Palace of Farmers (Kazan)

The Palace of Farmers (Igenchelar Sarai in Tatar, Dvorets Zemledeltsev in Russian) is an administrative building in the historic centre of Kazan, in the Vakhitovsky district, at 36 Fedoseevskaya Street. It stands next to the Kazan Kremlin and the Kazanka embankment, facing Palace Square. It houses the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan and its subordinate agencies, including the Main Veterinary Directorate.

History

The palace was built on the site of old, dilapidated housing. Construction began in spring 2008 and was completed in 2010. The project was designed by the architect Leonid Gornik.

The building was controversial from the start. Some residents believe that such a large structure inside the Kremlin's protected zone distorts the historic look of Kazan, while others admire its originality and grandeur. Either way, the palace quickly became one of the city's best-known modern landmarks.

Architecture

The palace is usually described as eclectic, mixing Beaux-Arts, neoclassical, Italian Renaissance and Baroque features. It is symmetrical: two wings with portals frame a domed central block. The dome is an open frame of twisted metal spirals, and the spire above it rises to 48 metres. The building is often compared with the Petit Palais in Paris and the Vittoriano in Rome.

Its signature feature is a bronze tree about 20 metres tall in the central arch: the trunk is made of stylised metal pipes, and the crown spreads beneath the vault. The interiors, unlike the facades, are plain. The ministry occupies the left wing and its agencies the right.

What to see

The palace is best seen from outside: the interior consists of working offices, and no tours are offered. In the evening the building and the tree in the arch are lit up, so many visitors come after sunset, combining it with a walk around the Kremlin and the Kremlin embankment. Palace Square in front of the building hosts city festivities and the open-air opera festival Kazan Autumn.

Getting there

The nearest metro station is Kremlyovskaya, a few minutes' walk away. The palace is clearly visible from the Kazan Kremlin and can be reached along the Kremlin embankment. City bus stops are nearby.