Alushta massandra palace how to get there. Winery "Massandra" - a colorful decoration of Yalta
This fairytale castle in the middle of the forest has seen a lot. Within its walls lived tsars, leaders of the USSR, and ordinary people. Each palace in Crimea has its own special story. The Massandra Palace has a rich historical past, but at the same time, the atmosphere of comfort and relaxation has been preserved, for which everyone loves the palace. I would visit the Massandra Palace precisely in order to feel this peaceful mood and imagine how everything was more than a century ago. By the way, the history of the palace can be easily traced in the various collections presented within its walls. And what are the views opening in all directions and the very appearance of the palace!
Where is it and how to get there
Massandra Palace is geographically located in an urban-type settlement, but in fact, the palace is separated from the main part of the settlement by a forest. I like the location of the palace no less than the building itself, because it is surrounded by the Crimean mountains and forest, the vast expanses of the Black Sea can be seen in the distance. Most often, tourists come from, because from the city center to the palace can be reached in about half an hour. You can get to the Massandra Palace: Wherever you are traveling, you can only get to the stop "Verkhniy Massandrovsky Park" by public transport. Then you have to walk up the asphalt road. The map shows the location of stops on the South Coast Highway. You can get to the Massandra Palace in another, more interesting way. How about a walk in the woods? You can come to the village of Massandra, and from there walk through the forest and go straight to the palace. The path is well trodden, so don't get lost. It is here that the path to the Massandra Palace begins. The length of the trail is just under a kilometer. It's easy to go. You can even walk in slippers. The full name of the palace is the Massandra Palace of Emperor Alexander III, but it does not reflect the entire history of the palace and does not say anything about the endless change of its owners. I'll tell you briefly, and history lovers can take a tour. Construction of the Massandra Palace began eight years before it was acquired for Alexander III in 1889. Count Semyon Mikhailovich Vorontsov chose a wonderful place in the forest for himself. It was he who laid the foundation of the palace, equipped fountains and footpaths on its territory. But Vorontsov never saw his completed castle, having died suddenly. In 1889, the austere two-story castle was bought for Alexander III, and from 1892 to 1902 the appearance of the palace changed beyond recognition. The famous architect of that time Maximilian Mesmacher skillfully used decorative techniques to make the palace truly royal. He left the original plan of the palace, but expanded the terraces and galleries, decorated the palace with stucco and ornaments. The Massandra Palace has turned into a fairytale tower in the middle of the forest. This is how we see him today. Everyone knows what happened next with the royal family and their property. Within the walls of the former royal residence from 1929 to 1941 there was a sanatorium "Proletarian Health" for patients with tuberculosis. Later, the Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking "Magarach" settled for a short time in the Massandra Palace. From 1948 to 1989, it was almost impossible to get to the territory of the Massandra Palace, because it became a state dacha. For several decades, the most prominent political figures of the USSR rested there: Stalin, Brezhnev, Khrushchev. A hunting lodge was even built just above the palace. After the collapse of the USSR, the palace was empty for some time, and in 1992 it was opened already as a museum. Now the Massandra Palace is a branch of the Alupka Palace and Park Museum-Reserve. The collection of the palace interior, in particular, was created on the basis of the collection of the Vorontsov Palace in Alupka. Tourists and locals come to stroll through the palace grounds, appreciate the exterior and interior of the palace. The atmosphere here is conducive to slow walks. The king conceived his palace as a quiet family residence, and the seclusion of the place is still felt today, despite the large number of tourists. However, there are always fewer of them here than in the Livadia or Vorontsov Palace. Massandra Palace is open from 9:00 to 18:00. The ticket office is open until 17:15. On Saturday, there is an opportunity to stay longer in the palace - it works until 20:00 (the ticket office is open until 19:15). Exposure and cost of excursions in the Massandra Palace: On the territory of the palace there are cafes, souvenir points, toilets. The cafe is located on the left side of the palace if you are facing it in front of the pool. The average check per person is 500 rubles. The selection of souvenirs is good. You can buy something with the symbols of the Massandra Palace. I like painted plates and small white vases. Such decorative vases can be bought for 300-400 rubles. If you are not a very big fan of history, or have already visited the Vorontsov and Livadia palaces, having seen enough of the tsar's interiors, then you can do without an excursion to the palace itself. I just love to walk along the paths of the park around the building, looking closely at its details. 
Above the road on the slope you will see a statue of a stone eagle, and not far from the eagle there will be a branch from the main road. You go there. You will walk 500 meters up past the mansions and exit to the parking lot. Here you need to turn left and walk past two-story residential buildings. Locals often sell fruits and vegetables from their gardens. By the way, usually the passage to the Massandra Palace beyond the parking lot is closed, but in the middle of spring, for example, it was open there and cars drove up to the gate near the palace. In general, from the parking lot past the houses and further along the road up 500 meters and you are at the checkpoint at the Massandra Palace. There you can buy tickets for excursions or do it later in the palace itself.
This method is suitable for those who live in Yalta and its environs. Take bus number 3, 100 or 44 in the city center or at the bus station. You need to get off at the final stop of routes No. 3 and 100 - the stop “Stakhanovskaya street”. There will be a two-storey Neighbors store opposite. Now you have to walk 350 meters up the road to a sign with the inscription “Yalta Mountain-Forest Natural Reserve”. Focus on the bright blue skyscraper. 
The advantages of such a walk are clean pine air, beautiful sea views and pleasant coolness in the shade of trees. Isn't that better than that kilometer up the highway? And you will get to Massandra pretty quickly - in 20 minutes from the bus station, the fare is 12 rubles.History of the Massandra Palace
Unfortunately, the dreams of solitude and peace in the middle of the forest did not come true for Alexander III. Like Vorontsov, the emperor did not see his palace in full glory. After the death of Alexander III, the castle passed to Nicholas II. The last emperor of Russia completed the palace in memory of his father, but very rarely stayed within its walls. The royal family preferred their own Livadia Palace.
Massandra Palace Museum: opening hours, prices, excursions
Palace territory
Landscaping looks very beneficial. Wide lawns greet visitors, and between them there is a road to the stairs. Climb the stairs and with each new step, a fabulously beautiful castle opens up in front of you. It is worth stopping and taking the first photograph of the palace, and at the same time examining the giant sequoiadendrons, which are already 130 years old. 
On the territory of the Massandra Palace, you can see different types of roses. There is also the so-called "Garden of Aromas" where really fragrant plants grow: lavender, lemon balm, sage, marigolds, rosemary ... 
Surprisingly, the Massandra Palace has preserved that pristine atmosphere of tranquility, for which it was loved by the tsars, and then by other prominent figures of our era. Come, walk, explore the corners of the park and the rooms of the royal chambers. This "pearl" of Crimea will definitely fall into the treasury of the most pleasant memories.
Crimea is not only amazing nature, historical monuments and warm climate. Crimea is a whole world of fine and varied wines for every taste. In my humble opinion, to visit the peninsula and not try them is blatant sacrilege. And the oldest Massandra winery in Crimea is a great start to a journey through the local wine riches.
Massandra's wines are not quite what we are used to. Dessert, liqueur and fortified varieties are still very specific in taste. At first, they seem sugary and overly sweet. But once having tasted and getting used to it, it is already very difficult to break away from them! So it was with me, and now I hardly recognize other guilt. So be careful! is addictive :) And the old plant itself is admiration and delight.
History reference
Wine cellars of Massandra are the oldest in Crimea. They were built by a very famous and skillful winemaker - Prince Lev Golitsin at the end of the 19th century. In Crimea, this name is the second most popular after the name of the president. All Crimeans hold the prince in high esteem. The winery itself was built by order of Nicholas I, after he repeatedly visited Crimea and tasted local grapes and wines. Admiring, the emperor decided to maintain and develop this Crimean wealth.
By the standards of that time, the scale of the cellars was incomparable: 7 long tunnels under the ground, where a temperature of 12 degrees, comfortable for wine aging, was constantly maintained. And the building of the main wine cellar is a unique architectural monument and therefore provides tourists with remarkable aesthetic pleasure. In addition, the old mechanical clock in the main tower beats musically every hour.
The second building of the winery was built in the XX century. It is located immediately opposite the first, you just need to go through a large area. This square in the courtyard is not a parade ground or a venue for events. This is the roof of the wine cellars. Walking along it, you trample the collection wines :) In the middle of the square there is a line - a kind of border between the 19th and 20th centuries in the history of this factory. The building of the XX century now houses the administration of the factory, and in the historical one - all the lotions for storing and serving wines.
Today in Massandra, wines are stored from eight wineries of the Massandra winery, scattered along the entire coast of Crimea. The head plant itself, located in Massandra, does not produce wine, but only deals with their storage and aging. In total, it stores about 200 thousand hectoliters of wine of 60 different varieties.
How to get there
The plant is located at st. Winemaker Yegorova 9, in a village located on the territory of Big Yalta.
Public transport
From Yalta you can take minibus # 40, which starts from the Veschevoy Rynok stop. The minibus calls into Massandra itself and stops right at the plant. Travel time is 20 minutes. The minibus runs every half hour.
From the side of Alushta and other villages located to the east of Yalta, you can take trolleybuses No. 52 and No. 53 to the Massandra stop. In summer they run every 20 minutes, in winter every half hour. In principle, you can get there by any regular buses following to Yalta from Simferopol or the coastal village where you are staying. On Massandra, they all make a stop. Next, you will need to walk through the village.
There is an option to ask the driver to stop at the stop on demand "Winzavod" - this is the next stop after "Massandra". Walk a little closer from it (as much as 250 meters, according to Google).
By car
By car, you can get there in the same way: first, drive along the Yuzhnoberezhnoye Highway until the turn to Massandra, which is indicated not only by a pointer, but also by a decorative stele, and then follow the village itself along the street. Winemaker Yegorov, as shown in the first map.
What to see
You can see at the winery only what the guides show - without a guided tour, the entrance to the territory of the plant is prohibited, except perhaps to the store. The excursion schedule changes in summer and winter, you can see it on their website.
Excursion
During the excursion, experienced guides will tell you in detail the history of the plant, quote the admiring reviews of great people who have visited here at different times; they will show the cellars, where collection wines and barrels, in which still young wine is kept, are kept; they will introduce you to some of the intricacies of winemaking and tell you about the structure and operation of the plant in modern times. With a guide, you will also visit the factory square and admire the ancient architecture. Walking through the basements, halls and staircases of the plant is very atmospheric. Subdued light, age-old stone walls, rows of dusty bottles, echoes of the guide's words - everything here gives the impression that you are in a mysterious castle full of mysteries.
I came across a very good guide, and everyone listened to him literally with their mouths open. I believe that all the guides in Massandra are masters of their craft, because the plant is not only an iconic tourist place in Crimea, but also a very high-status winery for the whole of Russia. The excursion costs 300 rubles.
Tasting
In addition to the excursion at the winery, you can visit the tasting. In the old vaulted hall, you will be seated at oak tables and given a taste of 9 varieties of vintage Massandra wines.
Advice:it is worth grabbing cheese or nuts for tasting to interrupt the tastes of the wines. Unfortunately, these snacks are not provided every time. I talked with other tourists who visited there at different times - some got cheese, and some did not. So, be forward-thinking.
Before taking a ticket for a tasting, make sure that you are already 18 - for minors, the doors to the tasting rooms are, alas, closed. The tasting fee is 450 rubles.
Score
The brand shop has almost all the wines produced at the winery. There you can buy wines that have sunk into your soul during tastings.
Buy an exquisite drink in glass or on the bottle (in plastic bottles) to make it easier to take home a piece of your favorite Massandra.
For everyone who rests in Crimea, in the Big Yalta region, a trip to the Massandra winery will undoubtedly bring great pleasure.
The amazing history of the creation of Crimean wines is closely connected with the name of His Excellency the Count, and then the Prince, Vorontsov.
After the annexation of Crimea to Russia during the reign of Catherine II in 1784, the Tauride region was formed on the territory of the Crimea. In 1823, Emperor Alexander I appointed Count Mikhail Sergeevich Vorontsov as governor of Novorossiya.
In Russia you can find few statesmen who have done for the good of Crimea as much as this person did.
MS Vorontsov appreciated the huge agricultural potential. He acquired vast estates in Alupka, Gurzuf, Ai-Danil and Massandra.
In these estates M. Vorontsov planted vineyards, in which he planted vines acquired throughout Europe.
History of the plant before the revolution
M. Vorontsov's goal was to create industrial winemaking in Russia. Moreover, this was done not so much for personal profit, but rather out of patriotism in the best form of its manifestation.
The first small "distillery" factory was built in Massandra, and winemakers from France and Italy were invited to work there.
In 1834 in the vineyards of Massandra there were 16 thousand vines of several varieties: Tokay, Bordeaux, Kokur and Riesling.
A capitalist by his convictions, M. Vorontsov increased wine production, but not by expanding vineyards, but by increasing the range of high quality wines.
Foreign vines in the Crimean climate when making wines from them gave a new, original taste. The combination of different grape varieties gave an amazing effect.
In 1837 M. Vorontsov met with Emperor Nicholas I, who was delighted with the changes that had taken place in the Crimea in a short period.
The valleys, completely planted with grapes, orchards, dozens of varieties of fine Russian wines.
The Emperor was invited to taste more than 30 varieties of Crimean grapes and the same number of bottles of wine of different varieties. The Emperor noted the excellent taste of Muscat wine.
The owners of other Crimean estates followed the example of M. Vorontsov and began to plant vineyards.
The task of the first Russian winemaker was to displace foreign wines with domestic, Crimean ones. Already in the 40-50s of the 19th century, Massandra wines were supplied to Moscow, Petersburg, Odessa, Kharkov, Rostov-on-Don, Yalta and other cities of Russia.
Strong, thick liqueur wines, nutmegs, ports began to gradually conquer the market, displacing foreign ones. This is exclusively the merit of Count M. Vorontsov.
The father's business was continued by his son and heir Semyon Mikhailovich Vorontsov. Under him, the area of \u200b\u200bvineyards increased, the number of cities in which Crimean wines were sold increased.
Another wine cellar was built in Massandra. They began to buy wine from private gardeners, then aged it in Massandra cellars, improve the taste of wine and sell it.
After the death of S. Vorontsov, the Massandra estate began to decline. Understanding of the uniqueness of Crimean wines led to the purchase of the Massandra estate from the heirs of Vorontsov by the Specific Department, and Massandra became the estate of the royal family of the Romanovs.
The specific department turned out to be a worthy heir of the Vorontsovs.
The development of Russian winemaking remained a priority area of \u200b\u200bits activity. New grape plantations were planted, specialists were invited not only in the field of winemaking, but also in other areas related to the cultivation and adaptation of European varieties in Crimea.
Prince Lev Sergeevich Golitsyn was invited to the post of chief winemaker. The choice was very good. L. Golitsin was a well-educated man, passionately devoted to the cause of Russian winemaking.
He was the founder of the wine collection that still exists today. Under L. Golitsin, the collection included 32 thousand bottles of the best wines of Europe.
The increase in the production and assortment of Massandra wines led to the need to build a new wine cellar. The location was chosen near the Massandra Falls, the main source of Massandra's water.
The basement was built in the form of horizontal adits carved into the thickness of the mountain. A unique ventilation system was created in the new wine storage.
The basement could accommodate almost one and a half million bottles and 80 thousand liters of wine in barrels.
It has become one of the outstanding attractions not only in Crimea, but also in the world. He was unique in many ways.
A constant temperature of 10 degrees in a hot southern climate, a tower from which 7 tunnels 150 meters long fan out, electric ventilation and lighting, lifting mechanisms - all this was not only modern, but ahead of its time by decades.
During the five years of L. Golitsin's work in Massandra, Crimean wines have completely ousted French wines from the Russian market.
Massandra after the revolution
During the civil war, the wine collection was walled up so that no one could find the entrance to the cellar. The vineyards were also almost unaffected.
The Massandra plant and cellar were nationalized in December 1920. Factory employees, Massandra winemakers are people fanatically devoted to their profession. The change of power did not lead to the destruction of the unique collection.
In 1936, a document appeared signed by A. Mikoyan, People's Commissar of the Food Industry of the USSR.
The document recognized the special importance of the collection of Massandra wines, ordered 500 bottles from each batch of new wine to be added to the collection, to keep records in a special book.
This document was of great importance for the development of the Massandra plant during the years of Soviet power.
During the Great Patriotic War, the fate of the collection hung in the balance, and part of it was saved by a miracle. 57 thousand bottles and 120 thousand decaliters of wine in barrels were brought to Batumi.
But in the seaport there were no wagons to bring the wine further, and they were going to sell it. Saved the case - former workers of the plant worked in the military commandant's office, who understood the value of this cargo. Their intervention helped send the wine behind the front lines.
The remaining 70 thousand bottles were walled up in one of the galleries of the plant, and they were never found during the war.
The rest had to be destroyed. It was a tragic event. Wine was destroyed by the people who created it: opened taps, broke bottles, barrels. People stood ankle-deep in wine, the sea turned red from the wine that got into it. The surviving bottles were taken home. But they managed to destroy no more than a third, the rest went to the Germans, and was taken to Germany.
Winemaking in Massandra suffered most of all during the anti-alcohol campaign in the 80s of the last century.... The intervention of V. Shcherbitsky and the first secretary of the Crimean regional party committee Makarenko saved the plant from destruction, but the damage was enormous.
The plant's equipment was destroyed and replaced with another one that produces juices. Unique vineyards were cut down. Highly qualified specialists were left without work. During these years, the consumption of vodka has increased 10 times! Fortunately, the anti-alcohol "era" did not last very long.
Winemaker A. Egorov
The Massandra plant is located on Vinodela Yegorova Street. This unique person gave his whole life to the plant, and he lived for 95 years.
A. Yegorov began his career as a worker, and eventually became the main winemaker of the plant.
He possessed a phenomenal gustatory memory, which allowed him to be not only an excellent wine taster, but also the creator of many new varieties of wines known to this day.
A. Egorov became the creator of 19 new varieties of wines. "Dessert Surozh", madeira "Massandra" and legendary "White Muscat of Red Stone" - the most famous creations of A. Egorov. During World War II, many names of wines and dates of their production were lost. A. Egorov's phenomenal memory helped to restore this data.
A. Egorov drank exclusively table wines, then changed them to Madeira.
At 92, he was still giving tastings with employees. Isn't this the best proof of the usefulness of Massandra wines?
From all over the Crimea, excursions come to Massandra to see the amazing cellars of the plant.According to the polls of tourists, this tour is the most interesting and memorable of all those held in Crimea.
Before entering the Tasting Complex, visitors find themselves in a large courtyard bounded by two buildings.
The old winery looks like a medieval castle: gray stone, thick walls, narrow windows, iron gates with an arch at the top.
The old building has 4 floors, of which 2 are underground.
In the underground floors there are galleries for aging collection wines. In the old building of the winery there is a workshop for aging dessert wine materials, a winemaking museum and tasting rooms.
The new building was built in 1956 in the style of the old building. Monuments to L. Golitsin and A. Egorov have been erected in the factory yard, which are surrounded by flower beds and pools.
The tasting complex has 4 rooms: Greek for 72 people, Madera for 35 people, sherry for 25 people and a VIP room for 20 people.
Carries visitors to the world of Ancient Greece. The fresco by artist K. Popovsky depicts the ancient Greeks on the seashore, tasting wines accompanied by music.
Decorated in the form of a ship deck is not accidental. Madeira was transported in barrels from Madeira across the Atlantic Ocean to Java.
There the barrels were heated for a long time in the hot sun of the tropics, which gave it a special spicy taste. Madeira's amazing property of improving taste after prolonged exposure to the sun is used in Massandra.
Sherry hall decoration dedicated to the period of creation of the Crimean winemaking in the 19-20 centuries. Here you can see photographs of the Crimea and Massandra of that time. The bunches of grapes that decorate the hall are also reminiscent of large-scale plantings of vines from France, Spain, Portugal and Italy.
The Massandra Wine Museum is a unique exhibition that tells about the history of wine making from ancient times to the present.
Conventionally, the exhibition consists of three large sections: the antique and medieval period of winemaking, winemaking of the times of the Russian empire and the Soviet and modern period of winemaking.
Winemaking is one of the oldest branches of human activity.
In Greece, wine was made as early as 4-5 centuries BC. Later, this tradition was continued by the Romans and Genoese. They did it in numerous Greek, Roman and Genoese colonies in Tavria.
In the halls of the museum, there are huge clay vessels that could hold 300 liters of wine. The exposition contains various amphorae for transporting wine, as well as antique cups, bowls, from which wine was drunk in different periods of antiquity and the Middle Ages.
In the halls dedicated to the period of Russian winemaking in Crimea, photographs are presented that tell about the stages of development of the industry under the leadership of the Vorontsovs and S. Golitsin.
A lot of materials are devoted to the construction of the first wine cellar in Massandra.
The first Crimean wines, created by L. Golitsin and his students, are also on display. Many of them still exist.
Factory tours and tastings
The excursions offered by the Tasting Complex are very diverse in terms of content, time and price. But any of them is extremely interesting.
1.
The program of the small excursion includes a visit to the Museum of Winemaking and the middle cellar of the collection wines aging workshop. The tour takes 45 minutes and costs 240 rubles.
2. The large excursion includes, in addition to the above, a visit to the Tsar's cellar with a museum gallery of collection wines. The tour lasts 50 minutes and costs 340 rubles.
3. Several excursions with tasting, in addition to visiting various cellars and the museum, end with a tasting of 9 vintage wines. The price of such excursions, depending on the program, is from 520 to 620 rubles.
The wines offered at the tastings represent the best examples of different categories of wines from dry to muscats and ports.
The tasting, which, as a rule, is preceded by an interesting lecture, is not only a fascinating story about the technology, the history of wines, but for many it opens a previously unknown world of one of the greatest inventions of mankind - real, good wine.
At the tasting, visitors are invited to:
- Dry red tart unfortified Saperavi wine, which is often used as an aperitif;
- A four-year-old sherry considered a masculine drink. It has a complex bouquet, which contains notes of roasted walnut and almond;
- Madeira, in contrast to sherry, refers to women's drinks. When Madera first appeared, wine was often used instead of perfume due to its bright aroma! Madeira's cognac flavor contains notes of vanilla, dried fruits and nuts;
- Red port "Massandra" - a drink for warming. Its taste contains cognac and cherry tones;
- Pinot gris "Massandra" - a dessert wine with an amber color, a fruity raisin aftertaste;
- Aleatico Ayu-dag or Lacrima Christie is a wine created before the revolution. Often used instead of Cahors in the church;
- The legendary Tokaj wine was created back in 1932. This is one of the most famous and certified Massandra wines. The wine has a very delicate and delicate aroma. With age, Tokay's taste only gets better;
- White Muscat "Yuzhnoberezhny", like all Muscat of the plant, is an excellent drink that gives great pleasure;
- Liqueur wine Pinot gris Ai-danil is a light liqueur wine with a strength of 13 degrees. The wine is aromatic and tasty.
There are gourmet excursions in the Tasting Complex, which are only for tasting.
The composition of wines on such excursions is different: from 9 vintage wines, to 2-hour exclusive excursions for VIP guests.
Cost: from 7700 to 13200 rubles. The size of the group should not exceed 10 people.
Excursion times: 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00.
Tasting times: 11:50, 13:50, 15:50, 17:50, 19:50.
An exclusive tasting is available upon prior request.
The best wines of Massandra
The Massandra cellars store today about a million bottles of collection wines. This fact is included in the Guinness Book of Records..
Unfortunately, it is for this amount that the basement capacity is designed, and therefore their number cannot increase.
The wines produced by the Massandra plant can be divided into 3 large categories:
- bottle;
- souvenir;
- collectible.
Bottled wines are bottled in traditional dark green 0.75 liter bottles. The concave bottom has a large “M”.
All bottles are sealed with natural cork, produced in Portugal, with a circular MASSANDRA logo.
Wine labels have 8 colors in pastel colors. All labels bear the image of the Massandra plant and the name of the wine.
Massandra's bottle wines are presented in three groups:
- vintage wines (still dry, fortified strong, dessert, liqueur);
- ordinary wines (still dry and semi-sweet, fortified strong and dessert).
The nine wines offered at the tasting are certainly the best wines of Massandra. They can be purchased at the factory store without fear of counterfeiting.
Several legendary Massandra wines deserve a separate story.
This masterpiece of winemaking was created in 1944. This vintage liqueur wine of deep amber color has a huge number of epithets and awards.
Truly interesting architectural monuments have not only an original look, but also an unusual history. Massandra Palace can be a good example of such in the Crimea. It did not want to be built for a long time and, intended for the tsars, served the dictatorship of the proletariat much better.
Where is the Massandra Palace on the map
It is located on the territory of Big Yalta, in the small but extremely picturesque village of Massandra, which, although it cannot boast of access to the sea, is in demand no less than sea ones. Geographically, this is the eastern outskirts of the village, next to the South Coast Highway. The most beautiful Massandra Park is also spread around the palace, and not far away it is not difficult to find, which we have already talked about here.
History of the palace in Massandra
Passing estate
A place without legends
What surprises in the Massandra Palace is the complete absence of historical legends and "terrible" fairy tales associated with it. Most of the historical ones are downright enmeshed in this kind of folklore, but this is not. Even the obvious "bad luck" of Massandra, who constantly changed owners and did not shelter any of them for a long time, did not help.
Perhaps this is due to the fact that ghosts have a habit of dwelling in habitable places. And the Massandra Palace never became a real home for anyone. It was as if it was originally intended to be not a human abode, but a museum. And the vigilant fund manager will immediately register the ghost in the museum and provide it with an inventory number. And nothing will remain of the legend.
So all the legends boil down mainly to the appearance of the palace on the movie screens. For example, he happened to "play" outside the house of the millionaire Morgan (the interior was taken from the Vorontsov Palace). There were no scandals here either. The general secretaries who were resting in Massandra behaved themselves quietly.
Architecture and interior decoration
Mixing styles and tastes
Therefore, in fact, the Massandra Palace is fraught with quite a bit of history. But this does not prevent it from being the most interesting architectural monument. Moreover, M.E. During its construction, Messmacher was able to cope with several major problems at once:
- protect the brainchild from natural threats (the place for the palace was not ideal),
- to embody in the project his favorite architectural eclecticism,
- cater to the specific tastes of the crowned customer.
Nicholas II, who did not show personal interest in Massandra, did not make changes to the project, so it reflects the requests of Alexander III. The Massandra Palace is named after the latter.
Eclecticism, that is, mixing several styles in one, was in vogue at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. M.E. Messmacher was a principled supporter of this method. Therefore, he not only completed the building of E. Bouchard, he "diluted" its medieval Gothic austerity with elements of early Baroque, Antiquity, Moorish and even Russian style.
Eclecticism in action
The palace should be viewed as a complex - together with the adjacent territory and its structures. The most interesting monument of landscape art is also. But it is much older than the palace - its breakdown was begun during the reign of Olga Pototskaya (in the marriage of Naryshkina).
An integral part of the palace complex, together with a terrace and tiled staircases, is the so-called retaining wall from the eastern façade. Its purpose is purely utilitarian - to protect the palace site from the destructive effect of torrential flows and landslides (this is a big problem).
However, the architect executed it with such aestheticism that the defensive structure turned into a decoration. The wall is lined with Metlakh tiles, equipped with reliefs, sculptures, vases. Its appearance makes us recall either France or the ancient Mediterranean.
Metlakhskaya tiles have become the architect's specialty in this project. M.E. Mesmacher used it extensively to decorate walls outside and decorate stairs. Thanks to the tiles, the building received a characteristic "warm" hue (although the description of the "property" acquired by Alexander III indicated that the two-storey house was built of "gray local stone").
However, medieval elements from the project of E. Bouchard have been preserved in it - round corner "towers" with narrow high windows and their swept roofs. The French style is supported by the roofing material - flake graphite slate. The combination of the warm yellowish tone of the Metlakh tiles and the cold gray color of the roof looks strict, but original.
Austere medieval towers limit the lighter facades. Embossed projections and balconies, vases, pediments add elegance to the building and neutralize medieval severity. Semicircular stairs. Leading from the main entrance to the second floor, too, make you remember the magnificent Baroque era.
The exterior of the building is also decorated with copies of antique statues from the imperial collection from Berlin. Initially, there were 29 of them, but only 6 have survived to this day. Many of the statues had a symbolic meaning, for the sphinxes are symbols of wisdom, satyrs are symbols of fertility, and chimeras are supposed to drive away evil spirits from the dwelling.
The roof of the palace has a complex shape - here both arrow-shaped and domed elements ... Trumpets, stylized as minarets, and carved decorations represent the Moorish style.
Since the palace was supposed to be used as a "hunting lodge", it is small and devoid of "official" attributes. It does not have a luxurious entrance and a huge ceremonial hall. There are almost no services - it was assumed that there was only a guard house. According to the general idea, the royal family did not need a large staff at the "dacha"; it was not going to hold large receptions and official events here. It was supposed to be a family nest, where you can sometimes hide from boring duties and annoying subjects.
Interior in Aleksandrovsk taste
To correctly perceive the peculiarities of the interior of the Massandra Palace, you need to know something about the personality of Alexander III. The king was very tall, large build, overweight man of enormous physical strength. But at the same time he categorically disliked spacious rooms and high ceilings - he liked the vault of the room almost on his head (something like agoraphobia, apparently). The king loved dark colors and dim lighting. Alexander III was also a kind of "leavened patriot" - he liked everything Russian, including boyar beards and pre-Petrine costumes.
It was for these tastes that Massandra's interior was adapted. It has no high ceilings at all, and there are no really spacious rooms either. Even in the common dining room (involuntarily rather large, for there were many in the royal family) the ceiling is so low that the question arises: if Alexander III had dinner here, would he not have stuffed himself with bumps on the top of his head?
The inside of the palace has been very well preserved, so you can fully appreciate both the architect's plan and the lifestyle of the crowned family. True, due to the "uninhabitability" of the palace, many of the premises remained virtually unfinished. Thus, the rooms on the third floor (originally intended for the royal children) were never furnished.
Only a few rooms were fully finished and ready for use:
- lobby - you can't do without it;
- receptions of the king and queen;
- rooms of a crowned couple;
- matrimonial bedroom;
- the empress's drawing room;
- dining room;
- billiard room.
Metlakh tiles were also widely used in the interior of the Massandra Palace of Alexander III. There were also tiled stoves - a tribute to the emperor's inclination towards the Russian tradition. A large amount of wood was also used in the decoration - the emperor also loved it. Different species were used - oak, walnut, mahogany.
The decoration is done with extraordinary skill - intricate carving (the buffet in the dining room is especially noteworthy) and colored wood burning. Doors and wall panels are made in this style.
There are other interesting things in the Massandra Palace. For example, the empress's study is decorated with a unique fireplace made from a single block of brown marble. There is also a handmade chandelier and a unique mirror. Stained-glass windows and painting on glass were also used for the decoration of the premises (the dim light, beloved by Alexander III, was obtained). Many pieces of furniture have been preserved, including built-in mahogany wardrobes.
When visiting the palace, it is easy to notice that the style of the empress's premises differs markedly from the rooms intended for the king. There is a different decor (for example, there are stucco elements), and even the ceilings are higher. This also says a lot about the personality of the tsar who ordered the construction.
The wife of Alexander III was an elegant woman with refined taste. And the king was an example of an exemplary husband - he loved his wife, respected and, to the best of his ability, pleased her. So it was created for the slender, airy empress a completely different entourage than for her husband, who looked like a Russian bear.
In addition to beauty, the palace was also provided with amenities. It had an electric dynamo and central heating from its own boiler (fireplaces were used more for beauty).
Of course, it should be borne in mind that the furnishings of the palace have not been completely preserved, and the interiors available for viewing today are supplemented with items from other imperial collections. But this was done by people who are well aware of both the style of the era and the characters of the members of the Romanov family. So you can vouch for the reliability of the reconstruction.
Massandra Palace: photo inside the castle
Excursion to the Museum of Kings and People
Now the palace complex in Massandra has the status of a protected object of federal significance. The museum is a branch of the Alupka Museum "".
Issue price
For starters: there are no days off at the Massandra Museum. However, the opening hours vary depending on the day of the week and the season, so it is better to either clarify the schedule by phone or through the Vorontsov Museum website, or count on the time between 10-00 and 15-00 (with a guarantee).
The park surrounding the palace is also an excursion object. But the entrance to its territory is absolutely free, many vacationers in Massandra hide there from the midday heat. Therefore, you can see the sights near the palace (memorial bust of Alexander III, sculptures) and the palace outside without money and at any time.
Getting inside is more difficult - you have to pay for it. Excursion service is not necessary, you can use the audio guide. However, for groups (starting from 3-5 people, depending on the season), real guides work by prior arrangement.
The prices cannot be called low, but the maintenance of the imperial residence costs a lot. In addition, there are many benefits for payment - for children, pensioners, students. It is better to check the exact amount of payment before visiting - they can change from season to season. You can also save money by purchasing a “single ticket” to visit all exhibitions in the palace.
The Massandra Palace also includes many general excursions in its program ("", general programs around Yalta ...). In this case, you don't have to worry about anything at all - everything will be organized and explained by the tourist office.
Museum expositions
The main museum display in Massandra is the rooms decorated for the royal family. Visiting them allows you to get acquainted with the traditions and ideas about the beauty and comfort of the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, as well as learn a lot about the habits and tastes of some representatives of the Romanov family and relationships in the highest family.
It is important to remember that many of the items exhibited there were not originally intended specifically for Massandra. But this is a royal setting, or as close as possible to it. Pictures and photos provide more general information about the era than about the palace itself.
The third floor (which the Romanovs did not use) is given over to temporary exhibitions (they can be very different, you need to follow the news), as well as a strange exhibition in the royal premises. This is a museum of Soviet life (a fashionable topic in a certain period of Soviet history).
However, many visitors, especially young ones (for whom the USSR is as distant history as the reign of the Romanovs) will be interested in comparing the tastes and capabilities of the tsars and the people. In addition, it was necessary to preserve in the palace the memory of a sanatorium for peasants and workers with tuberculosis - something noble!
Various concerts and other musical events are also regularly held in Massandra. Tickets for them are sold separately, and prices and benefits do not depend on the Vorontsov Museum, but on the organizers of the event.
