The royal village. Amber room

The royal village is famous for its artistic and historical monuments, as well as wonderful people whose life is connected with this place. The summer residence was a favorite place for the royal family. Tsarskoye Selo palaces and parks are among the best examples of architecture. The fate of many outstanding people of Russia is connected with Tsarsky Selo, state affairs were carried out here. During the excursion to Tsarskoye Selo, you can see palaces and parks, remember the history of our country. The history of Tsarskoye Selo began in 1710, when Peter 1 granted the Saar manor to Catherine Alekseevna, the future wife of the emperor. On the creation of the Catherine Palace, since 1718, architects have consistently worked: I. Braunstein, M. Zemtsov, A. Kvasov, S. Chevakinsky, F.-B. Rastrelli, C. Cameron, I. Monighetti, V. Stasov, etc.

Since 1748, the construction of the palace was carried out under the supervision of F.-B. Rastrelli. Rastrelli realized that palaces were created “for the unified glory of the All-Russian”, and this idea was embodied in his creations. 1752-1756. Rastrelli rebuilt the Grand Palace, creating a brilliant residence. The palace was overbuilt, the facades stretched more than 300 meters. A huge number of columns, pilasters and sculptures gave the palace an unusually elegant look. The walls were painted in azure color, stucco and carved jewelry gilded.

Acquaintance with historical interiors begins on the parade staircase. The main halls, which are located on the second floor, create the famous Golden Enfilade. Following each other, the interiors embody the artistic tastes of the Russian Baroque era. Carved gilded carvings are the main element of internal decor. Picturesque ceilings, mirrors, set parquets complemented the architectural decoration of the halls. The pearls of the palace are the Great Hall and the Amber Room.

The large hall created by F.-B. Rastrelli has an area of 846 square meters. In the 18th century, it was called the Great Gallery. Wood carving, covered with gilding, is the main decoration of the walls. Many mirrors and windows expand the space, creating the illusion of space and extraordinary volume of the room.

The huge plafond, the central part of which depicts the “Triumph of Russia”, was performed by J. Valeriani with the participation of A. Perezinotti.

Passing through the Golden Enfilade, the famous Amber Room appears before your eyes. Mosaic amber panels were made in 1709 to decorate the cabinet of the Prussian king. In 1716, Peter 1 during his stay in Berlin received as a gift from King Frederick-Wilhelm 1 amber panels, which were delivered to St. Petersburg. In the 1740s, the panels were used in the decoration of the Winter Palace, why in 1755, by order of Elizabeth, they were transferred on their hands to Tsarskoye Selo. It was here that Rastrelli created the magnificent Amber Room. Fascist invaders took out the Amber Room, its tracks were cut off in Koenigsberg in 1945. Recreated in 2003, it amazes visitors.

The painting hall occupies the entire volume of the building, art canvases cover the wall completely, this type of hanging is called a tapestry.

In 1779, Catherine 11 commissioned the alteration of the interiors of the palace to C. Cameron. The architect designed the Empress’s Rooms in the southern part of the palace, as well as the apartments of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich of his wife Maria Fedorovna in the northern half. The walls of the Green Dining Room on the half of the Grand Duke are decorated with ornamental figures, reliefs, medallions.

After the fire of 1820, V. Stasov revived the Golden Enfilade of Rastrelli and the interiors of Cameron. He also created new rooms for Alexander 1 (Parade Cabinet) and his mother, Maria Feodorovna.

Harmonizes with the Catherine Palace and the park in front of its facade. Smooth paths, sheared trees, patterned flower beds are all distinctive details of the French or regular style in park building. In the eighteenth century of the Enlightenment, everything was supposed to emphasize the triumph of reason over nature. Correct, thoughtful layout of paths and flower beds personified the state order. The central alley leading from the palace can be passed to the pavilion "Hermitage", and on the right side will be visible "Grotto", decorated with Rastrelli.

In 1779, I. Neelov built a soap for Their Highnesses, known as the Upper Bath. The lower bath, built in 1779 and served as a bath for courtiers, is located at the bottom of the park.

Changing tastes, the revival of interest in antiquity was reflected in Tsarskoye Selo. The splendor of Russian Baroque was replaced by classicism. To the southern half of the Catherine Palace adjoins the famous Cameron Gallery, the buildings of the Cold Bath with the Agatov Pavilion, the Hanging Garden and the Pandus. C. Cameron, a connoisseur of ancient history, archaeologist and architect created an inimitable work in the Greco-Roman taste.

On the banks of the Great Pond there is the Admiralty Pavilion, the Turkish Bath, the Marble Bridge.

Nearby is the statue-fountain "Milchnitsa", built by the sculptor P. Sokolov on the plot of the fable of J. Lafontaine in 1816.

Monuments of Russian military glory are dedicated to the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. These are the Chesma and Moray columns, the Kagul obelisk. They were made of marble according to the projects of Rinaldi and perfectly fit into the landscape of the Catherine Park.

In the 70s of the 18th century, Catherine 11 became interested in Chinese art. A Chinese village, a violin gazebo, small and big whims were created.

Alexander Park, adjacent to the Catherine Palace from the west, consists of two parts - regular and landscape. The landscape part of the park is decorated with "Gothic" buildings - White Tower, Chapelle, Arsenal, Farm, Pension stables.

The center of the park is the Alexander Palace, built in 1796 by the architect J. Quarenghi for the grandson of Catherine 11 - Alexander 1. The last Russian emperor, Nicholas 11, turned the Alexander Palace into his permanent residence. He lived here from 1905 to 1917.

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