history of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, as well as many other buildings in the city, begins during the reign of Tsar Peter I. In 1711, the king built a sort of winter residence, which is called the Winter Palace.It was a tiny two-storey house with a tiled roof and a high porch with steps.The history of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg is quite interesting and multi-stage.Well, it's time to start this historic voyage.
second Winter Palace
As the years passed, the city grew rapidly, and more and more people close to the emperor (ie the king), began to build their own estates in St. Petersburg.Peter I, of course, also wanted to holiday gingerbread house.So there were the famous Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.The second palace was built right next to the first, designed by architect IM Matarnovi.The palace was just a bit larger than the first, but it was built of stone, but most of it is noteworthy that it was here in 1725, died Tsar Peter I. Information on the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg remained significantly so that any tourist can personally look atplace the death of the king.
third Winter Palace
architect D. Trezzini engaged in the modernization of the second Winter Palace almost immediately after the death of the king.The building turned out really great and majestic.Second Winter Palace was the west wing and the main room on the third place it is now the Hermitage Theatre.About the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, you can tell a lot, and it is only a small fraction of all the great stories.
Fourth Palace
Historians fourth palace is associated with the name of Anna Ivanovna.Nicety Empress was dissatisfied with the fact that some of Admiral Apraksin Palace bigger and richer than her ... But he was not big enough and nice for Her Majesty.The architect Rastrelli solved this problem in the following way: it has attached to the palace there is a third very long body.This building was called the "fourth Winter Palace in St. Petersburg."Brief description of facilities include a grand palace with two beautiful facades.Rastrelli was truly talented architect.
fifth and sixth milestone
Fifth palace was only a temporary, not a magnificent wooden shelter, which is also located far from the banks of the Neva.But the sixth palace was really indescribably grand.In general, all the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg was innovative for its time.This time in front of the main architect was almost unbeatable challenge: to develop a draft of the palace and put it into practice for two years!Such was the whim of the then Empress Elizabeth!
of six palace employed thousands of artisans, painters, foundry and many others.Huge areas and resources have been allocated to the needs of the construction.But the chief engineer F. Rastrelli knew that for two years he did not manage, and continuously requested extension.In the end, with great difficulty, he managed to obtain from the Empress of extending for a year.
creative genius of Rastrelli
eventually got a full Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.Brief description of it is this: the gigantic size of a piece of art.The palace has two facades: one went to the area, the other - the Neva.During the warmer seasons, the palace is reflected in the waters of the river, which multiplies the effect.
genius Rastrelli perfectly conceived interior layout of the palace.It consisted of three floors.The first premises were located on the second - two staterooms and a temple, and the third floor has been allocated entirely to the court.In general, in the palace, there were 460 different rooms, which has a stunning finish.Perhaps this is due to the creative exploration Rastrelli can safely say that the key attraction of St. Petersburg - Winter Palace.
death of the Empress and the new owner of the palace
Empress Elizabeth, apparently unconsciously feel the imminent demise, so wanted to project her palace was completed as quickly as possible.However, she died in a provisional fifth wooden palace, never seeing his Winter Palace.
In 1761 the palace "captured" Tsar Peter III.He was extremely pleased with this work of architectural art and decided to honor Rastrelli rank of Major General.However, who ascended the throne in 1962, Catherine II destroyed the career of the great architect, and he had to emigrate to Italy, where he also continued to work on a specialty.
little about the process of building
As mentioned above, have been involved in the construction of thousands of serfs.Only a tiny fraction of them are granted the right to live and sleep in the room of the Winter Palace, but the majority are placed in tents right on Admiralty meadows.Sellers that part of the city, seeing all this hype, overstated the price of food, and pay for food subtracted from the salary of the workers.It was not unusual, and so that the worker remained in debt to their employer after payday.They say that some masons even starve, so brutal were the conditions.Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, like the Great Wall of China, the state demanded a fair share of resources.At the time, Russia was at war with Prussia, forging weapons turned banal no one, for the majority of blacksmiths were involved in the construction of the Winter Palace.
construction of the Winter Palace there were about 2.5 million rubles, and in those days the ruble has been very valuable currency.
Fire in the Winter Palace
In 1837, a terrible storm happened - beautiful Winter Palace broke!The cause of the disaster was the failure of the chimney.The extent of the fire were truly enormous - 30 hours it was extinguished a few battalions of the Guards regiments, two companies of the palace fire, a company of the palace grenadiers and hundreds "of units."Trying to save the property of the palace, the soldiers desperately laid bricks door, trying to stop the fire, dismantled parts of the roof to be able to pour water on top, but the actual use is not brought.
Restoration of the palace
When the fire finally died down, it was only possible to find out the walls and vaults of the ground floor - the rest deformed beyond recognition.In 1837, restoration work was begun, which ended only after three years (note that for the same time, the Winter Palace was built from the ground).And despite the fact that the work of each day participated 10 thousand. Workers.Since the time of the original design of the palace took a huge amount of time, many of the drawings were lost, and then architects had to improvise.As a result of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg significantly transformed, finding features modern look of architecture.So there was, in fact, "the seventh version of the" palace.Description of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg the following: white-green appearance with lots of columns and meet periodically with gold ornaments.
Electrification and internal modernization
At time interval 1869-1888, the palaces in every way upgrade: telefoniziruyut, electrified, gazofitsiruyut, carry water pipes.By the way, for the electrification of the Winter Palace on its second floor was built power plant, which for 15 years was considered the largest in Europe.
Under the influence of the different modes of the palace was repeatedly subjected to the modernization of the interior and the color of the walls.There is no color in the spectrum of the rainbow, which does not stain at the time the Winter Palace.For example, during World War II, the palace had warlike rich red color.
Winter Palace today
The story of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg comes to an end.Today it exists in an alliance with the adjacent theater and was with them a single complex "Hermitage".This is the last, the eighth version.Idle and sophisticated look incredible degree entitles confidently say that the key attraction of St. Petersburg - Winter Palace.
Who magnificent Winter Palace is open for visits and historical tours.Description of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, from the mouth of an experienced historian is really fascinating.Tourists have the right to enjoy the perfectly trimmed throne hall of St. George, the Golden Room or elegant boudoir full of lots of mirrors and gold ornaments.Also worth uchidet Malachite Room with rich green columns and a majestic concert hall.Also, it has an art gallery with a lot of original works.
