The Imperial Travel Palace in Tver is the main attraction of the city. The exhibition of the Tver Art Gallery is placed in the ceremonial halls of the Travel Palace. In addition to paintings by Russian and European artists, palace interiors are also of great interest. The gallery often hosts art exhibitions.
The Travel Palace is located on the site of the former wooden Tver Kremlin. In 1485 Tver became part of the Moscow Principality, so the Kremlin lost defensive significance and no stone buildings were built on its territory. The only stone building in the Kremlin since 1286 remained the Transfiguration Cathedral. By the 18th century, the Tver Kremlin was called the Bishop`s Palace, since it housed the archbishop`s residence. However, all its buildings were dilapidated.
In 1763, a strong fire occurred in the center of Tver. All the buildings of the Bishop`s Palace were completely burned down. The stone Transfiguration Cathedral was partially damaged, but it was restored. Empress Catherine II ordered the construction of a Travel palace on the site of the Kremlin, where she could stop when traveling between St. Petersburg and Moscow.
In 1764, Catherine II approved the project of the Travel Palace, which was prepared by architect Peter Nikitin. In 1776, the Travel Palace received its first guests. The palace is quite large, as it was planned for the residence of emperors traveling with a large entourage. The palace is built in the shape of "П". In the right wing there is the Church of the Great Martyr Catherine.
During the reign of Emperor Alexander I, the Travel Palace in Tver experienced its heyday. In 1809, the tsar presented the palace to his sister, Grand Duchess Ekaterina Pavlovna, on her wedding day with the Duke of Oldenburg. He was appointed governor of the newly formed General Governorate, which united Tver, Veliky Novgorod and Yaroslavl. The family chose Tver for their residence.
They invited a young architect, Karl Rossi, to rebuild the palace. The traveling palace, made for short stops, was not suitable for permanent residence of members of the royal family. Karl Rossi substantially rebuilt the palace. At that time, the Empire style came into fashion. He also changed the interiors of the palace. In the Palace Garden, which was laid out in front of the palace in 1776, the architect built a Palace Greenhouse.
For three years, the Travel Palace became a fashionable place of the high society of both capitals. Ekaterina Pavlovna held balls and invited famous people to visit. At that time, Alexander I was working with Speransky on reforms, and a "circle" of opposition to these reforms formed in Ekaterina`s society.
However, in 1812, the Duke of Oldenburg contracted typhus while visiting a hospital and died. Grand Duchess Ekaterina left the Travel Palace in Tver and went to Europe, where in 1816 she married Wilhelm I of Wurtenberg and stayed in Stuttgart.
After that, the Imperial Palace in Tver again became a Travel Palace. Tsars and high-ranking guests visited it regularly. In 1864, during the reign of Emperor Alexander II, architect Alexander Rezanov reconstructed the palace in accordance with the new fashion requirements. At this time, the Travel Palace in Tver acquired its current appearance.
Nowadays, the Tver Art Gallery is located in the Travel Palace. The collection of paintings by Russian artists can be recognized as one of the best in Russia. Here you can also see paintings by European artists of the 16th-19th centuries, sculptures, dishes, weapons, objects of applied art. A separate exhibition is devoted to ancient Russian icon painting. Of great interest are the palace interiors of the 19th century, which have been completely restored.
