Governor's Palace (Kazan)

The Governor's Palace is a mid-19th-century building in the northern, highest part of the Kazan Kremlin, next to the Söyembikä Tower. Designed by Konstantin Thon as the residence of the military governor, it now serves as the residence of the head of the Republic of Tatarstan, which is why locals also call it the presidential palace or the government house. The palace is a cultural heritage site of federal significance.

History

The site was once occupied by the palace of the Kazan khans and later by the house of the chief commandant. In 1843 Emperor Nicholas I approved the design of the new building, officially named the "military governor's house with an imperial apartment": besides the governor's residence, it held rooms for members of the imperial family visiting Kazan.

The design was by Konstantin Thon, architect of the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Construction on site was supervised by the architect Alexander Peske, sent from St Petersburg to help rebuild Kazan after the great fire of 1842. Work went on through the 1840s under the military governor S. P. Shipov, with bricks made in Kazan.

In the 20th century the building housed the government of the Tatar ASSR. It was restored twice, in the 1970s and around 2000.

Architecture

The palace is eclectic, combining features of the Russian-Byzantine style and the Renaissance Revival, with traces of classicism, Old Russian and Islamic architecture noted by researchers. The main facade is marked by a projecting bay with a pediment of three arches and paired half-columns, and the entrances are framed by columns. The interiors are richly decorated.

The government house today

Today the palace is the official residence of the Rais (head) of the Republic of Tatarstan. It is closed to tourists, and its interiors can only be seen in official photographs. The exterior is easy to see from the Kremlin grounds, which are open to visitors.

Getting there

The palace stands inside the Kremlin at 1 Sheinkman Passage. The easiest way in is through the Spasskaya Tower at the end of Bauman Street, then along the main alley to the northern end of the fortress and the Söyembikä Tower. The nearest metro station is Kremlyovskaya.