroyed objects were restored, and one building was erected on the prepared site - the Moscow branch of the Senate. At the same time, they did not forget about the old palace - they decided to update it and rebuild it a little.

The story of the construction of the large Kremlin Palace does not end there. When construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior began in Moscow, the idea of ​​renovating it once again came up. The basis was the idea that the new Kremlin Palace should symbolize the renewal of the city.

The initiator of the creation of a new palace on the site of the old Senate office was the Russian Emperor Nicholas I. Architect Konstantin Ton began developing a new project in 1837. It should be noted that the same Konstantin Ton designed and built the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

The Grand Kremlin Palace and new construction technologies

To build a large Moscow palace, Konstantin Ton decided to apply a number of revolutionary innovations for that time. Lightweight, long-span brick vaults and metal roof trusses were truly a new word in construction technologies of that time. In addition, cement was used for the first time in the construction of the large Moscow Palace.

About the decoration and halls of the Kremlin Palace

The mixture of styles used in the interior decoration of the large Kremlin Palace is executed with impeccable taste and includes both Renaissance elements and fragments of Russian-Byzantine styles. The palace includes several halls, each of which is worth telling about separately.

The Meeting Hall is the largest hall of the Kremlin Palace

Next to the St. George Hall is the largest hall of the Kremlin Palace - the Meeting Hall. The fact is that the hall turned out to be the largest as a result of the combination in 1933-1934 by the architect Ivanov of two halls at once - Aleksandrovsky and Andreevsky.

During Soviet times, the Meeting Hall had a longer name: the Meeting Hall of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In the period from 1994 to 1998, reconstruction work was carried out to restore the interiors of the combined halls, which were damaged during the redevelopment. The Meeting Hall has an area of ​​1615 square meters. m, with 18-meter ceilings, and the maximum capacity of the hall is 3000 people.

St. George's Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace

Perhaps the most beautiful of all. The hall was named in honor of the Order of St. George the Victorious. For those who don’t know, this is the highest award for officers of the Russian army, which was established in 1769. The hall is dedicated to the heroes of Russia's military glory. In the halls there are several marble boards on which the names of regiments, batteries and naval crews are imprinted. The names of more than 10 thousand holders of the Order of St. George the Victorious are also carved. By the way, among those who proudly wore this order are such famous personalities as Alexander Suvorov, Fyodor Ushakov, Mikhail Kutuzov, Pavel Nakhimov and Pyotr Bagration.

The dimensions of the St. George's Hall are as follows: length - 61 m, width 20.5 m, and height 17.5 m. The main colors are white and gold. The 18 pylons that support the ceiling are made in the form of marble statues by I. Vitali.

Fragment of the Palace facade

The lighting elements of the hall also look impressive - see 6 gilded openwork bronze chandeliers (each weighing 1.3 tons) and 40 stylish lamps located on the walls around the perimeter of the hall.

Significant events that took place within the walls of the St. George's Hall include the reception of participants in the Victory Parade in 1945 and the meeting of the first cosmonaut on Earth - Yuri Gagarin.

Vladimir Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace

The Order of St. Vladimir is the award in honor of which the Vladimir Hall is named. The hall is designed in a very interesting way - in the form of an octagon, the lighting of the hall is natural, through the glass dome on the ceiling. In fact, this hall is a key architectural element of the Grand Kremlin Palace. From it you can get to the St. George's Hall, the Faceted Chamber, the Terem Palace and many other rooms. For illumination at night, the hall has a chandelier, also made of gilded bronze. What also attracts attention is the beautiful floor, the parquet of which is made from several noble types of wood. The hall is designed in pink tones, mainly due to the wall cladding made of pink marble.