The ancient village of Kolomenskoye near Moscow is located in the Southern Administrative District of the Russian capital on the banks of the Moscow River. Since ancient times, this territory was considered the princely, and then the royal fiefdom. The first buildings appeared here at the beginning of the 14th century. The best time for Kolomenskoye came during the reign of the second tsar from the Romanov dynasty, Alexei Mikhailovich. The favorite place of the sovereign inspired him to build a magnificent palace, which later became a masterpiece of Russian wooden architecture of the 17th century.
Construction history
In 1667, Alexei Mikhailovich personally laid the foundation of the Kolomna Palace. Despite his high position, the king did not shy away from doing crafts. For him, the beginning of the construction of private choirs was a personal outlet and a kind of political move. The construction of the chambers demonstrated to foreign ambassadors the power and steadfastness of the Russian state. The second half of the 17th century in Russia was marked by important events. Since 1654, a fierce war has been waged with the neighboring Commonwealth. Russian troops conducted a series of triumphant campaigns against the Poles, as a result of which a truce was signed for 13 years.
The Kolomna Palace was built by an artel of carpenters. The craftsmen erected the most beautiful royal chambers in the best traditions of Russian architecture. The wooden estate consisted of many asymmetric chambers connected by passages and passages. The hipped roofs of unusual shapes were decorated with fine carvings, and weathercocks and double-headed eagles towered above them. In 1673, all finishing work was completed. The living area of the premises was more than 7,000 square meters. The height of the ceilings exceeded 20 meters. The palace had 270 rooms. The palace was divided into male and female halves. The completion of the construction was marked by solemn feasts and festivities.
For Alexei Mikhailovich, the Kolomna estate had a high status. He often received foreign ambassadors and important guests here. As befits a decent family man and father, the tsar assigned separate chambers to his children, as well as to his second wife, Natalya Naryshkina. Subsequently, the heirs of Alexei Mikhailovich were engaged in the reconstruction of the Kolomna Palace. During the reign of Fyodor Alekseevich, dilapidated buildings were rebuilt, and under Peter the Great, the foundation of the building was restored. After the transfer of the capital of Russia to St. Petersburg, the estate gradually collapsed and fell into disrepair.
Empress Catherine II planned to restore the palace, but the wooden structures were badly rotten and beyond repair. The empress ordered to dismantle the estate. At the same time, she ordered to first measure each element of the structure, draw up a plan of the palace and describe all material values. It was this decision of hers that allowed, after several centuries, contemporaries to enjoy the Kolomna Palace in all its original beauty.
In 2010, with the support of the government of the city of Moscow, the original palace was recreated according to the surviving drawings. More than 200 people were engaged in the construction of a unique work of architectural art. For reliability, wooden structures were replaced with reinforced concrete elements lined with wood. This is the only deviation from the original structure.
Exposition and interior decoration
The sovereign appreciated objects of art and luxury. In the restored palace, an exposition is opened with the closest possible interior decoration of the 17th century. Getting into the chambers of the royal estate, guests are fascinated by the rich furnishings and ancient household items. All the walls of the palace are painted with a popular type of decor of that era – floral ornaments. Herbal writing depicts stylized flowers, leaves, bunches of grapes. Windows and doors are framed with wooden patterned platbands. Stained mica glass shimmers with bright colors. Persian carpets are scattered on the floor and benches.
The painted ceilings as well as the tapestries tell biblical and mythological stories. The elegance of the decor gives the premises of the palace a special beauty. In the royal estate there is exquisite carved furniture, according to the inventory of the XVIII century. Each chair, armchair, table, cabinet is a unique work of art. Lanterns, lamps, gilded chandeliers bring pomposity and elegance to the chambers. Museum guests are shown royal household items: dishes, books, old maps, knightly armor and halberds, watches, paintings, icons and much more. In the corners of all chambers there are multicolored tiled stoves.
Mansions of the king and princes
The main entrance to the palace is a red porch decorated with rich carvings. According to the palace rule, only the king had the right to ride a horse to the wooden steps. Foreign ambassadors and noble boyars had to walk to the main entrance, where they were greeted by a guard of honor. Through the double door, decorated with gilding and state symbols, visitors to the palace enter the royal chambers.
The most spacious and elegant hall is the refectory. Overseas guests were received here, holidays were celebrated. The king sat on the throne, and the guests on the benches. A wide and long table was located along one of the walls. On the ceiling of the refectory is a delightful painting of the zodiac signs revolving around the sun and moon. The Duma Chamber served as a room for negotiations with ambassadors and boyars. Noble nobles gathered here to discuss state affairs, present letters and salaries. In the corner of the hall there is a royal chair, over which hang iconostases with images of saints.
The throne room, where solemn ceremonies were held, demonstrates the greatness and power of the Russian state of that time. Walls, ceiling and window openings abound with multi-color painting. On the pedestal rises the royal throne, made of precious wood and decorated with applied gold, silver and ivory. Alexei Mikhailovich sought to amuse and surprise his guests. Near his chair are delightful movable sculptures in the form of lions. When a mysterious button is pressed, they growl, their eyes flash, and their heads turn.
The king spent most of the day in his office. In this secluded place, hiding from prying eyes, the sovereign worked with documents, wrote decrees, read books. The room is furnished with a table, carved chairs and a bookcase. Behind the wall of the study is the royal bedchamber. Soap room was an integral traditional attribute of an old Russian dwelling. There are four baths in the Kolomna Palace. Massive wooden fonts were intended for bathing the royal family.
The mansions of the sons of Alexei Mikhailovich deserve special attention. Fyodor's large room embodies the colorful Polish pomposity of the interior. The walls are framed with special leather wallpaper. Bright chairs, a massive table, a cupboard with an abundance of books characterize the refinement and education of the owner. Peter's mansions are distinguished by their austerity of the German-Dutch style. The room is decorated without any frills. Oak table, grandfather clock, carved chairs. The environment is conducive to concentration in learning.
Opening hours and ticket prices
Those who wish to replenish their historical knowledge can visit the palace of Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye from Tuesday to Sunday. To visit the royal chambers, it is recommended to purchase a complex ticket that allows you to visit all the premises of the palace for 400 rubles. Additionally, you can purchase a tour and a permit for photography (100 rubles each). The opening hours of the palace are from 10:00 to 18:00.
Where is it located and how to get there
The palace is located at the intersection of Kashirskoye Highway and Andropov Avenue. You can get to the estate by metro to the Kashirskaya station, and then walk a little to the protected area. The outlines of the towers of the building are visible from afar. There will be signs on the way, so it will not be difficult to get to the estate.