The palaces of Peter the Great are of great interest to researchers and history buffs. The first Russian emperor had several residences where he regularly stayed, worked, held receptions, and received important guests. We will tell about these palaces in this article.
Winter Palace
Among the palaces of Peter the Great, the Winter Palace stands out. It was here that the personal residence of the emperor was located. It was erected on the Neva embankment, not far from the Winter Canal.
It all started with the fact that in 1712, in the area of modern Millionnaya Street and the Neva embankment, the Wedding Chambers of Peter the Great were built. They were located in the middle of the Upper Embankment quarter.
Peter's Winter Palace in St. Petersburg soon expanded significantly. Four years later, they began to complete its northern part. Peter conceived this building as his personal residence. Therefore, it fully corresponded to his tastes and lifestyle. The project was ready by 1716, the architect Georg Mattarnovi worked on it. While this palace of Peter 1 was being built in St. Petersburg, the family remained to live in the so-called Wedding Chambers.
Building location
The position of the palace of Peter 1 among the standard ordinary buildings seems random only at first glance. In fact, this place among the houses of ordinary inhabitants was chosen by the emperor himself. The fact is that it was from this point that the most successful panoramas of the Neva, the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island were opened, it was possible to consider the banks of the Bolshaya Neva.
The first stage of construction of this palace of Peter the Great began in 1716. The emperor himself approved the project. As a result, the construction of the western part of the building was initially started, which was located directly along the Winter Canal, which at that time was still being designed.
Building design
The main facade of the Winter Palace overlooked the Neva. At the same time, it bore little resemblance to the ceremonial representativeness of the palaces of many St. Petersburg nobles, it was not at all so chic. It looked more like a solid and solid dwelling of a we althy burgher, which was quite in the spirit of the emperor.
The central risalit had four windows, on the first floor it was rusticated, and on the second floor it was decorated with all sorts of Doric pilasters. On the triangular pediment were two allegorical figures that supported a cartouche for the imperial coat of arms topped with a crown. On the side parts of the facade of the building there were wide blades between the windows, which were decorated with panels and garlands.
The roof of this palace of Peter 1 in St. Petersburg was made in the Dutch style, but withfracture. The size of the rooms was relatively small, no more than 18 square meters. Only in the so-called front building, which overlooked the Neva, there was a Great Hall with an area of 75 square meters. There was also a corner hall, which was facing the Winter Canal, its area was 41 square meters. Researchers always pay attention to the L-shaped corridor that separated the royal rooms from the rest of the premises.
Construction progress
The Palace of Peter 1, the photo of which is in this article, began to be built by carpenters and freemasons. They were given the contract to erect the building. An order was given that by May 23, 1716, the installation of windows would be completed.
To this day, there is a mention that an agreement was concluded with a bricklayer named Sergey Agapitov, from which it follows that the construction of the foundation was carried out very carefully, the walls to deepen the basement were erected until winter.
Already in the spring of 1717, an agreement was signed with other masons - Vasily Obrosimov and Pyotr Kozl, who continued to lay the wall of the building facing the Neva. It is known that the bricklayer Vasily Rostvorov began in parallel the construction of the so-called small chambers, which were facing the canal.
Project adjustments
In 1718, Peter returned from another trip to Europe and made significant adjustments to the design of the palace. He orders to make "eight chambers of the upper housing." We have to start a significant restructuring. But still, in the same year, it was possible to begin interior decoration, as well as layingplaster outside the building.
Working according to Mattarnovi's sketches, the workers managed to carry out a brilliant finish, using red marble on the walls of the Great Hall, as well as plaster reliefs, oak doors. In total, the palace had four oak staircases. The palace was finally ready by February 1720. On December 27, the first assembly was held there.
New winter chambers
Mattarnovi died of a sudden illness in November 1719. At the same time, the construction and decoration of the palace continued after its official opening. The work was continued by the architect Nikolai Gerbel, who by the spring of 1721 had completed pouring the foundation for the New Winter Chambers.
The eastern and central parts of the palace were built until 1722. By this time, the front buildings of the ceremonial halls overlooking the Neva were almost completed. The facade turned out to be lengthy and very solemn; the western part of the Winter Palace, which was built earlier and by that time was a single whole, organically fit into it. To achieve unity, this frankly "burgher" facade was made in the form of an eastern risalit.
The architect managed to achieve the effect of a royal residence by concentrating in the central part the famous effect of a three-span triumphal arch, known since the time of the Roman Caesars. A certain role in this was played by powerful columns of the Corinthian order, which were installed on the highest possible pedestal and adjoined the paired pilasters, forming a single baroque portico, looking up.
Completion of works
With completionThe construction of the Winter Palace in Russia officially ends the era of modest royal dwellings, it finally becomes a thing of the past. This palace becomes the most luxurious and solemn in St. Petersburg. Surprisingly, at the same time, he manages to remain organically connected with the surrounding buildings, into which he fits as organically as possible. In this, even the scale, the large size of the windows, and the high cornices do not interfere with him. All this testifies to the laying of the foundations for the St. Petersburg school of architecture, which were followed for centuries, preserving the special St. Petersburg architectural atmosphere.
The construction of the new part of the palace is completed by the end of 1723. On November 24, a huge and chic feast is held in the new Cavalier Hall, which ends with a large-scale and spectacular fireworks display arranged right on the ice of the Neva.
On the ninth of December, in the Great Palace Hall, hundreds of guests attend the solemn betrothal ceremony of the Duke of Holstein with the Emperor's eldest daughter, Anna.
Summer Palace
The Summer Palace of Peter the Great is the emperor's residence, which was located in the Summer Garden of St. Petersburg. It is currently used as one of the branches of the Russian Museum.
The construction of the Summer Palace of Peter the Great was carried out in the Baroque style according to the project of the Italian engineer and architect Domenico Trezzini. The work was carried out from 1710 to 1714. Until now, it is one of the oldest buildings in the city that have survived to this day. The palace has two floors, while it is very modest, init has only 14 rooms and two kitchens.
Why does the Emperor need the Summer Palace?
The Summer Palace of Peter 1 in St. Petersburg was originally intended for use exclusively in the warm season. Lived in it only from May to September. In connection with this project, it was not intended to be used in winter, the walls of the palace were too thin for this, and the windows were single-framed everywhere. The decoration of the premises was carried out by famous artists of that time: Zavarzin, Zakharov and Matveev. The emperor was pleased with their work.
The facade of the Summer Palace is decorated with 29 bas-reliefs. Each of them depicts in allegorical form the events of the Northern War, which at that time was in full swing, it lasted until 1721. These bas-reliefs were made by the German architect and renowned sculptor Andreas Schlüter.
How was the palace used?
It is believed that this was the favorite palace of Peter 1. The emperor officially entered it for the first time in 1712, when it was still partially finished. Since then, he lived in it every summer (until his death in 1725).
Traditionally, Peter occupied the first floor, and the rooms on the second floor were always intended for Empress Catherine. After the death of the head of state, the palace was used as a summer residence for courtiers and dignitaries until the middle of the 19th century. Gorchakov, Miloradovich, Lobanov-Rostovsky, Vronchenko, Kankrin lived there at different times.
It is interesting that the dignitaries also lived in winter, at this time of the year they were provided with a second floor. When the emperor was in powerAlexander I, in the summer and spring, the public began to let in this royal residence, which could admire the royal decoration. In 1840, a thorough revision was carried out, all the valuables were described, some were given into the hands of restorers.
Summer Palace in the 20th century
Already after the Bolsheviks came to power, the building of the Summer Palace began to be used as a museum. In 1934, a historical and household museum was officially opened here.
During the Great Patriotic War, the building was seriously damaged. Frames were torn out of the windows, plaster was peeling off the facade and ceilings in the rooms, the roof was damaged by fragments of numerous shells.
Immediately after the victory over the fascists, the authorities took up the restoration. Work began already in 1946. A year later, the museum was reopened to the public. In the 1950s and 60s, a large-scale restoration took place, the purpose of which was to restore the original appearance of this palace. The floors were replaced, the molding was restored, the heating system was completely changed, installing a more modern one, the drawings on the plafonds were brought back to their original form, and the upholstery of the walls with fabric was returned.
Palace in Strelna
The famous Travel Palace of Peter 1 appeared during the construction of Kronstadt. At that time, the emperor regularly came from St. Petersburg to Strelna to monitor how the work was being carried out.
For the comfort of the sovereign, they built a roadside house near the Gulf of Finland. Its design was typical; there were enough such roadside houses throughout the country. Feature of the Palace of Peter 1in Strelna was that it was intended for the rest of the emperor himself, so it was decided to call it the "palace".
At the same time, outwardly, this is a very modest building made of wood, which has survived to this day almost in its original form.
Construction of the Travel Palace
The construction of the palace began in 1710. A garden with fountains was specially laid out on the hillside, and the Church of the Transfiguration was built nearby. It was there that the wedding of Peter and his wife took place, who, after the death of the ruler, became the first female head of state in the history of Russia - Empress Catherine I.
During the Great Patriotic War, these places were significantly damaged, the church was completely destroyed.
Interestingly, the Travel Palace blended very organically into the surrounding landscape. The northern facade faces the bay, while from the side it looks very solid. The trick is in the height of the hill, which you have to look directly from below.
The porch with four steps and a cozy mezzanine organically fit into the central part of the facade. High windows on the first floor, which are framed with carved platbands, became a special decoration. Already after the death of Peter 1 in 1750, the house was completely dismantled by the architect Rastrelli, and then restored to its original form. It was renovated again in 1834 by the architect Meyer.
During the Great Patriotic War, the building was almost completely destroyed, it was restored in the 50s of the twentieth century. Now the palace is under the patronageMuseum-reserve "Peterhof". It was restored, even the fountains, which were designed by Rastrelli during the reconstruction.
Now there is a museum in the building, among the exhibits of which there are many things of the Petrine era. For example, a cast of the emperor's hand and his portrait, painted during the life of the ruler.
Near the Traveling Palace there is a unique orchard, where figs, apricots, peaches, flowers and herbs were grown in greenhouses during the time of Peter the Great. Grapes, pears, watermelons, danas, cherries were served directly on the royal table from this garden. From Europe, Peter brought radishes, artichokes and Turkish cucumbers especially for the garden. He really liked to visit this palace, spent a lot of time in it.
