Chesme Palace in St. Petersburg: history, address, photo

Between St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo in the time of Catherine II, a holiday complex was built during the long journey. In honor of the 10th anniversary of the victory of the Russian fleet, the names "Chesme Church" and "Chesme Palace" appeared, reminding of the military glory of the Russian fleet. The palace experienced different times, but it always remained a decoration of St. Petersburg.

A place

Despite the fact that the complex was built as a track, today is the Chesme Palace in St. Petersburg (its address: 15 Gastello Street). And in the time of Catherine the Great it was an uninhabited, swampy terrain. Territory went to Russia as a result of the Northern War and became royal possessions.

This place was called in Finnish Kickerikiksen, which in translation meant "frog's swamp," which is why the symbol of the future palace was a green frog.

In 1717 a route was laid to the residence in Tsarskoye Selo, and from this began the history of living the named place. Today, as already mentioned, the Chesme Palace is within the boundaries of St. Petersburg.

Historical Context

In order to comfortably drive to her summer residence in Tsarskoye Selo, Catherine the Great ordered seven kilometers from the capital to build a land estate. This was how the Chesme Palace in St Petersburg was conceived, the history of which was long and interesting.

Initially, it was called a dacha. But when the construction of the palace was completed, the news of the victory of the Russian fleet in the battle of Chesma came. It should be noted that the victory over Turkey was very important for Russia. Although in the course of this war it was not possible to conquer Constantinople as it was dreamed, but even the conquest of Kerch and Azov was extremely significant. Now Russian merchant ships could pass through the Black Sea without hindrance, and this promised considerable benefits.

In Russia there was a tradition to celebrate every major victory in the Turkish war with a monument. So in the Tsarskoe Selo appeared Turkish cascade and pavilion, Crimean and Chesme columns, and in the estates of the nobility were erected buildings in Byzantine and Oriental styles. Therefore it was quite logical to name the new track palace Chesmensky, as well as the church built next to it.

Architect

Catherine the Great is known for her scope and great love for construction. During her reign, the whole country, and St. Petersburg in particular, received many luxurious buildings and palaces.

The queen found many reasons for building new houses, such as a long journey from the capital to Tsarskoe Selo. She did not want to stop in unseemly places, because she wanted to feel comfortable everywhere. When the Empress decided to build a new palace - "dacha" - she turned to Yuri Matveevich Felten, one of the main architects of the capital.

The architect studied at the Academy of Arts, worked for several years with Rastrelli, after his death, he completed the construction of the great architect. Experience and talent made Felten along with Vallen-Delamot the leading architect of St. Petersburg. By 1774, he already had such buildings as the Lutheran and Armenian churches of St. Catherine, the Small and Great Hermitage, the Palace Embankment and the famous fence of the Summer Garden.

The entrusted Chesma Palace became an experiment for the architect. After all, in the capital it would be unthinkable to build a palace in the Gothic style, but outside the city such liberties were allowed.

History of construction

Chesme Travel Palace was laid in 1774, and three years later the empress celebrated a housewarming party. The speed of construction was ensured by the fact that the architect Yu. M. Felten managed to plan work competently. And, of course, the speed of construction was greatly contributed by the huge money for the construction that Catherine spent.

The area under the castle was not very well-allocated, so at the first stage it was necessary to dry the site, and a ditch along the perimeter of the site was dug, so that the swamps would not damage the palace henceforth. The feeling of the castle is reinforced by the imitation of the shaft, which was made from the earth by a moat.

The complex of the palace included the main building of two floors with a dome and corner towers, a stone church of the Nativity of John the Baptist and several office buildings. To the palace complex there was a road from the tract, crowned with two stone gates in the Gothic style.

Architectural features of the palace

The Chesme Palace was conceived in a pseudo-Gothic style, and the architect managed to withstand this idea. The source of inspiration for the architect was the eastern castles on the banks of the Bosphorus. Oriental elements are gently inscribed in the Gothic style, they are not conspicuous, but are only a subtle hint.

In terms of the main palace building is an equilateral triangle with round towers with loopholes in the corners. Each tower is completed with a lantern with semicircular domes. The exterior walls of the building protruded above the height of the structure in the form of an original toothed crown. The lower floor of the palace was decorated with rust, the upper floor - plastered brickwork. Beautiful lancet windows create a sense of a medieval castle. The monumental and solid architecture of the Chesme Palace gives the impression of a reliable castle-fortress.

Interior

By the way, the Chesme Palace (St. Petersburg), outwardly decorated in a false-logical style, does not have the slightest hint of Gothic inside. The interior is sustained in the style of early classicism favorite by Catherine.

On the walls one could see panels, medallions, cornices, wreaths and flower garlands that became the trademark of Yu. M. Felten. The main volume of the house's triangle is occupied by the Parade Hall, it is decorated with a gallery of sculptures by F. Shubin depicting the grand dukes and kings of Russia.

According to Felten's projects, all the halls and chambers of the palace were decorated, he selected furniture and textiles for a long time, which would decorate the interiors of the palace with dignity. Especially for her new residence, Catherine ordered a set of 952 items from the English porcelain factory of Wedgwood, each with a frog symbolizing the Chesme Palace. Today, this service is the decoration of the Hermitage collection.

The history has rigidly managed with a beautiful interior of the palace. In it there is not much that has been preserved - portraits and sculptures were transferred to museums, furniture was gradually lost. But in 2005 the main hall of the residence was restored, now it is called Georgievsky.

The Palace and Catherine the Great

The Chesme Palace in St. Petersburg became one of the Empress's favorite places. She visited him very often, and with her there were festivities and festivities.

And in 1792 Catherine gave the palace the Chapter of the Order of St. George. Since then, here, in the round hall on the second floor, meetings of the Knights of this Order began, where the Empress was often present. Immediately there was their management, archive and treasury.

After the death of Catherine the Great, the palace, unfortunately, was in desolation.

Years of Desolation

Paul, who came to power, categorically did not want to use the palace. Under Alexander II the palace was also empty, only twice in it girls from the Catherine Institute were resting.

Under Nicholas I the palace church was used to prepare for burial of the Grand Dukes. Here the corpse of the brother of Tsar Alexander was spent the night, here he was transferred to a luxurious coffin and from here were taken to the funeral. The same story happened with the body of Elizaveta Alekseevna.

Almshouse

The Emperor Paul did not like everything that was reminiscent of his mother, so he did not visit the Chesme Palace, but preferred to spend time in Gatchina. He even wanted to give the palace to the poorhouse, but the project was not implemented. The Commission found it impossible to organize it, explaining the refusal of water shortage.

This idea was recalled by Nicholas I, who in 1830 issued a decree on the creation of a military almshouse for invalids and veterans of the Patriotic War of 1812 in the Chesme Palace. Thus ended the palace history of construction.

For the convenience and increase of the area in the palace, significant restructuring was carried out. Architect A. Staubert received an order for the alteration of the palace into a hotel for the disabled. He completes three identical two-story buildings, connecting them with new passes through the corner towers. From the towers themselves, jagged parapets were removed and replaced with domes. The brick gates were replaced with new, cast-iron ones.

On the second floor the winter church was consecrated. Instead of a forest and a meadow, a regular park is parked in front of the building to walk the residents. Four years later the almshouse was ready, 400 guests could stay in it. Some time later, over each wing, two more floors were built up. Gradually around built additional buildings and broke the cemetery. Thus ended the fate of the architectural complex - the most beautiful, romantic estate of Catherine's times.

The Soviet period

In 1919, the Chesme Palace was awaiting new trials. The almshouse was closed and a camp was set up for the prisoners and enemies of the new government. The Church of Chesme was plundered, they took off the cross, erecting pincers and a hammer in its place, as symbols of a new time.

In 1930, the building of the former Chesma Palace was handed over to the Road Institute. For the needs of the school, the wings were rebuilt again. And during the Second World War, the church and the palace were badly hit by bombing. After the war the complex was given to the Leningrad Institute of Aviation Instrument Engineering.

In 1946, the palace was repaired, though not really caring about preserving the original appearance. These works were led by architect A. Koryagin.

Today's Day

Chesme Palace, whose photo only remotely resembles the original design of the architect, today still belongs to the University of Aerospace Instrumentation.

The estate park is open to everyone. And in 1994, when the Chesme Church was returned to the Orthodox Church, restoration of the interiors and appearance of the temple began. Today, it almost completely coincides with the construction of the 18th century.

In the early 21st century, it was decided to restore the main hall of the estate, and in 2005 it was inaugurated. The library houses the university library and hosts various ceremonial events. Unfortunately, today only some parts of the main building allow us to see Felten's unusual design.