Where is Vorontsov's palace located? Vorontsov Palace in Alupka: history of creation, photo, description, architect. Vorontsov Palace - movie star

In 1823, the hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, Count Mikhail Semenovich Vorontsov, became governor-general of the Novorossiysk region, which at that time included Crimea. The development of Crimea owes a lot to this strong-willed and energetic person. Under his leadership, a highway is being built on the southern coast of Crimea, the agricultural and especially wine industries are rapidly developing, and the number of industrial enterprises is rapidly growing. The history of the Black Sea shipping company began in 1828. During these same years, the count was actively buying land from the local Tatar population and dreaming of creating his own palace.

Construction of the palace lasted for 20 years.

After the death of Thomas Harisson in 1829 in 1831, Count Vorontsov suddenly ordered to stop the construction of the palace and radically change the neoclassical style of the palace. The Count invites one of the most talented architects of that time, Edward Blore. According to the architect's idea, the palace is being built in the English Gothic style. In the same year, construction of the main building begins. The building material for the construction of the walls was diabase, a rock of volcanic origin that is several times stronger than granite. Deposits of this stone are found in abundance nearby. Diabase is very difficult to process, but this does not stop Count Vorontsov, because he was the richest man in the country and more than 60,000 serfs worked under his leadership. Even a sapper battalion took part in the excavation work, whose soldiers worked on the construction of terraces with south side facade.

Interesting fact: the architect Blore never visited the construction site. He got his entire idea of ​​the terrain from numerous drawings and engravings.

In 1948, construction of the palace came to an end. Vorontsov Palace consists of five buildings decorated with towers, which are connected by various passages, stairs and courtyards. The architect managed to organically fit the buildings stretched from west to east into the mountainous landscape of the area. Externally, the palace very much resembles a family feudal castle in England.

Palace interiors

The interiors of the Vorontsov Palace are in no way inferior to the Livadia Palace in the luxury of its decoration. The decoration of the rooms has been almost completely preserved. Each room, and there are about 150 of them, is designed in a personal style. The materials that were used in the decoration are reflected in the names of the rooms. Chinese cabinet decorated with the finest rice straws, decorative elements are embroidered with beads and silk. The decoration of the Chintz room is skillfully made from this fabric. The brightest room of the Vorontsov Palace is the Blue Living Room, the highlight of which is the stucco ornament in the form of petals and leaves. There are about three thousand of them in total and each of them is different from the other. The fireplaces of the palace are a separate masterpiece of architectural art. In each room they are unique and made of different materials.

Alupka Park

The Vorontsov Palace is located on the territory of Alupka Park, which is a pearl of landscape design. This masterpiece was created by the Chief Gardener of the Southern Coast of Crimea, Karl Antonovich Kebakh, over the course of 25 years. The park spreads over an area of ​​40 hectares. More than two hundred species of plants grow here, which were brought from the regions of Northern and South America, Mediterranean. Geographically it is divided into Upper and Lower parks. The park is designed in such a way that it complements the local nature. Three reservoirs have been artificially created in the park.

Interesting fact: To decorate the bottom Swan Lake Count Vorontsov ordered 20 bags of semi-precious stones, which were delivered by ship. In sunny weather they created an indescribably beautiful play of light.

The attraction of the park is the piles of stones from solidified magma, thrown out by the volcano back in time immemorial, called “Great Chaos” and “Little Chaos”. There are also a large number of fountains built in the park.

clearing in the park

Interesting facts about Vorontsov Palace

The palace was owned by three generations of the Vorontsov family. The cost of laying out the park is twice as high as the construction of the palace itself. In 1910, up to 36,000 rubles were spent on maintaining the park, a huge amount at that time. The Vorontsov Palace is one of the first buildings in Russia where sewerage and water supply were built for comfortable living. Since 1921, a museum has been operating in the palace complex. Only after the Great Patriotic War, for about 10 years, the territory of the Vorontsov Palace was a secret object and there was a dacha for the party leadership here. During the Yalta Conference in February 1945, the British delegation led by William Churchill lived in the Vorontsov Palace. Associated with him interesting story, which occurred during a walk in Churchill and Stalin Park. The fact is that the staircase on the side of the facade, which faces the sea, is decorated with sculptures of guarding lions. Churchill, who really liked the sculpture of the sleeping lion, said that it looked like himself and offered Stalin to buy it. Stalin refused this proposal, but suggested to Churchill that if he answered his question correctly, Stalin would give him a sleeping lion. “Which finger on your hand is the main one?” - that was Stalin’s question. Churchill replied, “Of course the index finger.” “Wrong,” Stalin answered and twisted a figure from his fingers, which is popularly called a fig.

Greetings, friends!

All valuable architectural objects have their own complicated history; many secrets and details emerge in our time. The Vorontsov Palace in Crimea is no exception.

There you are amazing fact No. 1 – how could the museum “Count Vorontsov’s Palace” function even during the German occupation? How many of you know about the “iron room” and how did it happen that this palace was more expensive than that of the emperor himself?

I will try to cover these questions in the article. Let's start reading!

The mere fact that 20 years and 20 million in silver were spent on the construction of the palace speaks of far from being a simple estate, but a real masterpiece of architectural art. And if you add to this names of architects and craftsmen who worked on its creation .

Judge for yourself, the project and construction were supervised by English and Italian masters - Thomas Harrison and Francesco Boffo, and then Edward Blore, the famous architect, who is responsible for a number of works such as Buckingham Palace, Walter Scott's Scottish castle, and the reconstruction of London palaces.

Moreover, Blore did not come to Alupka; M. Vorontsov himself visited him in England with drawings of the local landscape, relief and landscapes.

The construction and all related work with the decoration of the palace was carried out by serfs, among whom were excellent craftsmen, but you will see this when you personally visit the estate.

Vorontsov Palace: description

It is no wonder that the construction lasted so long, because the material was the local volcanic stone diabase, which first had to be mined (exploded), and then ground to the required size into blocks. But it is a very strong material.

The Vorontsov Palace consists of five interconnected buildings, which contain more than 150 rooms. The palace is surrounded by a luxurious park, which I will tell you about in next article.

Initially, the palace was planned to be built in neoclassical style , but after the construction of the foundation and the death of one of the architects, Vorontsov changed his mind . Now we see an amazing palace-medieval castle, the architectural styles of which include English Tudor style (north side), as well as eastern Indo-Moorish (south side).

Vorontsov Castle made of dark stone, with its turrets, spiers, arches, battlements, openwork passages, domes and subtle carved patterns fits perfectly into the mountain and sea landscapes. And if you look from below, the palace, immersed in park greenery, looks like a set for an old English novel.

A little history

Count, prince, and then governor of the Novorossiysk region M. S. Vorontsov fell in love with the Crimean land and tried to improve every piece of land as much as possible - he built roads, industrial enterprises, was engaged in shipping, and developed agriculture.

This happened with Alupka, where he decided to build an estate. Construction of the palace took place from 1828 to 1848.

Until the October Revolution, the castle successfully served as the residence of the Vorontsov family. In 1921 it was nationalized and (it’s surprising how it didn’t become just another sanatorium) was used as a museum.

Crimea almost lost this amazing structure during the Second World War, for the first time just before the arrival of the German invaders, when there was no hope left, the commander-in-chief received an order to destroy the palace so that it would not become prey to the Nazis.

And the second - before the retreat of the German troops, this time the occupiers themselves planned to lift the entire palace into the air “as a farewell.”

We owe the preservation of this unique architectural complex to the museum’s senior researcher Stepan Shchekoldin, who did not allow the order to be carried out and continued to serve in the museum during the capture by the Nazis, preserving valuable exhibits in a secret “iron room.”

Under pain of death, he continued his work until his liberation. As a result, he received 10 years in the camps for “service” to the Germans.

In 1945, the British delegation headed by W. Churchill, which arrived at the Yalta Conference, was stationed here.

Until 1965, the Vorntsovsky Palace served as a state dacha. Then it was reopened as a museum. Since 1990 is Alupka Palace and Park Reserve.

What will you see when visiting the palace complex

First of all, your attention will be occupied by the architecture of the palace complex itself, because no matter which side you come from, there is a unique picture everywhere. On the western side there will be watchtowers, a little to the right the Shuvalovsky building and the gate passage.

Then a shady farm yard with a giant plane tree and outbuildings.

On the northern side, the palace is crowned with neat turrets and large windows, and in front of the façade there are marble fountains, one of which a copy of the Bakhchisarai “Fountain of Tears”.

And finally, the most amazing and romantic - the southern facade in the Indo-Moorish style with magnificent arches, oriental ornaments, balconies and openwork grilles. By the way, above the door leading to the Blue Living Room there is an inscription in Arabic. Once you find out and see with your own eyes what is written there, write in the comments!

The place for photo shoots and selfies is the Lion's Terrace. A wide staircase with three pairs of marble lions descends to the lower park and the Tea House by the Sea.

Marble Lions - the work of the Italian sculptor Giovanni Bonanni. Predators are depicted as peacefully sleeping, waking up and belligerent guards.

Oh yes! You will also look into the winter garden with snow-white angelic sculptures and rare southern plants. Next, you will go on a tour of the inner chambers with a guide, who will tell you about everything in more detail.

How do excursions work?

Unfortunately, the tours take place only on the first floor and cover only 10 rooms, where five main exhibitions await you.

I must say that the interior of any of the rooms will delight you. This is where you can see the perfect combination of taste and luxury. And this despite the fact that the Vorontsov Palace was nevertheless subjected to looting and barbarity during the German occupation.

Also on the territory of the palace, various thematic and seasonal exhibitions are held, and excursions around the park are provided, including by electric vehicles.

M. S. Vorontsov was a connoisseur of art, literature, and strived for science and knowledge. A library was created on the estate, which was collected for decades, and now there are more than 27,000 book copies.

The Vorontsovs could also boast a large collection of paintings - family portraits and works by famous foreign masters. You will notice them in every room.

Well, traditionally, the Vorontsov Palace was used many times as a filming site. “Hamlet”, “Stoves-Benches”, “Assa”, “Ordinary Miracle” and other films were filmed here.

Reviews from tourists

Admiration is present in every visitor review. What were the sightseers complaining about?

• sometimes you have to wait for your excursion, but you can still take a walk in the park;
• I want to stay longer in each room, otherwise you won’t really see anything with the group;
• it's a long walk from the parking lot;
• one day is not enough to enjoy exploring the palace and its surroundings, so book accommodation and stay in Alupka longer. She's worth it!
• ticket prices are high.

Visiting information

Where is this miracle located? The Palace of Count Vorontsov is located in the city of Alupka, 17 km from Yalta. The battlements of Ai-Petri rise above the walls of the palace.

The exact address: Alupka, Dvortsovoye Shosse street, 18.

The Vorontsov Palace welcomes visitors seven days a week, from 9.00 to 17.00 in winter, from 9.00 to 18.00 in spring and from 8.00 to 20.00 in summer. The ticket office closes earlier, at 16.15, 17.15 and 19.15 depending on the season!

Cost of visit:

• visit to the Main Exhibition “The State Halls of the Main Building of the Vorontsov Palace” – 400 rubles;
• single ticket for all expositions and exhibitions – 1050 rubles;
• single ticket “Interiors of the Vorontsov Palace” – 600 rubles;
• single ticket “Great Halls” and temporary exhibitions – 650 rubles;
• individual exhibitions - from 50 to 350 rubles;
• excursion to the park – 100 rubles;
• for an electric car – 800 rubles;
• children from 7 to 16 years old, students under 18 years old - separate services, discounts, benefits.

Official site: worontsovpalace.org

How to get to the Vorontsov Palace

There is a direct bus service from Simferopol, Yalta, Sevastopol and many other settlements to Alupka. I wrote about how to get out of Simferopol airport.

From the Alupka bus station it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the palace; there are information boards and signs.

Some minibuses will take you from Yalta to the Vorontsov Palace, for example, No. 32 departs from the center, and No. 102 from the bus station.

You can also go from Yalta to Alupka by sea on a boat. Read more about sea ​​walks in this one.

Another option is to purchase a guided tour. With groups and a guide, you won't have to worry about finding your destination or getting back.

Good to know

If you are planning a walk in the park, you will have to walk a lot, but the terrain is still mountainous. Therefore, girls, wear comfortable shoes without heels - many people complain later!

If you want to know where to stay in Alupka, where to have a snack, which beach to go to with your family - read here .

And one more thing

You can become a member "Club of Friends of the Vorontsov Palace" . What it is?

Numerous exhibits of the palace are unique and priceless evidence of history. Unfortunately, they do not last forever and over time require expensive restoration work, otherwise the palace collections may become significantly thinner.

In addition, the maintenance of the palace and park, the organization of exhibitions, scientific and research papers, educational program and visitor services - all this requires huge costs.

"Friends Club" Vorontsovsky Park“is a project of financial support from organizations and individuals, in other words, patronage. Membership conditions and detailed information posted on the official website of the museum:

worontsovpalace.org/?page_id=7766

And finally I'll ask

p.s. You know, I consider this palace not only the most magnificent and worthy of a visit (from the “balls on the forehead” category), but also the most mysterious. If you look closely at the interior decoration, you will notice some kind of uncomfortable feeling. Of course, the guides will carry you through the rooms at the speed of the flow of water in the Wuchang-su waterfall, but you still try to look around and answer my question. What the hell is this around!!?? Or is it just me who seems inappropriate among such beauty?

I'm waiting for your answers...

Address: Russia, Republic of Crimea, Alupka, sh. Dvortsovoye, 18
Date of construction: 1840
Architect: Furasov P.I.
Coordinates: 57°19"07.5"N 43°06"40.4"E

Content:

Short story

The luxurious palace, named Vorontsovsky in honor of Count Vorontsov M.S., is a unique building that became the embodiment of the Romanticism era. It is located on the Crimean peninsula in the city of Alupka.

The beginning of its construction dates back to 1828, when Governor-General Vorontsov, responsible for the Novorossiysk region, chose the site for the construction of the future main building and drove pegs into it. However, the palace did not appear quickly - its construction took 20 years.

Initially, the project of the future Vorontsov Palace was developed in the style of strict classics, and the famous Italian architect named Francesco Boffo and his colleague from England Thomas Harrison worked on it.

The year 1829 was the beginning of the implementation of their joint project, and as all the preparatory work was completed, the foundation was immediately laid and the first masonry was made. However, an unpleasant surprise soon occurred - in the midst of preparing working drawings, architect Harrison died.

To keep the construction going, Boffo needed a new partner. It was Edward Blore, a young architect working in the romantic direction of English architecture.

Stone staircase with white marble lion sculptures

Why did Count Vorontsov choose him and decide to make changes to the project of the future palace in the Crimean Alupka? The fact is that in those years he was in England, and he was impressed by the local architecture and new fashion trends in the construction of buildings. Therefore, the count revised the already developed project and entrusted the new architect with adjusting it so that the result of the work would be a real castle, combining the rigor of English architecture and the luxury inherent in Indian palaces.

And since 1832, construction work on the construction of the Vorontsov Palace in Crimea has already been carried out according to an updated project, but without distorting the previously completed stages. The execution of all work was entrusted to the best craftsmen - stonemasons, modelers, stone and wood carvers, artists, furniture makers and other workers, who approached the orders entrusted to them with all responsibility. As a result, the construction of the palace cost Vorontsov 9 million rubles.

From left to right: formal dining room, winter garden

Layout of the Vorontsov Palace

All palace complex, erected by order of Vorontsov, is represented by several solid buildings, designated as:

• central;
• dining room;
• guest;
• library;
• economic.

The building intended for receiving guests was later called Shuvalovsky, since on the right side there was the room of Vorontsov’s daughter, who became Countess Shuvalova after her marriage.

Northern façade of the main building

Oddly enough, the construction of the palace began with the construction of the dining building, and this work took 4 years (from 1830 to 1834). The construction of the central building took 6 years - 1831 - 1837. From 1841 to 1842, work was carried out on the construction of a billiard room, which complemented the building with a dining room. The construction of the guest building, all the towers, outbuildings, outbuildings and the design of the Main Courtyard also took a lot of time (these were 1838 - 1844). And finally, the library building, built from 1842 to 1846, joined the palace complex.

The decoration of the central staircase were sculptures of lions, the production of which was entrusted to the Italian master Giovanni Bonnani. And the whole luxurious palace ensemble lion terrace, that is, many figures of lions.

Right - Clock Tower

Features of the architecture of the Vorontsov Palace

Vorontsov Palace, standing in the middle XIX century decoration of Alupka in Crimea, was a kind of innovation that violated some architectural and construction principles. In those days, it was customary to place the buildings of palace ensembles in a strict geometric grouping, but the architect Blore deviated from this rule and distributed all the buildings that were part of the Vorontsov Palace on the ground so that they stood in the direction from west to east, as if in accordance with the movement of the mountains. This approach allowed all the buildings to fit harmoniously into the local landscape - the Vorontsov palace complex found its place in the Crimean expanses.

Moving from building to building, you can clearly trace the stages of development of medieval architecture, starting from its earliest forms and ending with the traditions of the 16th century.

Shuvalovsky building

However, when developing projects for all buildings, the emphasis was still placed on the English style. Why is Vorontsov Castle in Crimea so attractive? Its peculiarity is its appearance, reminiscent of a castle-fortress from the ancient 8th - 11th centuries. When you find yourself in the courtyard of the utility buildings, you involuntarily stumble upon blank walls and find yourself in confined spaces, and when you try to get to the central building, you find yourself surrounded by round watchtowers. Further, the general impression of inaccessibility is complemented by narrow loophole windows and high walls of rough masonry. But suddenly an openwork suspension bridge made of cast iron appears and adds a festive touch to this harsh composition. And so, as you move away from the arch of the western entrance, signs of the architecture of the following eras become more and more apparent.

West Entrance Towers

Having crossed the openwork bridge and getting rid of the feeling of enclosure, you can find yourself in the Front Courtyard, which offers a view of Mount Ai-Petri. But this is not just a view - it is a unique picture, because the landscape is, as it were, limited by an architectural frame represented by a clock tower, an eastern wing and a retaining wall with a fountain.

The architecture of the main building of the Vorontsov Palace in Crimea is also interesting. Its walls are pushed out of plane by different levels, as required by the English Tudor style. The central part is decorated with a main entrance and decorated with bay window projections and side projections. The roofs of the towers are onion domes. The northern facade of the building is decorated with narrow polyhedral semi-columns, the crowns of which are pinnacles (decorative tops).

Chapel

Graceful pinnacles and battlements, domes and chimneys, decorated with flower-shaped finials, smooth out the roughness of the stone texture of the walls and their massive luggage.

Considering the carved stone decorations that decorate the Vorontsov Palace, it is worth noting their pronounced similarity with some elements of Western and Eastern architecture. Thus, true architecture connoisseurs immediately notice the Gothic chimneys and minarets of the mosque, and it is precisely this compatible incompatibility that makes the palace complex special. This similarity is especially acute as you move to the southern facade of the building, called the main one. In the rays of the sun, its outlines seem unusual and bizarre.

From left to right: formal dining room, winter garden, main building

But the main motive for the design of the palace are arches of the most varied shapes - they are gentle, keel-shaped, horseshoe-shaped, and pointed. And you can see them everywhere, from the balustrade of the balconies to the decoration of the portal of the southern entrance to the Vorontsov Palace. Besides, architectural ensemble, erected by order of the Governor-General, also has its own “zest” - these are 6 identical lines in Arabic, indicating that the winner is only Allah. You can see the inscription in a niche decorated with a Tudor flower and an Indian lotus.

Description of the park surrounding the Vorontsov Palace

During the construction of the palace, work was also carried out to lay out the adjacent park. But if the construction of the Vorontsov Palace took two decades, work on creating the park does not stop to this day. On an area of ​​40 hectares, a wide variety of plants brought from all over the world coexist harmoniously.

Shuvalovsky passage with a view of the openwork bridge

In general, the palace park is divided into Upper and Lower. The upper park is decorated with several glades - Kashtanovaya, Contrast, Solnechnaya. And each of them is notable for its trees (Italian pine, oriental plane tree, yew berry, Himalayan cedar, Chilean araucaria, or monkey tree, etc.). In addition, on the territory of the Upper Park there is Swan Lake, where these beautiful birds actually live, the Upper and Mirror lakes and a waterfall.

In the Lower Park, surrounded by the most beautiful and rare representatives of the flora, there is a small tea house, which at one time was used by the Vorontsov family to spend holidays on the seashore. Then this place was often illuminated with fireworks and fireworks.

Shuvalovsky passage with a view of the western gate

Being here, you can really feel the holiday atmosphere, because it was not without reason that the architect chose the place to build the house here. Surrounded by many unique plants, it creates the feeling of being in a fairy tale, since the entire territory of the Lower Park is conducive to creating an enchanting mood. And the lower part of Vorontsovsky Park in Crimea is designed in the Italian style of a regular park.

Use of the Vorontsov Palace complex in different years

Since 1990, the Vorontsov Palace in Alupka has become a palace and park museum-reserve. Several interesting exhibitions are located in nine state rooms. Thanks to their content, everyone can get acquainted with the way of life of the count’s family, who lived in the palace before the October Revolution, and the character of the palace’s interiors.

Exit from the yard

But in 1990, the opening of the Vorontsov Palace as a museum was secondary - its building was first used as a museum in 1921.

But with the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War of 1941, valuable museum exhibits could not be saved, and the building itself was repeatedly threatened with destruction. However, thanks to the efforts of one of the museum employees S.G. Shchekoldin. The Vorontsov Palace Museum still survived. Of course, many artistic treasures were lost during the war, but after it ended, some paintings were still found and returned to the museum.

On the shores of the Black Sea there is a majestic architectural monument of the 19th century - the Vorontsov Palace. Its construction took 20 years and was completed in 1848 under the leadership of the eminent British court architect Edward Blore. The masterpiece of the Romantic era was conceived as the residence of Count Mikhail Vorontsov, Governor-General of the Novorossiysk Territory.

The count himself chose the site for the construction of the palace - on a beautiful cape near Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea. The author skillfully combined English and neo-Moorish styles with Gothic and brilliantly integrated the building into the existing landscape. Blore had never been there before, but based on his sketches, he “unfolded” the building so that its outline coincided with the outline of the mountains.

Diabase, a greenish-gray stone, was used in the construction of the building. It was mined in local areas. The drawings in the design of the building were very complex, the stone could crack during processing, so the best craftsmen who built temples in Central Russia were called in to carry out the stone cutting work.

Thus, in the unremarkable and hitherto little-known Tatar village of Alupka, a castle of five buildings with numerous passages, stairs and courtyards appeared. The Lion's Terrace is located near the main staircase. Six lions “seat” on either side of a magnificent staircase made of white marble – one “sleeping”, the other “awakening”, the rest “awake” and “roaring”.

The Vorontsov Palace was the first in Russia to have a hot water pipeline and a sewage system built.

The construction of the palace complex cost a huge sum for those times - about 9 million silver rubles. But it was within the reach of Count Vorontsov, the richest landowner in the Russian Empire.

History of creation

The history of the Vorontsov Palace is closely connected with events in the country. Soon after settling in, the count had to leave his new home due to his assignment to the Caucasus. The palace changed its owners - in different years the count's daughter Sofya Mikhailovna, son Semyon Mikhailovich, and widow Maria Vasilievna lived in it. In the 1880s the building became empty and abandoned.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Vorontsovs’ relatives, the Dashkovs, established sanatoriums and boarding houses there. After the revolution, the lands were nationalized. In the 20s, as in some other large noble estates on the southern coast of Crimea, a museum was created there, called Alupkinsky. The museum's collection suffered greatly during the Great Patriotic War. The Nazis took away more than 500 works of painting and graphics; not many were returned later.

After the war, the palace housed the state dacha of the NKVD. And finally, in 1956, Krymsky opened state museum of fine arts, which later became part of the Alupka Palace and Park Museum-Reserve. Today there are collections of paintings, sculptures and applied art, as well as ancient documents telling about the construction of the palace.

Exhibitions and expositions

Exhibitions and expositions are located in many rooms of the Vorontsov Palace - in the halls, Shuvalov wing, Guest building, Utility building, conference hall.

Thus, guests can see the exhibitions “The State Halls of the Main Building”, “The House of Count A.P. Shuvalov”, “Butler’s Apartment”, “Sculpture of the Southern Terraces”, “Vorontsov Kitchen”, exhibitions “Under the Plane Tree”, “Porcelain Pantry” and others.

Reasonable prices are available to all categories of visitors. The ticket price for adults ranges from 50 to 300 rubles, for students, pensioners and children from 16 to 18 years old - from 25 to 150 rubles. A “single ticket” costs 650 and 325 rubles, respectively.

For example, the exhibition “The State Rooms of the Main Building of the Vorontsov Palace” is open on an ongoing basis in the museum. These rooms have remained virtually unchanged since ancient times. The decoration, furniture, even portraits on the walls have retained their original appearance in the traditional English manner. During the tour, guests will see the state rooms of the main building, the Chinese office, the lobby, the Blue Living Room, the Winter Garden, the State Dining Room, and the billiard room.

The exhibition “Vorontsov Kitchen” is located in the kitchen building of the Economic Courtyard. The servants not only worked in this part of the palace, but also lived. Three rooms of this building are open to visitors, where they can get acquainted with the interior of the palace kitchen. The first hall is spacious, located on an area of ​​60 square meters and two floors high. In the center there is a cast iron plate decorated with cast ornaments. Antique dishes, sinks, samovars, cookbooks, and the interior of the pantry create a bright, unforgettable impression.

The exhibition “Reserved Taurida” is open in the conference hall of the palace. It will work until March 31, 2018. Visitors will be able to see 60 works of art from the museum’s collections, their authors are domestic and foreign artists. The paintings depict the unreal beauty of the Crimean nature and palaces, parks, city streets, archaeological monuments. The works were created in the first half of the 19th century, at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries, during Soviet times. All of them represent the heritage of Crimeans, which is preserved for subsequent generations.

The architecture of the Crimean peninsula is fascinating: there are many famous historical monuments, attracting the attention of tourists from all over the world. The Vorontsov Palace, as can be seen in many photos, is one of the most majestic buildings in Crimea.

It was built by Count Mikhail Vorontsov in the small Tatar village of Alupka at the foot of Mount Ai-Petri. The mansion gained fame architectural masterpiece era of romanticism.

Vorontsov Palace is located in the town of Alupka in the southern part of the picturesque Crimean Peninsula. The city is part of the Yalta urban district and stretches along the coast for 4 km. Not far from Alupka there are the resorts of Simeiz and Katsiveli.

Geographical coordinates on the map of Crimea GPS N 44.4197, E 34.0430

How and by whom the construction was carried out

Count Vorontsov first visited Crimea in 1822 and was delighted with the beauty and wealth southern region. Under him, the rapid development of winemaking began, fish factories were created, salt production was established, roads and a port were built. The Vorontsov Palace in Crimea, photos of which are presented in the article, was built as the summer residence of Count Mikhail Vorontsov.

The Governor-General of Novorossiya was a very rich and educated man. He took the project planning seriously and personally last day supervised the construction. Initially building complex planned in the style of strict classicism by famous architects Thomas Harrison and Francesco Boffo.

The Earl approved the project, but after visiting England, where he met the talented royal architect Edward Blore, the creator of Buckingham Palace and a great connoisseur of medieval architecture, he changed the drawings. The famous architect never came to Crimea, but thoroughly studied the area around the construction site using drawings and sketches.

He designed a magnificent castle that fit perfectly into the surrounding landscape.

The palace, with a total area of ​​40 hectares, was built over 20 years from 1928 to 1948. The material was local durable diabase stone of volcanic origin. It was delivered in blocks to the construction site, where it was cut by hand.

The palace complex consists of five buildings connected by open and closed passages, which were built alternately in the style of a certain era. Inside the palace there are 150 rooms equipped with running water and sewerage. Huge amounts of money were invested in the construction of the palace, but richest man Russia could afford such luxury.

History of the palace

The Vorontsov noble family is one of the most ancient. Mikhail grew up in the family of a famous politician and diplomat, and spent his childhood in England. A brilliantly educated young man, upon returning home at the age of 19, entered military service. Mikhail made a successful career and, very young, received the rank of general.

In 1823, the count and his family arrived in Odessa, where he was appointed governor-general. Knowing about the wealth of the southern region, Mikhail was interested in obtaining this position. During his reign, the city flourished, and the count decided to invest his personal income in the construction of a magnificent estate. After completion of construction, the palace belonged to the Vorontsov family for a long time, and then to its descendants.

But by the end of the 19th century the estate was abandoned:

1. In 1904, a distant relative of the Vorontsovs began to build dachas on the territory and rent out the land for sanatoriums.
2. At the beginning of the 20th century, with the advent of Soviet power, the mansion became national museum.
3. During the Second World War, the palace was practically not damaged, only some valuable exhibits were taken away. Hitler promised the mansion to Field Marshal Mannstein and he took care of preserving his property.
4. During the Yalta Conference, the British delegation lived in the palace.
5. In the post-war years there was a summer house for high-ranking officials, and then in 1956 the mansion again acquired the status of a museum.

Since 1990, the palace complex has been called the Alupka Palace and Park Museum-Reserve.

Architecture. Palace interiors

main feature the palace is an original fusion of different styles. The famous architect managed to organically combine the themes of the West and the East. The Vorontsov Palace in Crimea, the photo of which conveys a knightly interior and elements of stylized Gothic, corresponded to the character and lifestyle of the count and reflected his masculine interests.

The Vorontsov Palace in Crimea looks great not only in person, but also in the photo.

Towards creation magnificent interior Both European craftsmen and stone-cutters, cabinet-makers, molders, embroiderers from all the provinces of Russia, and the serfs of the count himself contributed. Up to three hundred names of skilled craftsmen have been preserved in the archives.

Western facade of the Vorontsov Palace

The western facade or Shuvalovsky Proezd with its high watchtowers, narrow loopholes and thick fortress walls made of gray diabase blocks resembles a medieval European castle. The main entrance to the palace ensemble runs from this side.

Architecture of the utility buildings of the Vorontsov Palace

The utility buildings are located in an elongated closed polygon, to which two separate gates lead. The architecture of these buildings corresponds to English medieval castles. The facades are decorated with clear geometric lines of door and window openings, the walls are processed using the “torn” stone method.

Various household services were located on the ground floor, and servants lived in the upper rooms.

Northern facade of the Vorontsov Palace

The north side of the mansion resembles a 16th century country house in England. Tall chimneys give a special flavor to the northern façade.

The northern side is illuminated by the sun only in the morning and evening; the rest of the day it seems to merge with the gray rocks. Mount Ai-Petri, rising behind the palace, harmoniously complements the architectural ensemble.

Front office of the Vorontsov Palace

The office is decorated in traditional English style:

• bay windows;
• oak panels and doors;
• inlaid furniture from London;
• fireplace.

On the walls with painted wallpaper are memorable portraits of military comrades in the Patriotic War of 1812 and a portrait of the owner himself in military uniform.

The office is decorated with a finely crafted ebony bookcase, English chairs and armchairs with Gothic carvings, bronze sculptures, candelabra, and a gilded clock depicting folk heroes Minin and Pozharsky. Here the Governor-General held meetings and friendly meetings.

Calico living room of the Vorontsov Palace

A small chintz room served as a reception room, where they waited for an audience with the count. The walls are upholstered in expensive English fabric with elegant patterns, the furniture is inlaid with bronze, there is a blue crystal chandelier on the ceiling, and mosaic parquet flooring.

The walls are decorated with landscapes by Russian artists.

Chinese cabinet of the Vorontsov Palace

This is the countess's boudoir. Its design reveals a subtle feminine taste and passion for the Far Eastern exoticism that was fashionable at that time. The walls are decorated with thin rice straws, silk embroideries, and carved decor.

Portraits on the wall famous people, a portrait of the Countess herself by an unknown artist and family coats of arms.

Entrance hall of the Vorontsov Palace

The front lobby is decorated in English style and was intended to welcome guests. There are two fireplaces made of polished diabase.

On the walls are portraits of the count's relatives, Empress Catherine II, who was the godmother of Mikhail Vorontsov. The interior is complemented by rare Persian carpets.

Living room of the Vorontsov Palace

The bright festive room was used as a home theater. The blue walls are decorated with alabaster flowers. The artistic modeling was carried out by serfs of Count Vorontsov. The living room has a white marble fireplace with floral designs, huge porcelain vases, Bohemian glass chandeliers and a beautiful white grand piano.

Hospitable hosts willingly welcomed poets and musicians into their apartments. Zhukovsky, Alexey Tolstoy, Shchepkin, Rachmaninov performed here. The Countess herself played the piano and sang beautifully.

Winter Garden of the Vorontsov Palace

The winter garden connects the interior chambers and the formal dining room. The Vorontsov couple loved to relax here. Rare ornamental plants from Africa, Australia, and Japan were grown in the garden. The garden was traditionally decorated with white antique sculptures, busts of family members, white marble fountain. The sculpture of a laughing girl is considered one of the most skillful in the world.

State dining room of the Vorontsov Palace

The most solemn and spacious room of the palace is reminiscent of the knights' halls of the Middle Ages. The ceiling height reaches 8 meters, and total area about 150 sq. m. The decoration of this room was personally done by Edward Blore. Bay windows, oak ceiling in the shape of Gothic vaults, carved wood, family coats of arms, strict colors of wood and stone.

The architect risked complementing the cold interior with picturesque panels in carved frames by the French artist Robert.

Between the two fireplaces there is an indoor fountain, and above it a balcony for musicians. Sparkling dining tables, a sideboard with lion legs, openwork sideboards, crystal vases, dozens of chandeliers and candelabra decorated with Ural malachite.

Billiard room of the Vorontsov Palace

In the billiard room, hosts and guests played and had fun. There is a walnut set and a mahogany table. The room is decorated in English style. The Vorontsov Palace in Crimea (the photos below represent paintings by European artists) is famous for its large collection of works by famous masters from different eras. The billiard room houses a large number of paintings.

Southern facade of the Vorontsov Palace

The southern façade faces the sea and is constantly illuminated by the sun. Its design contains characteristic elements of Muslim architecture. These are huge windows, deep niches, verandas with openwork grilles, horseshoe arches, ornate carvings with flowers, Arabic inscriptions on the cornice.

The monumental staircase leading down to the sea is guarded by six lions carved from white marble. The Lion Terrace has become a favorite place for photo shoots and selfies.

Library of the Vorontsov Palace

It was not without reason that Count Vorontsov’s library was considered one of the largest in Russia. The storage shelving, four meters high, housed thousands of books in various languages. The owner was interested in science, as evidenced by rare manuscripts, ancient maps and globes. The count's father and aunt began collecting a unique library.

Alupka Park

The Vorontsov Palace in Crimea (every tourist today wants to take a photo with a view of the park in order to preserve the memory of its beauty) began to be built after the foundation of the luxurious park. The German gardener Karl Kebach created a real miracle in 1/4 century. At the personal request of the countess, the territory of the estate was literally buried in greenery and flowers.

Once upon a time, over 2 thousand rose bushes bloomed here.

The lower park, with its flower beds on the terraces, fountains, benches, and marble vases, is reminiscent of medieval gardens. Proximity mountain springs made it possible to create artificial cool ponds with cascades and small waterfalls, swimming swans. Water constantly gurgles here, harmony and order reign.

By order of the count, the bottom of Swan Lake was strewn with semi-precious stones to create sunlight. The Upper Park was intended to imitate wildlife. It’s hard to believe that the stone chaos in the form of gorges, cliffs, grottoes was made by human hands. Nearby there are wide clearings, specially cleared of piles of stones. Each lawn has its own romantic name.

The park contains a rich collection of ancient trees and shrubs of rare species imported from other countries. Tourists can admire the cozy Tea House, amazing waterfall Freischutz, the Maria fountain - a copy of the fountain of “tears” in Bakhchisarai.

The Vorontsov Palace and its magnificent park were immortalized in their paintings by Levitan, Surikov, and Lentulov. While in Crimea, Aivazovsky painted his seascapes here. The rock on which he worked bears the artist's name. Thousands of tourists take beautiful photos as souvenirs of the wonderful nature of Crimea and its amazing attractions.

Museum expositions

The interior of the palace has changed slightly over the past 100 years. The museum has several permanent exhibitions. Tourists can explore 10 state rooms on the ground floor.

The following exhibitions are also available to visitors:

• Shuvalov's house;
• kitchen;
• butler's apartment;
• sculptures in the park.

There are valuable collections of paintings, porcelain, sculptures, and elegant antique furniture that have great historical value. The guides talk very interestingly and in detail about the buildings and life of the family members.

Palace opening hours

The main exhibitions of the museum are open seven days a week from 9:00 to 18:00. Other exhibitions are closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tickets are sold at several ticket offices, which open at 9 o'clock.

Information for tourists. Visiting rules

Tourists are informed in advance about the rules for visiting the museum.

Here are the main ones:

How do excursions work?

Each excursion begins with an inspection of stands where the history of construction is presented. Then visitors explore the remaining halls of the first floor. Excursionists are not allowed into the upper sleeping quarters. They clearly look more modest, and the furnishings have not been preserved.

Thematic exhibitions are often organized in the park, and excursions around the park in electric cars are offered. Individual excursions are carried out on a contractual basis.

Cost of visits

Entrance to Alupka Park is free, except for some places popular with tourists.

Prices for visiting the museum are reasonable:

Services	Ticket price for adults (RUB)	Price discount ticket(rub.)
Main exhibitions	300	200
Exhibitions	110-150	55-80
Tour of the park	50-100	25
Walk through the park in an electric car	800	800
Single ticket	650	Z25
Event with photo accompaniment for one academic hour	2500

Commercial video shootings are paid in advance.

How to get to Vorontsov Palace

From any populated area point of the South Coast It is easy to get to Alupka, both by sea and by land.

From Yalta

From Yalta to Alupka 17 km. You can get here by regular boat, which departs from the sea station. From the central bus station there are buses with special routes - No. 132 (from the center) and No. 102 (from the bus station).

From the Vorontsov Palace stop you can get to the castle through the park. Minibuses No. 107 and No. 115 take tourists to the bus station, and from there you have to walk. By car from Yalta you need to go through Vinogradnoye, Livadia, Gornoye.

From Alushta

It is easier to get from Alushta to Alupka via Yalta, where route trolleybuses depart every half hour. At the Yalta bus station, change to buses to Alupka. On the passing intercity buses "Simferopol-Simeiz" you can directly get to Alupka (highway) in two hours. This option is suitable for active tourists, not burdened with luggage.

From Simferopol

First you need to get to the Yalta bus station on the Simferopol-Yalta bus, and from there by shuttle bus to the bus stop and another 10-15 minutes on foot.

From Sevastopol

Take the “Sevastopol-Yalta” bus to the “Pitomnik” stop, cross to the other side of the road and take route No. 1A and go to the “Avtostanciya” stop. There is also a direct flight “Sevastopol-Alupka”. A good option there will be an acquisition excursion tour, which will eliminate problems with transport.

The majestic palace has its secrets and mysteries.

Some of them remain unsolved to this day:

Vorontsov Palace is the most striking landmark of the peninsula. You cannot visit Crimea without visiting the famous palace ensemble and its magnificent park. Here you can admire beautiful views, get unforgettable vivid impressions. Tourists who come to Alupka love to take photos against the backdrop of the palace and the battlements of Mount Ai-Petri.

Article format: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about the Vorontsov Palace in Crimea

Vorontsov Palace. Alupka. Sights of Crimea: