peace palace tour

Peace Palace

The peace palace.

The Peace Palace is the worldwide icon of 'Peace through Law' and houses the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the United Nations International Court of Justice, the Hague Academy of International Law and the Library of the Peace Palace. Watch the introduction film for more information and and experience the magnificent interior with the 360 degree virtual tour.

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What to know about visiting the Peace Palace in the Hague by a local

October 24, 2018 by Karen Turner 2 Comments

One of the most stunning buildings in the Hague is the Peace Palace (Vredespaleis in Dutch).  Visiting the Peace Palace is not particularly easy, however touring the grounds where the International Court of Justice is held is a worthwhile endeavor.  I’ll be discussing the history of the Peace Palace, what to expect from a guided tour of the Peace Palace, and how to visit the Peace Palace as a private citizen.

I received permission to take photos from the Peace Palace as I visited as a member of the press thanks to This is the Hague.  Photos are generally not allowed inside the building. 

Included in this article: History of the Peace Palace, how to visit the Peace Palace as a private citizen, and interesting notes about the Peace Palace.

As a teenager, I was very active in Model United Nations and one of the highlights of my teenage years was meeting members of the Laos delegation at their consultate prior to reenacting a recent United Nations debate within the actual Assembly Hall.  (My only disappointment was the buttons didn’t work, so I still had to raise a placard to try to speak.)  Maybe due to my own geeky past, visiting the Peace Palace was truly a dream for me.  

Although we talk a lot about justice and creating a better world, there is no place as symbolic as well as significant as the Peace Palace in the Hague.  Although the United Nation’s role in world politics is often discussed, the actual role of the International Court of Justice in preventing wars is not. 

• 1 The history of the Peace Palace
• 2.1 Attending court cases at the International Court of Justice
• 2.2 Sporadic events at the Peace Palace
• 2.3 Garden visits at the Peace Palace
• 3.1 The Christ statue
• 3.2 The love story of the Peace Palace
• 4 Have you visited the Peace Palace?

The history of the Peace Palace

As the 20th century was ushered in, politicians as well as philanthropists had a lot of hope that the new century would bring prosperity, peace, and unity to the new world.  The Hague Convention in 1899 was a major peace conference that determined that there should be rules in regard to war and war crimes.

Andrew Carnegie (yes, the steel magnate) is personally responsible for funding a significant portion of the Peace Palace’s construction.  This donation, which had go to through the Carnegie Foundation as it was not possible to directly donate the funds to the Dutch Queen, amounted to around 40 million dollars today.  It was constructed not as a palace, but rather a secular monument to humanity’s hopes for a better world.

An international architectural competition was called in order to find a design that suited the cause.  Unfortunately, the design was too grand, so only one large clock tower was built instead of two symmetric towers. 

Various countries contributed various architectural features as well as decorations within the palace itself.  These gifts include stunning windows from the United Kingdom, carpets from Japan, a clock from Switzerland, and marble from Italy.  (I especially loved this creative window that is said to be inspired by Japan above!) It took almost five years to built the Peace Palace and the original building was opened in 1913.

How to visit the Peace Palace as a private individual

You can always view the Peace Palace from its exterior and my favorite time is right around sunset.  Usually, the crowds have cleared out and you can admire the building through the fence.  You can also admire the Eternal Flame, which burns outside of the grounds.

However, if you’re interested in visiting as a private individual, there are several options for visiting the Peace Palace interior although they are dependent on court cases and it can be difficult to arrange too far ahead of your visit.  You must show valid identification, which includes a passport or EU identification card. 

There are occasionally tours of the interior on weekends, so you can check the website for tours of the interior, which are generally posted a few weeks ahead of the dates.  These tickets generally sell out quickly.  Around the holiday season, the Peace Palace has a few nights where the building is lit up at night for visitors. Until I went on this visit, I had been unable to obtain tickets, even as a resident of the area.

The tours are fairly official and there are quite a few restrictions regarding photography, however the tour guides are very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the history of the building.   Be sure to leave any large bags at home/at your hotel room, bring your passport, and arrive early to ensure there’s enough time for security.

Attending court cases at the International Court of Justice

During court cases, the Peace Palace is generally  not  open for tours, but if you are committed to seeing it, you can arrive early on days with court cases to be part of the audience for court cases for the International Court of Justice.   I visited as the ICJ (International Court of Justice) was preparing for a case, so I was unable to take photos within the room as employees were setting up. 

As you might imagine, there are limited seats available and no photography is possible, but it is one way to see the Peace Palace in action.  There are a number of conditions attached and there is no guarantee that you will be allowed into the audience.

Sporadic events at the Peace Palace

Events are typically listed a few weeks in advance, so if you wish to attend, check the website of the Vredespaleis as well as their Facebook page to stay informed of upcoming tours.  Tickets typically sell out quickly and cannot be resold.  (Tours are in Dutch, English, and German.)

My husband was able to attend a chess tournament at the Peace Palace, which cost a few euros, but it included a tour of the grounds prior to the tournament.  There are also occasionally concerts on the grounds although these events are typically announced approximately one month ahead.

Garden visits at the Peace Palace

The garden surrounding the Peace Palace is also incredibly beautiful and it is possible to tour the grounds a few times a year.  Tickets are harder to come by and go fast, so check the website for upcoming dates.

Interesting notes about the Peace Palace

The christ statue.

One of the parts that surprised me most about the Peace Palace was its non-religious interior, which is atypical in many places in Europe.  Given that the Peace Palace was built as a “temple of Peace,” there was a decision to make it non-religious, however there’s one notable exception: a statue of Christ that sits on the second floor.

Although both countries were ready to go to war, the Peace Palace was able to prevent a war from occurring between Chile and Argentina.  The statue of Christ is a replica of a large statue of Christ that was made of melted down bullets and other machinery after it was rendered unnecessary. 

The love story of the Peace Palace

One of the most remarkable stories about the Peace Palace was the love story that took place within it.  A locally born interior designer named Herman Rosse was hired at only 24 year old.  Already well traveled, he was tasked with decorating the Peace Palace interior.   

The interior, especially the ceilings are decorated with beautiful flower and art motifs with a modern twist.  Although he assumed that these designs would be painted over in the future by a famous artist, his stunning designs have beautifully lasted the test of time. Be sure to take a moment to pause on the staircase to admire the intricate designs.  His painting of Peace, Law, Order, and Justice as goddesses are shown above.

During his time decorating the interior, he ended up falling in love with the apprentice of the gardeners.  The couple ended up marrying and it’s said that he’s painted her face into the ceiling of the Peace Palace.  After this period, the couple moved to Hollywood where Herman Rosse became the first Dutchman to win an Oscar for his work on the King of Jazz’ s sets.

Have you visited the Peace Palace?

For more insider tips for the Hague, click for my one day trip guide to the Hague, unique things to do in the Hague , where to stay in the Hague , and where to eat in the Hague .

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

December 4, 2022 at 1:31 pm

My husband, the couple we are travelling with, and especially myself are very interested in a tour of the Peace Palace on Saturday April 8, 2023. I will try hard to get tickets from here in the USA 2 weeks before but would appreciate local help and a tour. We are staying in an Amsterdam hotel.

January 2, 2023 at 12:50 pm

It is not easy. You can contact them directly, but it is not typically open for tours every weekend.

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Visit The Peace Palace

See the international court of the hague.

This elegant building has housed an international court of justice to settle disputes between sovereign nations worldwide for more than a century. Opened in 1913, the beautiful landmark was mostly funded by famed American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to promote world peace. To this day, the Carnegie Foundation is responsible for the upkeep, maintenance and expansion of the building grounds.

Now the Peace Palace is home to important judicial bodies on the world stage, including the Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague Academy of International Law, the Peace Palace Library, and the International Court of Justice. Along with its major function as a venue to settle important conflicts between countries, the International Court of Justice is now considered the principal judicial branch of the United Nations and an essential element of international diplomacy since World War II.

Info about the Peace Palace

Getting to & around, videos about the international court, plan your visit to the peace palace, the most important judicial building in the world.

The idea of the Peace Palace started with talks between Russian diplomat Friedrich Martens and American Andrew Dickson White, who persuaded Andrew Carnegie to fund its construction in 1901.  The palace was conceived as a home for the Permanent Court of Arbitration, a court created to end international conflict by the Hague Convention of 1899.

The foundation stone was laid during the Peace Conference of 1907, in which 44 countries participated. The building was designed by Dutch architect Louis Cordonnier, who was in attendance when it officially opened in August of 1913, within days of the start of The Great War. (see video)

Since then, the Peace Palace has been the venue for many important events, such as the Nuremberg trials, the Lockerbie bombing trial, the Kosovo advisory opinion, the Iran-US Claims Tribunal, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the UNICRI Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

Getting To & Around The Palace Area (Vredespaleis)

How to get to the peace palace.

Of course, the NS Railway offers quick, convenient service from all points in the country, so this is the preferred method of travel. Once in town, trams 1 & 61 stop nearby, both readily available from the central station. Buses 24 & 28 serve the area as well.

Bus stop: Gravenhage, Vredespaleis

By car, take the A12 into town and turn left onto Zuid Hollandlaan, right onto Koningskade, left onto Laan Copes van Cattenburgh & left on Burgemeester van Karnebeeklaan. Visitors can’t park on the grounds, so park at the Museumkwartier lot (10 minutes walk) or book a space online from €15. You can also find on-street metered parking spaces in neighbouring streets (€5/2hrs).

Videos about the Peace Palace & the International Court

Plan your next visit to the Peace Palace

The International Court of The Hague is one of the most popular sites in the city – its historical significance, political importance, and central location make it a fascinating destination. Plan your visit mid-week in the afternoon; they’re closed Monday & Tuesday and do not open until noon. And don’t forget to explore nearby Sorghvliet Park , which features refreshing walking trails to enjoy . Whether you’re interested in history, politics, or simply want to soak in the beauty of the building, the Peace Palace is for you.

When you join a tour, you are charged a  €1,89 booking fee per attendee . These costs cover the following:

€1,50 booking fee:

• A guarantee of your reservation, both for you and for us.
• Our work on the backend, organizing & managing our tours and guides.
• Marketing & website maintenance, so you can find us when looking for the best tour in Amsterdam.
• Being there for you when you contact us!

€0,39 transaction fee for electronic payments

The booking fee can be paid when you  make an online booking , or at the start of the tour with a credit/debit card. For more information about the fee and our cancellation policy, visit our  Booking Fee & Cancellation Policy page .

The booking fee does not go to the guide 

The costs for reservation go to administration and do not benefit the guide. Our guides rely solely on your donation at the end the tour. The amount you tip is up to you, based on your personal experience of our tour and your budget.

• Show distance

Peace Palace Garden Tour

As the garden of the Peace Palace begins to bloom, the garden tours also start again. On Thursdays at 2 pm (check the current agenda in advance) accompanied by the gardener, you can come and see the special historical garden of the Peace Palace . The walk goes via the pond and rosary to the greenhouses and winter garden at the back of the grounds. You will hear all about the special trees and plants, working in the garden, the history of the former Zorgvliet estate and the ideas behind the garden design. Tickets for a guided tour of the Peace Palace garden can only be purchased via the Peace Palace website. Important Entrance is only possible on presentation of a valid ID. Photography is not permitted. Accessibility The garden tour is unfortunately not accessible for prams, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and rollators due to stairs, rock paths and small corners. The tours are unfortunately not suitable for young children. Visitors Centre Next to the entrance of the Peace Palace is the visitors' centre. If you want to learn more about the creation of the Peace Palace and the international organisations housed in this building, the (free) audio tour accompanying the exhibition is highly recommended.  Peace Palace The Peace Palace, the surrounding grounds as well as the Library belong to the Carnegie Foundation. The main task of the Carnegie Foundation is to manage the Peace Palace, a recognised national monument, as well as to be a good host for the international institutions based in the palace. The foundation further promotes the organisation of seminars and other initiatives promoting the ideal of peace and is a member of the international-philanthropic network of Carnegie institutions. Note! The Peace Palace is still in use. Tours may be closed during important visits and discussions. The calendar lists which days the tours are held, but are not guaranteed days.  Check the Peace Palace website for available times . 

Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker

• Date Dec. 04 , 2018
• Event Starts 7:00 PM
• Venue Fine Arts Theatre
• Doors Open 1 Hour Prior To Performance
• Ticket Prices $30.50-$177.50
• Availability On Sale Now
• Seating Chart View Seating Chart

Event Details

Christmas is coming and so is the one and only Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Presenting world class Russian artists, hand-painted sets, Russian Snow Maidens, and jubilant Nesting Dolls – Great Russian Nutcracker brings the Christmas spirit to life for all ages. “Kids wide-eyed with delight!” says the New York Times. Experience the Dove of Peace Tour, spreading goodwill in over 100 cities across North America. Get seats now for the whole family and make memories for a lifetime at Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker!

Additional Ticket Information

Ticket Prices

$177.50 - platinum.

• Floor: Row F, Seats 22-36
• Meet-n-Greet and Photo Opportunity with the world-renowned Moscow Ballet Ballerinas and Danseurs
• Take Home Gifts including one-of-a-kind, Moscow Ballet branded memorabilia! *Please note! Platinum Experience patrons meet the Moscow Ballet Tour Manager in venue lobby 45 minutes prior to opening curtain in order to guarantee the personal Meet-n-Greet. Moscow Ballet cannot guarantee a Meet-n-Greet if patrons are not in the venue lobby 45 minutes prior to curtain.

$104.50 - Gold Circle

• Floor: Row B, Seats 9-33
• Floor: Row C, Seats 10-34
• Floor: Row D, SEats 13-37
• Includes Moscow Ballet Gift Package including:
• Moscow Ballet hand-crafted, wooden Nutcracker Doll
• Limited Edition Moscow Ballet Souvenir Program book filled with over 50 pages of stunning images.  Please note - Gold Circle patrons redeem Gift Packages at Moscow Ballet merchandise table prior to the performance.
• Floor: Row(s) A & E and G-N
• Floor: Row B, Seats 1-8 & 34-39
• Floor: Row C, Seats 1-9 & 35-42
• Floor: Row D, Seats 1-12 & 38-47
• Floor: Row F, Seats 1-21 & 37-55
• Floor: Rows O-V
• Balcony: Rows AA-EE
• Floor: Rows W-ZZ
• Balcony: Rows FF-LL

Steven Tyler, Aerosmith announce rescheduled farewell concert tour: New dates and ticket info

Aerosmith will be back in the saddle again this fall.

The veteran rockers, who postponed their Peace Out farewell tour after only a few shows in September, will return for a 40-date run starting Sept. 20 in Pittsburgh. The tour wraps Feb. 26, 2025 in Buffalo, NY.

The bulk of the dates are rescheduled, but the band added three cities: Pittsburgh, Orlando and Philadelphia, where their goodbye run kicked off last September.

All previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new dates, while tickets for the new shows will go on sale at 10 a.m. local time April 12 via ticketmaster.com . For those who previously purchased tickets and cannot attend the rescheduled concerts, refunds will be available at point of purchase. A series of VIP packages are also available at aerosmith.com/VIP.

As with the original dates, The Black Crowes will open for Aerosmith.

More: Aerosmith Peace Out: See the setlist for the iconic band's farewell tour

Why did Aerosmith postpone their farewell tour?

After playing only a handful of concerts in September, the “Walk This Way” heroes had to hit pause after singer Steven Tyler damaged his vocal cords. He also fractured his larynx and was given doctor’s orders not to sing for 30 days.

But Aerosmith opted to give Tyler ample time to recuperate and scuttle all of their shows until 2024.

The wiry frontman known for his searing rock yowls, said at the time that the injury occurred at a Sept. 10 show in New York and that the vocal cord damage “led to subsequent bleeding.”

What songs can fans expect to hear at Aerosmith’s farewell shows?

USA TODAY was there for opening night of the Peace Out tour Sept. 3 in Philadelphia. As the tour is also a celebration of the band’s 50 years in the music industry, the setlist reflected their vast catalog.

The band – Tyler, guitarist Joe Perry, bassist Tom Hamilton and guitarist Brad Whitford, along with drummer John Douglas filling in for Joey Kramer – sounded in peak form for their deserved victory lap.

Songs ranged from singalong rock smashes “Livin’ on the Edge,” “Sweet Emotion” and “Rag Doll” to the rarely played album track “Adam’s Apple” and a dip into Aerosmith’s blues roots with “Hangman Jury.”

More: The Black Keys ditch insecurities and enlist Beck, Noel Gallagher, hip-hop on new album

AEROSMITH PEACE OUT 2024 TOUR DATES: 

Sept. 20 – Pittsburgh – PPG Paints Arena (NEW SHOW)*

Sept. 23 – Philadelphia  – Wells Fargo Center (NEW SHOW)

Sept. 26 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center    

Sept. 29 – Cleveland  – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 

Oct. 2 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center

Oct. 5 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena 

Oct. 8 – Washington – Capital One Arena

Oct. 11 – Atlanta – State Farm Arena

Oct. 14 – St Louis – Enterprise Center

Oct. 17 – Cincinnati  – Heritage Bank Arena

Oct. 20 – Nashville, TN  – Bridgestone Arena

Oct. 31 – Phoenix  – Footprint Center

Nov. 3 – San Antonio - Frost Bank Center

Nov. 6 – Austin, TX – Moody Center

Nov. 9 – Dallas– American Airlines Center

Nov. 12 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center

Nov. 15 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center

Nov. 18 – Denver– Ball Arena    

Nov. 21 – Portland, OR – Moda Center 

Nov. 24 – Seattle – Climate Pledge Arena

Nov. 27 – Salt Lake City– Vivint Arena

Nov. 30 – San Francisco– Chase Center

Dec. 4 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center               

Dec. 7 – Los Angeles– The Kia Forum

Dec. 28 – Newark, NJ - Prudential Center 

Dec. 31 – Boston – TD Garden

Jan. 4 – Detroit - Little Caesars Arena       

Jan. 7 – Toronto – Scotiabank Arena 

Jan. 10 – Montreal – Bell Centre

Jan. 13 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center  

Jan. 16 – Indianapolis – Gainbridge Fieldhouse 

Jan. 19 – Chicago – United Center

Jan. 22 – St Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center

Jan. 25 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center

Feb. 11 – Orlando, FL – Kia Center (NEW SHOW)

Feb. 14 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena

Feb. 17 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena

Feb. 20 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena 

Feb. 23 – New York – Madison Square Garden

Feb. 26 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center  

* Teddy Swims Joining as Special Guest, The Black Crowes not appearing

Grand Kremlin Palace

• Biblioteka Imeni Lenina • 6 min walk
• Borovitskaya • 6 min walk

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Grand Kremlin Palace - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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• (0.23 mi) MIRROS Hotel Moscow Kremlin
• (0.43 mi) Four Seasons Hotel Moscow
• (0.40 mi) Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow
• (0.26 mi) People Red Square Hotel
• (0.26 mi) Korchma Taras Bulba
• (0.26 mi) Mu-Mu
• (0.28 mi) Eat & Talk
• (0.30 mi) Coffee House
• (0.21 mi) Bulka

Peace Center announces new summer concerts

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - On Tuesday the Peace Center announced dates for two new concerts coming to the venue in August.

Tony-award-winning singer and actress Idina Menzel will perform in Greenville on Aug. 7 as part of her Take Me or Leave Me tour. Menzel rose to stardom through musicals like Rent, Wicked and Frozen.

Click here for tickets to Idina Menzel.

On Aug. 8, The Marshall Tucker Band, natives of the Upstate, will take the stage for their Live on Cloud 9 tour. The country group, formed in Spartanburg in 1972, is known for their hits Heard It In A Love Song, Can’t You See, Fire on the Mountain and Take the Highway.

Click here for tickets to The Marshall Tucker Band.

Copyright 2024 WHNS. All rights reserved.

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View of the Kremlin and surrounding area from 1825. From The Album of Ancient Views of the Moscow Kremlin , by Ivan Zabelin. Available online from the Yeltsin Library .

The Kremlin: Moscow’s Historical Heart Through the Ages

Published: December 3, 2021

The Moscow Kremlin has long been the main symbol of Moscow and Russia – and for good reason. It was with the Kremlin that city of Moscow officially began and from which it grew. The Prince of Moscow, ruling from the Kremlin and drawing on the growing power of his city, united and conquered the cities and lands around him to create Russia.

While the Kremlin can be seen as something of a constant in Russian history, the Kremlin itself has seen major changes within its walls and to its own status. It has lost and gained buildings. It has changed from the seat of government to an ancillary structure, back to the governmental seat, and finally to a museum complex.

The resource below unites the work of multiple SRAS students writing on Home and Abroad , Challenge Grants , and Online Research Internships to bring you an overarching view of this iconic complex.

The Kremlin Walls

By Hudson Dobbs

The Kremlin was first established in 1156 by Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy. This post-dates the first mention of Moscow, which dates back to 1147, when Prince Dolgorukiy invited Prince Sviatoslav of Chernigov to Moscow to celebrate their alliance.

The actual site of this stronghold has likely been occupied since the second millennium BCE. It likely had fortifications built there as early as the 10th century, by the then-resident Vyatichi, a tribe of Slavic peoples.

Eventually, Prince Dolgorukiy ordered the construction of what would become the Kremlin walls. These first walls were tall and expansive and built out of wood. Although this structure was built for protection, it also served as a symbol for the power and strength of the new city of Moscow.

While the first walls did their job well, they were eventually burnt down by Tatar-Mongol forces and later upgraded to more fire-resistant oak in 1339. As the city grew, the Kremlin also further developed, and with it the popularity of building fortresses in town centers. Cities such as Smolensk, Kazan, Novgorod, and Pskov all constructed a Kremlin of their own. In fact, the word “kremlin” simply means “a fortress within a city.”

By the 13th century, the Kremlin housed the political and spiritual power of the state, with residences, workshops, churches, and state buildings all residing within its walls. In the 1360’s, Prince Dmitry Donskoy rebuilt the walls in limestone and a gleaming white Kremlin soon became the iconic image of Moscow. These walls were credited in helping the city defend itself from sieges by Grand Duke Algirdas of Lithuania in the late 1360’s.

The walls and towers that exist today are still another iteration, and were built on the order of Grand Prince Ivan III, also known as Ivan the Great, from 1485 to 1495. Ivan wanted to build something grander and more worthy of being his residence – something that would be comparable to Constantinople in terms of size and importance.

Wanting what would be specifically a “Third Rome,” Ivan invited Italian architects such as Aristotele Fioravanti and Pietro Antonio Solari. Their involvement is why the current fortress closely resembles castles of Northern Italy. Its red brick made the Kremlin unique for the time, as it was the first structure in Russia built from such material.

These brick walls have stood, with minor adjustments, since that time. One noticeable change came in the late 1600s, when Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich ordered the red brick to be whitewashed in limestone, returning it to gleaming white the city had been hitherto known for. Eventually, the whitewash stopped being maintained and was allowed to wear off, a process that was complete by the 1900s.

Grand Kremlin Palace Tour

By Jack Fisher

Formerly the Moscow residence of the Russian tsars, the Grand Kremlin Palace (not to be confused with the State Kremlin Palace) is a complex inside the Kremlin. It now hosts diplomatic meetings and official state ceremonies including presidential inaugurations. It is also designated as a residence of the President of the Russian Federation, but is rarely used for that purpose.

When SRAS gave me the opportunity to take an exclusive tour of this complex, which is an exclusive tour that is normally off-limits to the general public, I had to take it.

This particular tour is different from those that cover the more public areas inside the Kremlin and requires signing up early and submitting your documents for a security check.

I met the tour group on a Friday afternoon in Aleksandrovski Sad, which borders the Kremlin walls. From there, we made our way towards the Kremlin grounds entrance. There was a huge line to get into the grounds through a first security checkpoint, but we were able to skip straight to the front of it since we had registered for our tour ahead of time. Once we were through the gate, the crowd thinned out significantly.

As we walked through the Kremlin grounds, we saw other tour groups taking photos of the landscaping, palace, and other historical buildings. Unlike us, they didn’t have the permission of the Russian government to enter the actual palace. When we got to the palace, we walked through the front doors, crossed a second security checkpoint, met our guide, and started the tour.

Our tour guide inside the building was a woman that worked in preservation. She only spoke Russian, so everything was translated for us by an SRAS-hired guide to English. We began on the first floor of the newer section of the palace and saw several ornate living rooms and guest rooms, followed by the empress’s and emperor’s chambers. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to see the emperor’s office and bathroom as President Putin had decided to use them as his personal study for the remainder of his time in office.

After the first floor, we headed upstairs to the second. From the outside the palace appeared to have three floors, but in reality the second floor just had massive, vaulted ceilings and two levels of windows. From what I saw, the second floor seemed to be where the fun happened. The first major room we walked into was the Hall of the Order of St. George, built to house major military meetings and balls and today used as a large conference room. There were names of famous military officers and soldiers inscribed on the walls, and the hall looked like it could hold hundreds of guests. Then it was on to the Hall of the Order of St. Vladimir, which was way less cool. It did, however, have the largest chandelier in the palace, for what that’s worth.

Next, we moved into the oldest section of the palace. It was built in the late 1400s and the newer sections of the palace were built out to connect with it. Our guide told us that by the time of the last czars, the older section was used strictly for ceremonial purposes. The walls were covered with paintings of historical rulers and religious figures. It was definitely my favorite room as there seemed to be an aura of timelessness hanging about the place.

Then we went back through the Hall of the Order of St. Vladimir and through another hall to the older bedchamber of the czar and an older, smaller meeting room for the czar and his nobles. This section was markedly different as there was none of the opulence of the newer palace. It had a utilitarian feel due to its practical layout with comfortable but plain looking chairs, reasonably sized paintings, low ceilings and large traditional Russian stoves.

Finally, we visited the throne room. It was massive, just like the Hall of the Order of St. George, and had polished stone and gilding everywhere. Unfortunately, it was a reconstruction. Our guide let us know that the soviets had torn it apart when they came to power, creating what looked like a massive classroom to house the first meetings of the Soviet Congress. The Russian government had restored it completely within the past decade. She also let us know that the current heir to the Russian throne is Prince Harry of England, which is an interesting fact I’ve been surprising Brits with lately.

On our way out, we exited through a portrait hall. Most of the portraits were typical Enlightenment and Victorian era paintings with stuffy looking people. However, one painting caught my eye: the portrait of Knyaz Sbyatoclav. The man looked absolutely hardcore (and you can see him below in a photo I took).

In my opinion, it was definitely worth $75. While I wouldn’t go twice, the fact of the matter is that you get to see the inside of a beautiful building and stand in rooms that very powerful people meet in and have met in for hundreds of years – which is an opportunity that few regular people are given. Don’t think that it’s too expensive, because you’ll have the experience and memory with you for the rest of your life.

The Kremlin Without a Capital (1712-1918)

By Lee Sullivan

The Kremlin has always been a symbol of Russian power and authority. It is often used interchangeably with the Russian state in journalism and academic literature. This is not surprising considering the Kremlin is situated in the heart of Moscow and has typically housed Russian rulers and their offices – and continues to contain an official residence and office for Russian president Vladimir Putin. However, not all of Russia’s leaders have always called the Moscow fortress home. This article covers the nearly 200 years of Kremlin history when Moscow was not the capital.

Peter the Great moved Russia’s capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg in 1712. Despite the continued crowning of tsars in the Annunciation Cathedral and symbols of power in the Kremlin vaults, Moscow’s role in state life was minimal compared to that of the new capital. This changed when a new stage of construction began under Catherine the Great. Even though St. Petersburg was the new capital, she was crowned in Moscow following ancient tradition. A commission to replace the code of laws from Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich’s time was called in Moscow and its session was held in the Kremlin’s Faceted Palace. This was a sign that under Catherine the Great the state would be ruled from both St. Petersburg and Moscow. Additionally, the Senate was divided into departments under Catherine. Four were in St. Petersburg and two were in the newly commissioned Senate Building, which still stands in the Moscow Kremlin.

Catherine additionally planned a grand reconstruction of the Kremlin interior, one that would have seen most of its buildings demolished, save for the historic cluster of churches, and replaced with modern imperial architecture built with long, straight roads, much like St. Petersburg itself. Demolition was started, including to parts of the original Kremlin walls, when cracks began to appear in one of the cathedral walls due to the resulting disruption of the soil. Because of this, and because of the project’s already enormous cost, it was cancelled, and the original walls re-built.

In September of 1812, French troops occupied Moscow. Napoleon, who led them, planned to occupy the Kremlin as his residence. It is widely thought that in defense against the French, the Moscow mayor ordered fires be set across the city. They raged for days so and were so intense that Napoleon was forced to leave the Kremlin due to the smoke. Upon returning he declared an intention to remain in the Kremlin for winter and ordered additional fortification of the Kremlin walls. However, the French army was weakening due to battle loss and poor supply.

Napoleon ordered his troops to retreat and blow up the Kremlin in the process. Mines were laid but their effectiveness was reduced by rain and prompt Muscovite response. Still, considerable damage was done, including to the Vodozvodnaya Tower, which was completely destroyed.

The Kremlin quickly underwent restoration under Tsar Alexander I and Nicolas I. Despite the war’s considerable drain on state funding, Tsar Alexander I prioritized restoring many parts of the Kremlin including towers, walls, palaces, and cathedrals. He often traveled to Moscow to observe the restoration progress. Many of Russia’s best architects were included in the restoration efforts. Order was progressively restored to the Kremlin and new gardens, now called the Alexander Gardens, were laid out along its exterior. Buildings like the Senate were brought back to their original appearance.

Restoration was completed under Nicholas I, who gave special attention to the restoration of ancient Kremlin churches and other old buildings. He also commissioned the construction of new buildings like the Great Kremlin Palace, after having the old one demolished. The entire imperial family attended the palace blessing during an official ceremony in April 1849. It was constructed and designed with techniques that were ahead of their time – vaulted construction for walls and ceilings, inlaid stone floors, and iron rafters.

Shortly after the revolution, the Communists restored Moscow as the official capital in 1918 when Moscow was reinstated as Russia’s capital. Construction and restoration were completed by the mid-19 th century. During the Soviet years, the Kremlin housed Soviet leaders and saw the development and then dissolution of the Soviet state. Today the Kremlin stands in Russia’s capital as a unique architectural ensemble.

The Kremlin Under the Soviets

The new Bolshevik government made sweeping changes to the historic Kremlin complex to, as they saw it, better represent the character of the new socialist state.

During the revolution of November 1917, the Kremlin was ransacked, leaving it with broken glass, destroyed icons, and parts of the complex in disrepair. Restoration of the walls and towers began in 1918, but further restoration stalled for lack of funding and because the communists had not yet decided on a plan for their changes to their seat of government.

The first targets were churches and royal symbols. Nuns and monks who had long lived in the Kremlin were removed. Churches had valuables removed and transferred to the new Commissariat of Finances to fund state projects. Many royal treasures and even crown jewels were similarly transferred. The double-headed eagles on the top of the buildings were promptly removed.

Many buildings were repurposed. Initially, many were converted to housing for Communist functionaries as the revolution and war had depleted Moscow’s housing stock while driving immigration from the countryside to the city. At one point, over two thousand people lived inside the Kremlin. By 1939, however, Kremlin residents consisted of only about three dozen high ranking officials.

Other notable repurposings included turning the Palace of Facets into a canteen with its kitchen inside the Tsarina’s Golden Chamber. The Ivan the Great Bell Tower was turned into a workshop, the Small Nicholas Palace became a worker’s club, and a gym was placed in the Church of St. Catherine. In 1932, the Andrew and Alexander Halls within the palace were gutted to make room for a party congress.

Many of the buildings and statues within the complex were destroyed, often to make way for new construction; only 26 of the original 54 buildings survived the Soviet period. The Chudov Monastery and Ascension Convent were both destroyed to make way for a military academy and eventually the Kremlin Presidium was built on the ground to house the Supreme Soviet, the supreme legislative body of the USSR.

In 1929, the Maly Nikolaevsky Palace, a former royal residence, was replaced by a new administrative building.

In the 1920s, the Russian royals buried in the Archangel Cathedral on the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square were exhumed and autopsied. They and the items in their sarcophagi were turned over to the Kremlin museum. Some valuable artifacts were requisitioned to the state treasury.

In 1935, five stars of rubied glass replaced the double-headed eagles that once topped the Kremlin gate towers.

Throughout WWII, the Kremlin was disguised under mock construction and painted roofs. Despite this, several bombs still fell on the Kremlin grounds, but did not cause major damage.

In 1947, Stalin painted the Kremlin walls red in an unmistakable ode to socialism, a drastic change from the traditional white that the walls had carried for centuries.

In 1955, the Kremlin opened to the public as an open air museum. In that same year, a ban on living in the Kremlin was introduced, lessening any security risk opening it to the public might create.

The last wave of demolitions came in 1958-1961, when the Palace of Congresses, built to house the congresses of Communist Party and cultural events, replaced the Old Amoury and part of the Patriarch’s Palace.

In part due to the outcry from this massive renovation, greater care of the Kremlin grounds began. The official Kremlin museum system was established in 1966, and Elena Gagarin, daughter of Yuri Gagarin, was hired as museum director. Today, that system includes the large armoury, several churches, and items outside of the Kremlin, such as St. Basil’s Cathedral.

The changes made during the Soviet period have left the Kremlin with a striking architectural contrast between traditional, tsarist-era architecture with Soviet-style buildings and the iconic, ancient red walls and remaining cathedrals. Despite the destruction and changes that were carried out, the compound still offers an unforgettable look into Russian and Soviet history that is impossible to get from anywhere else.

The Kremlin Stars

Translated by Caroline Barrow

The following was originally posted to the the Russian 7 website . It has been translated here by SRAS Home and Abroad Translation Scholar Caroline Barrow. Additional edits and updates were applied in 2021.

On October 24, 1935, two long-standing symbols of the Russian monarchy—the two-headed eagles which stood on top of the Kremlin towers, were ordered to be brought down and replaced with five-pointed stars.

Why a five-pointed star became the symbol of the Soviet regime is unknown, but what is known is that Lev Trotsky supported this symbol. Greatly fascinated by the esoteric, he knew that stars and pentagrams have a strong energetic potential and are one of the strongest symbols. The swastika could have easily become the symbol of the new government, since it had a strong following in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century. Swastikas were displayed on the currency of the temporary government led by Alexander Kerensky, and swastikas were painted on the walls of Empress Alexandra Fedrovna’s Ipatiev House before the royal family was executed there. This swastika trend was stopped almost solely by Trotsky and the Bolsheviks, who opted for the five-pointed star. The history of the twentieth century even showed that stars are stronger than swastikas… Stars shone over the Kremlin, in the place of two-headed eagle.

Erecting the thousand-kilogram stars on the Kremlin towers was not a simple thing to do. The problem was that the needed technology did not exist in 1935. The smallest of the Kremlin Towers, Borovitskaya, rose to 52 meters, and the tallest tower, Troitskaya, reached a height of 72 meters. Throughout the country, there were no tower cranes capable of reaching these heights. However, for Russian engineers, the word “no” did not exist, only the phrase “we must.” Engineers designed and built special cranes that could be installed on the upper deck for each tower. A metal base, called the console, was mounted at the base of each turret window, and on each console the engineers mounted a lifting crane. Thus, the process occurred in several stages: first the two-headed eagles were dismantled, and second, the stars erected.

Each star weighs about one ton. Given the height at which the stars would be placed and the fact that each star has a surface area of 6.3 square meters (potentially excellent for catching the wind), there was a danger that the stars might be blown away along with the top of the towers. So, it was decided to stress test the towers and, it turns out, with good reason: the upper part of each tower and its console was completely destroyed in the process. So, builders reinforced the masonry at the upper levels of the towers, and for the Spasskaya, Troitskaya, and Borovitskaya Tower, metal bracing was added to the base of the tower. The console on Nikolskaya Tower was so damaged that it had to be completely rebuilt.

All the stars were not made identical; four stars differ from one another in their artistic forms. On the Spasskaya Tower star, rays go out from the center. However, on Troitskaya Tower’s star, the rays look like spikes. The star on Borovitskaya Tower is made up of two contours, one inscribed in the other, and, finally, the rays on Nikolskaya Tower’s star have no pattern. In terms of length, the Spasskaya and Nikolskaya Towers were similar, with the distance between the ends of the rays being about 4.5 meters. On Troitskaya and Borovitskaya Towers, the star rays were shorter, and the distance between the ends of the rays was less, measuring 4 and 3.4 meters, respectively.

A star is good, but a spinning star is twice as nice. Moscow is large, its people many, and all must see the Kremlin stars. For the base of each star, special bearings were produced by the First Bearing Plant. These special bearings allow the stars to rotate with the wind even despite their significant weight. Consequently, it is possible to know the direction of the wind given the position of the stars.

Installation of the Kremlin Stars was a true celebration for Muscovites. The stars were not carried under the cover of night to Red Square. The day before the stars were placed on the towers they were put on display in Gorky Park. District and City Secretaries of the Communist Party came together with the ordinary mortals below to see the stars. The stars were lit from the outside to make the Ural stones shine and the rays sparkle. The eagles, taken off the towers, were also displayed to visually demonstrate the dilapidation of the “old” world and the beauty of the “new” world.

The Kremlin stars were not always ruby glass. The first stars, installed in October, 1935, were made from high-alloy stainless steel and red copper. In the center of each star, on both sides, the stars were embedded with precious stones outlining the hammer and sickle emblem. Over the course of a year, the glitter of the gems dimmed. The stars were also found to be too big, not fitting well with the architectural ensemble. In May, 1937, it was decided to install new, illuminated glass ruby stars. Also, they added a star to a fifth tower, the Vodovzvodnaya Tower. The ruby glass was produced at a factory in the city of Konstantinov, according to the method of the Moscovite glassmaker, N. I. Kurochkina. It was necessary to prepare 500 square meters of ruby glass, and for that, a new type was invented—selenium ruby glass. Before that, gold was used to color the glass; selenium was cheaper and produced a deeper color.

The Kremlin stars don’t only rotate, they also light up. In order not to overheat and cause damage, about 600 cubic meters of air is blown through the stars per hour. The stars are not affected by power outages, because they have their own, independent generators.

For the original lighting, the Moscow Electrical Lamp Plant produced the lights for the stars. The stars on Spasskaya, Troitskaya, and Nikolskaya Towers all had 5000-watt bulbs, and the other two operated at 3700 watts. In each star, two parallel filaments were installed. That way, if one burned out, the other filament still shone and a control panel is was notified of the burnout.

To change a bulb, one need not need to climb up to the star. Rather, the bulb comes down on a special rod that runs straight through the bearing. The whole process takes 30-35 minutes. In the stars’ history, the stars stopped shining only twice—once during the war, and another time for the filming of the now-classic movie The Barber of Siberia .

Editorial Note: Update 2021. Starting in 2015, the lighting of the Kremlin stars was updated with one star’s lighting system replaced each year. The old incandescent lamps were replaced with modern metal halide lamps. These lamps are approximately four times more energy efficient than the old bulbs and provide a more intense, higher-quality light. Metal halide lamps are often used for sports stadiums and other places where strong, high-quality light is needed.

In preparation for this switch, Employees of the Central Scientific and Restoration Design Workshops (TsNRPM) measured the illumination of each arm of each star separately to make sure that each would still be lit evenly and brightly. They also created models of the stars lit with various methods including LED matrices and optical fiber. In the end, metal halide was determined to be the closest in historical appearance to the existing incandescent lamps.

Within this update, each star was also given its first compressive maintenance since 1946. Damaged panes were replaced, the stars were cleaned inside and out, and the lubricants within the rotation system were replaced with modern fluids.

The State Kremlin Palace

By Benjamin Bradley Mulick

Finished in 1961 after three years of work, the Palace of Congresses, later renamed as the State Kremlin Palace (not to be confused with the Grand Kremlin Palace), opened its doors for the first time for the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, welcoming thousands of party delegates as well as communist leaders from around the world. Today, it is still the Kremlin’s newest building and a multipurpose facility, housing large conventions, cultural displays from around the world and even its own ballet troupe. With these functions giving it continued purpose, the Kremlin’s most modern and out of place building is also one of its most significant.

The Kremlin State Palace stands out from the gilded, pastel buildings around it with its hulking angular lines, and large windows divided by tall marble columns. It’s crowned by a glass banquet hall, which was the brainchild of Khrushchev himself.

It features three main halls: The Great Hall, the Small Hall, and the Diplomatic Hall. The Great Hall is the largest, featuring the palace’s main stage and hosting its most important events. With a seating capacity of six thousand, it is where party congresses were held, and where some of Russia’s most prominent cultural programs take place today. The Small Hall hosts smaller musical performances, and by virtue of having removable seating, also hosts dance events, such as the World Cup of Latin American Dance, as held in June of 2021. The Diplomatic Hall provides a smaller and more intimate setting in which to enjoy performances. Last but not least, the Diplomatic Hall often hosts lesser-known artists, often performing genres that do best in closer settings, such as jazz and folk.

The facility also holds many smaller meeting rooms, intended as breakout rooms for conventions, but also used for various purposes today.

The construction of the State Kremlin Palace came with considerable controversy. Not only is it stylistically wildly inconsistent with the rest of the Kremlin’s buildings, one of Russia’s most oldest and most important historical ensembles, but it also resulted in the destruction of several older buildings to make ways for the Palace’s massive presence.

The demolished buildings included the Old Kremlin Armory Building, originally built in 1851 to house the Kremlin’s ceremonial guard and a collection of state documents and treasure. The northern wing of the Patriarchal Chambers was torn down, formerly part of the private quarters of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Because these were officially designated historic buildings, the legality of razing them was questionable and likely would not have taken place had not the decision been made from the office of Khrushchev himself.

Perhaps the real loss, however, came from underground. The original plans for the palace, before the Second World War, envisioned it as truly massive facility built where Christ the Savior Cathedral now stands. In the Khrushchev era, it was planned to build a smaller but still very large building near MGU, along the river, in what were then the still-developing outskirts of the city. When Khrushchev decided to place it inside the Kremlin, its footprint was again shrunk and it faced restrictions on its height so that the view of the Dormition Cathedral would not be entirely lost.

To make up for this, the bottom part of the building was sunk sixteen meters into the valuable archeological depths of the Kremlin’s soil. The buildings torn down to make room for the Palace were themselves built over much older foundations.

Archeologists were given a short window to explore the former Palace of Natalya Narishkina, the mother of Tsar Peter I, as well the former sites of churches, royal kitchens, workshops, and studios in what was once an economic center based within the historic Kremlin.

Teams of archaeologists were assigned to the area, who, in addition to expected finds, also found a number of secret tunnels. Unfortunately, while the archaeologists did their best to learn and preserve what they could, the limited timeframe allowed by the construction of the State Kremlin Palace meant that the archaeological potential of the site was, in large part, wasted. The tunnels were filled in, the old foundations built over, and the ruins lost to history.

Today, the Palace is perhaps best known as the home of The Kremlin Ballet, which was specifically formed in 1990 under esteemed Russian artist and choreographer Andrey Petrov with the purpose of performing there after the Bolshoi Ballet stopped performing at the palace and returned to the Bolshoi, then under renovations.

While the Kremlin Ballet was created with a strong basis in the classics, they have made more recent contributions to the ballet world with a number of their own classically-inspired modern works, including a ballet adaptation of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer .

The State Kremlin Palace also hosts the Moscow Classical Ballet, which has been dancing in Moscow since 1966. Demonstrations of this tradition in the upcoming year will include the Moscow Classical Ballet’s dancing reinvention of Romeo and Juliet (which was considered scandalous when it was first performed in 1972), and a performance of Swan Lake , one of Russia’s most important contributions to dance, as performed by the Kremlin Ballet.

Built to hold important political events, the State Kremlin Palace is more a cultural building than a political one. The stage’s relatively short history promises to be subsumed by its promising future. Whatever the next big musical or cultural phenomenon in Russia is, the State Kremlin Palace will be a part of it.

• Read a review of The Snow Maidan as performed at the State Kremlin Palace on this site.

A Tour of the Moscow Kremlin Today

Tour as reviewed by Helen McHenry, 2019

As part of our SRAS cultural program, we were given the opportunity to take a tour of the Kremlin, a historic complex and symbol of the Russian government. We met our guide outside of Red Square before walking along the Kremlin walls to the visitors’ entrance. She pointed out the swallowtail merlons bordering the wall, a design popular in 15th century Italian-style architecture, before we mounted the battlement. To travel behind the Kremlin walls, we crossed a bridge that used to span the Neglinnaya River but today acts as an archway covering part of the footpath.

Inside the Kremlin is an intriguing mix of old and new – from the 15th century walls to the 20th century block of modernism known as the State Kremlin Palace. Our guide informed us of the controversy over the palace’s design, which stands in such contrast to the more traditional styles surrounding it. The building, built under Khrushchev’s leadership primarily as a government meeting hall, has almost as many floors underground as it does above ground. Although many cried out against the building when it was built, it still stands today, where it is now used mainly to host concerts.

A brief walk along a path lined with cannons from the state artillery collection brought us to what appeared to be the mother of all cannons. Indeed, the Tsar Cannon is the largest bombard by caliber ever manufactured and has never been used due to its vast size. Just around the corner lay a similarly large but unused item – the Tsar Bell. Commissioned during the time of Empress Anna, niece of Peter the Great, an almost life-size image of her adorns the bell’s surface.

We then traveled to Cathedral Square, which, as its name suggests, features a number of beautiful cathedrals. The overcast day did nothing to accentuate the gold domes that capped their many towers, but no amount of gloom could dim their impressive stature – so immense that photographing them from my vantage point proved a challenge. Each cathedral was adorned with more stunning iconography than the last, overwhelming to the point of monotony as we shuffled through the throngs of tourists.

Our next visit was to the State Armoury, a neoclassical building resplendent with the wealth of the tsars. We traipsed through room after room of riches, from icons, dishware, and diplomatic gifts to clothing, carriages, and thrones. What stood out to me the most was the two distinct – and sometimes warring – natures of Russian identity on display at the Armoury, East and West. The contrast was particularly obvious amongst the collections of clothing, weaponry, and thrones. The older pieces hearkened back to the time before the Western pivot of Peter the Great. While these remained just as ornately decorated as their modern counterparts, they were, on the whole, a lot less outlandish than those done in the styles of the West.

The Armoury marked our last stop within the Kremlin, so we traveled across the city center to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Although the cathedral is the world’s largest Orthodox church, the current building is not the original. Christ the Saviour was demolished under the reign of Stalin and was only rebuilt in the late 1990s. Since then, the cathedral has gained fame as the site of Pussy Riot’s 2012 performance, which landed three members in jail for “hooliganism.”

Our guide let us explore the church on our own, as the church requires groups to be led by its own guides. Looking forward to lunch, we opted for a quick pass through the cathedral. Had I not been so hungry, I could have spent hours inside, as every surface held intricately-painted religious imagery intermixed with adornments heavily gilded with gold. Photographs were not allowed within the cathedral, reserving this spectacle to be seen first-hand.

The Kremlin in its entirety is a spot I recommend to all visiting Moscow, as four hours within its walls was not enough for our group to even scratch the surface of the wonders within.

Tour as Reviewed by Joseph Ozment, 2016

As part of SRAS’s Russian as a Second Language (RSL) program at Moscow State University, I had the opportunity to attend a guided walking tour of the Kremlin and its museums. We had a professional tour guide provided by SRAS who was very well informed about all aspects of the Kremlin’s sites and always willing to answer questions.

The tour, as offered by SRAS each session, can differ slightly based on availability and timing. We began our day’s tour not at the Kremlin, but at the nearby Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Russia’s largest Orthodox cathedral and one of the largest Christian structures in the world. Note that there are wardrobe requirements for entering the church (men and women both must have their shoulders covered, while men cannot wear shorts and women must wear skirts at least beneath the knee).

Before going inside, we were taken around the massive structure, and given a brief yet informative overview of its history. We learned that, despite the classical style of the building, it is actually only about 20 years old, having been constructed to resemble the church that once stood on the same ground.

During Communist times, the ground on which the Church now stands was a massive swimming pool, having been filled with water after the original Church was destroyed. The plans that the Communists originally had for the site were to construct the headquarters of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which would be one of the tallest structures in the world and house the office of the Soviet Union’s premier inside the head of a giant Vladimir Lenin statue adorning the top.

The Cathedral is a truly stunning structure. Comparable only to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in my mind, the sheer amount of open air is amazing when one considers how still and tranquil it is on the inside.

We then continued onwards to the Kremlin itself, which was teeming with guided tours from all over the world, just like ours. Seeing other groups from America, but also some from France, Italy, China, and several other European and Asian countries was very interesting, as people tend not to think of Russia as a popular tourist destination. However, tourism here has grown rapidly in recent years, particularly since the ruble lost about half its value on world markets, making Russia a much more affordable location.

Anna informed us of the purposes of all of the first structures we encountered within the Kremlin walls. First of all, though, she made sure that we were aware that the word “Kremlin” does not refer just the center of government in Moscow, but is a general word that means fortress. Most Russian cities and towns of reasonable size and with a medieval history possess a Kremlin.

We saw one of the offices in which President Putin occasionally works, as well as the large, semi-controversial event and concert hall that resides just inside the main entrance to the Kremlin. Despite its modern style that clashes somewhat with the comparatively ancient structures around it, the fact that the building is covered in glass at least ensures that it reflects the beauty and history that abounds within the Kremlin.

After seeing the aptly named Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell, both of which are two of the largest objects of their kind in the world, and neither of which have been used for their structural purpose in their existence, we moved on to see several of the many churches that stand within the walls of the Kremlin.

Inside the Church of the Annunciation, we were informed of some of the basic components of any Russian Orthodox Church. For starters, every inch of wall is covered in some image or another, from icons of Saints to giant murals that depict judgment day and the people of earth being sent either to heaven or hell. We also learned that the altar in an Orthodox church is given its own room, to which only the priests are allowed entry. The mysticism that is native to Orthodoxy and inherent to its liturgy was embodied in all aspects of these churches.

After our tour of the Kremlin’s outside squares, we were taken on a tour of the Armory Museum, which houses outfits, household items, carriages, armor, weapons, and various sundry items that belonged to the Tsars and Tsarinas of Russia. Anna knowledgeably led us through the various styles worn by different Russian rulers, and explained the significance(s) behind the appearance of what they wore and the carriages in which they rode.

We were in awe of the beautiful jewels that encrusted everything the royals wore and every vessel out of which they drank or off of which they ate, not to mention of the thrones on which they sat. We saw gifts from foreign dignitaries and rulers, and even the museum’s collection of Faberge creations.

All in all, it was a day rich with history and made even more enjoyable by our friendly and incredibly knowledgeable tour guide, Anna. There is hardly a more essential Russian experience to have during your time in Moscow than a guided tour of the Kremlin.

Incidentally, Anna, a guide that SRAS has worked with for years, helps run a guiding collective in Moscow called Bridge to Moscow . They run many private tours and are available for custom tours and travel as well.

Latest Updates

By Josh Wilson

In addition to the changes to how the Kremlin stars are lit and renovations to the Kremlin bells in Spasskaya Tower , for instance, several recent events are of interest.

In the mid-2000s, the Russian Orthodox Church lobbied for the restoration of the Chudov Monetary and the Ascension Convent within the Kremlin walls. The idea was seriously considered and even discussed on television by President Vladimir Putin, although only in the sense of rebuilding them as cultural monuments and part of the museum complex, rather than as working religious institutions. In the end, however, the Kremlin Presidium was simply torn down in 2016 and the area left mostly open with fragments of the old foundations left under glass for viewing. The result is a Kremlin even more dominated by open space and gardens.

Wind has damaged the Kremlin walls on a few occasions. In June 1998, several of the iconic sparrow tail structures on the wall were damaged by strong winds. In April 2018, strong wind damaged the Senate Palace roof. In October 2021, scaffolding being used to restore a section of the inner wall was blown over the top of the wall, also damaging several of the iconic sparrow tail structures. In all cases, the damage was quickly repaired.

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About the authors

Serena Keenan

At the time she wrote for this site, Serena Keenan was a rising junior at Smith College in Northampton, MA. She was majoring in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies with a minor in Government and a concentration in Translation Studies. She hoped to study abroad in Moscow during the spring 2022 semester. After college, she hoped to go on to work in nuclear nonproliferation. In her free time, she likes to read and crochet.

Program attended: Online Interships

View all posts by: Serena Keenan

Caroline Barrow

Caroline Barrow is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in International Studies and Russian. She loves traveling and hearing people’s stories. Out of the places she’s been able to visit, her favorite was Kiev, Ukraine for its beauty, history, and friendly people. She received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship and, at the time she wrote for this site, was spending year teaching English in Kostanay, Kazakhstan. Additionally, she was been named SRAS’s Home and Abroad Translation Scholar for the 2013-2014 cycle. Her contributions included mostly translations of articles and blog posts that will be of interest to students.

Program attended: Home and Abroad Scholar

View all posts by: Caroline Barrow

Lee Sullivan

Lee Sullivan is an undergraduate student at Stetson University. She is currently pursuing a BS in cybersecurity and a BA in Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies. Next semester Lee will be in Vladivostok, Russia – studying the Russian language and participating in the Home and Abroad internship with SRAS. She aspires to pursue a master’s degree upon graduating.

View all posts by: Lee Sullivan

Benjamin Mulick

Ben Mulick, at the time he wrote for this site, was a fourth year Global Studies major at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

View all posts by: Benjamin Mulick

Jack Fischer

Jack Fischer, at the time he wrote for this site, was majoring in Physics with Russian and Economics minors at Iowa State University of Science and Technology in Ames, Iowa. He is studied Russian as a Second Language with SRAS over the summer of 2016 to improve his command of the Russian language. In the future, he’d like to work for himself and run a business, preferably abroad.

Program attended: Challenge Grants

View all posts by: Jack Fischer

Joseph Ozment

Joseph Ozment is a fourth-year International Studies and Russian Studies major at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. He is minoring in music minor and has spent a lot of free time on music projects. He is studying Russian as a Second Language and also working an internship with The Moscow Times. He hopes to increase his Russian skills and cultural awareness so as to use his knowledge of the country and language in a professional setting in the future.

View all posts by: Joseph Ozment

Helen McHenry

Helen McHenry, at the time she wrote for this site, was a double major in international relations and Russian at the Ohio State University, with minors in Spanish and public policy. She studied with Russian as a Second Language with SRAS at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow in order to advance her proficiency in Russian and appreciation for Russian culture. She hoped to use the knowledge gained during her time abroad to advocate for foreign policy that strengthens relations between East and West in her future career.

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Julia Brock

Julie Brock, at the time she wrote for this site, had returned to University of Kentucky to pursue a Global Studies Certificate, with an emphasis on Russia and the travel industry. She earned prior BA and MA degrees in psychology. A few years ago, she traveled to Russia, Estonia, and Finland, and loves the culture and history of these areas. She works at the campus library, and enjoys reading, running 5Ks, and spending time with her dogs. She lived for five years in Minnesota and loved the snow, winter sports, and Museum of Russian Art.

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Hudson Dobbs

Hudson received his BA in Russian Studies with a minor in Corporate Communications from Baylor University. At the time he wrote for this site, he was serving as a Home and Abroad Scholar as part of a Spring, 2022 session of SRAS’s Language and Society program St. Petersburg. While abroad, Hudson will be researching the Russian coffee culture, as well as the evolution of specialty coffee in Russia. His goal is to open his own coffee shop in the US - taking his experiences abroad and applying them to his future business.

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The 2024-2025 Peace Broadway Season is Here

We’re bringing you a stellar range of shows, from beloved modern classics to fresh new hits. This season offers a window to other worlds, from the scrappy streets of early New York City to a dreamlike shipwreck somewhere in the Pacific. We’ll visit the past – from 19th century Bohemia to early-aughts pop culture – and come all the way back to the future.

See it all right here at the Peace Center. Save your seats now and enjoy the best of Broadway all season long.

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Disney's The Lion King

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A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical

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By pledging your support of the Peace Center’s mission, you gain access to premium seating benefits like:

• $250 level: ability to purchase two premium subscriptions
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Renew your gifts annually to retain your premium-level subscriptions. Please note that due to demand, this seating is limited.

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The Peace Center offers a variety of accessibility services including assistive listening options, ASL interpreted performances (Saturday Matinees), audio described performances, wheelchair accessible seating, and transfer chairs. Some services require advance notice.

Call the box office at 864.467.3000 for details and arrangements.

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* Subject to availability. Broadway subscribers may exchange their tickets for another night within the same title with at least 48-hour notice prior to the scheduled performance. If moving to a higher priced seat due to day, location, or price increase, customers are responsible for paying the difference.

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The Wooden Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye

• duration: 2 hours
• price: 60 €
• order: Book

What You Will See

The dominant structure at Kolomenskoye is the Church of the Ascension, the earliest existing structure. In the 16th century it served as a summer church for the Tsar’s Family. It was erected to mark a momentous event- the birth of a long- awaited heir to the Russian throne, the future Ivan IV, called Ivan the Terrible. The church reaches a height of 62 meters.

The Palace of the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye is a monument of art and every-day life of the last and brightest period of Moscow Tsardom, the period from which modern Russia takes its roots.

It is a masterpiece of 16th-17th century art and architecture. It was first mentioned in the will of the Moscow Prince Ivan Kalita which dates to 1339 as a country residence. As time went by, the residence was converted into the favorite summer palace of Tsar Alexis I. Peter the Great daughter Elizabeth was born in the palace in 1709 and Tsar Peter the Great spent part of his youth here.

Today, it is one of the most impressive living museums of medieval art and history. Its collection includes authentic interior artifacts, icons, wooden sculpture, furniture, household items.

The interior exposition is located in 24 reconstructed chambers of the Tsar’s, Tsarina’s and Tsareviches’ (the Tsar’s sons’) towers. The design of each chamber lies in harmony with its function (gala reception halls, personal chambers).

On the narrative paintings in Throne chamber of the Tsar’s tower you can see biblical kings David and Solomon (it was not for nothing that Simeon Polotsky compared the palace with “Solomon’s fair chamber”.

The motifs used in interior painting include ornaments, narrative painting and ancient mythological characters

Like in many palaces of the world, the image of the starry sky with symbols of the Sun and the Moon played a great part in the interior décor. The motif symbolizes the ties between earthly and heavenly power. In the Tsarina’s Tower you will see paintings related to Four Seasons and the Parables from the Book of Esther.

Details of the Tour

Alexey Palace tour last for 2 hours and during this time you will discover:

• The numerous and elaborate system of rooms and passages;
• Sophisticated wooden carving;
• Extravagant interiors, with gilded walls and ceilings;
• The symbols of Royalty typical for Medieval Russia;
• What the famous Russian expression “You are too heavy to bear, Crown of Monomakh” means.

The History of the Palace

The State Historical, Architectural and landscape Museum of Kolomenskoye is located several kilometers to the south-east of Moscow city center on the ancient road leading to the town of Kolomna, so the name of the residence. The area is about 390 hectares overlooks the bank of the Moskva River.

Kolomenskoye was particularly important during the reign of Ivan IV the Terrible in the 16th century and Alexey Mikhailovich in the 17th century. The Unique architectural ensemble was built at this period

The palace with 270 rooms decorated with paintings and carvings was built in 1667 without using any fastens materials, nails or hooks. It consisted of 26 buildings connected with each other by numerous corridors. The whole complex was divided into male and female parts. The male part included ceremonial chambers, chambers of the tsar and his sons, while the female part belonged to the Tsarina and Alexis’s daughters.

Foreigners referred to the Palace as an “Eighth Wonder of the World.” After the moving the Royal Court from Moscow to St. Petersburg in the 18th century the palace was gradually falling into decay. Catherina the Great refused to make it her Moscow residence.

The Moscow Government completed a full scale reconstruction as detailed plans of the Alexis Palace survived as well as its descriptions in numerous documents, paintings and drawings. During the early Soviet period various artifacts were transported to Kolomenskoye from different parts of the USSR for preservation, so nowadays Kolomenskoye hosts an impressive set of different historical objects.

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