Russian Royal Palaces

[BellaBallerina]

I didn't see a thread topic with Russian Royal Palaces. I know they no longer have a Royal family, but some of the former residencies are absolutely stunning. I used to live in St petersburg right down the road from the Hermitage Museum and I'd pinch myself every time I woke up in the morning. I don't know if any of you have ever been, but it really is a grand and beautiful sight. My favorite, though, is Ekaterina Palace of Tsarskoye Selo which is also known as Puskin Palace. Winter or summer, it stands out starkly against it's surroundings making it seem like you are wandering into an enchanted fair tale. One of the famous and most beautiful parts of the palace is the Amber room, which is surrounded by mystery and theories from it's disappearance during World War II. Some say it was bombed (this is what I was told when I visited), others say it was disassembled by the Germans during the war and taken away to be hidden (in lagoons, in mountains, you name it... most likely there's a theory it's there). Reconstruction on the room began in the 70's and was nearly completed in 2003 which is the first time I saw it while visiting for a ballet festival. The room is beautiful with the extravagance of it's floor to ceiling stones.



The Amber room:



I highly recommend googling Tsarskoye Selo to read up on it if you haven't heard of it before

- Bella

[castille]

one of my favorite's is the Winter Palace located in St. Petersburg, I think it's because of the movie Anastasia but once I actually did research on it, it made me like it even more

more info can be found in the link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Palace

[editorathome]

Thank you, Bella, for this thread and the marvelous photos.
I visited the Hermitage/Winter Palace, Ekaterina Palace, and Livadia Palace in Yalta in late 1991, in the last days of the Soviet Union. The architecture and interiors of the palaces are utterly indescribable. The Amber Room was still being restored when I was there, but I was able to go in and see the work in progress---fascinating.

If you have any other photos of Russian palaces, please post them!

[BellaBallerina]

Funny enough I think "Anastasia" was what first drew my interest to Russian history too, more specifically the royal family. While I lived there I read a book called "The Lost Fortune of the Tsars". It's very interesting and I highly recommend it. The Romanov's were one of the wealthiest families in the world at the time of their death and the rest of the family's exile. They had money in banks all over, including New York. The book also talks about the British royal family and how they tried to help some of the Romanov family members get back on their feet post-exile, but because of their irresponsibility with money they tended to go broke over and over again. I guess when one is used to unlimited funds, they don't quite expect them to run out so quickly!

The Romanov family's remains have been recovered including that of Marie and Alexei and they were able to identify the remains through DNA evidence in 2001 I believe (they had Anastasia's body the whole time, but didn't know it was her). The remains are now resting in the Peter and Paul fortress which is right across the river from the Hermitage Museum (the Winter Palace).

It kind of kills the idea of a fair tale, but the grisly murder scene in the basement of the house in Ekaterinburg pretty much proves no one could have survived that. I think that it was just a time when people needed hope so they clung to hope instead of drowning in despair.

<3

Bella

[BellaBallerina]

Thank you, Bella, for this thread and the marvelous photos.
I visited the Hermitage/Winter Palace, Ekaterina Palace, and Livadia Palace in Yalta in late 1991, in the last days of the Soviet Union. The architecture and interiors of the palaces are utterly indescribable. The Amber Room was still being restored when I was there, but I was able to go in and see the work in progress---fascinating.

If you have any other photos of Russian palaces, please post them!

No problem, glad you like it!

Wow! That was around the time that they found the Romanov's remains!

I can only imagine what it must have been like there while the Iron Curtain was falling, what an experience! I agree, the Architecture is absolutely unreal - even the normal buildings look royal in their grand stature and pastel colors!

Did you happen to see the Mariinsky while you were there?

[editorathome]

Wow! That was around the time that they found the Romanov's remains!

They hadn't been found yet. But we did visit the royal tombs at St. Peter & Paul Fortress; interesting and chilling at the same time...

I can only imagine what it must have been like there while the Iron Curtain was falling, what an experience!

Most fascinating vacation I ever took.

Did you happen to see the Mariinsky while you were there?

The palace, or the ballet? Didn't see the palace, but did go to the ballet ("Macbeth") in Leningrad (as it was then); don't remember if it was the Mariinsky/Kirov, altho I tend to think I'd have remembered the Kirov. I believe the theatre was in a square that included a monument to Pushkin...does that make sense?

[BellaBallerina]

The palace, or the ballet? Didn't see the palace, but did go to the ballet ("Macbeth") in Leningrad (as it was then); don't remember if it was the Mariinsky/Kirov, altho I tend to think I'd have remembered the Kirov. I believe the theatre was in a square that included a monument to Pushkin...does that make sense?

The Ballet. It was the Kirov so you are right, it's now the Mariinsky ballet. Here's the building they are housed in, I'm sure you will remember it. It's not a palace, but it is a stunning Concert hall.



The stage:



And the seating (With a view of the mural on the ceiling and the Royal box - which is of course over the top extravagance much like the palaces they owned haha):



It's currently being renovated, which is why the company is on tour. They were supposed to begin renovations back when I was living there, but put them on hold. The stage is raked, like the studios in their school, but funny enough the rehearsal studios where the company rehearses are NOT raked.

That is so cool You were there when Yulia Makhalina was with the company, she is one of my faves. Did you like Macbeth? I've actually never seen it as a ballet before. I would ask who the principals were, but I know it's been a while lol.

[BellaBallerina]

Since Editorathome bought it up, I thought it would be good to post a picture of the Mariinksy Palace so those of haven't been will know the difference.

In the above post I posted a photo of the Theatre hall that houses the Marrinsky Theatre (formally known as the Kirov Opera and Ballet).

This is the Mariinsky Palace located in St Isaac's Square by the Cathedral:



It was the last Imperial palace built in St Petersburg, Russia. It was built as a present to the Grand Duchess maria Nikolaevna by her father and is now the home of the legistlative assembly of Saint Petersburg.

Because all of the buildings in St P are rather grand, this particular palace does not really stand out amongst them. In fact, the statue in the square was always more or less my navigation tool while I was there than the palace itself LOL.

None-the-less, it is a palace and I wanted everyone to know the difference between the palace and the theatre .

Bella

[editorathome]

Here's a link showing great photos of amazing palaces in and near St. Petersburg.

http://www.nevsky-prospekt.com/palaces/pal1.html

p.1: w/the exception of the royal Winter Palace, these were all palaces of the aristocracy

p.2: aristocratic palaces

p. 3: w/the exception of the Gatchina Palace, all these were royal palaces

btw, the Marble Place on p. 2 and Gatchina Palace on p. 3 were built for the same dude, a lover of Catherine the Great.

Better have a drool bucket handy

[DuchyDiva]

I would love to go to Russia and see the royal palaces. I have read a lot about the Romanovs and seen photos of their residences, but to actually see them would be amazing. Maybe when I win the lottery?!

[editorathome]

I would love to go to Russia and see the royal palaces. I have read a lot about the Romanovs and seen photos of their residences, but to actually see them would be amazing. Maybe when I win the lottery?!

They are beyond amazing. The Winter Palace (The Hermitage) makes Buck House/Windsor and even Versailles look like shacks...

[DuchyDiva]

I hope I get there one day. I was quite disappointed with Versailles when I went there years ago, it didn't seem very well kept. Maybe it is better cared for these days!

[Herzogin91]

I thought I should post the pictures of the marvellous palace of Russian nobles Yusupov. I had an honour to visit this place in St.Petersburg in 2004, unfortunately I don´t have my photoes anymore, so these ones are from internet resources.

[Cloaked]

Splendour in Russia for sure!  You are fortunate to have visited this decorative palace.
What grandeur and artistry.  Love the chandelier.  

Thanks, Herzogin91

[Herzogin91]

You are welcome! If you or anyone have special requests, I could find more pictures also of other palaces on russian resources