Places to Explore
Five sites that tell tales of the tsars
the Grand Kremlin Palace Moscow
Once an imperial residence for the tsars, the Grand Kremlin Palace was built between 1837 and 1849 as a tribute to the nation’s rulers. Along with other Moscow landmarks such as the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the Kremlin Armoury, the palace was designed by the official architect of Imperial Russia, Konstantin Thon.
Since its construction it has been at the heart of Russian political life, first acting as the Moscow home of the tsars then home to the conferences of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and now as the official residence of the president of the Russian Federation. Its opulent halls and over 700 rooms were restored in the 1990s after decades of neglect, returning it to its former and dazzling glory.
The palace is now used more often as a ceremonial location for dignitaries to visit more than as a residence and it sits at the heart of the wider Kremlin complex of buildings close to Red Square and on the Moskva River.
Group and private tours two or three times a month between 10am and 3pm with exact dates announced in advance. Ticket prices vary. Visit kremlintour.com for more info.