Vorontsov Palace in Crimea. Vorontsov Palace - an English castle in Alupka Where is the Vorontsov Palace in Crimea

The most beautiful Vorontsov Palace in Crimea is located in the city of Alupka. The palace rises above the Black Sea, surrounded by a delightful park. The architectural style, sculptural compositions, luxury, the place where the building was built are striking.

Uniqueness of architecture

Castle built 20 years (1828 - 1848) commissioned by the powerful governor-general of the Novorossiysk Territory, the Englishman Mikhail Semenovich Vorontsov. The count personally chose a place for a summer residence on a picturesque rocky cape at the foot of Mount Ai-Petri in the little-known village of Alupka.

Construction materials

For the construction project by the English architect Edward Blore, 60 thousand serfs, soldiers of the sapper battalion, were attracted. The construction was carried out from local diabase stone mined nearby.

A greenish-gray stone of volcanic origin is not inferior in strength to granite, but it is capricious in processing. Stone-cutters who built temples in Central Russia also worked here. The work was done by hand with primitive tools.

New architectural trends

The Vorontsov Palace was built according to new architectural principles. Located according to the relief, it organically blended into the southern landscape, repeating the outlines of the visible mountains. Paying tribute to the secular fashion of that time, the architect combined in the architecture of the building English, Neo-Moorish and Gothic styles.

In an inconspicuous Tatar village, a castle appeared in the spirit of English architecture of five buildings with defensive towers, unequal in shape and height. Open and closed passages, stairs and courtyards united the buildings with each other, reminiscent of the construction of the English aristocrats of the Middle Ages.

Unique Solutions

The Vorontsov castle made of dark turned stone with arches, battlements, openwork transitions, fine carved patterns strikes with a mixture of styles. The main facade of the central building was created in the style of a Muslim mosque. Spiers and turrets resemble eastern minarets. At the main entrance - strict monumental towers with loopholes, battlements, narrow loophole windows create the image of a medieval castle.

The southern facade is made with Moorish splendor: with lancet arches, oriental ornaments, balconies and openwork lattices, wall carvings. The decorative decoration of the Vorontsov Palace is a sloping lancet arch. The decoration is repeated in the cast-iron balconies, in the stone carved lattice of the roof, in the decoration of the entrance, above which the phrase is repeated six times along the frieze: “And there is no winner but Allah”!

On the north side, the building is crowned with neat turrets and large windows. There are marble fountains in front of the facade. At the Main Staircase - Lion's Terrace. Six lions "sit" on both sides of the monumental staircase made of white marble. One is "sleeping", the other is "waking up", the rest are "awake" and "roaring".

Vorontsov Palace, equipped plumbing with hot water and sewerage, cost the count 9 million silver rubles - a grandiose sum for those times.

Inhabitants of a luxurious palace

The first owner of the palace was His Serene Highness Prince Mikhail Semenovich Vorontsov, a descendant of an ancient aristocratic family, the godson of Catherine the Great, a hero-bearer, a participant in the Patriotic War of 1812, an honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. He retired with the rank of Field Marshal.

Shortly after settling in, the count had to leave the new house. Having been assigned to the Caucasus, Vorontsov left the residence of his daughter. Since then, the palace has changed owners. After the death of the count, a son and a widow lived here. In 1880, the Vorontsov family nest was empty until new relatives energetically set about restoring the inheritance.

After the revolution, the estate was nationalized. Later, the Vorontsov Palace became the state dacha of the NKVD, and in 1956 it opened Crimean State Museum. Since 1990, the palace has been part of the Alupka Palace and Park Museum-Reserve. The museum's collection includes paintings, sculptures, applied arts, old drawings and lithographs.

Room interiors

The palace has 150 rooms decorated in the English style with oriental motifs. Each room is made in a personal style. The fashion of the era and the taste of the owners, interest in exotic things affected the character of the decoration of the halls.

Design concept

Initially, the halls were dominated by bright colors, lush curtains on the windows and doors. Kashmiri and Turkish shawls, Indian carpets and animal skins created an atmosphere of oriental luxury.

Gradually, the character of the interiors changed. The interior decoration of the Vorontsov Palace is luxurious, but this luxury is cozy, "homely", without the front "palace". Furniture made of walnut, oak, mahogany was made by Russian craftsmen especially for the palace. Fireplaces in each room are unique and made from original materials.

Castle overview

Lobby- a spacious ceremonial room with embossed oak ceilings, austere furniture and two gray-green fireplaces. On the walls are portraits of the Vorontsovs. Catherine the Great and members of the royal family. On the floor are carpets of Persian work with a portrait of the Persian Shah Fath-Ali.

- the room is bright, the interior is restrained, meets the strict tastes of the owner. The walls are covered with paper wallpaper, which was considered a luxury item, because the master made the drawing by hand. The atmosphere of European masters is both prim and solemn.

On the wall is a portrait of the owner with field marshal's epaulettes against the backdrop of the Caucasus. The events of the Patriotic War of 1812 are reminiscent of the portraits of the count's associates, military generals - Uvarov, Naryshkin. Bronze mantel clock depicting Minin and Pozharsky.

calico reception got its name because the walls are covered with warm-colored fabric brought from Paris. The crystal chandelier on the ceiling, made by Russian craftsmen, looks graceful. On the walls are landscapes by Russian and foreign artists.

Stained glass table - the work of an Italian master. The reception area is decorated with parquet made of expensive wood species, which was made to order for the Calico reception area.

AT blue living room Vorontsov Palace on the azure walls and ceiling is a thin snow-white stucco ornament in the form of petals and leaves. Chandeliers of refined forms, the pattern of faience vases add solemnity to the interior. The attention is drawn to the white piano, the pride of the mistress Elizaveta Ksaveryevna Vorontsova, an outstanding pianist.

Music was played in the Blue Living Room, and a home theater was organized. In this living room, the last time Mikhail Shchepkin came out to the audience in 1863, the young Fyodor Chaliapin sang to the accompaniment of Sergei Rachmaninoff.

AT Boudoir of Elizabeth Ksaverevna the walls are sheathed with Chinese mats with floral patterns, the furniture, decorated with patterns in oriental style, was created by Russian craftsmen. Modest parquet on the floor, carved mirror frames create an atmosphere of comfort.

Chinese cabinet. Here China is present symbolically, there are no authentic items from the Celestial Empire. On the table is a linen tablecloth embroidered by Elizaveta Ksaveryevna Vorontsova. A corner cabinet resembling a tortoise shell was a gift from Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. The walls of the office are decorated with the finest rice straws, decor elements are embroidered with beads and silk by the hands of serf craftswomen.

An area of ​​150 square meters with 8-meter ceilings. The hall is comfortably lit with chandeliers and chandeliers with candles. The carved oak ceiling follows the pattern of the wall panels and window frames. A glass door leads to the terrace of the palace. Furniture to match the grand hall.

In the center is a table made of a single piece of mahogany with massive cabinets and legs in the form of lion paws. There are two dozen chairs around, the upholstery for which was woven in Lyon by order of Vorontsova. The sideboard, polished to a shine, is filled with goblets, jugs and jugs.

On the sides of the hall there are large fireplaces, and between them there is a fountain tiled with images of fantastic animals. Above the fountain is a carved wooden balcony where a quartet of musicians played. In the walls above the sideboards and fireplaces, picturesque panels complement the landscape that opens from the windows.

- a specially built room for books in a separate building of the Vorontsov Palace for storing 27 thousand volumes of encyclopedic books collected over decades. The main part of the interior is four-meter-high carved shelving lined with ceiling-height folios. Here are works on military affairs and navigation, natural science and agriculture in French, German, English.

The count was fluent in several languages, was fond of collecting, collected ancient manuscripts, drawings, geographical maps. Editions of Diderot, Voltaire, political literature of the period of the Great French Revolution are stored together with the stucco emblems of the Vorontsovs. Complementing the interiors of the library of the Vorontsov Palace is a massive desk, comfortable chairs, two huge globes on carved three-legged stands.

AT winter garden a rare sophistication interior of exotic vegetation and works of art. A climbing ficus is planted along the walls, tubs with flowers are placed, a white marble fountain is arranged. Along the walls are marble busts of Catherine the Great, the Vorontsovs, and British Prime Minister William Pitt. Heat-loving plants and flowers create an exotic flavor.

The creator of the park is the botanist August Kebach. The German gardener created the park, taking into account the relief, climate and local flora. 270 species of trees and shrubs were brought from all over the world. At the same time, 2 thousand varieties of roses bloomed in the garden. Kebach planned the park so that the coastal highway divided it into two parts - the Upper and Lower Gardens.

lower park- with fountains, marble sculptures, columns, vases and stone benches. The upper garden of the Vorontsov Palace is more natural: it contains rocky fragments (heaps of stones from solidified magma thrown out by a volcano and called "Big Chaos" and "Small Chaos"), picturesque clearings, cascades of waterfalls, shady ponds, artificial lakes and grottoes. At the bottom of the Swan Lake that adorns the park, 20 bags of semi-precious stones are poured out to create a play of light in sunny weather.

Grapevine, olives, fruit trees, and cypresses have taken root in the 40-hectare park. A series of new varieties of roses specially bred for Alupka entered the world catalog. The rose "Countess Elizaveta Vorontsova" is popular. Californian magnolias planted outdoors have grown into outdoor flowering trees, which is considered a sensation. Vorontsov personally planted magnolias and was regularly interested in how pets grow.

Alexander I stopped in the hospitable palace and strolled through the garden. Here, the former Napoleonic marshal Mormon planted a tulip tree and several plane trees. Empress Alexandra Fedorovna planted plane trees, laurels, cork oak. The Prince of Wales and his wife planted wellingtonias, giant trees, in the park, near the shore.

The park is decorated with Aivazovsky's rock, from which the artist painted the night view of the palace during the illumination. The glory of Vorontsovsky Park was strengthened by the artists Isaac Levitan, Vasily Surikov, Aristarkh Lentulov, who worked here.

• From February 4 to 11, 1945, during the Yalta Conference, the Vorontsov Palace became the residence of the British delegation headed by Winston Churchill.
• Mikhail Semenovich Vorontsov generously thanked the serf builders of the palace, allowing them to redeem themselves from captivity.
• After the war of 1812, Vorontsov was with the occupying forces in France. When the soldiers and officers left France, Vorontsov found out which of his subordinates owed money to the local population. The commander personally paid all the debts from his savings, selling one of the estates for this.
• In the palace of Count Vorontsov there were 100 servants, each lived in a separate room.

The architecture of the Crimean peninsula is fascinating: there are many famous historical monuments that attract the attention of tourists from all over the world. The Vorontsov Palace, as seen in many photos, is one of the most magnificent buildings in the 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 as an architectural masterpiece of the Romantic era.

The Vorontsov Palace is located in the town of Alupka in the southern part of the picturesque Crimean peninsula. The city is part of the urban district of Yalta and stretches along the coast for 4 km. Not far from Alupka 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 the Crimea in 1822 and was delighted with the beauty and wealth of the 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, the photo of which is presented in the article, was built as the summer residence of Count Mikhail Vorontsov.

The governor-general of Novorossiya was a very wealthy and educated man. He took the planning of the project seriously and personally supervised the construction until the last day. Initially, the building complex was 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 the Crimea, but thoroughly studied the area around the construction site from drawings and sketches.

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

The palace with a total area of ​​40 hectares was built for 20 years from 1928 to 1948. The material was a local durable stone diabase 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. A lot of money was invested in the construction of the palace, but the richest man in Russia could afford such a luxury.

History of the palace

The noble family of the Vorontsovs 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 to his homeland at the age of 19, he entered the military service. Mikhail made a successful career and received the rank of general very young.

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. Under his rule, the city prospered, and the count decided to invest his personal income in the construction of a magnificent estate. After the construction was completed, the palace belonged to the Vorontsov family for a long time, and then to his 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 summer cottages on the territory and rent land for sanatoriums.
2. At the beginning of the 20th century, with the advent of Soviet power, the mansion became a national museum.
3. During the Second World War, the palace was practically not damaged, only some valuable exhibits were taken out. Hitler promised the mansion to Field Marshal Manstein and he took care of the preservation of his property.
4. During the Yalta Conference, the British delegation lived in the palace.
5. In the post-war years, there was a dacha 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 Alupka Palace and Park Museum-Reserve.

Architecture. Palace interiors

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

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

Both European masters and stone cutters, cabinetmakers, sculptors, embroiderers from all provinces of Russia, and the serfs of the count himself had a hand in creating a magnificent interior. Up to three hundred names of skilled craftsmen have been preserved in the archives.

Western facade of the Vorontsov Palace

The western façade or Shuvalovsky passage with its high watchtowers, narrow loopholes and thick walls made of gray diabase blocks resembles a medieval European castle. From this side passes the main entrance to the palace ensemble.

Architecture of outbuildings 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.

On the ground floor there were various household services, 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 touch to the northern façade.

The north 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 towering behind the palace harmoniously complements the architectural ensemble.

Front office of the Vorontsov Palace

The office is decorated in a traditional English style:

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

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

The office is decorated with a bookcase made of ebony fine workmanship, English chairs and armchairs with Gothic carvings, bronze sculptures, candelabra, gilded clocks depicting folk heroes Minin and Pozharsky. Here the governor-general held meetings and friendly meetings.

Chintz 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 with expensive English fabric with an elegant pattern, the furniture is inlaid with bronze, there is a blue crystal chandelier on the ceiling, and mosaic parquet.

The walls are decorated with landscapes by Russian artists.

Chinese Cabinet of the Vorontsov Palace

This is the countess's boudoir. In its design, one can feel a delicate feminine taste and a 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.

On the wall are portraits of famous people, a portrait of the Countess herself by an unknown artist, and family coats of arms.

The lobby of the Vorontsov Palace

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

On the walls are portraits of the count's relatives, Empress Catherine II, who was Mikhail Vorontsov's godmother. 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. Artistic modeling was carried out by the serfs of Count Vorontsov. In the living room there is a white marble fireplace with floral ornaments, huge porcelain vases, Bohemian glass chandeliers and a beautiful white grand piano.

Hospitable hosts willingly received poets and musicians in their apartments. Zhukovsky, Alexei Tolstoy, Shchepkin, Rachmaninov performed here. The countess herself played the piano beautifully and sang.

Winter Garden of the Vorontsov Palace

The winter garden connects the inner chambers and the main 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, and a white marble fountain. The sculpture of a laughing girl is considered one of the most skillful in the world.

The main dining room of the Vorontsov Palace

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

The architect ventured to complement the cold interior with picturesque panels in carved frames by the French artist Robert.

Between the two fireplaces there is a room 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, the owners and guests played and had fun. There is a walnut set, a mahogany table. The room is decorated in English style. The Vorontsov Palace in Crimea (the photo below shows paintings by European artists) is famous for its numerous collection of works by famous masters from different eras. The billiard room has a large number of paintings.

South facade of the Vorontsov Palace

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

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

Library of the Vorontsov Palace

The library of Count Vorontsov, not without reason, was considered one of the largest in Russia. Thousands of books in various languages ​​were placed on the four-meter shelving of the vault. The owner was interested in science, as evidenced by rare manuscripts, old maps and globes. The father and aunt of the count began to collect the unique library.

Alupka park

The Vorontsov Palace in Crimea (every tourist wants to take a photo with a view of the park today in order to preserve the memory of its beauty) began to be built after the laying of a luxurious park. The German gardener Karl Kebach created a real miracle for 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, more than 2 thousand rose bushes bloomed here.

The lower park with its flower beds on the terraces, fountains, benches, marble vases resembles the gardens of the Middle Ages. The proximity of mountain springs made it possible to create artificial cool reservoirs with cascades and small waterfalls, swimming swans. Water constantly murmurs here, harmony and order reign.

By order of the count, the bottom of Swan Lake was strewn with semi-precious stones to create sun glare. The upper park, by design, imitated wildlife. It is hard to believe that the stone chaos in the form of gorges, cliffs, grottoes was made by human hands. Near wide glades, specially cleared of piles of stones. Each lawn has its own romantic name.

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

The Vorontsov Palace and its magnificent park were immortalized in their paintings by Levitan, Surikov, Lentulov. While in the Crimea, Aivazovsky painted his seascapes here. The rock on which he worked bears the artist's name. Beautiful photos in memory of the wonderful nature of the Crimea and its amazing sights are taken away by thousands of tourists.

Museum expositions

The interior of the palace has changed little over the past 100 years. The museum has several permanent exhibitions. Tourists can see 10 ceremonial halls on the ground floor.

The following exhibitions are also available to visitors:

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

Here are collected valuable collections of paintings, porcelain, sculptures, elegant antique furniture of great historical value. The guides are very interesting and tell in detail about the buildings and life of family members.

Palace opening hours

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

Information for tourists. Visiting Rules

Tourists are familiarized with the rules of visiting the museum in advance.

Here are the main ones:

How are the tours

Each tour begins with a tour of the stands, where the history of construction is presented. Then visitors inspect the rest of the halls on the first floor. Tourists are not allowed in the upper sleeping quarters. They obviously look more modest, but the situation has not been preserved.

Thematic exhibitions are often held on the territory of the park, excursions around the park on electric vehicles are offered. Individual excursions are conducted 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 acceptable:

Services	Ticket price for adults (rub.)	Reduced ticket price (rub.)
Main expositions	300	200
Exhibitions	110-150	55-80
Tour of the park	50-100	25
Walking in the park in an electric car	800	800
single ticket	650	Z25
Event with photo accompaniment for one academic hour	2500

Commercial video filming is paid in advance.

How to get to the Vorontsov Palace

From any settlement 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 maritime station. Buses with special routes run from the central bus station - No. 132 (from the center) and No. 102 (from the bus station).

From the stop "Vorontsov Palace" you can go 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 have to go through Vinogradnoye, Livadia, Gornoye.

From Alushta

From Alushta to Alupka it is easier to get through Yalta, where shuttle trolleybuses leave every half an hour. At the Yalta bus station, transfer to buses to Alupka. On passing intercity buses "Simferopol-Simeiz" in two hours you can directly get to Alupka (highway). This option is suitable for active tourists who are not burdened with luggage.

From Simferopol

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

From Sevastopol

On the Sevastopol-Yalta bus, get 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 would be to purchase a sightseeing tour, which will save you from problems with transport.

The majestic palace has its secrets and mysteries.

Some of them remain unsolved to this day:

The Vorontsov Palace is the brightest sight of the peninsula. It is impossible to visit the Crimea and not visit the famous palace ensemble and its magnificent park. Here you can admire beautiful views, get unforgettable vivid impressions. Tourists who come to Alupka like to take photos against the backdrop of the palace and the battlements of Mount Ai-Petri.

Article formatting: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about the Vorontsov Palace in Crimea

Vorontsov Palace. Alupka. Sights of Crimea:

The Alupka Palace, a masterpiece of romanticism architecture, was built for almost 20 years, from 1828 to 1848, by order of the powerful Governor-General of the Novorossiysk Territory, an aristocrat and Angloman Count Mikhail Semenovich Vorontsov. The count personally chose a place for his Crimean residence on a picturesque stone cape at the foot of Mount Ai-Petri in the little-known Tatar village of Alupka. The Englishman Edward Blore, the author of Walter Scott's castle in Scotland, the court architect of the British crown, managed to organically fit the building of the palace into the surrounding landscape. In the architecture of the Vorontsov Palace, Blore combined different styles - English, neo-Moorish and Gothic, paying tribute to the secular fashion of that time for the novels of Walter Scott and oriental tales.

History of creation

Initially, the famous Italian architect Francesco Boffo, who had already built the palace in Odessa, was appointed to build the residence. To help him was the Englishman Thomas Harrison, an engineer, an adherent of neoclassicism. Work began, and by 1828 the foundation, which was filled with lead for seismic resistance, as well as the first masonry of the portal niche of the central building, were ready. But in 1829, Harrison died, and two years later, the earl decided to suspend the construction of the palace, apparently abandoning the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bbuilding a neoclassical residence.

Vorontsov turns to the Englishman Edward Blore, a brilliant architectural historian, graphic artist and fashionable architect in his homeland. Most likely, Vorontsov was introduced to him by the Earl of Pembroke. New drawings had to wait almost a year. But Mikhail Semenovich liked the result, and in December 1832 the construction of buildings began. Blore brilliantly solved the problem in a historical perspective: the architecture of the palace demonstrates the development of medieval European and Moorish architecture, starting from the forms of the early Middle Ages and ending with the 16th century. The building of the palace is deployed in such a way that it repeats the outlines of the visible mountains. It is surprising that the architect himself, who so precisely inscribed the building in the surrounding nature, never visited the Crimea, but used only numerous landscape sketches and relief drawings that were sent to him in England.

The resulting castle could well serve as an illustration for historical novels: five buildings, fortified with defensive towers, different in shape and height, united by many open and closed passages, staircases and courtyards.

The construction was carried out from local greenish-gray stone - diabase, which is not inferior in strength to basalt, which was taken from natural placers in Alupka. Considerable efforts were required during its processing, since the decorations of the exterior of the house, complex in pattern, could spoil one wrong blow with a chisel. Therefore, Russian stone-cutters, who built white-stone churches in Central Russia, were invited for the most difficult stone-cutting work.

The main decorative decoration of the Vorontsov Palace - the motif of a sloping lancet arch - is repeatedly repeated in the cast-iron balustrade of the balconies, and in the stone carved lattice enclosing the roof, and in the decorative decoration of the portal of the southern entrance, made in the Moorish style of the Alhambra Palace.

The design of the southern entrance facing the sea intertwines the drawing of a Tudor flower and the motif of a lotus, which culminate in the Arabic inscription repeated six times across the frieze: "And there is no winner but Allah", just as it is written in the Alhambra of Granada.

In front of the facade is the Lion Terrace and the monumental white Carrara marble staircase by the Italian sculptor Giovanni Bonanni. On both sides of the steps there are three pairs of lions: the bottom left is sleeping, the bottom right is awakening, above is a pair of awake ones, and the third pair is roaring.

The rear facade of the palace and its western part, a variation on the theme of Tudor England of the 16th - early 17th centuries, resemble the harsh castles of English aristocrats.

By the way, this palace was one of the first in Russia, which was equipped with hot water and sewerage.

The cost of building the palace complex amounted to about 9 million rubles in silver - an astronomical amount for those times. But Count Vorontsov could afford it, because after his marriage in 1819 to Elizaveta Ksaveryevna Branitskaya, he doubled his fortune and became the richest landowner of the Russian Empire. Elizaveta Ksaveryevna, the one with whom, according to one version, Alexander Pushkin fell in love in exile in Odessa, personally supervised the creation of the interiors of the building, took care of the decoration of the park and often paid for the work.

palace dwellers

Mikhail Semenovich did not manage to live long in the Alupka Palace. Another appointment followed - this time to the Caucasus. But in Alupka in the late 1840s, his daughter, Countess Sofya Mikhailovna, settled with her children. Then, after the death of Prince Vorontsov (he received the princely title in 1845), the palace, by right of majorate, passed to his only son, Semyon Mikhailovich. In 1882, his widow, Maria Vasilievna Vorontsova, went abroad and took many valuables from the palace. She had no children, the palace was abandoned, and by the end of the 19th century the building, the park and the economy fell into complete disrepair.

In 1904, new owners appeared at the castle - relatives along the line of the Vorontsovs-Dashkovs. The wife of the Viceroy of the Tsar in the Caucasus, Countess Elizaveta Andreevna Vorontsova-Dashkova, born Countess Shuvalova, vigorously set to work. She handed over land for sanatoriums and boarding houses and built more than 120 summer cottages on the estate.

After the revolution and the establishment of Soviet power in the Crimea, the lands of the Vorontsov-Dashkovs were nationalized. And on February 22, 1921, a telegram from Lenin arrived in the Crimea: “Take decisive measures for the actual protection of art treasures, paintings, porcelain, bronze, marble, etc., located in the Yalta palaces and private buildings, now assigned to the sanatoriums of the People's Commissariat of Health ...”

In the early 1920s, museums were created on the southern coast of Crimea, in a number of the largest noble estates, among them the Alupka Museum. The museum's collection was seriously damaged during the Great Patriotic War: a lot was taken out by the invaders, including 537 paintings and drawings. Only a small part of the paintings was found after the war and returned to the palace.

In February 1945, during the Crimean (Yalta) Conference, the Alupka Palace became the residence of the British delegation. Meetings of the heads of the allied powers - Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt - took place in the Grand Dining Room of the palace.

Later, the palace became the state dacha of the NKVD. In 1952, a sanatorium was placed there, and only in 1956, by decision of the Soviet government, the Crimean State Museum of Fine Arts was opened here. Since 1990, the palace has been part of the Alupka Palace and Park Museum-Reserve. Its collection today includes works of painting, sculpture and applied art, as well as documents, old drawings and lithographs, introducing the history of the construction of the palace.

English park

The English park of the palace is the work of the German gardener-botanist Karl Kebach, whom Vorontsov invited to the Crimea in 1824, when there was no design for the palace itself. He zealously set about creating a park, taking into account the relief, climate and local flora, combining, however, everything with the latest achievements in landscape gardening art. About 200 species of trees and bushes were brought here from all over the world. Parcels with seeds and seedlings came from America, Italy, the Caucasus, Karelia, China and Japan. It was said that more than two thousand varieties of roses bloomed here at the same time. The German gardener became so famous in the Crimea that landowners began to invite him to create or improve their parks and gardens along the entire coast.

Karl Kebach clearly planned the park on the principle of an amphitheater, keeping in its structure links with the main palace and other architectural objects. The coastal highway (Yalta - Simeiz) divides the park into Upper and Lower.

The lower park is designed in the style of Italian Renaissance gardens with fountains, marble sculptures, Byzantine columns, vases and stone benches. The upper one was created on the principle of English landscape parks of the Romantic era - more natural and natural: in it rocky debris, shady ponds and preserved areas of the Crimean forest are interspersed with picturesque glades, a unique system of lakes, waterfalls, cascades and grottoes. Kebakh created the Upper Park as a place of contemplation of the sea and Mount Ai-Petri, towering over the park and the palace, like the ruins of a giants' castle.

A carefully thought-out drainage system and individual plant care have done their job - many, even very rare and whimsical plants, have taken root well. In total, 250 species of trees and shrubs grew in the park by the end of the 19th century. The plants of the Vorontsovsky Park were so popular that the seedlings were even sold outside, to other gardens and estates.

The glory of Vorontsovsky Park as a masterpiece of landscape architecture was strengthened by artists who worked here on sketches: Isaac Levitan, Vasily Surikov, Aristarkh Lentulov ... And the parks, gardens and vineyards that belonged to Count Mikhail Vorontsov and his relatives - Naryshkin and Pototsky, completely changed the face of the coast from Alushta to Foros.

The resort peninsula is famous not only for its natural resources; the most beautiful estates of the imperial elite are located along the entire coastline. On the southern coast of Crimea, immersed in the greenery of evergreen trees is not just a palace, but a real medieval castle.

The building was erected from a stone of volcanic rock, the color of which is green-gray, it is called "diabase". The construction can be called unique and unprecedented, because the workers, using the most primitive tools, carved a real masterpiece of architecture from the strongest rock. This masterpiece is the Vorontsov Palace. Alupka for the implementation of the plan was chosen by Count Vorontsov not by chance. It was in the possession of three whole generations of one dynasty.

The palace glorified Alupka. The town is so small that it simply would not be noticeable among other urban-type settlements that Big Yalta included. And the grandiose estate makes the settlement desirable and recognizable in terms of tourism.

The architect managed to build a composition that organically fit into the landscape of the mountains and the riot of subtropical greenery of the southern coast. With its spiers, the palace seems to repeat the shape of the most beautiful mountain of Crimea - Ai-Petri. The end of the grand construction fell on 1848.

Being in Alupka, be sure to visit the palace of the same name. All expositions of the museum are imbued with the refined taste and luxury of those times. The castle stands like an impregnable bastion, strong, reliable, high with narrow windows "loopholes".

A bold statement can be made by suggesting that the Vorontsov ensemble had a colossal influence on Romantic architecture in the following century. Neighboring Yalta began to quickly replenish with all kinds of palaces, which to this day surprise travelers.

Nationalization and occupation

After the bloody revolution, already in 1920, all the "remnants of the empire" were nationalized. Now the family estate has become the property of the people. This did not last long. During the hostilities, the German invaders caused almost irreparable damage to the museum complex, taking priceless art objects from the peninsula. And in those days, everything was such items, from cutlery to paintings and furniture.

What a blessing that the Nazis did not have time to raze the palace to the ground, but such a plan had a place to be. Apparently, the estate is guarded by the lucky star of the Vorontsovs, and to this day the museum complex is flourishing. A large number of researchers, curators and restorers are doing painstaking work, at the moment, time seems to be frozen in the exhibition halls, the exhibits are kept in perfect condition.

And in the museum "funds", hidden from the inquisitive eyes of the tourist crowd, there is a globe of Mikhail Semyonovich. This globe is not simple, on it is Alaska - Russian!

Amazing rooms

There is a certain azure room in the palace, it is called the “Blue Drawing Room”. The room is simply of unprecedented beauty, it seems that such rooms simply cannot exist on earth. Snow-white flowers are hand-sculpted on the sky-colored walls. It is noteworthy that not a single pattern is repeated throughout the sufficiently voluminous cubic capacity of the room. The alliance is harmoniously complemented by a snow-white grand piano and a luxurious white set with gilded inserts.

Video: Palace from a bird's eye view

The count had a Chinese-style office, a very interesting object on a tour. So you won’t immediately understand whether the owner ordered craftsmen from China or whether it was our craftsmen who worked in the style of the land of the rising sun.

Yes, there are many other interesting things in the palace: the “chintz room”, wonderful paintings, fireplaces and luxury, a lot of luxury. And how many films were filmed in the local royal chambers!

And in the large dining room, the ceilings are made of wood, there is still an unusual smell of wood here, for sure, it smelled like that in those days when eminent owners still lived in their palace.

Magnificent sculptures

Sculptures made by the Italian master D. Bonanni and his apprentices from Carrara marble can be called almost a wonder of the world. The approach to the palace from the sea is protected by the kings of animals - huge snow-white lions. The “sleeping” lion is especially admired, words cannot express how beautiful he is, how nobility, strength, wisdom are embodied in him, and how vulnerable he seems when he sleeps.

This same lion is not accidentally depicted on guidebooks, calendars, postcards, emblems, websites, coats of arms and so on, it is the hallmark of the Crimea along with the Swallow's Nest castle.

There are other sculptures on the "South Terraces" of the palace, all of them attract tourists like a magnet. These ideal stone sculptures are alluring, it is simply impossible to pass by and not capture them in a photo. Someone now and then tries to saddle one of the lions, but strict rangers immediately stop these impulses.

Winter Garden

The wonders of skilled craftsmen of the past centuries never cease to amaze, one of the exhibition halls is the winter garden. This same garden, like a dessert, the guides leave at the very end of the "lecture". A special microclimate reigns here, water splashes from a miniature fountain, in summer you can hide from the scorching heat.

Although the residence was conceived as a summer residence, paying tribute to fashion, the earl ordered to organize a "green corner" in the manner of those that were broken in the castles of England. There is a lot of greenery, palm trees, but snow-white, as if antique statues pay attention to themselves in all this emerald foliage.

The most stormy applause breaks the sculpture "girl". The statue was made of Carrara marble by the sculptor Corbellini. It is unlikely that you have seen something like this before. The work is so delicate that even the pores on the skin are visible on the girl! And when you look into her eyes, it seems that she is alive, the sculptors of that time have never carved pupils. And what lace the girl has on her dress! This is marble, it doesn’t fit in my head, as the master also showed the lines on the clothes and even a slight wrinkle of the fabric!

Alhambra - a tribute to the Turkish Khan

If from the north side the palace looks like a castle, then the south side, the one that faces Turkey, is made in oriental style. The portal of the southern entrance is like a Moorish palace - the Alhambra. Count Mikhail Vorontsov ordered to write a secret message to the Muslims in the form of the inscription repeated six times "There is no winner but Allah."

Prices for excursions

The ticket price in the Alupka Palace is quite acceptable. A visit to the ceremonial halls for an adult will cost 300 rubles, for a student 150, and for a child only 70 rubles.

Photography, as well as video, is made on a paid basis, if you want to make a report - welcome to the cashier for payment.

Shuvalovsky wing

Additionally, you can visit a very original outbuilding, where the Shuvalovs lived. There are many personal belongings and decorations of eminent residents. The relatively modest area of ​​the premises is even slightly surprising.

The most touching room can be called the private office of Sofya Mikhailovna, the count's daughter. From all sorts of little things, it becomes clear that she was a true secular lady who takes care of herself. It is very interesting to look into the Countess's boudoir. Sophia loved Alupka very much, she was infinitely attached to her.

And in the portrait room there is a series of paintings depicting members of the Vorontsov dynasty. Gloss, chic of uniforms, brilliance of orders, dignity in the look, here is a characteristic feature that can be seen in all portraits.

Vorontsovsky park

If palace excursions do not appeal to you at all, then you should not deny yourself the pleasure and visit the local park. Here, mighty trees remember the walks of the count's family. Mighty plane trees protected from the sun with their spreading branches and wide leaves. To this day, trees hide excited tourists from the hot southern sun.

If you want to learn about the history of creation, the difficulties and victories in laying out the park, then you can go for a walk with an organized group. Excursion support costs only 100 rubles, for children and students of universities - 70.

If you do not want to walk through the park on foot, you can drive through it in an electric car. This service began to be provided relatively recently, but is in demand. There are no other vehicles on the territory, so the park can be classified as an "eco-park".

By the way, the territory of green spaces, simply unthinkable in size, cannot be walked around the park in a day.

The best photo shoots are here!

For the agreed fee, you can arrange the most romantic outdoor wedding ceremony. To be united by family ties in one of the most beautiful places in Crimea is a dream of many.

And what a masterpiece photo shoots are obtained here! Definitely the best in Alupka, but in Alupka, in the whole Crimea! Places imbued with the spirit of exceptional taste and elegance - that's what makes the pictures special.

Be sure to come to the Crimea to the Vorontsov Palace, it must certainly be on the list of attractions scheduled for inspection.

The Vorontsov Palace in Alupka is one of the most visited Yalta palaces and the only one that I visited, and even then by accident. It’s not that I didn’t want to see it, but I really didn’t want to do it in the summer, it’s too crowded at this time.
The palace was built in the English style, and the building contains elements of various eras, from early forms to the 16th century. The farther from the western gate, the more recent style of construction. The English style is combined with the neo-Moorish style. For example, Gothic chimneys resemble the minarets of a mosque. The palace was built from 1828 to 1848 as the summer residence of the Governor-General of the Novorossiysk Territory Count Vorontsov. Interestingly, the Vorontsov Palace is one of the first buildings in Russia, where sewerage and water supply were built for the comfort of living.

The main facade of the Vorontsov Palace

The palace was owned by three generations of the Vorontsov family. Since 1921, a museum has functioned in the palace complex. 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. Now it is a museum again.

The Vorontsov Palace is located on the territory of Alupka Park, which was created by the famous botanist and gardener Karl Antonovich Kebach for 25 years. He designed clearings, placed trees according to their size. This was a matter of principle, because, according to Karl's plan, the trees should not have blocked the gorgeous view of the top of Mount Ai-Petri.

The park is spread over an area of ​​40 hectares. Geographically divided into Upper and Lower parks. The park is designed in such a way that it complements the local nature. More than two hundred species of plants grow here, which were brought from the regions of North and South America, the Mediterranean. The cost of laying out the park is twice as high as the construction of the palace itself. Up to 36,000 rubles were spent on the maintenance of the park in 1910 - a huge amount at that time.

Map of Vorontsovsky park

The attraction of the park are piles of stones from solidified magma, ejected by the volcano since time immemorial, called "Big Chaos" and "Small Chaos". These chaoses were carefully inscribed in the layout of the park, a dozen paths were laid through the piles of stones, forming almost a labyrinth, benches were placed, viewing platforms were arranged. Separate blocks are entwined with ivy and wild grapes. Sometimes it is very difficult to believe that you are in a park, and not abandoned.

A large number of fountains have been built in the park. Most of them were built according to the designs of V. Gunt.
In general, in Crimea, there has long been a tradition of respect for water. The construction of a fountain, both in the Muslim Crimea and in Russia, was considered a worthy deed, and even charitable. Where at least some trickle flowed, they put a fountain, decorated it with a saying from the Koran or the emblem of an engineering department, sometimes they beat out the date. Along the old roads, in the old Crimean settlements, a lot of these ancient fountains have been preserved, many are still functioning.

Three ponds are also artificially created on the territory of the park: Upper, Mirror and Lebediny. Around the ponds grow maples, ash and dogwood.

To decorate the bottom of 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 owner chases the ducks out of his property

A couple more interesting facts about the park, according to the guides. Vorontsovsky Park literally grew on blood, because the soil under the trees was abundantly fertilized with the blood of freshly killed animals. A separate gardener was assigned to each tree, who did not sleep, did not eat, but watched his ward, cherished and cherished.

The Chilean Araucaria owes its name to the Araucans - Indians living in Chile, for whom the fruits of this tree form the basis of the diet. This copy is over 130 years old. It does not develop well in our conditions. In its homeland, it grows up to 50 meters in height, has a trunk up to one meter in diameter. There are only 5 such trees in Crimea. Araucaria branches are covered with sharp thorns, so neither monkeys nor birds sit on them.

Chilean araucaria

Crimean pine

pistachio

lower park

The fountain "Maria" is made based on the famous Bakhchisarai fountain, sung by Pushkin. The fountain is made of white and colored marble and decorated with shells and rosettes. Water falls in small drops from one bowl to another, forming a quiet, even rhythm of drops - “tears”.

Mary Fountain (Fountain of Tears)

From the sea is the famous lion terrace.

The southern entrance is decorated with oriental splendor. The Arabic inscription translates as: "And there is no winner but Allah."

coral tree

Fountain of Bakhchisarai

I didn’t go inside the palace, I really don’t like a slender run in the crowd. Maybe some other time I'll visit.

Winter Garden of the Palace

During the Yalta Conference in February 1945, the British delegation headed by W. Churchill lived in the Vorontsov Palace. A curious story is connected with him, which happened during a walk in the park of Churchill and Stalin. Churchill, who really liked the sleeping lion sculpture, said that he looked like himself and suggested that Stalin ransom him. Stalin refused this offer, but suggested to Churchill that if he answered his question correctly, then Stalin would present a sleeping lion. "Which finger on the hand is the main one?" - such was Stalin's question. Churchill replied: "Of course, index." “Wrong,” Stalin replied and twisted the figure from his fingers, which is popularly called the figurine.

sleeping lion

Fountain "Sink"

Fountain "Sink"

The southern facade of the Vorontsov Palace and the Lion's Terrace