Petrovsky Putilov Palace. Petrovsky Travel Palace - how to get on the excursion and what is now in the imperial hotel. Sign up for an excursion to the Petrovsky Travel Palace
More from
Petrovsky Travel Palace, Moscow
Chronicle of a Russian estate
Petrovsky Palace was built by order of Catherine II by architect Matvey Kazakov in 1776-1780. Construction was started in honor of the successful completion of the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774. The palace was intended as a residence for noble persons to relax after a long journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Hence its name - “travel”.
Here in the palace Napoleon’s headquarters were based for several days, from here he watched the city that he never got to burn burn. Napoleon's hair was burned here, and M.Yu. Lermontov gained weight during his two days in the palace. Under Nicholas I, the palace was restored. In 1896, during the coronation of Emperor Nicholas II, there was a strong stampede on the Khodynskoye field, located opposite the palace, many people died. After 1917, the palace housed a dormitory, and in 1920 it was transferred to the N.E. Air Force Engineering Academy. Zhukovsky. Since 1997, the building has been under the jurisdiction of the Moscow city administration. In 1999, the historical and architectural monument was returned to the city. A full-scale “Luzhkov” restoration began at the Palace, which lasted ten years. Now the palace is open for receptions, expensive weddings and rare excursions... / Photo date: 2015, April 19.
2.
Petrovsky Park was laid out under Nicholas I around the Travel Palace; it quickly became a favorite walking place for the Moscow nobility and creative intelligentsia. The park was called Moscow Versailles. Part of the park located behind the palace has survived to this day.
3.
Monument to Nikolai Egorovich Zhukovsky in Petrovsky Park (sculptor G.V. Neroda, architect I.A. French). In 1920, the building was transferred to the Air Force Engineering Academy named after N.E. Zhukovsky. Also in the palace part of the park there is a second monument - K.E. Tsiolkovsky (sculptor S.D. Merkurov, architect I.A. French).
This magnificent palace, which is undoubtedly a decoration of the capital, was built in 1776-1780 by order of Catherine II by the architect Matvey Kazakov. Construction was started in honor of the successful completion of the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774. The Palace is located on Leningradsky Prospekt, which was previously called the Tverskoy Trakt.
4.
The building was quite strange and unusual when it was built. The eclectic decor is made using different styles of architecture. Pointed arches and windows are reminiscent of Gothic, Baroque elements can be seen in the stars on the towers, and barrel-shaped columns belong to the Old Russian style. There is also a classic, clearly defined composition.
The main trade road to Tver, Veliky Novgorod and Pskov passed here. Vacant lands near the village of Petrovskoye, which at that time belonged to the Vysokopetrovsky monastery, which was first mentioned in chronicles in 1492, were allocated for construction.
5.
The building with Tuscan towers resembles a reliable fortress, and on the other hand it is an exquisite aristocratic villa.
During troubled times, the troops of Vasily Shuisky were here, marching towards False Dmitry II, who at that time was hiding in Tushino. When Shuisky's troops retreated, the impostor occupied the village, but not for long. According to one legend, when fleeing the village, False Dmitry II buried his treasures here.
6.
The inventory of 1699 indicates that in the village of Petrovskoye there was a garden: “in case of the arrival of monastic officials... And in that garden there are mansions on a stone foundation, in them there are two light rooms with Galan tiled stoves, between them there is a canopy, and at the top there is an attic.” At this time, thanks to the Zykov boyars who served under Peter I, the village acquired a second name, Petrovskoye-Zykovo.
7.
The building is decorated with many white stone details - lace trim, romantic arches with weights, belts, columns similar in shape to barrels. According to the inventory of the palace in 1779: “on all sides of the building on the walls... and dormer windows there are sculptural decorations of pyramids, balls and other pieces of various ranks, large and small, one thousand seventy-six. On two small towers on the domes... one star and an English one each tin... and the circle of them and the entire body of stone pyramids, large and small, are twenty-seven round pieces.”
8.
Arch with weight.
Initially, Catherine II ordered the famous architect Vasily Bazhenov to build a theater city - a wooden imitation of Turkish fortresses conquered by a Russian soldier. The architect built a palace with minarets and towers - “in the Turkish style with various extravagances.” The Empress liked the ensemble so much that she ordered the construction of a stone traveling palace in the same forms. In 1775, not Bazhenov, but Matvey Kazakov, began construction.
9.
Gate between the front and utility courtyards.
The palace was intended as a residence for noble persons to relax after a long journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Hence its name - “travel”. All royal persons came to the royal wedding in Moscow, to the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin. Although the center of power was at that time in St. Petersburg, none of the rulers decided to change the order established by Ivan the Terrible.
10.
Rare excursions to the Petrovsky Palace must be booked in advance.
11.
The royals spent 2-3 days in the Petrovsky Palace while preparing for the ceremony. Catherine II, Paul I, Nicholas II stayed here. Busts of emperors and prominent figures are installed on the ground floor of the palace.
12.
While watching the Moscow fire from a window, Napoleon's hair was burned.
The events of 1812 are described in the poem “Eugene Onegin” by A.S. Pushkin:
Here, surrounded by his own oak grove,
Petrovsky Castle. He's gloomy
He is proud of his recent glory.
Napoleon waited in vain
Intoxicated with the last happiness,
Moscow kneeling
With the keys of the old Kremlin:
No, my Moscow did not go
To him with a guilty head.
Not a holiday, not a receiving gift,
She was preparing a fire
To the impatient hero.
From now on, immersed in thought,
He looked at the menacing flame.
13.
The royal cortege covered the distance from St. Petersburg to Moscow in two to three weeks. The royals spent 2-3 days in the Petrovsky Palace while preparing for the ceremony.
14.
"Fire in Moscow." A painting by an unknown artist of the 19th century, and to the left of the “fire” is a painting by V. Vereshchagin - “Napoleon Waiting for Peace.”
15.
Corridor with busts of Russian emperors.
16.
Main staircase.
After the terrible fire of 1812 in Moscow, Napoleon was forced to retreat north. His headquarters was based in the Petrovsky Travel Palace for several days. While within the walls of the palace, Napoleon watched the city, which he never got, burn. After the French retreated from Moscow, the palace was ravaged and destroyed, only the walls remained.
17.
Ascent to the second floor, the third floor is closed to visitors.
The restoration of the palace was entrusted to Auguste Montferrand, the author of St. Isaac's Cathedral in the northern capital. The remodeling of the interiors was entrusted to the architect Ivan Tamansky, who everywhere used the pretentious Empire style that was fashionable at that time. And artists from the Artari family painted the dome of the central hall using the fashionable grisaille technique.
18.
Catherine II and other representatives of the Romanov family walked up the Grand Staircase.
In 1827, Nicholas I approved a plan for developing a park around the palace according to the plan of Adam Menelas, a well-known park designer in Russia at that time. At some distance from the palace, curved English paths were laid, ponds were dug and baths were organized. In 1928, construction of the Dynamo stadium began, and most of Peter's Park was destroyed.
19.
In the travel palace, in the apartment of a friend D. Rosen (his family occupied a government apartment in the palace), M.Yu. stayed. Lermontov. He wrote: “I was received here by society very well, as usual, and I was having quite a lot of fun... The air here made me gain weight in two days.”
20.
Cavalier Hall.
The restoration work took 10 years and was carried out by the best architects of the Kazakov school. The reconstruction was carried out by architects N.A. Shokhin and A.A. Martynov. In 1837 the building came back to life.
21.
View from the cavalier's hall towards the reception area.
22.
While fully preserving its historical appearance, the palace was re-equipped taking into account all modern trends. Now the Petrovsky Travel Palace, as in previous times, has opened its doors to guests of the highest level.
23.
On the ceiling of the round hall, grisaille is a wonderful imitation of volume on a plane.
24.
Grisaille is a one-color painting, a transitional link between drawing and painting.
25.
Stucco molding on the vaults of the Round Hall.
26.
Palace living room.
At the beginning of 1835, in the park designed by architect M.D. Bykovsky built a wooden theater in the neoclassical style. And two years later, the entertainment establishment “voxal” was built, in which Anton Grigorievich Rubinstein made his debut.
28.
Palace living room.
29.
In the round hall.
Opposite the palace on Khodynka Field, military exercises and parades were regularly held.
30.
Today, the unique interiors of the central building have been preserved in their original form. The artificial marble of the door and window slopes has been restored, but it all looks like a remake.
32.
In 1896, during the coronation of Emperor Nicholas II, there was a strong stampede on Khodynskoye Field, located opposite the palace. 1300 people died. That day, Nicholas II received deputations from peasants and Warsaw nobles in the palace, and together with the Empress attended a dinner for the Moscow nobility and volost elders.
33.
In 1914, the palace was converted into a military hospital. And after nationalization in 1918, the building first came under the jurisdiction of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture and the People's Commissariat of Education, then the People's Commissariat of Property was located here, and then again the People's Commissariat of Education. Subsequently, the former palace became the property of the Kremlin and Houses Administration of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.
34.
Four halls adjoin the Round Hall.
35.
In our time, the painting of the Round Hall of the palace has been restored, the ceiling of which is a dome rising 16 meters above the floor.
In 1920, the building was transferred to the Air Force Engineering Academy named after N.E. Zhukovsky. The first cosmonaut Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin is a graduate of the academy.
36.
Reception of the Travel Palace.
38.
Various events are currently being held at the Petrovsky Travel Palace: press conferences, exhibitions. Behind the historical walls there is ultra-modern equipment: fully equipped conference rooms, rooms for the press center.
39.
In the summer of 1858, at the dacha of D.P. Naryshkin lived Dumas the father, who visited not only Peter’s Castle, but also Borodino Field and mourned Bonaparte’s “great mistake.”
40.
The palace is located in the Airport district of Moscow (the nearest metro station is Dynamo). Behind the palace is the preserved part of Petrovsky Park, laid out at the beginning of the 19th century.
Since 1997, the palace has been under the jurisdiction of the Moscow city administration.
41.
The barrel-shaped columns of the palace refer us to the Old Russian style.
42.
And here comes Napoleon... he is upset.
44.
The first Moscow tram line ran from Strastnaya Square to Petrovsky Park.
45.
View of the palace from the economic part.
46.
In Petrovsky Park there is the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. The architecture of the Church of the Annunciation is one of the earliest examples of the use of forms of ancient Russian architecture.
Local dacha owner Anna Dmitrievna Naryshkina (the alley is named after her) founded the Annunciation Church here in the first half of the 19th century. Here, at the dacha in Petrovsky Park, her thirteen-year-old granddaughter Anna Bulgari died, and before that she buried her only daughter, Countess Maria Bulgari. The woman, in grief, vowed to build a church at the site of the girl’s death. The location for the temple was very suitable for its potential parishioners. Even earlier, the caretaker of the Petrovsky Palace reported that local summer residents would like to have their own parish church here.
47.
The Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Petrovsky Park (2 Krasnoarmeyskaya Street) was built in 1844 -1847 at the expense of one of the first homeowners A.D. Naryshkina, designed by architect F.F., close to the royal family. Richter. The temple had memorial significance and was built in memory of the deceased Anna Bulgari, the fourteen-year-old granddaughter of A.D. Naryshkina. Therefore, one of the chapels was consecrated in honor of Simeon and Anna, the other chapel of Xenophon and Mary.
The park's lands began to be distributed for dachas in 1836. It was allowed to build houses only of “good architecture”; the facades of dachas were approved by a special commission. Belinsky wrote about the park: “What a charming walk this Petrovsky Park is! There is no better festivities either in Moscow or in its environs!” Here were the dachas of Apraksin, Golitsyn, and Princess Volkonskaya. Let's take a walk and see what remains next to the Petrovsky Palace!
48.
Next to the temple is the former villa of N.P. Ryabushinsky "Black Swan", built by architect V.D. Adamovich and V.M. Mayatom in 1907-1910 in the neoclassical style.
Legends were made about revelries and orgies at Ryabushinsky’s villa in Moscow... But the owner, who loved to shock society, was haunted by misfortunes. In 1911, due to financial problems, Ryabushinsky had to sell most of his art collections. In 1912, a terrible fire broke out at the villa and many works were lost in the fire. Having restored the villa, Ryabushinsky lost it in one night at cards to the industrialist Leon Mantashev, who immediately decorated the “Black Swan” with his initials. Soon the revolutionary year of 1917 came, and then the Bolshevik Cheka settled in the Black Swan villa.
On September 5, 1918, a demonstrative execution of 80 “hostages” from among the “representatives of the old regime” - former ministers, senior officials, and clergy - was carried out in Petrovsky Park.
49.
At 1 Krasnoarmeyskaya Street there was a restaurant named A.I. Skalkin "Eldorado", built in 1908-1909 by architect N.D. Polikarpov according to the project of L.N. Kekushev in Art Nouveau style.
Mr. Skalkin himself sang in restaurants, then assembled his own choir, worked for many years with his artists in the Golden Anchor restaurant, and in 1899 acquired his own restaurant, Eldorado, in Petrovsky Park.
It was a small wooden house, but furnished with a certain amount of grace. The gypsy Varya Panina, a famous singer, performed at Skalkin’s. People came here to watch the fiery dances of Sasha Artamonova. Already in 1908, Skalkin was rebuilding a new building, according to the project that N.D. worked on. Polikarpov and L.N. Kekushev. Kekushev designed all the metal “decorations”: flag holders, floor lamps, fencing.
Several years ago, the House of Officers was evicted, and the building was put under major renovation. Now the metallurgical company Mechel has settled in the building, and the building was renovated with its funds.
50.
Restaurant "Eldorado". All metal decorations were designed by Kekushev.
51.
The former Apollo restaurant is now a museum.
52.
55.
59.
Petrovsky Palace on the Petersburg Road, near Moscow. Private collection of S. Picinelli.
Old photos
60.
Photo 1870-1880 /
What is the Petrovsky Travel Palace in Moscow famous for? facts of history and modernity. Excursion through the halls of the palace, where today foreign diplomats are received.
At the end of the 18th century, Catherine II wanted to perpetuate the triumph in the Russian-Turkish War. As a result, the empress received a symbol of victory embodied in stone, and the capital received another outstanding palace, glorifying the generosity of the empress and the skill of the architects. We are talking about the Petrovsky Travel Palace. This palace can be considered the architectural “peacock” of Moscow. It stands out from the background of typical metropolitan buildings: with brightness, boldness, enlivening and refreshing prim landscapes.
His image embodied many styles and, above all, Gothic and Moorish. The building is quite reminiscent of Turkish fortresses and mosques - these turrets that look like minarets, crenellated parapets, a massive central dome. The variegated redness of the terracotta is smoothed out by snow-white lace trim, stucco molding and window arches. The palace inherited elongated window arcades from Gothic architecture. And at the entrance you can see barrel columns, clearly borrowed from the Old Russian style.
All this beauty was built by the architect Matvey Kazakov, although when creating the project he was guided by another palace, made in Turkish motifs. The travel palace has a central part with a portico and a richly decorated facade, as well as side wings built in the form of fortress walls. Around the palace you can still see the remains of a luxurious 19th century park.
Travel Palace - historical background
The travel palace was supposed to welcome the imperial persons after a long journey from St. Petersburg to St. Petersburg, and it received the appropriate name. The top officials of the state stopped here to rest for a couple of days before official events, after which they went to the Kremlin, fresh and dressed.
Interesting facts from the history of the palace:
- In 1797, Paul the First stayed in the palace, exactly on the eve of his coronation, thereby starting the tradition of all future monarchs spending several days here before being anointed on the throne. They did not dare to break the tradition even when Moscow ceased to be the center of the empire and all secular and noble life completely moved to St. Petersburg;
- In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte settled in the palace and from here the failed ruler of Europe watched the city burn, which had never submitted to him. They say that while watching the fire, Napoleon even singed his hair, but this is rather a fantasy;
- Today, the Petrovsky Travel Palace still receives travelers after a long journey, and the most eminent and important guests, as in the old days. Even if these are not imperial persons, they are no less important personalities - diplomats, politicians, etc. There is an elite hotel in the palace, where only a select few are allowed. There is also a restaurant, a spa center, a sauna and other amenities. But even mere mortals can visit here. Albeit with a short excursion and only in limited areas.
Interior and interior decoration
Inside, current visitors will be disappointed. The deliberate luxury of facades and exteriors is replaced by emphasized modesty. There is no abundance of gold, antique furniture and expensive mountains of crystal mixed with bronze chandeliers and porcelain cups and vases.
Travel Palace in Moscow / Photobank Lori
Interior of the Travel Palace in Empire style / Photobank Lori
After the last restoration in 1998, the situation is close to almost monastic, although some of the former grandeur still survived. This is valuable parquet flooring, heavy velvet curtains, some antique furniture (in fact, it is a remake, and this is noticeable at first glance). But in the Petrovsky Travel Palace you can see paintings from the 19th century and old photographs exhibited in one of the halls. And in the round hall, concerts of organ and orchestral music and other social events are periodically held.
Another hall is decorated with busts of Russian emperors, and in the central hall you can admire the ceiling made using the grisaille technique, which was just becoming fashionable at the time the palace was decorated. In some places you can see decor in the form of bas-reliefs and gilding, but this is rather an exception. You can also see marble fireplaces and Venetian mirrors.
An hour of time is enough to explore the Travel Palace, during which you can learn interesting facts not only about the complex itself, but also a little about the celebrities who stayed there at different times.
Excursions around Moscow and surrounding areas
The number of walks around Moscow on Tripster has reached hundreds! A choice for every taste: sightseeing, quests, on-site. But before you go out of town, make sure that you have explored all the alleys, interesting mansions and estates of Moscow.
How to get to Petrovsky Travel Palace
The Travel Palace is located near the Petrovsky Park metro station. A little further is the Dynamo station, from which you will have to walk a little along Leningradsky Prospekt. The nearest bus stop is “st. m. Dynamo. Travel by routes No. 84, 318.
In the depths of the Petrovsky Landscape Park, you can see the bright, unique architecture of the historical pearl of modern Moscow - the ensemble of the Petrovsky Travel Palace. This magnificent example of Russian Gothic from the late 18th century became a monument to victory in one of the key wars between the Russian and Ottoman empires. The peace treaty of 1774 brought an atmosphere of continuous celebration to Moscow for the entire next year and a charge of creativity in its architecture.
It was 1775 that became significant in his life: in January, after the construction of the Prechistensky Palace, he was officially presented to Her Imperial Majesty and in May confirmed with the rank of architect, which marked the beginning of his independent creative activity. The architect’s versatile talent was not limited only to Russian classicism. Kazakov and Bazhenov developed ways to master the ancient Russian architect, creating original works in the spirit of Russian architectural romanticism. Matvey Fedorovich created new forms and compositions, using the principles of picturesqueness of the ancient Russian architectural ensemble, techniques and materials of the past, in particular the combination of brick with white stone.
In the ideological and artistic content of his creative quests, elements are felt that are combined with the dominant principles of Russian classicism. This explains that the pictorial forms of Russian Gothic coexisted with order proportions and a strictly classical composition of plans in all of Kazakov’s romantic works.
The creation of the Petrovsky Travel Palace was preceded by the construction by the outstanding tandem of Bazhenov and Kazakov of a huge complex of “entertainment” structures on the Khodynskoye field to celebrate the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi peace, according to which the lands that once belonged to Ancient Rus' were returned to Russia. Naturally, the celebration had to be national in nature.
Therefore, the architects decided to revive ancient Russian architecture in their project, through which amazing works were created in the forms of national architecture and neo-Gothic, enriched with new techniques and motifs in accordance with modern conditions. Bazhenov, distracted by the failure of the construction utopia of the Grand Kremlin Palace and the examinations of the Kremlin construction work, shifted the main burden of the Khodynka work onto the shoulders of Kazakov. Thus, not far from the St. Petersburg road, in a vast area in April - June 1775, numerous temporary pavilions made of wood, painted to resemble stone, were erected, which were connected architecturally, compositionally and in content.
The main buildings depicted the conquered Turkish fortresses on the Black Sea (its role was assigned to the field), which retreated under the peace agreements of Russia: Taganrog, Kerch, Yenikale, Kinburn, Azov and the Berda line of fortifications. The remaining large structures were erected for illuminations and fireworks. Matvey Fedorovich depicted all the fortress pavilions on magnificent four etchings of perspective views of Khodynka buildings from different sides as if they were actually made of stone, which was the design of this architectural ensemble.
The Empress, remaining satisfied with the past celebrations and the work of the architect, ordered Kazakov to design a new “entrance” palace near the village of Petrovskoye-Zykovo at the entrance to Moscow from Tver. This project was supposed to become a compositional, stylistic and symbolic continuation of the ensemble of Khodynka pavilions.
Empty lands belonging to the Vysokopetrovsky Monastery, opposite the Khodynsky field, behind the St. Petersburg highway, were allocated for construction. The southernmost, last, traveling palace on the road connecting the two capitals, was originally conceived as a residence for the rest of Her Imperial Majesty and the most important persons who could stop there after a long journey from St. Petersburg and proceed to the Moscow Kremlin with special pomp.
The project of the Petrovsky Travel Palace, which became the first major work of the architect, was drawn up in the summer - autumn of 1775, and its foundation was laid in September of the following year. In composition, the ensemble is a type of estate in the spirit of a decorative feudal castle, surrounded by walls and towers of a strictly symmetrical arrangement, typical of classicism. The strong classical basis of the project can be seen in the logically conceived plan, in the construction of the very volume of the palace and in its interior decoration.
The palace building, despite the complexity of the overall plan, subordinated all other elements of the composition. The front gate, flanked by picturesque towers, opened up the perspective of the main compositional axis of the complex. The center of the ensemble is a cubic three-story volume of the palace, crowned with a dome with a rather high light drum, connected by galleries with side wings. It was surrounded by two vast courtyards. Along the perimeter of the ceremonial semicircular court d'honneur on the side of the St. Petersburg road there were buildings for visitors, military guard premises and a kitchen.
On the opposite side of the palace there was a courtyard, where there was a small garden, adjacent to the walls of which were two more small utility courtyards with stables, barracks for soldiers, cellars and sheds from the north-west and south-east. There were large towers at the corners of the front and back yards.
A huge equestrian building was planned behind the palace, but due to lack of funds this part of the project remained unfulfilled. The dome was installed above the central round hall, from which four square halls diverged in a cross. Of these, two, located along the main axis of the ensemble, were intended for vestibules. The decoration of the main hall with Corinthian columns, a frieze, coats of arms, and “state portraits” in the style of Louis XVI, as well as the rest of the premises, did not introduce dissonance into the integrity of the entire composition. All structures were built of red brick with the use of white stone and ceramic parts.
This design, reminiscent of the patterned decoration of ancient Russian buildings, greatly increased the decorativeness and picturesqueness of the general appearance of the Peter the Great's Palace. The service buildings and the backyard fence were decorated with several crenellated turrets (10 large and 11 small), which gave the entire complex an extraordinary fortress-like character.
The most common decorative details were pyramids - “a sign of glory and memory of good sovereigns”, placed around buildings, on a building, on a porch, on a dome. The oval windows of the main facade of the palace were framed by intersecting “horns of plenty”, symbolizing the extreme wealth acquired by victories. On the outside, a deep ditch was dug around the palace, the edges of which were lined with turf.
Stone bridges were thrown across the moat. Small bastions were supposed to be located near the round turrets protruding outwards. Quite a lot of foreign masters worked on the implementation of the palace: for example, I. Yust performed external and internal decorative work, I. Ensh and I. Erke made sculptures. The construction of the palace dragged on for seven years due to meager funding. External construction work was completed in 1779, and interior decoration of the palace continued until 1783. After the departure of Napoleonic army from Moscow in 1812, the building was destroyed by peasants. Repeated restoration and repair work slightly distorted the image of the complex.
The symbolic meaning of the palace ensemble as part of the Khodynsky complex is interpreted in two versions. According to the first, the Petrovsky Palace was framed, like a fortress wall, by one-story buildings with towers and was likened to ancient Moscow, dominating the conquered fortresses.
The second says that, inspired by the victory of 1774, Catherine the Great dreamed of further victorious campaigns in Turkey to free the Greeks and take Constantinople. In this regard, the palace was included in the ensemble of Khodynka pavilions - captured Turkish fortresses - as a symbolic image of an inaccessible city and the embodiment of a hypothetical goal - Constantinople with the Hagia Sophia in the center. This easily explains the serf-like “Turkish” character of the service buildings surrounding the palace, similar to the architecture of Azov and Taganrog, and the image of the main building with a high dome.
The interpretation of the Petrovsky Palace as Constantinople is confirmed by the peculiar symbiosis of Gothic and Old Russian forms, executed by Kazakov with the aim of reproducing the Byzantine style. Such a vivid “quotation” of ancient Russian details cannot be seen in any other stone neo-Gothic work of the second half of the 18th century, including in the work of Matvey Fedorovich himself. Without a doubt, the Petrovsky Travel Palace is the most significant building of Kazakov of all those created by him in the national romantic traditions.
This is especially noticeable when comparing it with the unfinished palace in Tsaritsyn, which he built in 1787-1793 on the basis of a dismantled Bazhenov building, where an attempt to combine classicist and ancient Russian elements did not lead to the creation of a structure that was organic and integral in appearance. With the construction of the Petrovsky traveling ensemble, Kazakov immortalized himself as the largest representative of Russian Gothic, to the forms of which he repeatedly returned in his creative activity.
Previous photo Next photo
One of the most memorable among other palaces in Moscow, the Petrovsky Travel Palace “looks” with its facade onto the main thoroughfare of the capital - the noisy and invariably “traffic” Leningradka.
On the approaches to Moscow, for the purpose of a royal “respite”, by decree of Catherine II, a palace was founded - in order to recover after many days of shaking in the carriage and arrive at the Mother See resplendent, as befits an empress.
As we remember, Leningradskoye Highway is famous for the fact that you can drive along it from Moscow to St. Petersburg without a single traffic light or turn. Actually, things were the same way when he was on the Tver Highway: it was along this road that crowned heads shuttled between the two capitals. The speed of movement, of course, was far from what it is today, and therefore, on the approaches to Moscow, for the purpose of a royal “respite”, by decree of Catherine II, a palace was founded - in order to recover after many days of shaking in the carriage and arrive at the Mother See resplendent, as befits an empress .
This utilitarian function of the structure explains the name - “traveling”. The author of the project is the famous Matvey Kazakov; The palace was built in the Russian Gothic style with a bizarre combination of Gothic and Baroque elements, terracotta walls and white stone platbands. Thanks to a full-scale reconstruction completed in 2009, the Petrovsky Travel Palace regained its former grandeur and exceptional beauty of decoration.
Address: Moscow, metro station Dynamo, Leningradsky Prospekt, 40.
The brilliant era of the reign of Catherine II left behind many magnificent palaces, such as the Gatchina, Marble, Tauride, Catherine and Tsaritsyn palace complexes, which today adorn both Russian capitals. Among such architectural structures is the Petrovsky Travel Palace in Moscow. It is located near the Dynamo metro station, at Leningradsky Prospekt, 40.
Petrovsky Travel Palace: history
The construction of the Petrovsky Travel Palace began in 1776 by order of Empress Catherine the Second, who wished to have a comfortable residence on the way from St. Petersburg to Moscow, where one could relax before the ceremonial entry into Golden Dome. Construction lasted four cities, and although in the summer of 1780 the architect Matvey Kazakov had already reported the completion of the work to the Moscow mayor, for the first time the eminent customer honored the new traveling palace with her presence only seven years later. Moreover, according to legend, Catherine stated that during her stay in this residence she felt under the protection of the people and did not need bodyguards. The next royal guest, Paul the First, spent several days there before his coronation in 1797, thereby marking the beginning of a centuries-old tradition in which Russian monarchs rested in this then Moscow residence before being crowned kings in the Moscow Kremlin. In 1812, the Petrovsky Travel Palace became the headquarters of Emperor Napoleon for four days, and in 1896, on the day of the bloody tragedy on the Khodynskoye Field, a gala dinner was organized here in honor of the coronation of Nicholas II. During the Soviet period (since 1923), the building was transferred to the VF Academy. N. E. Zhukovsky and was used as the main administrative building of this educational institution until 1997.
Restoration and reconstruction of the Moscow Petrovsky Palace at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century
In 1998, the Petrovsky Travel Palace was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Moscow government, and major renovations were carried out here, including modernization of communications and restoration of interior interiors. All restoration work lasted until 2009. As a result, this magnificent historical and architectural monument was turned into the Moscow City Hall's Reception House, and part of its premises were converted into a four-star hotel with a swimming pool, a Russian bathhouse and the Karamzin restaurant, which serves French, Italian and Russian cuisine. Moreover, chamber music concerts and various cultural events are organized from time to time in the halls of the first floor, which can be attended by special invitations or with tickets distributed through concert agencies.
Petrovsky Travel Palace: excursions
The palace is an excellent example of 18th-century architecture, so at any time of the year there are many who want to go there on an excursion. The standard program for such a visit to this palace complex includes a group walk, accompanied by a guide, through the State Courtyard, the Hall of Columns, the Kazakovskaya Staircase, the State Domed Hall and the antechambers of the second floor. However, the most interesting thing is a visit to the palace mini-museum, which displays exhibits telling about the history of the construction and reconstruction of the palace, coronation celebrations held here throughout the 18th-19th centuries, as well as events during the occupation of Moscow by the French in 1812. Tourists can also stroll through the magnificent landscape park, laid out in 1827 under the direction of the architect Tamantsev, who was engaged in the restoration of the complex after its destruction by the retreating Napoleonic army.
Those who are planning to visit the Petrovsky Palace in Moscow need to know that tickets for excursions are sold at the tour desk located at Zubovsky Boulevard, 2, and they must be purchased in advance. Moreover, if a tourist is going to photograph the interior or take pictures in the courtyard, then a special photo ticket is required.
Wedding at Petrovsky Palace in Moscow
Just 3 decades ago, our mothers and fathers were delighted if they managed to register their marriage at the Wedding Palace instead of signing “quickly” at the registry office at their place of residence. Today the situation has changed, and modern newlyweds have the opportunity to spend time in the state halls, where Russian monarchs, aristocrats, as well as famous writers and musicians have visited more than once. In particular, a wonderful place for such a celebration is the Petrovsky Travel Palace, a wedding in which will be an unforgettable event and a good start to family life for any couple in love.
Marriage registration in the Petrovsky Palace
In 2012, the Moscow authorities allowed the Petrovsky Palace to be used as a wedding venue. Marriage registration on the territory of this luxurious architectural complex is possible after submitting an application to the Tver Civil Registry Office. During each month, 2-4 days are allocated for weddings, depending on the season, and the newlyweds are allowed to invite up to 20-40 guests for an off-site official registration ceremony lasting about 45 minutes. At the request of the newlyweds, the wedding can take place to the sounds of classical music performed by a string quartet, and champagne will be served to the guests by footmen in liveries, sewn according to the uniforms worn by servants in the 18th century.
In addition, as already mentioned, some rooms of the palace complex are reserved for a comfortable hotel, so newlyweds can spend a romantic night here and meet the dawn in real royal chambers.
Photography in the Petrovsky Palace
Anyone who wants to receive a gorgeous photo album as a souvenir of their wedding can be recommended to choose the Petrovsky Travel Palace as their place of marriage registration. Photos of this against the backdrop of luxurious Empire-style interiors or taken in picturesque alleys will certainly become the subject of white envy of your friends, and they will be pleasant to look at even many years later.