The Kremlin in Izmailovo is located in one of the oldest districts of Moscow, on the banks of the Vinogradny Pond. The idea to create a new cultural and entertainment complex in the eastern outskirts of the capital originated in the late 90s of the XX century. Today, in the historic landmark area, the domes and towers of the ancient town again rise upward, decorated with colored tiles and patterns. Architectural buildings, palaces, museums, temples, craft schools make an indelible impression on visitors. It is noteworthy that the buildings were erected according to the drawings of the 17th century, preserved in the state archive.
History
In historical documents, the first mention of the village of Izmailovo dates back to the XIV century. This area was the noble estate of the Izmailov boyars. Then the property was owned by other noble families. In 1573, the Tsar of All Russia Ivan IV (the Terrible) presented the estate to his brother-in-law (brother of the first wife of Queen Anastasia) Nikita Zakharyin-Yuriev, the founder of the Romanov dynasty. Subsequently, the village of Izmailovo was inherited from father to son.
In the 17th century, Izmailovo became a country residence and a favorite vacation spot for the royal family. On the initiative of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, a luxurious palace with various annexes was built. Here appeared the royal menagerie, in which wild animals and birds were bred, a smithy, a pottery, an apiary, a glass-blowing and a winery. In the courtyard there was an agricultural farm, a greenhouse with exotic plants. The king was seriously engaged in landscape design of the territory. Ponds were dug around the estate, in which pike, sturgeon, sterlet were bred.
Izmailovo rightfully belonged to the Romanovs. The childhood years of the future rulers of Russia of different times passed here: Tsarina Sophia, her brothers Peter, Ivan, as well as their daughters Elizabeth and Anna. Young Peter arranged his first battles of "amusing regiments" on the territory of the residence. In Izmailovo, the future emperor became interested in maritime affairs. In one of the old barns, Peter finds an English boat, on which he began to swim on the Grape Pond. This was the beginning of the birth of the Russian fleet. After the transfer of the royal residence to St. Petersburg, the Izmailovo estate became a conservation area.
The final decline of the Izmailovsky court falls on the period of the reign of Catherine the Great. Izmailovo was not associated with the empress's childhood memories, so she was not worried about the fate of this area. The lack of royal attention led to natural consequences: the ponds dried up, the gardens were overgrown, the estate was dilapidated. Only in the 19th century, Izmailovo began to revive.
By the decision of Emperor Nicholas I, a boarding house for veterans of the Patriotic War of 1812 was built. According to the project of the architect Konstantin Ton, three buildings were erected next to the Intercession Church. After the revolution, the area in Izmailovo was nationalized. There were dormitories for workers, a vegetable warehouse, garages, and a House of Culture. The wooded area became the basis for the foundation of the future recreation park.
In 2007, a grandiose project was implemented to revive the historical and cultural significance of the Izmailovo Kremlin. Beautiful architectural structures were erected, which are a copy of the royal residence of past centuries. Walking along the bridge to the gate with two towers, you find yourself, as if surrounded by wooden huts, white-stone houses, the Church of St. Nicholas, palaces of meals and weddings. The atmosphere of Slavic culture reigns around.
Architecture
A modern cultural and entertainment complex appeared in Moscow at the beginning of this century. The place for it was not chosen by chance: Izmailovo has played an important role in the culture of Russia for a long time. Here was the residence of the Romanov dynasty. On the basis of her drawings, sketches of the 16th and 17th centuries, the architectural style of the ensemble was formed.
The buildings were carried out in the style of the traditions of ancient Russian architecture. As befits a fortress, the complex is located on a hill. It is surrounded by a stone wall with an entrance gate, white-stone towers, sparkling with a bright outfit. The colorful, joyful Izmailovsky Kremlin is often called "the most Russian place in the capital." An important goal of its architectural elements was the creation of thematic structures and the desire to revive the family values of Russia, to reveal the positive aspects of ancient life.
Sights
The Kremlin in Izmailovo is not among the historical monuments of the capital. This is a cultural and entertainment complex of modern times, combining in its architectural elements the peculiarities of Russian masterpieces of different times, presented in the Open Air Museum. The main attractions of the ensemble are the Palace of the Russian meal, the wooden Church of St. Nicholas, galleries, numerous museums and workshops.
Behind the colorful walls of the Kremlin, the recreation industry is organized in an original way, which is in demand by the modern family. For this, interesting conditions have been created for children's and youth creativity. The cultural and entertainment center conducts excursions, lectures, master classes introducing the ancient crafts of Russia.
Muscovites choose this place for festive events in the form of weddings, anniversaries, celebrations. The entertainment complex hosts holidays, city festivals, ensembles perform. Here the atmosphere of pre-Petrine time, created at the solemn entrance, is harmoniously combined with the latest achievements of the tourism industry.
Palace of the Russian meal
The flight of creative imagination, the original thinking of the famous master of graphics, icon painting Simon Ushakov made it possible to create an unusual structure. The wooden teremok corresponds to the traditions of the national style and is considered an example of palace buildings of the 17th century. Many elements of the palace are made in the form of copies of the royal chambers in Kolomenskoye. They were once called "The Eighth Wonder of the World".
The design of the building has everything: the splendor of Byzantine proposals, skillful carving on different types of wood, an original combination of colors. The interior decoration is distinguished by beautiful decorative painting (palekh, khokhloma, gzhel). The palace has 10 halls for different numbers of visitors. The largest banquet hall is called "royal". It is able to accommodate 500 guests at the same time. During the visit, dishes are offered, prepared according to old recipes of the Russian smithy.
It is possible to order familiar treats from the list of modern cuisine. Many places in the Palace overlook the square. A closed gallery connects the Palace and the passage tower. Interesting rooms are located in the basement of the building. This is a wine cellar, torture chambers. An underground passage leads to the Church of St. Nicholas.
Church of St. Nicholas
Traditionally, the church has always been the center of any Russian settlement. On the square of the Izmailovsky Kremlin there is a church dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, who saves the souls of sailors, travelers and craftsmen. This is one of the tallest wooden structures in Russia. The height of the temple is 46 meters.
A bell tower is arranged upstairs, from where the entire Izmailovsky courtyard is visible. According to the canons of the Orthodox Church, divine services are held here, baptism and wedding ceremonies are performed. Inside the church are the relics of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, which protect the family hearth. Parishioners visit the temple daily. There is also a Sunday school and a library.
Wedding palace №5
Not far from the tallest cathedral in Moscow, built of wood (the Church of St. Nicholas), there is a majestic baroque structure.This is a luxurious Palace of Happiness, intended for the solemn registration of marriage. Newlyweds, guests pass through a beautifully designed entrance into rooms with a fabulous interior created in the style of the 17th century.
The round reception area is decorated in shades of pink. It has wonderful acoustics, interesting lighting, original lancet windows. The ceremony can be attended by up to 25 guests. The building has a spacious living room, dressing room, dressing room. A wedding agency operates in the Palace.
The list of his services includes the organization of celebrations on the occasion of a wedding anniversary. It is possible to rent a banquet hall. Newlyweds can conduct not only marriage registration at the registry office, but also get married in the Temple, hold a wedding according to ancient rituals (Tsar's wedding). As a sign of a symbol of fidelity, happiness, fix your lock on a special tree.
Russian Compound
This is the name of the territory located outside the Kremlin walls. Festivities, holidays in the Russian spirit are held in the central square. It can accommodate about 5,000 people. On the territory there are paths, cozy benches in the shade of wild grapes. It is surrounded by mysterious porches, shops, cafes, galleries. Every place in the courtyard is invited to take colorful photos
To do this, you can choose a pond with a fountain or the architectural design of the complex. Some of its buildings are wooden log cabins made in the style of the northern regions of the country. Others are white stone, painted with bright colors. The entrance to the courtyard is made through a bridge and two majestic towers. Not far from it, the functioning Church of St. Nicholas amazes with its grandeur.
On the territory of the Russian courtyard there are numerous cafes with barbecue, pancakes, sbitn. Here you can also celebrate the "royal wedding". On this territory, the idea of Russian cultural traditions is effectively formed.
Gallery "Art-Kremlin"
You can get acquainted with the creations of young artists, sculptors, famous masters in the Art-Kremlin gallery, opened in 2014. Excellent conditions have been created for visitors to the Kremlin to get acquainted with current trends in contemporary art and culture. There are two halls in the gallery: Big and Small.
Their total area is about 500m 2. The exhibition area is suitable for placing monumental works and very small works. It is enough for holding large-scale exhibitions, concerts, festivals, poetry meetings, and the work of creative workshops.
The interior of the gallery is decorated with antique furniture and antique elements. This creates the atmosphere of a cozy, beautiful estate. The gallery harmoniously combines creative inspiration and artistic taste. This allows you to preserve the cultural heritage, traditions of different peoples of the multinational country.
Bell tower
The Kremlin does not exist on the territory of Russia without a bell tower. All troubles, joys in human destinies were reflected by the melodic or alarming ringing of bells. There is also a similar structure on the territory of the Izmailovo Kremlin. A unique collection of bells, created in the period of the 17th - 20th centuries, is considered the richness of the bell tower, its special decoration.
Here you can take part in bell ringing master classes, mastering its simple skills and inventing a melody on your own. From the top of the building there is a view of the Russian courtyard, the Palace, wooden chambers, towers with bright roofs. Temple, pond, picturesque surroundings. Here is one of the most popular viewing platforms of the complex. Wedding ringing of bells has become traditional and is still considered a good omen for newlyweds who release snow-white doves from the top of the bell tower.
Silver-Grape Pond
Not far from the Temple, one of the ancient ponds of Moscow sparkles with a pleasant splendor. His birth is associated with life in the royal residence. At this time, gardens were planted, greenhouses were built, dams were erected in the bed of the Robka River (hereinafter Serebryanka), several ponds were formed. Among them was Grape and Ilovaisky or Serebryany pond.
After the construction of the third dam, the two ponds connected, closing the ring and forming Izmailovsky Island. The residence of the king and a beautiful snow-white bridge connecting the island with the main territory grew on it. On this pond, Peter I made his first voyage. Later he transported the famous boat to St. Petersburg and called it “the grandfather of the Russian fleet”.
Now the surroundings of the pond have become a popular walking place for nature lovers. There are special recreation areas on the shore. You can always rent a fireworks display, a boat, or set up a tent right above the water. On the summer stand, wedding receptions are often held. On Epiphany holidays, traditional swimming in the ice-hole is held annually on the pond. A beautiful view of the Izmailovsky Kremlin opens from its banks.
Workshops
Since ancient times, the golden hands of craftsmen have created unique works of art, ordinary household items, toys for children from local subsidiary funds. Until now, the beauty of Khokhloma, Gzhel, Palekh, Dymkovo toys are striking. The embroidery of Naryshkina's Still lifes is admirable. I want to master many works and make an original, beautiful product myself.
The first lessons are offered in the Kremlin workshops. Acquaintance with the technique of folk crafts for the manufacture of pottery, decorative candles, chased coins, felting from felt. Weaving from bast, blacksmithing, tying sea knots are held in the form of master classes, lessons under the guidance of specialists.
And even a gingerbread baked and painted by yourself will be the most delicious and beautiful. And your own horseshoe will definitely bring good luck and happiness. All workshops are very popular with children and adults. They have thought out options for individual and group visits.
Vernissage
Near the Kremlin in Izmailovo there is the country's largest fair of antiques, original souvenirs, products based on folk crafts, and art objects. Along the shore of the Serebryano-Vinogradny pond, the Alley of Artists, attracting attention, the street of Crafts, Antique, Silver rows, stretch.
Traditionally, "verbs" or rows for trade were placed near the administrative centers of cities. This was the place where the GUM retail space was born. Izmailovo Vernissage continued this tradition. In wooden shops, made with elements of Russian architecture, you can find interesting things of our grandmothers, earflaps, nesting dolls.
Tsarist and Soviet money, magnets, weapons of the Second World War. Here artists sell paintings. Visiting the vernissage is popular with guests and residents of the capital who dream of finding a special souvenir or element for the interior of their home.
VERNISSAGE new handicrafts market
Vernissage consists not only of shopping malls, Flea market. The public trade fair area is constantly evolving using modern methods of organization. Under the next development program of the center, the VERNISSAGE market for new crafts was created in cooperation with the Moscow company Flacon IKS. In the premises of old warehouses, shops of vintage clothing, furniture, tableware, and constantly operating flea markets appeared.
There are also craft workshops and numerous cafes. The permanent residents are the workshop "Hands in paint", MyBotanica, Svalka. On New Year's Eve, workshops on making Christmas wreaths and toys are held here. In accordance with the Level One project, participants will get to know the image of Christmas in art. How is the holiday going in different countries on the planet.
How many wise men were there and why they brought to Jesus instead of rattles myrrh, incense, gold. What functions are performed by a calf, a donkey near a nursery with a baby.At the Christmas market, there is a collection point for gifts called "Old age with joy".
Art galleries
A fascinating walk around the Izmaylovsky Kremlin requires a visit to interesting galleries. Among them is the "Art-Kremlin". The gallery started working in 2014. Its exhibitions change frequently and contain works of contemporary sculptors and artists. The Kukolny Lane gallery is considered to be no less interesting. Here you will find designer dolls made by hand according to individual sketches.
To create them, the authors used fabric, clay, wood, papier-mâché, metal, etc. Many exhibitions contain interesting thematic collections of dolls. These are characters from Carroll's fairy tale based on the project "Following Alice's Footsteps". Among them are the March Hare, White Rabbit, Blue Caterpillar.
Cheshire cats from wonderland, characters from Russian fairy tales, Andersen's immortal works from the Great Fairy Tales of the World project. Many leading master puppeteers exhibit their works of authorship in the gallery. Children and adults are happy to visit the fabulous gallery.
Museums
The history of Russia, its life with interesting epics, legends, unusual products of craftsmen of different creative directions is good to learn along with a visit to a complex of interactive museums. Many of them are among the most amazing museums in Moscow. Among them are the following museums:
Animations. Among the exhibits of interesting expositions are collections of characters from foreign and domestic cartoons. These are the famous crocodile Gena, Cheburashka, Wolf, Hares, Mickey Mouse, new images created according to their own suggestions.
Chocolate. The museum offers to learn in detail the history of the appearance of a delicious delicacy from the invention of the Aztec tribes, May to its appearance in Europe and Russia. Of particular interest are chocolate sculptures, elements of the Techno Shock exposition. Nuts, bolts, hammers, various working tools look like real ones and even work.
Pastilles. It is not accidental that it was organized at the “Pastila iz Kolomna” store. The city has been famous for its apple orchards since ancient times. Even in the time of Ivan the Terrible, “Kolomna marshmallow, loose white-foam, three fingers thick, worthy of every surprise” was revered. The history of its creation will become known not only to monks, but also to any visitor to the museum.
Weapons. It displays 30 samples of rifle elements, over 100 samples of weapons from Russia and other countries, manufactured at different times. You can hold them in your hands, find out the principle of action. A separate exposition contains samples of military equipment, army uniforms of modern times, the times of the Great Patriotic War. The collection of different models of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is of interest.
Ill-bred children. The rules of conduct, traditions, customs in modern society have long been different. It’s hard to believe that in the Middle Ages, a child from a good family never washed his hands. Learn in detail about the modern rules of conduct at the new museum for children. Together with the guide's story, children can play a lot of hooligan games. Paint on walls covered with special paint, sit on tables, gum anywhere, hide in closets and commit thousands of unpredictable pranks.
History of the Russian Navy. Here are models of different ships from old sailing ships to modern liners. The exhibits demonstrate the history of the origin and stages of development of the Russian navy. You can see the clothes of sailors and officers of different eras, ship cannons and various attributes of naval affairs. The captain's cabin of the Kruzenshtern ship has been recreated in the museums. All parts and materials are genuine.
Of bread. Describes the history of bakeries in Russia. Shown are expositions of a large number of bakery products. Here, under the strict guidance of the master, you can bake a loaf, gingerbread and bagels. Thus, the technique of making bread is learned.
Vodka. Dedicated to Russian intoxicating drink. Collections of bottles, labels, recipes are on display. The secret of the vodka preparation technology is revealed to the visitors. The museum has a tasting room.
Folk arts. Find out what the children of ancient Russia played, as well as make a toy with your own hands in a museum of folk arts. The exposition of the museum presents clay, wooden, straw dolls, as well as ancient musical instruments and other household items.
World history in plasticine. An extraordinary exposition meets tourists, which presents miniature figurines of famous people from plasticine. A whole complex of lectures on world history is held here. The lecturers present the facts and events of the development of civilization against the background of demonstrating compositions of historical scenes made of plasticine.
Creative workshops
Among the offers of the unique cultural and entertainment complex in Izmailovo, great attention is paid to educational services. They find themselves in interesting programs of master classes, in creative lessons. They are held in the workshops of artisans, in the premises of numerous museums in the Kremlin.
These are felting, baking and painting of gingerbread, making decorative candles, dolls, bast products. You can master blacksmithing, pottery, learn to tie sea knots. Make delicious chocolates on your own or sculpt marzipan. Mastery lessons become the basis for the future profession.
Interesting Facts
The fabulous Russian kingdom was created in modern times. Elements of decoration of architectural buildings were made according to old technologies.
The complex was erected for 10 years on the site of a wasteland. There is a legend that the descendant of the famous icon painter Alexander Ushakov saw the image of the Kremlin in a dream. He later submitted his project to the government for approval of the capital.
When visiting museums, you are invited to learn the most interesting moments from the life of Russia. For example, after seeing a copy of the famous medal for drunkenness or the appearance (thanks to Peter I) of the famous tradition of "Drinking a free kick."
Excursions
The easiest way to get acquainted with the sights of the unique architectural complex is with excursions. They are held in the thematic areas of specific museums, designed for schoolchildren, people of different ages.
The most popular are: "Russian Compound", "Crafts Sloboda", "Russian Fun", an interactive game "Treasure Search". Most of the excursions end with participation in master classes, quizzes, team games, pleasant tea at the Bread Museum, and other events.
How to get there
The Izmailovsky Kremlin can be reached by car from the Moscow Ring Road along the Shchelkovskoye highway or along the Entuziastov highway. The main thing is to carefully follow the road signs so as not to miss the turn of the road to Izmailovo. It is quite easy to get to the historical and entertainment complex by metro. Coming out at the Partizanskaya station, you need to walk quite a bit. The huge and bright complex is already visible at the beginning of the journey.
It is noteworthy that a visit to the Izmailovo Kremlin is free. During celebrations, concerts and festivals, the entrance to the complex is paid. Ticket prices are published on the Izmailovo official website. Izmailovsky courtyard opening hours are daily from 10.00 to 20.00. Visiting museums is paid. Master classes and excursions are paid additionally.
