Greetings, dear readers!
Today I invite you to visit the Palace of Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye. The Alexei Mikhailovich Palace in Kolomenskoye was built by order of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in 1667 - 1672.
The name of Alexei Mikhailovich is associated with the further strengthening and development of the Sovereign's court in Kolomenskoye, the transformation of Kolomenskoye into the most
ceremonial royal country residence.
On May 3, 1667, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was present at the foundation stone of the palace. The palace was built from wood - the most beloved and widespread material in Russia. People believed that living in a wooden house was “warmer, healthier and more fun.”
Palace of Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye photo
The palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye is considered the pinnacle of Russian wooden architecture; the best craftsmen from all over Rus' were gathered to build the palace.
The French composer G. Berlioz, in a letter to V. Odoevsky in 1868, wrote: “I saw a lot, admired a lot, was amazed at a lot, but ancient Rus' - the one that appeared before us in the monuments of Kolomensky - is from the realm of what I saw the most amazing thing."
To paint the royal palace, by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, icon painters and grass painters from the Kremlin Armory were sent to Kolomenskoye, the best masters were gathered from different parts of Russia - Pskov and Novgorod, Kostroma and Yaroslavl, Vologda and Veliky Ustyug.
In Kolomenskoye, the wooden palace was a traditional wooden building, which consisted of many buildings connected by vestibules and passages. This type of building was called a mansion or mansion building.
The men's half of the palace consisted of the royal tower, the prince's tower, and the Dining Chamber. The women's half of the palace consisted of the tower of the queen and princesses. In total, the palace had 26 towers, some 20 - 30 meters high, as well as 270 rooms.
The wooden palace stood in Kolomenskoye for 100 years. After the death of Alexei Mikhailovich, his children - Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, Tsarevna Sophia, Tsars Ivan Alekseevich and Pyotr Alekseevich visited their father’s beloved estate less and less often. With the transfer of the capital to St. Petersburg, the importance of Moscow and Moscow region palaces gradually decreases. And in 1767, by decree of Empress Catherine II, the dilapidated royal mansions were dismantled and a new palace was built on the banks of the Moscow River, which was badly damaged during the War of 1812.
In 2007 - 2010, the 17th century Alexei Mikhailovich Palace was recreated and inaugurated on the territory of the former village of Dyakova in the southeastern part of the Kolomenskoye Museum territory.
The recreated Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye reflects the art and life of the most vibrant period of the Muscovite kingdom, which combined the art of pre-Petrine Rus' with the art of Western Europe. The palace features state rooms for ceremonial receptions, feasts and private chambers for members of the royal family.
Excursion in the palace - all guides in ancient Russian clothes:
Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye
Painted herbs and flowers, motifs of expensive oriental fabrics, landscapes and portraits of historical figures were used in the painting of the palace premises. They cover walls, doors, ceilings, creating a fantastic fairy-tale world.
So, we enter the mansions of the king and princes, into the men’s half of the palace:
Canopy in front of the Dining Chamber:
Dining Chamber - the exhibition “The Tsar’s Feast in the Dining Chamber of Alexei Mikhailovich’s Palace” is now open here:
In the interior exhibition halls of the Alexei Mikhailovich Palace - Exhibition project “Secrets of Harmony” of the Vyacheslav Zaitsev Fashion Museum:
Fragment of the painting of the ceiling and walls in the Dining Room:
Tiled stove in the Duma Chamber. Reconstruction based on 17th century tiles:
Throne Chamber. Fragment of ceiling painting on scenes from the Old Testament. Plafond “Song of Songs of King Solomon”:
In the room of Tsarevich Fyodor Alekseevich:
In the office of Peter I:
Soap room - bath room:
The golden decoration of the palace - wall paintings, doors of the royal chambers:
Currently, life is in full swing at the Alexei Mikhailovich Palace in Kolomenskoye - there are permanent displays and exhibitions, as well as many new exhibition projects.
The “Theatrical Hall” of the Alexei Mikhailovich Palace hosts concerts, festivals, musical evenings, and festive events.
Watch the video - a virtual tour of the palace halls:
Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich
All this beauty needs to be seen. Come to the Kolomenskoye Museum, visit the Palace of Alexei Mikhailovich in the Kolomenskoye wooden palace and you will learn a lot of new and interesting things, discover the beauty and customs of Ancient Rus', see the eighth wonder of the world of the 17th century.
The territory of the recreated wooden palace of Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye is located near the Kashirskaya metro station.
Address of the Alexey Mkhailovich Palace in Kolomenskoye:
Moscow, 2nd street Dyakovo-Gorodishche, 27
Alexey Mikhailovich Palace in Kolomenskoye how to get from the city center:
Kashirskaya metro station on the Zamoskvoretskaya line, then exit into the city following the signs to the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve.
Enjoy your travels and have a great mood!
See you on the pages of the site!
The wooden palace of Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye became accessible to the public relatively recently. In 2010, on Moscow City Day, its grand opening took place.
First, a little history. We need to understand where we’ve come to and what’s interesting about this palace!
Kolomenskoye is one of the most ancient residences of Russian tsars. In the 1660s, Alexei Mikhailovich decides to make sweeping changes here to highlight an important stage of his reign. In 1667, the Truce of Andrusovo was signed with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, according to which Russia received the territories of Left Bank Ukraine and lands that were conquered by the Poles during the Time of Troubles. In the same year, the Great Moscow Council approved a number of functions as a spiritual ruler for the tsar.
On May 2, 1667, the foundation stone ceremony of the palace took place in a solemn atmosphere, which reflected the theme of the triumph of Russian statehood and Orthodoxy. And five years later, on August 27, 1672, the palace was built and consecrated. The palace of Alexei Mikhailovich was designed to show the greatness of the king and the power of his power. It was called the "Eighth Wonder of the World." Contemporaries were amazed by the beauty of its interior decoration and appearance. But in the 18th century, when the capital of Russia was moved to St. Petersburg, Kolomenskoye lost its former significance. The palace of Alexei Mikhailovich was dilapidated, despite the fact that they tried their best to preserve it, and gradually collapsed. And as a result, in 1767, Empress Catherine II ordered it to be dismantled, having first made detailed measurements and drawings. The palace in Kolomenskoye existed for exactly 100 years. But thanks to the thoughtfully made drawings, it was possible to restore it in every detail, and now anyone can see with their own eyes the real royal mansions.
We have already been to the palace of Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye once. This was just on the day of its opening. We wandered around, but didn't go inside. This time we decided to go to the palace, if possible with a tour.
Ticket prices. The palace is divided into a male half and a female half. The cost of tickets for viewing only the male half is 250 rubles. (preferential 120 rubles), only for women - also 250 rubles. (preferential 120 rubles), all together – 400 rubles (preferential 200 rubles), photography – 110 rubles, (I have no idea why such an uneven amount), excursion – 100 rubles. Moreover, the tour is conducted throughout the entire palace, which means only for those who have purchased a full ticket to visit the palace. But that's how it should be. In practice, those who bought tickets only for the men's half and only for the women's half are also included in the excursion. A complete set (if you go together) of 2 tickets, 2 excursions and photography will cost 1110 rubles. Not bad, though! In terms of price, you can compare the palace of Alexei Mikhailovich with. This is the first state museum I have been to with such ticket prices. Therefore, of course, it is more profitable to, as if by chance, mix in with the crowd of excursionists and walk with them around the palace.
Opening hours. The palace is open from 10.00 to 18.00. In this case, the box office stops selling tickets an hour before closing.
There is a cannon like this near the entrance to the palace. There are a lot of people who want to be photographed riding on it. It turned out to be an interesting shot, however).
The tour starts from the men's half. We made it to the very beginning and were among those impudent people who clung to the normal sightseers. The guide was a woman dressed in a traditional national Russian sundress; on her head, as expected, was a kokoshnik. We walked through the rooms and halls of the male half of the palace, listening to the guide, who talked about all the rooms, what they were intended for, various stories associated with them, interior features, design styles, what the builders used to decorate the rooms and halls, and also some facts from the life of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.
Corridor connecting the vestibule of Alexei Mikhailovich's palace with the Dining Chamber
Various holidays were celebrated here and foreign guests were received. I was surprised to learn that on ordinary days the tsar was served only one or two dishes, and not as in the famous film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession,” where a full table was set. The king observed all church fasts and such banquets were held only on holidays. On the holiday, everyone present could be brought 70 (!) dishes. How did all this fit into them?! An interesting fact is that the more noble the boyar, the closer he sat to the tsar at the table during receptions and celebrations. Sometimes there were even fights for a place closer to the king.
Dining room of the palace of Alexei Mikhailovich
Duma Chamber. Reception room in the king's personal chambers. Here they paid salaries and presented awards, and submitted petitions to the king. The Boyar Duma could also meet in this room.
Throne Chamber. Place for ceremonial receptions. Here the king received foreign ambassadors and presented gifts to his entourage. It was a state chamber, something like a throne room. Accordingly, it is decorated luxuriously: tiles, paintings on the windows and ceiling, icons in gold frames, scenes depicting kings Solomon and David. Well, and, of course, the royal throne, made of sandalwood, lined with gold and silver plates and decorated with precious stones. The original is in . Near the throne of Alexei Mikhailovich there are mechanical lions with moving heads, sparkling eyes and emitting a roar (which is more like the sounds from a clogged water pipe).
Bedchamber. Small room. It was difficult to accommodate the entire excursion crowd here. The bed is also small, because... At that time it was customary to sleep sitting up. It was believed that the soul travels somewhere at night, and if in the morning it sees that its owner is in a lying position, it may not return to him.
The room of Tsarevich Fyodor Alekseevich. He ascended the throne at the age of 16, in 1676, after the unexpected death of his father. It was under him that the luxurious Dining Chamber was created, see above.
Soap shop. That's what the bathhouse used to be called. They washed themselves here... quite logical.
The Palace of Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye may well lay claim to a city landmark that is a must-see. It is not necessary to go inside, because... In my opinion, there is nothing super interesting there for the money they ask for entry. But everyone should see the palace from the outside.
Here are some more photos of the palace in Kolomenskoye.
How to get from the metro:
From metro station Kashirskaya: get out of the metro, cross Kashirskoye Shosse and Andropov Avenue and you’re at your destination!
In the 1660s. Alexey Mikhailovich to build a new palace in Kolomenskoye. The groundbreaking ceremony for the palace took place on May 2, 1667.
In the 70s XVII century Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and his family regularly traveled to Kolomenskoye. As noted by the famous Russian historian N.I. Kostomarov in his work “Russian history in the biographies of its most important figures”: “there, during almost his entire reign, he built and rebuilt a wooden palace for himself, trying to make it as elegant and elegant as possible.”
Meetings of the Boyar Duma, councils with heads of orders, diplomatic receptions and military reviews were held here. The architectural masterpiece was loved by all subsequent rulers. Tsar Peter I and his mother, Tsarina Natalya, visited the palace especially often.
Due to the dilapidation of the palace, in 1767, exactly one hundred years after the start of its construction, Empress Catherine II ordered its dismantling, having previously made detailed measurements and drawings. Thanks to these valuable documents, the palace could subsequently be restored.
In the 1990s. The Moscow government decided to recreate the palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Construction began in June 2007 and was completed in August 2010. The total area of the palace, consisting of six buildings connected by passages, is 7,230 m², including 1,400 m² provided for interior decoration.
The Kolomna Palace had an asymmetrical layout and consisted of independent and different-sized cells, the size and design of which corresponded to the hierarchical traditions of the family way of life. The cages were connected by vestibules and passages. The complex was divided into two halves: the male half, which included the tower of the king and princes and the front entrance, and the female half, consisting of the tower of the queen and princesses. In total, the palace had 26 towers of different heights - from two to four floors. The main living quarters were rooms on the second floor. In total, there were 270 chambers in the palace, which were illuminated by 3000 windows.
When decorating the Kolomna Palace, for the first time in Russian wooden architecture, carved platbands and planking imitating stone were used. The principle of symmetry was actively used in the design of facades and interiors. As a result of large-scale work in Kolomenskoye, a complex complex was created that shocked the imagination of both contemporaries and people of the “enlightened” 18th century. The palace was distinguished by its great decorativeness: the facades were decorated with intricate platbands, multi-colored carved details, figured compositions and had an elegant appearance.
Allegorical images of Europe, Africa and Asia, placed in round shields above the mansions, created the global context of this residence, and the likening of Alexei Mikhailovich to the sun, the queen to the moon, and their children to planets and stars testified to the cosmic greatness of the sovereign. The palace was designed to show Russian subjects and foreign guests the greatness of the Tsar and the power of his power. Simeon of Polotsk called the palace “The Eighth Wonder of the World.”
The interiors of the palace combine the high art of the Muscovite kingdom of the second half of the 17th century, advanced construction technologies of that time and the skill of the craftsmen. The floors of the palace chambers were made of oak parquet, the walls and ceilings of the palace were covered with planks, then cloth was laid on it, which was then covered with canvas, and paints were already applied to it. In the personal chambers of the reigning persons, the walls could be upholstered with gilded leather with embossed patterns. It was also customary to decorate the walls with Western European tapestries and oriental carpets.
Cabinet of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich
The palace is divided into two halves: male and female. Each of them has a separate entrance from the street; you can also walk through the passage inside the palace. Between the “halves” in the basement there is a soap shop.
Water for washing was kept in wooden tubs and tubs, as well as metal vessels. It was heated up using hot stones from a heater, which were thrown into the water. Lye for washing hair was kept in tinned copper basins, kvass in birch bark containers. In the upper floors of the tower, the floor and walls of the soap room up to the level of the benches were lined with lead boards soldered at the seams to protect against leaks. Above the door to the soap shop there is a copy of the icon “Our Lady of the Life-Giving Spring.”
Men washed here. Women's soap stations are smaller and located separately from men's.
Tsaritsyn's Throne Chamber was significantly different from the Tsar's Throne Chamber, although it contained many similar pieces of furniture, reflecting the high status of the owner. The closed lifestyle of the female half of the tsar’s family and the general position of women in the pre-Petrine era did not allow them to often see strangers - in everyday life, the tsarina was visited only by females, and among men, by close relatives and clergy. The queens' handicrafts and entertainment also took place in a closed circle.
Why is the stove in the women's section round? Because the little children lived with the queen. A round stove is more difficult to hit hard.
Princess Sofya Alekseevna (1957-1704) - the third daughter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna, like other princesses, was destined for the prison chamber and eternal prayers for the country and the royal family. However, Princess Sophia showed herself to be a “princess of a great mind,” whom panegyrists deservedly compared with Sophia the Wisdom of God. After the death of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich in 1682, as a result of the struggle between court factions and the Streltsy uprising provoked by the Miloslavsky clan, Ivan and Peter Alekseevich were proclaimed kings, and their elder sister Princess Sophia was proclaimed regent.,
Currently, construction of the palace is still ongoing, and it is not yet recommended to come close to it.
The interior of the palace is still being finished, but from the outside the palace already looks very interesting.
The palace is being recreated in a different place from where it was built. Now there is a park in that place and old linden trees grow... And in order not to destroy the current ensemble of Kolomenskoye Park, it was decided to build a palace on the southern outskirts of the park.
The original palace of Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye was built in 1667-1668. architects Semyon Petrov and Ivan Mikhailov
It stood for about 100 years and then was dismantled due to disrepair.
Then the palace was made of wood.
Now the main structures of the palace are made on a concrete foundation. However, the external decoration of the palace was restored in the style of the 17th century in wood.
It makes sense to present a photograph of the interior of the palace while interior work was being carried out some time before the opening. Photo courtesy of Pavel Demenko.
From the palace it’s a good walk through the park to the main ensemble of the Kolomenskoye estate museum.
From a distance, the white Church of the Ascension will be a landmark, soaring upward.
Previously, there was a village in this place; I also found small houses standing on the way from the Kashirskaya metro station to Kolomenskoye Park. At that time, these places were not yet perceived as a single park.
Now benches have been installed in the apple orchard
The paths have been paved and further landscaping is underway.
Well, going down the stairs leading down from the apple orchard you find yourself in a ravine with a stream and ponds...
But I have already talked about these places in more detail on the pages about the park
Kolomenskoye is the oldest village in the Moscow region. Previously, this place was the patrimonial possession of the Russian tsars, which housed the grand ducal and royal residences. The most visited of them is the palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye. During his reign, he repeatedly carried out work to rebuild and expand the Kolomna residence.
Tsar Alexei treated Kolomensky with trepidation and often spent time in the palace. As a big fan of hunting, while on a country estate, he went falconry. The royal residence was also a favorite place for official events and receptions. Large-scale construction of the royal monastery in Kolomenskoye began in 1660. At the beginning of May 1667, the foundation of the new building was laid. The solemn event was accompanied by prayers.
History of construction
The wooden palace was erected according to sketches and drawings by a team of carpenters, led by the head of the Streltsy Ivan Mikhailov and the headman Semyon Petrov. In the winter-spring period of 1667-1668. Carving and door trim work was carried out in the palace. After this, the building was prepared for painting, and already in the summer of 1669, painting and sketching of icons were completed. After the completion of the work by blacksmiths, ironworkers and locksmiths in the summer of 1670, Alexey Mikhailovich, having examined his property, considered it necessary to decorate the building with picturesque images, which were carried out over almost 2 years, in the distant years 1670-1671.
Completion of construction
Throughout the entire construction period, Tsar Alexy Mikhailovich very often visited his residence in Kolomenskoye, delved into construction issues, and carefully monitored the repair work. In the fall of 1673, the palace of Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye was completed. Almost immediately it was consecrated by Patriarch Pitirim. At the solemn consecration ceremony, Hieromonk Simeon of Polotsk gave a speech in honor of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who loved Kolomenskoye so much.
Alexei's Palace is a magnificent building with an asymmetrical layout, with many different sized cells, which were decorated in accordance with the hierarchical traditions of the family foundation. The cages of the palace were connected to each other using vestibules and passages. The palace consisted of 26 towers, varying in height - from 2 to 4 floors, and about three hundred rooms, which were illuminated by several thousand small windows.
Housing stock
The living quarters were mostly located on the top floor of the building. During construction, the palace premises were divided into several territorial zones: men's and women's. The men's part of the buildings included the mansion of the king, his sons and the front vestibule. And the women's part included the chambers of the queen and princesses. The Palace of Tsar Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye is one of the first Russian buildings made almost entirely of wood. The elegant facades and interiors of the palace, created using the principle of symmetry and decorated with multi-colored carved elements and figured compositions, amaze with their splendor even today.
The fate of the palace under the new ruler
At the end of the 17th century, the magnificent residence was a favorite place of entertainment for Alexy Mikhailovich and his family, and was also often used for diplomatic events. After the enthronement of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich in 1676 - 1682, significant changes occurred in the village of Kolomenskoye. The palace of Tsar Alexei was radically rebuilt.
Dining Chamber
In the spring of 1681, carpenter Semyon Dementyev, a peasant of the nobleman P.V. Sheremetev, began the construction of a luxurious Dining Chamber, which was combined with the ruler’s mansion with a vestibule. The dining chamber is a large castle building in ceremonial decoration. It was within its walls that important palace ceremonies took place. As usual, any reception was crowned with an invitation to the royal table and the ceremony of serving the “sovereign cup”. At the end of the official part and completion of all preparations, a feast followed. Before the feast began, the suppliers decorated with silk fabrics. The canopy in front of the Dining Chamber consisted of 2 small buildings, which were connected to each other by a passage in the wall. It was from this building that the royal feasts were served. Exquisite delicacies were placed on the sideboard counters, jugs with various drinks were placed on other stands, and fragrant baked goods were placed in the Bread Yard; In the Feed Yard, before the start of the feast, jugs with unusual drinks were brought out for the guests.
front gate
The Grand Entrance or Red Porch is the main entrance to any royal residence. The Tsar's Palace in Kolomenskoye is no exception. According to the rules of existing etiquette, only the king had the opportunity to arrive at the entrance on horseback or in a cart. Those who dared not follow the established rule were punished. In Kolomna Castle, during diplomatic meetings, even revered foreign guests dismounted from their horses in front of the main gate. The reception procedure was very complex and required special pomp when welcoming distinguished, honored guests. A clergyman or a boyar with a steward always walked towards visitors. Foreign guests or especially close gentlemen were greeted more than once - first at the entrance near the stairs, then on the porch and the last time at the door of the chamber.
All along the way, there were two rows of courtyard and service people in luxurious clothes and with ceremonial weapons, which were specially issued from the royal treasury for receptions. The sovereign always approached his subjects through the front porch. Here the king gave an audience, listened to reports, and accepted all kinds of offerings. An obligatory and important part of the state ceremony was the ceremonial distribution of festive pies, which were baked especially for members of the royal family in honor of Angel Day. The magnificent architecture of the building and the decoration of the porch, which used state symbols, gave a feeling of solemnity. The main entrance to the palace was overshadowed by icons of the Savior, the Mother of God and John the Baptist. After completion of construction, the majestic building with new buildings was repeatedly depicted in various engravings and paintings. In the period from 1682 to 1696, Kolomenskoye (Alexy's Palace) was visited by Tsars Peter and Ivan and Princess Sofya Alekseevna. Peter I and his mother Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina spent a lot of time in the palace and controlled the condition of the building. During the emperor's visit to the estate, a new foundation of the palace was built. And in subsequent years, emperors and empresses of the Romanov boyar family often visited Kolomenskoye. The palace at that time was filled with life.
Destruction and dismantling of the palace
Despite the efforts made to maintain the buildings and structures of the palace, during the 18th century its decoration became old, and gradually the palace was almost completely destroyed. In the 18th century, despite all attempts at preservation, the buildings were destroyed. In 1767, Catherine II issued a decree on dismantling the palace, and for 3 years, from 1767 to 1770. Dismantling work was carried out, during which a detailed plan for the new building was drawn up. Along with 18th-century inventories and other materials, he recreated a complete picture of the magnificent architectural monument of the 17th century. In the 1990s, the idea arose to rebuild the Kolomna Palace, which was approved and supported by the Moscow government.
Reconstruction of the royal residence
The best specialists were sent to work on recreating the royal residence. More than two hundred people of various specialties: weavers, sculptors, artists, carpenters, and many others. Basically, all manual work was carried out in workshops in Moscow. But some of them were also performed by craftsmen from other large cities of Russia. Before construction began, archaeological work was carried out and the surviving foundations were studied. As a result of the fact that centuries-old trees had been standing on the site of the palace for many years, they decided to move the construction. And the territory of the once existing village of Dyakovskoye became the place for recreating the palace. The modern building has been recreated in life-size, which the palace had during the time of Alexei Mikhailovich.
Alexey's Palace today
Work to recreate the palace was carried out according to the surviving drawings. But many changes were made during the construction of the new building. The palace was built not from wood, but from reinforced concrete structures covered with logs. Also, it was not possible to recreate the original structure due to a change in the orientation of the cardinal directions, which was intentionally disrupted as a result of the fact that the building model was turned in the other direction. What we managed to recreate inside the palace were the ancient interiors and paintings from the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich. The total area of the entire building is more than 5 thousand square meters. m., and the area of all premises is more than 7 thousand square meters. m. As a result of all the work carried out to reconstruct the palace, the palace interiors of the Romanov era were recreated. A huge number of visitors visit the palace with pleasure to plunge into the reign of the emperors of the Romanov family, to see interior items that recreate the image of the era and tell the story of the foundations of the royal family. Today the residence is not only a museum, but also a wedding palace. You can have an unforgettable wedding in Kolomenskoye. All conditions have been created for this here. All this beauty is located at the address: Moscow, Andropov Ave., 39, building 69.
