Alexander Palace Restoration

[lilianna]

Yes, the exhibition will be on 1 floor. The second floor is not open very quickly.

[PAVLOV]

Does anyone know if Pavlovsk has released any further items with which to furnish these new rooms ? As previously mentioned they are sitting with 6500 items belonging to the AP. Personally I think it is going to be a tug of war, and the next drama the AP museum have to face.
Empty restored rooms with no character.
The number of items returned so far is very unexciting, one of which is the tiger skin ! I hope this is not indicative of what will happen in future.

I am very happy that they are using the Premazzi watercolours as a reference for the restoration of a number of the rooms though.

[lilianna]

This issue is very complicated. I think that would be very difficult to return to Alexander Palace. They returned a little. I've seen on the 3 floor in Pavlovsk from Maple, but I do not see these items in the Alexander Palace.

[PAVLOV]

Quite frankly, I do not have much hope that they will return anything. Perhaps they think that by returning the items to their rightful place, Pavlovsk will lose tourists, who come to see the AP things. At the same time of course the AP will lose out because they are going to have only empty rooms, and nothing of interest for the tourists to see. Just another beautiful Russian Palace, but this time with hardly anything in it.

Personally, I think its a very silly way to carry on, and the authorities at the highest level should do something.
Does anyone know if anything has been decided about the return of all the items to the AP ?     

[Robert_Hall]

I do not think most tourists would know or even care where items originally came from. Especially in St.P.  where, after seeing so many palaces, they all begin to look the same  in the interiors. Most [foriegn]tourists rush through these places anyway. Still it would be nice to find something to put in the rooms appropriate for the historical era.

[Alexander1917]

I do not think most tourists would know or even care where items originally came from. Especially in St.P.  where, after seeing so many palaces, they all begin to look the same  in the interiors. Most [foriegn]tourists rush through these places anyway. Still it would be nice to find something to put in the rooms appropriate for the historical era.

In my opinion not only tourists would'nt know. I got a special guide for the AP and the talked about the "purple" room. she never heared about the word "mauve" LOL

[Robert_Hall]

I do not know what the Russian word for mauve is, but purple is at least close enough.
 On my first visit, my guide and friend was  astonished that I even wanted to see the place. I was the first ask him.  It was not much to look at then,  and I actually gave him the tour, with a bit of help from the babushkas. He now puts it on his specific tours if asked for and  can give a proper tour of the place. There still is not a lot to see in comparison to the other palaces- especially Pavlosk which is a gem, but he  at least knows the history and it's relationship to the last imperial family. IMO, a proper restoration of the park and gardens, tying into the Catherine would draw more  people, especially tourists until the restoration of the palace itself is finished or at least close to it.
 And speaking of tourists, I have stories about  Japanese tourist at the AP, maybe later though.

[Douglas]

With reference to your good points Robert, I would say this.  

Since the TV, films and many books about the last Tsar, the potential interest in the Alexander Palace and it's history is immense.   I would think that in the future there will be much more interest in the recent Romanov family than Catherine and her various palaces at Tsarskoe Selo.

Of course it  will depend to a degree on how the AP is presented to tourists and history buffs.  Advertising it correctly will go a long way in attracting visitors in the years to come.

In the coming decades, the interest in the AP may surprise all of us.

[Robert_Hall]

Yes Douglas, POTENTIAL is the key word here. Although there are indeed  lots of books and  dramas about the Romanovs, they are not huge sellers, not  since Massie's N&A. Even  King & Wilson's  excellent books do not make it to the best sellers list as far as I know.  So, the market  remains limited.
  I agree, marketing  the AP  onto the main  tourist itinerary- eventually might start getting the mainstream tourists interested, but for now, it seems to be of  special interest  to relatively few.
 Selling it to the average tourists now would result in disappointment and a bad impression. And a waste of time to those on a tight schedule. I think the average tourist spend 2-3 days in St.P. That results in a tight agenda for them and most take group tours to get as much in as possible. The AP is not on those.

[BobG]

I think the real attraction of the AP is for the Russian people, who seem to support the restoration of many of the sites related to the IF (ie the plan to rebuild the lower palace at Peterhof--which I hope is only temporarily on hold).  After all, the AP was the home to a family of saints.  I hope that once the palace gets fully restored and the more authentic the restoration to the time of N&A, the more Russian tourists will want to visit the palace.  Given their interest, we history buffs and AP followers will ride on their coat tails and will reap the benefits of their interest in the IF.

As I side note, when I visited the AP my guide was exactly like Robert's.  And his point regarding the time constraints of most foreign tourists means that most guides aren't interested in the AP.

BobG

[PAVLOV]

The average tourist visiting Russia for the first time, probably knows nothing about the history of the country, or the AP, other than what they read in their tourist guide. Most of them have heard of Rasputin, Red Square, Vodka and Caviar, and thats probably it !
Many would not even notice or take any interest in the contents, in fact, if they have been to Pavlovsk and the C P first, they would find it a very boring place.
One can take in only so many palaces before you get visual indigesation.

As a purist, one would however want them to put what they have, back where it once was, and hope they do it tastefully and correctly.
 
I only hope they do not do a "Madame Tussauds" with wax models, and a murder scene, a la Rasputin. But as horrific as that would be, its probably what would attract the visitors, sadly.

     

[aleksandr pavlovich]

  Re Post # 295 and "Pavlov":  As steeped in Russian history and culture as I hope that I have become over the years as a result of my studies/visits, "Pavlov," IMO, I do share your cynicism re the "average" tourist, endlessly marching through hall, after hall, after hall.  It has become a sheep-herding mentality:  Have you ever seen in the basements of the Moscow Kremlin, the masses of bus-unloaded tourists, dutifully following behind their guide who holds aloft a sign on a "yardstick"?  Most of the tourists are so busy talking to each other, or trying to slip in a photo, or buy a souvenir, etc., that they can only (later) remark:  "Oh, yes, I've been in the Kremlin." And so they have, basicly adding to their collection of verbal "luggage stickers."
  Time and Money, IMO, are the two culprits that thwart any deeper interest/understanding/motivation of the "average" tourist, on the proverbial "If it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium" tread-mill.  Likewise, the rinky-dink so-called "educational experiences" of many high-school groups and college students who seemingly can't wait to experience "extra-curricular" activities after the obligatory tours: "Does anyone know what they DO here after dark?" How many times have I personally heard, "We ALWAYS have hot water at home, etc.; they won't take my dollars, can you speak to her/them and tell them they're perfectly good, etc."  IMO, these who have literally "just gotten off the boat" or a mini-van from across the border do not ENJOY their time in Russia, rather they ENDURE it.
  As to the Alexander Palace, it will be IMO,YEARS, if EVER, for it to demonstrate a competitive viability against the Catherine Palace (the viewing of the "new" Amber Room in the CP alone is worth the effort) and yet they are within easy walking distance of each other. Pavlosk is INDEED a gem, and they will not lightly surrender any part of their "drawing card" of significant furnishings.  Russia is to be truly congratulated in its valiant effort to recreate/reconstruct their shattered historical heritage, but the country is IMMENSE.  In the meantime, Russia will accept the tourist income and things will get done (if proven viable) in their own good time. The "average" tourist (who probably visits Russia ONCE in a lifetime) will not even care: they have "been there, done that."     AP.

[PAVLOV]

Thank you for your response. I agree with you. I think that most tourists become a pain in the ass when they leave home, and have unrealistic expectations of the places they visit.
It must be both exhausting and insulting for Russian tour guides to herd endless hordes of unappreciative tourists through their beautiful palaces and churches. I am a "people watcher" and know what you mean about the Kremlin. These places are just on the tour programme so Mr Average tourist just goes along with it.
I always make a point of thanking the guide wherever I am, and try to make a complimentary remark.
Most tourists do not care in the least. I think its important and polite to say something nice to a guide or staffmember in the Palace or Church you have just visited. I think its appreciated very much. On one occassion i just went up to a Babushka in the Winter Palace and thanked her. Well, she nearly fell off her chair !!
But we are off topic.   

The Alexander Palace may attract tourists as "The last home of the murdered Tsat and his family" but I think it is going to be an uphill battle to attract the sort of numbers they have at the CP and Pavlovsk.

The marketing people for the AP Museum have a tough job ahead I think.

I agree with one thing.......Pavlovsk wont give back the AP things very easily. The few items they have returned thusfar were,I think, just a token gesture.   
 

[Brassov]

This topic has gone quiet for some time.
Does anyone have any idea how the restorations are going ?
Also has Pavlovsk formally returned anymore items ?  I read somewhere recently that they have been formally instructed to return what rightfully belongs to the AP. Am I correct ?
Thanks everyone.

[RomanovMartyrs]

I just read through this thread and have to second everything Robert Hall experienced concerning AP and the interest and knowledge of people about it, tourists and tour guides alike. (And the Asian tour groups, lulz.)

The only ones who seem to know their stuff are the little old ladies running the place, and they take such delight in you if you act interested in the history. ^^