Built in the 17th century without using any fasten materials, nails or hooks, wooden palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye is considered to be one of the best masterpieces of Russian wooden architecture. It is also a popular site outside Moscow city center. The palace was destroyed in the 18th century and reconstructed in 2010 according to the old blueprint.
You can reach the palace through Kolomenskaya metro station or Kashirskaya metro station.
The wooden palace consist of 26 buildings connected with each other by passage and halls. It has 270 rooms.
The palace’s rich exotic decor was admired by foreigners who saw it. The Tsar’s contemporizes even referred to it as the “Eight Wonder of the World”.
Although built for summer residency, it became a favourite residence for both Tsar Alexis and his successors.
The future Empress Elizabeth Petrovna was born in the palace in 1709, and Tsar Peter the Great spent part of his youth here.
Upon the departure of the court for St Petersburg, the palace fell into disrepair. Catherine the Great ordered the wooden palace to be demolished and replaced it with stone and brick structures. Catherine’s palace was also demolished in 1872, and only a few gates and outside buildings remain.
The Moscow government completed a full scale reconstruction in 2010. But by this time, the original basement of the palace was covered with forest. Hence the building was relocated to the location today.
The new structure, however, isn’t completely of wood — it was built in concrete and then covered with wooden logs.
The palace is now turned into a museum.
The front view of the palace.
Kolomenskoye is huge, encompassing an area of 390 hectares. Instead of walking, I opt to go for a buggy ride.
The cost for the ride is 100 ruble per person.
This is the original site of the wooden palace.
The Saviour Gate or also known as the back gate was built in the 1670s and served as the entrance to the household of the estate.
Linden alley was created in 1825 and is lined with trees which runs from the Saviour Gate to the Ascension Square.
Built in 1644, the Church of Our Lady of Kazan was the family chapel of the palace.
The central altar is dedicated in the name of our Lady of Kazan.
St George the Victorious Church and the Bell Tower.
Church of the Ascension is the first tent-roof stone church in Russia.
Built in 1532, the church is the earliest structure on the imperial estate of Kolomenskoye to celebrate the birth of the prince who was to become Tsar Ivan IV, also known as Ivan the Terrible.
It was built by an Italian architect, supposedly Pietro Annibale at the order of Moscow Grand Prince Vasily III.
In 1994, the church was included into UNESCO World Heritage list as a cultural heritage site.
Household Structure is one of the examples of wooden architecture in Kolomenskoye.
The Gate is the gala entrance to the Tsar’s courtyard. The Front Gate complex includes the Clock Tower, the Chancellery and the Colonel’s Chamber.
Commanding officers of the Streltsy post that guarded the Tsar’s courtyard were located at the Colonel’s Chamber.
Kolomenskoye is really worth a visit and it’s just a short metro ride from Moscow’s city centre.
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