Проектная работа "Петровский дворец" (на английском языке)

Pupil: Gofina Nina     

Form: 3                       

School: 1684

Teacher: Petrova Nina Petrovna

March 2008

Petrovsky Palace

Petrovsky Palace, Main Hall

The aim of my work is to present some interesting information about Petrovsky Palace, its history and architecture.

There are a lot of sights in Moscow but I have chosen Petrovsky Palace because it is in my neighbourhood and I often go for a walk in the park where it is located.

I suppose my work will be useful for those who are interested in history and art. I have used different sources, such as books and the Internet to prepare this report.

Petrovsky Palace in Petrovsky Park is located on the way from Sheremetjevo I Airport. The Palace is surrounded by thick brick fortress walls with towers. It represents the combination of Old Russian, Neoclassical and Gothic styles. Interiors are decorated in Louis XVI style.

The Palace was built by the famous Russian architect Matvey Kazakov in 1775-1782.  Located near the Dinamo metro station, not far from Leningradsky Avenue, it was built for Catherine the Great as a stopover palace on her way to Moscow from St. Petersburg. After that it was the palace from where all the tsars began their way to the Kremlin for their coronation.

In 1812 Napoleon lived there waiting, in vain, for the keys of Moscow and hiding from the terrible fires.

“From here, all in thoughts, he looked at the terrible fire,” the poet Alexader Pushkin wrote.

Petrovsky Palace is unusually beautiful with its red brick walls and a huge dome on top. Its central facade is decorated in old Russian style with arches and gates, while its windows look out into a sweeping panorama of the park.

The towers are especially impressive. The “Turkish” tower, which is located in the park, has a striking appearance. The oriental architecture of the towers is aimed at showing a series of victorious wars, against Turkey during Catherine the Great rule.

One of the alleys in the park leads to the church of the Annunciation (1844-1847). There is a beautiful modern mosaic in the church. Next to the church is the Sunday school building.

The palace today houses a military academy. Two rooms are available for receptions.

Since 1923 there has been Zhukovsky Air Force Academy. Only with Perestroyka could the public visit the palace in organized guided tours. As of today, the palace is closed, expecting a reconstruction or restoration.

Two years ago, the Moscow government declared that the palace and its surrounding land should be taken from the Aviation Academy and restored with the aim of making it into a unique luxury hotel for official events.

But a number of people, protectors of country’s architectural heritage, protested against it.

To conclude, we should do something to protect our culture until it is too late.