View of the corps de logis from the cour d'honneur.

The Alexander Palace is primarily remembered as the favourite residence of the last Russian emperor, Nicholas II, and his family. It is situated in the Alexander Park of Tsarskoye Selo, not far from St Petersburg. Image File history File links Alexandrovsky. ... Image File history File links Alexandrovsky. ... Blenheim Palace, unscaled plan of the Corps de logis. ... Blenheim Palace, The Cour dHonneur is the large central court formed by the secondary wings containing kitchens and domestic offices flanking the Corps de logis Versailles: Louis Le Vau opened up the interior court to create the expansive entrance cour dhonneur, later copied all over Europe Cour d... Nicholas II of Russia (18 May [O.S. 6 May] 1868 – 17 July [O.S. 4 July] 1918) (Russian: , Nikolay II) was the last Emperor of Russia, King of Poland,[1] and Grand Duke of Finland. ... Catherine Palace and Park Tsarskoye Selo (Russian: ; may be translated as Tsar’s Village) is a former Russian residence of the imperial family and visiting nobility 24 km south of St. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and...

Palace under Alexander I

The Alexander Palace was constructed in the Imperial retreat of Tsarskoe Selo. It was commissioned by Catherine the Great for her favorite grandson and future emperor Alexander I of Russia on the occasion of his marriage to Grand Duchess Elizaveeta Akexeevna, born Princess Louise Mary August of Baden. Tsarskoye Selo (Царское Село in Russian, may be translated as “Tsar’s Village”), a former residence of the royal families and visiting nobility 24 km south of St. ... Catherine II (Екатерина II Алексеевна: Yekaterína II Alekséyevna, April 21, 1729 - November 6, 1796), born Sophie Augusta Fredericka, known as Catherine the Great, reigned as empress of Russia from... Aleksandr I Pavlovich (Russian: Александр I Павлович) (December 23, 1777–December 1, 1825), was Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801-1 December 1825 and King of Poland from 1815–1825, as well as the first Grand Duke of Finland. ...

The graceful Neoclassical edifice was planned by Giacomo Quarenghi and built between 1792-1796. It was agreed that the architect had excelled himself in creating a masterpiece. ^[1] In 1821, a quarter of a century later the architect's son wrote: "An elegant building which looks over the beautiful new garden ... in Tsarskoe Selo, was designed and built by my father at the request of Catherine II, as a summer residence for the young Grand Duke Alexander, our present sovereign. In keeping with the august status of the person for whome the Palace was conceived, the architect shaped it with greatest simplicity, combining both functionality with beauty. Its dignified facade, harmonic proportions, and moderate ornamentation ... are also manifested in its interiors ..., without compromising comfort in striving for magnificence and elegance". ^[2] Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture. ... It has been said that Quarenghi, due to his somewhat droll appearance, was the most frequently painted of architects. ...

An interesting story about construction is that when the crew was excavating to start the foundation, they ran into an underground river which today runs below the simicurcular hall. Alexander used the palace as a summer residence through the remainder of his grandmother's and his father, Paul's, reign. When he became emperor, however, he chose to reside in the nearby Catherine Palace. Paul I of Russia Paul I of Russia (Russian: Pavel Petrovich, Павел I Петрович) (October 1, 1754 - March 23, 1801) was an Emperor (Tsar) of Russia (1796 - 1801). ... This article is actively undergoing a major edit for a short while. ...

Palace under Nicholas I

Alexander I gave the palace to his brother, the future Nicholas I for summer usage. From that time on, it was the summer residence of the heir to the throne. From 1830-1850, extensive redecoration was carried out according to designs by D.Cerfolio, A.Thon, D.Yefimov, A.Stakenschneider and others in keeping with rapidly changing tastes. The appearance of the formal and private rooms of the palace during Nicholas' reign can be seen in equisite watercolors by E.Hau, I.Premazzi and I.Volsky from 1840-1860. ^[3] The famous Mountain Hall which had a large slide built in for the children of Nicholas I was built during this time. Nicholas I and his family lived in the palace from the early spring till the end of May and after a short period at Krasnoye Selo during manoeuvres returned to the palace to spend their time there until the late autumn. In 1842, the Imperial couple celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with a series of galas including a medieval jousting tournament. Two years later, the family mourned the death of Nicholas's daughter Grand Duchess Alexandra (1825-1844) who was born at the palace and lived the last few months of her life there. On October 19, 1860, the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna also passed away at the palace. Later Alexander III had his apartments in the right hand wing of the palace. Nicholas I (Russian: Николай I Павлович, Nikolai I Pavlovich), July 6 (June 25, Old Style), 1796–March 2 (18 February Old Style), 1855), was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855. ... October 19 is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... Alexander III (10 March 1845-1 November 1894) reigned as Emperor of Russia from 14 March 1881 until his death in 1894. ...

Working study of the last Russian tsar.

Image File history File linksMetadata Nicholastudy. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Nicholastudy. ...

Palace under Nicholas II

The palace is most famous though for the role it played in the reign of the last tsar, Nicholas II. He and his wife Alexandra always loved the palace and decided to make it their permanent residence after the Bloody Sunday which made Winter Palace odious to them. They remodeled the former two-story ballroom into the Maple Room ^[4] and the New Study ^[5] and added rooms for their children on the floor above. To the horror of the court, Alexandra, and her architect Meltzer, chose a then-modern style of decoration, Jugendstil or Art Nouveau, considered by the aristocracy to be "middle class" and less than "Imperial". One of these most famous rooms is Alexandra's Mauve Room ^[6]. During the reign of Nicholas II, the palace was wired for electricity and equipped with a telephone system. In 1899 a hydraulic lift was installed connecting the Empress' suite with the children's rooms on the second floor. Furthermore with the advent of motion pictures, a screening booth was built in the Semicircular Hall to show films. During the stormy years of war and revolution, the monumental walls of the Alexander Palace sheltered the Imperial Family from the outside world. Pierre Gilliard, tutor to Nicholas II's son had free access to this inner sanctum. In his memoirs, the tutor later described that the family life at Tsarskoe Selo was less formal that at other residences. Apart from a few exceptions, the court did not reside at the palace. The Imperial Family would gather informally around the table at mealtimes without attendants, unless relatives were visiting. ^[7] Nicholas II abdicated the throne of Russia on March 2, 1917. Thirteen days late he returned to the Alexander Palace not as Emperor of Russia, but as Colonel Romanov, to whom a badly educated ensign could not give his hand. The Imperial Family were now held under house arrest and confined to a few rooms of the palace and watched over by a guard with fixed bayonets. ^[8] The regime of their captivity, worked out by Kerensky himself, envisaged strict limitations in the life of the Imperial Family - an isolation from the outer world, a guard during thier promenades in the park, prohibition of any contacts and correspondence apart from approved letters. ^[9] Gillard noted, "In their spare time, free from studies, the Empress and her daughters were engaged in sewing something, embroidering or weaving, but they were never idle .. During daytime walks all the members of the family, excluding the Empress, were engaged in physical work: they cleaned paths in the park from snow, chopped ice for the cellar, cut dry branches or old trees, storing firewood for the future winter. With the arrival of the warmer weather the entire family worked on an extensive kitchen-garden .." ^[10] On the direct order of Kerensky, the Imperial Family were moved on the morning of August 1, 1917 by train to Tobolsk in Siberia. Nicholas II of Russia (18 May [O.S. 6 May] 1868 – 17 July [O.S. 4 July] 1918) (Russian: , Nikolay II) was the last Emperor of Russia, King of Poland,[1] and Grand Duke of Finland. ... Princess Alix of Hesse, as Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia (1872-1918) Her Grand Ducal Highness Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine (Alix Victoria Helena Louise Beatrice, 6 June 1872 - 17 July 1918), was the consort of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the last Tsar of Russia. ... Demonstrators march to the Winter Palace Bloody Sunday (Russian: ) was an incident on 22 January [O.S. 9 January] 1905 in St. ... Located between the Palace Embankment and the Palace Square, the Winter Palace (Russian: Зимний Дворец) in Saint Petersburg, Russia was built between 1754 and 1762 as the winter residence of the Russian tsars. ... Jugendstil is defined as a style of architecture or decorative art similar to Art Nouveau, popular in German-speaking areas of Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries [1]. Jugendstil was also popular in the Nordic countries, where it became integrated with the National Romantic Style. ... Vitebsk Railway Station one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture. ... Year 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... Pierre Gilliard (1879 - May 30, 1962), a Swiss citizen, was the French tutor for the five children of Tsar Nicholas II from 1905 to 1918. ... March 2 is the 61st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (62nd in leap years). ... Year 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky (Russian:Алекса́ндр Фёдорович Ке́ренский) (April 22, 1881 (May 2, New Style) - June 11, 1970) was the second prime minister of the... Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky (Russian:Алекса́ндр Фёдорович Ке́ренский) (April 22, 1881 (May 2, New Style) - June 11, 1970) was the second prime minister of the... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... Year 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... View of Tobolsk in the 1910s Tobolsk (Russian: ; Tatar: Tubıl) is a historic capital of Siberia, now an ordinary town in Tyumen Oblast, Russia. ... Siberian Federal District (darker red) and the broadest definition of Siberia (red) arctic northeast Siberia Udachnaya pipe Siberia (Russian: , Sibir; Tatar: ) is a vast region of Russia constituting almost all of Northern Asia and comprising a large part of the Euro-Asian Steppe. ...

Bedchamber of the last Russian Empress.

Image File history File linksMetadata Alixroom. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Alixroom. ...

The Palace after the Revolution

Immediately following the Imperial Family's exile to Tobolsk until the beginning of the Second World War, the palace was a museum. At the beginning of World War II the most valuable furnishing were evacuated to the interior of the country. The remaining parts of the collection, hidden in the basement, were during the Nazi German occupation. During the war years, the palace was used as headquarters for the German military command. The area in front of the palace was turned into a cemetery for SS soldiers. Artistically and historically unique collections were partially destroyed. As the Nazi German forces were leaving Russia, many of the suburban palaces were set ablaze. The Alexander Palace was spared. The palace was used as a depot for artworks coming back into the area. It was later decided not to turn it back into a museum and it was given to the Navy. It also functioned as an orphanage, although the children housed there managed to destroy parts of the second floor where the rooms of the Tsar's five children were located. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... National Socialism redirects here. ... SS or ss or Ss may be: The Schutzstaffel, a Nazi paramilitary force Steamship (SS) (ship prefix) The United States Secret Service A submarine not powered by nuclear energy (SS) (United States Navy designator), see SSN A Soviet/Russian surface-to-surface missile, as listed by NATO reporting name Shortstop...

The Palace Today

Until very recently the palace was seen as little more than an enhancement to the beautiful Alexander Park. Few knew that the formal halls had been preserved within, or that the Catherine and Pavlovsk palaces contained equisite chandaliers, torcheries, formal portraits and many other works of art created specficially for those halls. Fewer realised that, in the left wing of the palace, decorations dating from the last Russian emperor had survived intact. In the summer of 1997, a permanent exhibition was opened in the left wing of the building. Today certain elements of the Reception Room, Nicholas II's New Study and Alexandra's Corner Drawing Room have been recreated and provide a fascinating backdrop to the exhibitions of historical costumes, weapons and objects of applied art to be found within the walls. In Nicholas II's beautifully preserved Study, where the working environment of the last Russian Emperor has been recreated, hangs a portrait of Nicholas II's father painted by the great Russian artist, Valentin Serov. In the children's quarters, visitors can see dresses once worn by the Grand Duchesses and outfits and toys belonging to the Tsarevich Alexis. It is worth a visit. Pavlovsk (Russian: Павловск) is a town situated in the Leningrad oblast, Russia, 30 km from St. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Self-portrait, 1880ies Valentin Alexandrovich Serov (Russian: Валентин Александрович Серов) (1865 - 1911) was a Russian painter. ...

See also

• Chinese Village - a piece of Chinoiserie in the Alexander Palace Park
• Catherine Palace - another great palace in Tsarskoe Selo
• Gatchina - summer residence of Nicholas II's parents
• Pavlovsk - palace of Paul I and his wife Maria Feodorovna

Cross (Krestovy) Bridge in the 19th century. ... Chinoiserie refers to an artistic style which reflects Chinese influence and is characterized through the use of elaborate decoration and intricate patterns. ... This article is actively undergoing a major edit for a short while. ... Gatchina is the city of 84900 inhabitants in the Leningrad oblast of the Russian Federation, 45 km south of St Petersburg by the road leading to Pskov. ... Pavlovsk (Russian: Павловск) is a town situated in the Leningrad oblast, Russia, 30 km from St. ...

External links

• Alexander Palace Time Machine
• Official website of the palace
• Walking near the palace
• Alexander Park
• Photos of Alexander Palace interiors