Four halls of the Gatchina Palace opened for the first time after the war – TASS

ST PETERSBURG, 31 May. / TASS /. Four halls of the Gatchina Palace for the first time in the postwar decades, opened after the restoration carried out by the 250th anniversary of the imperial residence. Completed restoration of the suite rooms East polutsirkulya Gatchina palace, among them – one of his most beautiful interiors, Greek gallery, -. And room Rotary Bright transition and Rotunda under the emblem

“On the restoration of the Eastern polutsirkulya Palace spent about 200 million rubles – he told reporters director of the museum-preserve Gatchina Vasily Pankratov -. The work of the restorers have a very high skill “level. Interiors, severely affected during the war, restored from archival drawings, photographs and the scenic materials.

The first country Russia Castle

The Gatchina palace and park ensemble traces its history from the time of Catherine II. The first owner of this place has been a favorite of the Empress Count Grigory Orlov. After his death in 1783 the estate became the property of the imperial family, and was the residence of the heir to the throne, Grand Duke Paul Petrovich, the future Emperor Paul I. Built for him Palace is the only palace in the Russian countryside-castle. Since 1827, under the will of Paul’s wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna, Gatchinskaya residence passed into the possession of Nicholas I and his descendants. In the second half of the XIX century Gatchina was the favorite residence of Emperor Alexander III, who was called “Gatchina recluse”.

In May 1917 under the decision of the Provisional Government at Gatchina, as well as in Tsarskoye Selo and Peterhof, was created art-historical commission “for the reception, recording and systematization of both the art and with the economic side of all movable and immovable property of the former palace of controls”, and already 19 May 1918 Gatchina castle was opened to the public.

to 1941 the museum had a reputation as “suburban Hermitage” because of its rich collection includes more than 54 thousand exhibits. During the onset of the Nazis in the Leningrad museum staff were able to take out more than 10 thousand exhibits in the interior of the country, in Udmurtia, decorative sculptures were buried in the park. Retreating in 1944 under the blows of the Soviet army, the Germans blew up the palace, a huge number of exhibits was stolen

Priority -. Restoration

Preparing for the restoration of the destroyed palace began as early as 1944, but in 1950 the building was suddenly transferred to the Navy to accommodate the military school, and then, in the 60s, – Institute “Electrostandard”. Premises, including Greek gallery, were preserved.

Palace restoration began only in 1976, and the first restored staterooms of the eighteenth century, including the Antechamber, the Marble Dining Room and the Throne of Paul I, opened to the public in 1985.

today, Gatchina castle listed as a UNESCO World heritage Site. The restoration is a priority of the Museum-Reserve. As part of the anniversary celebration of the palace there will be a meeting devoted to the anniversary date, and the preservation of cultural and historical heritage of Russia.