Front Gate.

In the second half of the 17th century the design of main

entrance acquired a definite form in Russian architecture.
The gatehouse usually had 1-3 passages and was covered
by a barrel-vaulted roof.
On the whole however the decor of Front Gate still belongs
to the traditions of the mid – 17th century. Various details
such as saw tooth masonry and molded patterns and
decorative window frames impart a modest and light aspect
to the decor. A finishing touch was given to the decor of the
first two tiers by imitation brick painting on the cornices,
window frames, and arches.
The third tier – Clock is simpler in design. Its decor is limited
to a cornice, a band of saw tooth masonry, and engaged
columns. The simplicity emphasizes the practical character
of this floor.
The decor of the fourth tier again becomes more plastic – it
consists of triple half columns, lavishly profiled cornices and
archi volts. An eight-sided tent shaped roof completes the
design of the tower.
In the 17th century the Organ and Clock Chambers had exist
out onto open galleries which were enclosed by open
balustrades. The galleries were later dismantled. The gate
was embellished by decorative carved shutters executed by
masters of the Tsar’s Armory Chamber. These shutters were
so richly decorated that in winter they were covered with
canvas and felt.

Church of the Ascension.

The Church of the Ascension built as a palace church in

1532 is the earliest and most significant of Kolomenskoye
survived buildings. It’s thought that the Church of the
Ascension is a votive church? Which was built by Vasily III as
a thanksgiving for the birth of his long-awaited son Ivan,
later the Terrible.
The Church of the Ascension is known as the first stone tent-
roofed church to have been built in Russia. “The church is
marvelously tall, beautiful, and light, such as has never
been seen before in Russia.”
In the 16th century the Russia State was finally consolidated.
The liberation from the Tartar and the growth of national
self – awareness could not but lead to changes in all forms
of art, above all in architecture. And it was time that the
Russian architects began to depart from the Byzantine
traditions of quincunx churches.
In the 16th century it was the highest building before the
construction for the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great.

The Church of the Mother of God of Kazan.

The Church of the Mother of God of Kazan built from 1649-

1650 is a typical of mid-17th century Russian architecture.
It comprises: the main body, two side chapels, a porch tent-
shaped roof and the bell-tower, which was added later.
The church belongs to the cross in square five domed type
called quincunx. All the cupolas stand very close to each
other. The central cupola rests on a drum cut through
windows.
The church building is placed above a ground floor
basement and is enclosed a covered gallery. In the second
storey of the southern section of the gallery there is a door,
which in the 17th century let to the walkway covered with
wool cloths, so it could be used in winter. It connected the
tsarina’s residential area in the wooden palace directly with
the Kazan Church. The arches of the basement and gallery
were originally open to give more lightness and proportion.

The House of Peter I.

Shipbuilders built the House of Peter I in 1702 on the Isle of

Saint Mark in the estuary of the North Dvina River. Peter I
lived in the house for two months, observing the
construction of the Novodvinsk Fortress located of the
mainland across of the island as well as the construction of
the Russian navy in the wharves of Solombalsk. In 1934, the
House of Peter I was move to Kolomenskoye.
Back Gate (Spassky).

Visitors enter the Royal Court through the Back Gate

(Spassky), which used to be the back (supply) gates for the
tsar’s estate, and therefore are extremely simple in
design and have a restrained decor. The main decoration is
an elegant single-storey gatehouse in the form of shingled
vault.
Once inside the Royal Court, if you look towards the Back
Gate, on the right you’ll see a section of a wall covered by a
planked gable roof. This partially restored section of the wall
preserved from the 17th century, forms of northwestern
corner of the Royal Court. To the left of the Back Gate rises
the terraced wall of the Buttery (Koro Dvor). The
building of the Buttery has not been preserved.