Alexander Palace

Alexander Palace (Pushkin), an architectural monument in Neoclassical style; constructed in 1792-96 (architect G. Quarenghi); located on the territory of the Alexander Park. It forms a part of Tsarskoe Selo palace and park ensemble; was meant for the grandson of Empress Catherine II, Grand Prince Alexander Pavlovich (the future Emperor Alexander I), whom it was named after. Later on, it served as a private imperial residence (under Emperor Nicholas II - his permanent residence). The building of the Alexander Palace is placed along the axis of the transverse alley of the park, enclosing its perspective with the southern facade adorned with semirotunda dome. The main northern facade is marked with a double Corinthian colonnade set between symmetrical corbels. On the porch in front of the colonnade there are cast-iron statues, cast in 1838 in Alexandrovsky Factory to the designs of sculptor N.S. Pimenov (The youth, playing knucklebones) and A.V. Loganovsky (The youth, playing fid). After the February Revolution of 1917 Nicholas II and members of his family were kept in the Alexander Palace until they were exiled to Tobolsk. From 1918, the Alexander Palace functioned as a palace-museum. In 1949, in it the exposition of the All-Union Museum of Alexander Pushkin was opened, shortly afterwards it was closed down, as the building was given to a military department. As a result the Alexander Palace suffered greatly because of incorrect maintenance. Since the 1990s, reconstruction has been conducted, a number of halls host museum displays. The interiors decorated to the plans of architects V.P. Stasov (1817-27) and R.F. Meltzer (1896-98).