December 2011 : Summer Palace of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich

We will finish 2011 year with an historical subject and a palace to visit during winter. We will talk about Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich and his Summer Palace at Kolomenskoye.

Alexis Mikhailovich Romanov was the elder son of Tsar Michael Fyodorovich and Evdokia Lukyanovna Styreshneva.

Alexis Mikhailovich Romanov was born in 1629, and was crowned in 1645 : he was Tsar until his death in 1676. So he was one of the Tsars of the Romanov dynasty who had the political power in Russia between 1613 (Michael Fyodorovich) and 1917 (Nicholas II).

Alexis Mikhailovich Romanov was married first with Maria Miloslavskaia and had 13 children with her (unfortunately she died on the birth of the 14th), and then with Natalia Narychkina (3 children with her). Natalia Narychkina was regent when her son Peter the Great was crowned in 1689 (he was 17 years old).

Let's try to summarize the Romanov Tsars dynasty between 1613 and 1917 :

- Tsar Michael Fyodorovich, also called Michael I (1613-1645)

- Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich Romanov, also called Alexis I (1645-1676)

- Tsar Fyodor III (1676-1682)

- Tsar Ivan IV also called The Terrible (1682-1689)

- Tsar Peter I also called The Great -2,04m- (1689-1725)

- Tsar Catherine I (1725-1727)

- Tsar Peter II (1727-1730)

- Tsar Anna I (1730-1740)

- Regent Anna Leopoldovna (1740-1741)

- Tsar Elisabeth I (1741-1762)

- Tsar Catherine II (1762-1796)

- Tsar Paul I (1796-1801)

- Tsar Alexandre I (1801-1825)

- Tsar Nicholas I (1825-1855)

- Tsar Alexandre II (1855-1881)

- Tsar Alexandre III (1881-1894)

- Tsar Nicholas II (1894-1917)

Well, I hope there is no mistake !!

The Summer Palace at Kolomenskoye was a very huge datcha to welcome all lords and boyards, and also to set government meetings during the summer season. As it was in wood, it became damaged with snow, rain, and lack of maintenance. After a century, the palace was too dangerous : so, Tsar Catherine II decided to erase it, but only after having collected all the plans drawn for each part of the datcha and removed all furnitures and decorations inside (stored in other places) ... in order to rebuild it later ... unfortunately, she has never seen the new version !

In 2006, the Department of Development in Moscow approved the re-building of the palace. The works began in June 2007 and it was completed in August 2010. The total area of the palace, which consists of six buildings connected by passages, is 7.230 m².

How to get there ?

With metro, green line 2, towards south of Moscow stop at Kashirskaya station (just after Kolomenskoye). Then, it is 300m far from it. You have to pay the entrance fee, additional one if you wish to take pictures, and you can buy a map (but only in Russian). You can also join a guided tour with additional fee.

If you join the visit by group then you will have guides wearing ancient clothes. That was my choice : so, let's start the visit !

First we entered the palace and discovered the hall at the entrance : here were waiting the lords and boyards for the first walk of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich at 5:00 o' clock !

Our guide told us that they spent 1 year to build the palace and over 3 years for the internal decoration : yet, not all the rooms are terminated. Only 24 rooms are opened for visits.

After we saw the ceremonial room : 1.000 dishes were prepared, and 70 alcool buckets ! The Tsar choosed his dishes and all the rest was for the guests.

And we also saw the Aubusson tapestry from 17th century.

After we entered the dining room with astronomic signs on the ceiling, golden and silver dishes, and stove from 17th century.

Then we went through the "Douma" room : it was a kind of council who was meeting there to prepare state rules. Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich was the initiator of the civil code for Russia. In this room, there is an armchair with 2 golden lions.

Next room was used for reception of diplomats : to see the portrait of the Tsar close to the door.

After we crossed the office of the Tsar where he also loved to play some games. To be noted the chandelier with 2 heads of animals.

Then, there was the bedroom where people were watching permanently during his sleep. Next room, the Tsar's private chapel.

The palace was divided into two parts, one for men and another for women : when boys become teenagers they went into the building of men.

Let's see the office boys : private tutors were also here.

Then we went through Fedor room (known as Tsar Fedor III later) with a spendid stove.

Fedor III is known to have shaved his beard under the influence of western style, and then have obliged all men to do so in Russia.

After we visited the room of Peter the Great. He liked the clothes from Central Europe and for example he wanted that all lords were dressed with clothes from Hungary. In the room, there was a stove covered with tiles from New Zealand.

Then we went down to see the banya as it was used in the past : it was the bathroom at that time ! As usual the birch branches were used for flogging one's body.

After, we entered the women area. Their life was mainly inside the palace and they were not authorized to go outside in order to avoid diseases.

In the reception room we saw the portraits of the 2 wives of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich : Maria Miloslavskaia (left) and Natalia Narychkina (right).

Then we entered the clergy reception room.

Note that the round stove in the area of women was to prevent small children getting hurt with the angles.

There was also a room for workshop : the women were doing hand-embroidery and also clothes of the Tsar's family.

Here a chapel for women.

Next room to see was Sophie's one : Sophie was one of the children of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich and she was regent when Ivan IV was Tsar. She didn't want that her brother become a Tsar. In 1689, she organized troubles to kill Peter The Great while he was at Sergiev Posad monastery. Sophie didn't succeed and terminated her life in the Convent of Novodievitchy in Moscow.

To be noted the old English clock.

Last room to see was Elisabeth's one. She was mainly interested by entertainments, receptions. She had 15.000 dresses and 7.000 pairs of shoes (incredible but that is what our guide told us).