The Kremlin - general information

[d.maiorino]

Hi to all from rome!
I'll be for the first time in moscow on 25th july
I would know some notice on diamonds Fund that should be in Armoury at Kremlin and should contain diamond of 190 carati that Orlov gave to catherina.
Can you confirm that?
Do you know any info on opening hours and fee?

Thanks

[Joanna]

Kremlin Armoury:

Opening days & hours
The Moscow Kremlin’s territory and museums open daily, except Thursdays, from 10:00 to 17:00. The Armoury Chamber has seances at 10:00, 12:00 , 14:30, 16:30.

Ticket offices
If you want to visit the Kremlin and its museums on your own you can purchase tickets in the ticket offices located at the Kutafiya Tower in Aleksandrovskiy Sad (the Aleksandrov Gardens), in the Armoury Chamber and on Cathedral Square.
Ticket offices are open daily, except Thursdays, from 9:30 to 16:00.

Here is information on the layout of the museum:
http://www.kremlin.museum.ru/en/main/museums/armoury/

Joanna

[d.maiorino]

I appreciate your kindness, but I don't find notices on Orlov diamond, and if there is a supplementar fee for diamonds fund above fee for armour;
so I hope somebody who has been recently ther can reply to me

thanks so much
domenico

[Joanna]

Tour groups in Moscow will usually include this museum. For those visiting on their own it requires an additional 300 ruble ticket, purchased at the same time as the 300 ruble general admission to the Kremlin. Hours generally are 10 to 4:30. The Armoury ticket will have a time of admission and tickets may sell out early in the day.

On display in the Diamond Fund is the world-famous Orlov diamond, the best known in Russia in the 18th century. This bluish-greenish crystal of the first-class clarity is cut in the shape of a rose with a great number of small facets arranged in layers. The Orlov diamond is believed to have been found in India where, according to a legend, it had served as the eye of an idol in a Brahman temple until the beginning of the 18th century, when it was stolen. In 1774, it was bought by Count Grigory Orlov who presented it to Empress Catherine the Great. Since that time the Orlov diamond has adorned the gold scepter of Russian Emperors.

The Diamond Fund exposition is housed on the ground floor of the Kremlin’s Armory Chamber.

Joanna

[d.maiorino]

So: there is a fee for kremlin, a supplementar fee for armour but this fee admits to diamond fund: i had read that there was a third fee (kremlin -> armour -> diamond fund).

That's ok: I'll be at ticket office earlier for take tickets: do you know if armour has reducted entarnce for students?

Thanks also for notices on orlov diamonds

domenico

[Joanna]

From what I understand, there are the two tickets but you may encounter a change. Also as prices have risen, it is more probable that is now 350 roubles each but there are student tickets which is approx 175 roubles. Most museums in St Petersburg do have student rates also. The Hermitage has a separate fee for the Treasure rooms which contain a Diamond Room.

Joanna

[Forum Admin]

My apologies for the long delay, but I have FINALLY finished the 1912 Visitors Guide for the Great Kremlin Palace.  Much of the delay was the fact that the text is rather dense with 19th century French architectural terminology, which meant that I spent perhaps an hour or two chasing down phrases for just one paragraph!

Please enjoy and I hope you find this as interesting and informative as I have.  Put on your cyber walking shoes and set the Wayback Machine to 1912 and take the guided tour of the Great Kremlin Palace, as Nicholas II saw it himself:

http://216.30.130.50/kremlin1912/

[Condecontessa]

I love it Forum Admin. Thank you so much.

[Michael HR]

Fab! Really enjoyed the site and now have to add Moscow to my list of places to visit when I get to russia.

[BobG]

Great Job, Rob!  I wish the book had included a map of the Kremlin as some of the building from 1912 seem to have disappeared.  But it gives us a great look into the Kremlin when N&A were there.
BobG

[Learning]

The Soviets were very clever building a fake Kremlin made of wood and disguising the real Kremlin during world war two. The fake Kremlin was bombed many times, the real Kremlin left largely untouched. 

Huh? I have never heard this. Where did they build the fake one? How did they disguise the real one?

[Robert_Hall]

I have not heard that story either.  Wonder where he got it from?
  I have been to Moscow only once and did not plan enough time, but intend to return, perhaps as soon as next spring. The Kremlin is fascinating, there is so much to see.  But, sadly, the Great Kremlin Palace is not open to the public, except once a month for tours by a private company.  I hope we can plan more carefully for that on the next visit.
 Moscow itself is intriguing. Vast, very busy, active, modern.  The change must be  shocking from the old, Soviet days. It sort of reminds me of NYC, or a bit like LA.  There is a lot to see and do, especially if one has a Russian friend to show one around and translate. Even the  subway is  unique; clean and beautiful. We were there  for Mat Day and RO Easter, so the  city was very festive.
 I still prefer St. Petersburg. It is on a more human scale, even with he vast palaces and museums.  It reminds me more of San Francisco, without the hills! But, I  tend to take to water cities.

[pers]

Does anyone have the plans of the private apartments in the Grand Kremlin Palace?  Please share!

[Vassili_Vorontsoff]

http://crcv.revues.org/document76.html

Interesting website to grasp better the issue on restoration on Moscow monuments

[Vassili_Vorontsoff]

http://www.moscow.info/kremlin/palaces/poteshny-palace.aspx

The restoration carried in The Poteshny Palace,  Office of the Kremlin Commandant