The Royal Palace in Madrid (Spanish name Palacio Real de Madrid), also known as the Eastern Palace (Palacio de Oriente), is the official residence of the monarchs of Spain, located in the western part of the Spanish capital. King Juan Carlos I, however, did not reside in the palace and visited it only on occasions of official ceremonies. In the Middle Ages, on the site of the current palace, there was a Moorish fortress of the emirs and.
Over time, the Habsburg Alcazar was built here, destroyed during a terrible fire on Christmas night in 1734. The grandson of Louis XIV, Philip V, who took the Spanish throne after the death of Charles II, at the end of the war for the throne (1700-1714) against Archduke Charles of Austria, wanted to have a large palace similar to the French Versailles, built by order of his grandfather.
On the recommendation of his wife and great admirer of the arts, Isabella of Farnese, in 1735, Philip V called upon the Italian architect Filippo Juvarra and instructed him to begin developing a project for the construction of the Royal Palace. However, after Juvarra's death, another Italian, Giovanni Battista Sacchetti, brought the project to its logical conclusion, completing the construction of a palace in the Italian Baroque style.
The architect designed a rectangular building with a courtyard in the center. During the construction process, granite from the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains and limestone from Colmenar were used. During the final stages of construction, the project manager was also the Italian Francesco Sabatini. The actual construction of the Royal Palace in Madrid began in 1738 and was only fully completed in 1764, during the reign of Charles III, who was the first to live there. However, the decoration of its interior continued for quite some time.
Considering the fact that the Royal Palace was built on a hill, on the banks of the Manzanares River, massive walls and stepped platforms with internal partitions were laid at its foundation, which reach from the west to the river itself, where the Campo del Moro park with dense thickets of trees, paths and fountains such as Triton and Shells.
The park was created in XIX century, which today houses the Carriage Museum, which houses carriages, gigs, landaulets, state carriages and carriages that belonged to kings since the 16th century, as well as saddles and carpets. On the north side, next to Bailen Street, are the upper Sabatini Gardens, planted in 1933 on the site of former stables.
The main entrance is on the southern facade, overlooking the Place d'Armes, where every first Wednesday of the month the ceremonial changing of the guard is held and through which the king and queen enter in an ancient carriage during receptions held on the occasion of the presentation of credentials by new ambassadors.
Interior of the Royal Palace in Madrid
The interior decoration of the Royal Palace in Madrid is made of frescoes by the Italians Corrado Giaquinto, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Luca Giordano and Caravaggio, the German master Anton Mengs and the Spaniards Diego Velazquez, Francisco Goya, Francisco Bayeu, Mariano Salvador Maella and Vicente Lopez.
In addition, the Royal Palace has luxurious crystal chandeliers, Flemish tapestries, furniture in neoclassical, Rococo and Empire styles, porcelain, clocks, a unique collection of Stradivarius violins, ancient weapons, as well as portraits and paintings, making the palace one of the best. The main staircase, created by Sabatini, leads to the official rooms, among which the following stand out:
1). Throne room, made in the Rococo style, the ceiling of which was painted in 1764 by the Venetian master Tiepolo, with furniture, mirrors, clocks, walls upholstered in red damask, sewn with silver thread, with statues depicting the cardinal virtues, as well as from the “Seven Planets” series. Venetian silver crystal chandeliers are the best in the palace;
2). Gasparini Hall also made in the Rococo style. An unsurpassed ensemble created by Matthias Gasparini, decorated with silk embroidered with silver thread, stucco on the ceiling and furniture, mirrors and marble floors of the same design, complemented by candelabras and a mosaic table;
3). Porcelain Hall decorated with porcelain panels created at the Buen Retiro factory in Madrid, founded by Charles III, according to the sketches of the Italian master Jose Grichi and the technique of the Italian Capodimonte factory;
4). State Dining Hall was officially opened in 1879, on the occasion of the wedding of Alfonso XII with his second wife Maria Cristina, with a total capacity of 145 people. For the most part, the hall is decorated with 16th-century Flemish tapestries, bronze crystal chandeliers, as well as Sevres porcelain and frescoes by Mengs and Bayeu;
5). Chapel designed by Ventura Rodriguez. The base has the shape of a Greek cross and is decorated with frescoes by Corrado Giaquinto;
6). Armory Hall founded by Philip II, which houses Spain's most iconic collection of arms and armor, formerly owned by Maximilian of Austria, Philip the Fair, Charles V, Boabdil, Sebastian of Portugal, and the Spanish Habsburgs.
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The Royal Palace of Madrid is one of the most famous landmarks of the city and its business card. The exterior of the building harmoniously combines various architectural styles: such as Rococo, Baroque and even oriental motifs are present on the facade of the palace. Inside, you can enjoy works by Velazquez and Goya, Caravaggio and Tiepolo, examine in detail the collection of ancient weapons, and study the collection of violins of the famous Stradivarius. On the grounds of the Royal Palace you can also stroll along the most beautiful parks Campo del Moro and Sabatini, extending throughout the entire territory surrounding the palace and stretching all the way to the Manzanares River.
Architecture
The Royal Palace is located in the west of Madrid. Previously, in medieval times, an ancient Moorish fortress, which belonged to the rulers of Cordoba, stood in its place. Later, the Habsburg dynasty built a castle in its place for themselves, but it was damaged in a fire in 1734.
In 1735, Philip V, who reigned at the time, issued an order to build a palace in the capital on the model of Versailles. As many as three architects worked on the design of the new building, and when the project was ready, in 1738 the construction of a palace began on this site, which continued until 1764. The construction of the palace was completed during the reign of Charles III, so it was he who became the first resident of the new residence. Since then, all the rulers of Spain lived in the castle, right up to Alfonso XIII.
Nowadays, the Royal Palace in Madrid receives tourists every day and closes only occasionally during official events King of Spain Juan Carlos II, but officially everything is also considered the main residence of the country's rulers.
Excursions
Having examined the external appearance of the building and enjoying its grandeur located on 135 thousand square meters, you want to see even more what is in its interiors. The building itself has the shape of a rectangle, inside of which there is a courtyard. On the southern façade of the palace is its main entrance, leading to the Armory Square. And inside the Royal Palace in Madrid there are many different attractions. The interiors of the palace are decorated with ceiling frescoes made by the hands of Corrado Jaquinto himself. You can climb to the second floor of the palace via the luxurious Sabatini staircase with 70 steps. In total, the Royal Palace in Madrid has more than 3 thousand different rooms, rooms and halls, but there are several of them that are most often visited by tourists.
Throne room: one of the richest rooms of the Royal Palace, upholstered in red velvet with gilded trim, with a ceiling painted by the then famous Tiepolo.
Armouries: This hall displays a huge collection of sculptures of horsemen, dressed in a full set of weapons, as well as the armor of warriors and kings, their ancient weapons, which date back to the 13th century.
Art Gallery: this room houses masterpieces by such famous artists as Velazquez, Goya, Madrazo, Sorolla. The painting “Virgin and Child” by Morales and “Salome with the Head of John the Baptist” by Caravaggio are presented here, as well as other heritage of the country.
Porcelain room: interior decoration This hall of the palace is completely made of beautiful porcelain in white and green colors.
Hall of Mirrors: In this room of the Royal Palace there are dozens of mirrors of different sizes.
Royal Library: This room displays more than 300 thousand copies of various ancient books and manuscripts.
Ancient pharmacy: nowadays indoors former pharmacy is the Pharmacopoeia Museum, which displays ancient cabinets in which various medicinal plants, bottles for medicine, recipes for drugs to treat the king’s family.
Halberdiers' Salon: here is a collection of ancient frescoes based on various scenes from myths.
Column Hall: this department represents the whole history of the architectural development of the country, its ceiling is painted by Giaquinto himself, on its walls there are tapestries of the 17th century, among which are busts of various Roman emperors. Official events took place here, including the weddings of monarchs.
Gasparini's room: this room is known for its luxurious rococo crystal chandelier and floral-inspired interiors made of silk with silver threads.
Royal Chapel: It is in this room that the famous collection of violins by Antonio Stradivari is located.
Royal cuisine: one of the most interesting rooms of the Royal Palace, which has still preserved its original historical appearance.
Sabatini Park: On the northern part of the building there are beautiful gardens measuring 2.5 hectares. It is famous for its many various types plants, including pines, cypresses, magnolias, lilies, trimmed in the shape of ideal geometric shapes. Among them are beautiful fountains, sculptures and ponds, and pheasants and pigeons live nearby.
Campo del Moro Park: on the western side of the attraction there are another beautiful Madrid gardens measuring 20 hectares in a romantic style. There are tens of thousands of trees here, of which there are about 400 types of palm trees, as well as a huge number of flowers, in particular roses, and various shrubs. The park has swings and gazebos for visitors to relax, as well as beautiful houses gardeners with the surrounding grottoes and caves.
Palace opening hours
The Royal Palace of Madrid is open daily in winter from October to March from 10:00 to 18:00, in season from April to September daily from 10:00 to 20:00. The ticket office closes 1 hour before the palace closes. The Royal Palace is closed to the public on January 1, January 6, May 1, December 24, December 25 from 15:00, December 31. In the building and on the territory adjacent to the palace there is organized accessible environment for people in wheelchairs.
Tickets and free entry
The entrance fee to the Royal Palace will be 10€ for an ordinary visitor, preferential categories for persons the ticket price will be 5€, agent price 8€. If necessary, you need to pay additionally for a manual costing 4 €, or an audio guide costing 4 €. A combined visit to the palace and the kitchen will cost 14 € and 9 € for beneficiaries, a visit to the royal kitchen only will cost 5 €. Visit to the Royal Palace and Royal Theater - 15 €.
Free entry to the Royal Palace is possible for citizens of the European Union, citizens of other countries permanently residing in the European Union and having a work permit in the European Union, as well as citizens of Latin American countries (but it is necessary to provide a document confirming citizenship or residence permit and permission to work). These categories can enter the palace free of charge from Monday to Thursday from 16:00 to 18:00 (from October to March) and from 18:00 to 20:00 (from April to September).
How to get to the Royal Palace in Madrid
The palace building is located in the very center of the city, so it is not difficult to get to it either by car or by car. public transport. In close proximity to the Royal Palace there is the Opera metro station, lines 2 and 5. Walking tour to the palace from this station will be no more than 5 minutes. Right next to the entrance to the palace there is the Plaza De Oriente bus stop, lines 3, 25, 39 and 148. Also nearby is the Príncipe Pío train platform for trains C1, C7 and C10.
To get to the Royal Palace from the city center by car, you can follow the signs on Calle Mayor (there is a large parking lot near the museum), or use taxi services in Madrid: MyTaxi, Join Up Taxi, Tele Taxi or others.
Royal Palace in Madrid on Google panoramas
Royal Palace inside on Google panoramas
Interior of the Royal Palace in Madrid
Video of the Royal Palace in Madrid
Ali Reza Zamli / flickr.com Jorge Láscar / flickr.com Gary R. Caldwell / flickr.com Dániel Fehér / flickr.com Italian Lasagna / flickr.com Gabriel Calderón / flickr.com Elentir / flickr.com Guillén Pérez / flickr.com Paulo Valdivieso / flickr.com kerinin / flickr.com Jocelyn Kinghorn / flickr.com kerinin / flickr.com kerinin / flickr.com Jocelyn Kinghorn / flickr.com Jocelyn Kinghorn / flickr.com
Near the Manzanares River lies the majestic Royal Palace of Madrid, called the Palacio Real. A grandiose structure with an area of 135 thousand square meters, towering over the river, is very similar to the Versailles of Paris in France. The architectural ensemble, with facades painted in gray-blue colors, successfully complements the Almunden Temple located opposite. To the west, the Royal Palace is decorated with wonderful gardens named Campo del Moro.
Now the Madrid Palace is considered the official residence royal family. Here its representatives participate in banquets at state level, arrange audiences, celebrate national holidays, receive ambassadors to present their credentials, and in 2004 the wedding of the Spanish prince, heir to the throne, took place. On these important days, access to the Royal Palace is significantly limited for tourists, and the Spanish flag is raised above the palace building.
In the middle 18th century, Spanish kings built their fortifications on the banks of the Manzanares River. After the fire that mercilessly destroyed the Alcazar castle in 1734, a new palace was built by order of Philip V. In its decoration and grandeur it is very similar to Versailles in Paris. The first design of the Royal Palace in Madrid was created by the Italian architect Filippo Juvarro, who was succeeded by Giovanni Sacchetti. The interior design of the palace, after construction ended in 1764, continued until the mid-19th century, but remained unfinished.
Palace architecture
The majestic three-story rectangular building, with two basement floors, with columns and pilasters on the facades, dates back to the late Baroque. The huge courtyard located inside the castle is bordered by an arched gallery. The entire perimeter of the building is surrounded by a stone balustrade and a cornice decorated with reliefs. The main entrance, located on the facade on the south side, leads to a wide armory area. Sculptural composition, The luxurious attic above the entrance is decorated with the family and royal coat of arms, sculptures by Martin Sarmiento, and a tower clock.
Armory Square
Enrique Repulles began work on the project of the Plaza de la Armería, which has survived to this day, in 1892. It is located in front of the main palace entrance. Here you can watch the guards standing on guard, replacing each other. This is an amazingly colorful sight. From the Plaza de la Armeria you can go to the Almunden Cathedral, and in the west to the Armory.
Europeans consider the decorations of the Madrid Palace to be the most luxurious. The best masters of several centuries worked on its creation. More than two thousand rooms are decorated with hundreds of front doors, of which about fifty are open for viewing. The main staircase, designed by Sabatini in 1775, was decorated with sculptures by C. Gioquinto, who also painted the ceiling in the vestibule.
The throne room, with velvet on the walls, amazes with its splendor and a large number of sculptures. The ceiling vaults were painted by a Venetian artist (Tiepolo) in 1764. The impressively sized mirrors for the hall were made at the royal glass factory. Luxurious chandeliers were delivered from Venice. Two gilded thrones take us back to the time of Charles III.
The wonderful painting of the ceiling in the Hall of Columns was made by the artist C. Giaquinto. The walls of the hall are decorated with tapestries of the 17th century. Along them are sculptures of the emperors of Rome. This hall was used for official events, and for the ceremonial wedding of Alfonso XII (1879), which was considered a great event of national importance, a new dinner hall was prepared, decorated with frescoes, Sèvres vases, and Flemish tapestries.
The Gosparini Hall is considered the most striking room in the palace. Its walls are covered with silk embroidered with silver threads. An impressively sized gilded chandelier adorns the center of the hall, beneath it is a well-preserved magnificent table with mosaic decoration. Wonderful Mengas lampshades adorn the ceiling vaults.
Mirrors and panels finished in white with blue accents, very realistic porcelain details, add charm to the Porcelain Room.
Treasures of the Madrid Palace
All items stored in the Royal Palace are considered historical artifacts. Some of them decorate the palace halls, and most of the exhibits, for which it is planned to open a separate museum, are placed in storage. This museum will soon be located near the Almunden Cathedral.
The rooms of the Royal Pharmacy, which are currently being reconstructed, contain interesting museum exhibitions. Ancient recipes are kept here, according to which court doctors treated kings, and on the shelves there is a huge amount of glass and porcelain vials.
Stradivarius violin (kerinin / flickr.com)
The famous Ventur Rodriguez created the design of the chapel of the Royal Palace, which now displays collectible pieces of unique musical instruments. Among them you can see the famous Palatine Stradivari quartet, consisting of two violins, a viola and a cello.
The Madrid Palace has a large collection of paintings. Many halls and an art gallery display paintings of different genres and eras: works by Caravaggio, Goya, José de Ribera, Luis Melendez and many other great masters. The unique tapestries located in the Dining Hall were made by remarkable Brussels craftsmen, using fabrics from the royal Tapestri factory.
Precious and jewelry belonging to royal dynasty of the Baroque and Renaissance periods, they dazzle with their splendor. They are exhibited in the palace treasury.
In the Armory you can see the arsenal of historical weapons and armor of kings from the 13th century.
Grand Royal Palace in Bangkok– this, in my opinion, is the main attraction of the capital of Thailand. If fate has brought you to Bangkok, and you are thinking about what interesting things to see here, first of all go to the palace.
The correct name of the palace is Phrabarommaharadchawang (just try to pronounce it).
The Grand Royal Palace is not just one building, but a whole complex of buildings and temples, the most remarkable of which.
Diagram of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
Next to the Royal Palace, literally wall to wall, is Wat Pho, Temple of the Reclining Buddha, also very interesting.
On the opposite side of the Chao Phraya River stands a beautiful Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn, but I don’t know what it’s like inside, I didn’t have time to get there.
Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn
There are many more temples and museums, but all of them are inferior in entertainment to the Grand Royal Palace.
History of creation
Its construction began in 1782. Then King Rama 1 decided to move the capital away from the devastating raids of the Burmese to a small village on the left bank of the Chao Phraya River, which is now known in the world as Bangkok. At first it was more of a fortress behind a wall, in which there were several wooden buildings and a temple where the royal family worshiped the famous shrine - the Emerald Buddha.
Gradually the palace developed and now occupies 218 thousand square meters. m. It consists of many buildings, 95 pagodas and is surrounded by walls 2 km long. In terms of its significance for the country and even its appearance, this palace resembles our Kremlin.
It is no longer a royal residence, but is guarded by royal guards and official ceremonies are sometimes held there. There are also royalty there.
Visiting rules
Large bags and backpacks are not allowed into the palace, and there is nowhere to leave them. So make sure you have no luggage in advance.
Also, entry is closed to those who have tight clothing and open heels, legs and arms above the elbows. But, firstly, everything is not so strict, and tourists walk around the palace in tight T-shirts. And, secondly, if they still don’t let you in, then enterprising Thais near the main entrance will supply you with the required clothing for a small fee.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The Grand Royal Palace is open daily from 8.30 to 16.30, after 15.30 entry to the territory is closed to new visitors. There are several gates in the wall surrounding the palace. However, tourists are only allowed through one - Gateway to Miraculous Victory, Wichechaisi in Thai.
A ticket, like 4 years ago when I was there, costs 500 baht (only then they gave 1.4 rubles for a baht, but now they ask for 2).
You can also take an audio guide for 200 baht.
I take a ticket and, in a dense crowd of visitors, dominated by the Chinese, I go to the palace.
First impression
After the inspectors check the ticket, the visitor enters the territory of the temple complex.
The temples literally dazzle with the shine of gold and multi-colored enamel and glass.
If we continued to follow the principles of Eurocentrism, we would say “barbaric luxury.” The gold doesn't seem to be real. Or maybe it’s real. Still, Thailand is a rich country and, moreover, was not a colony of European powers, which, as is well known, loved the property of others. But in Thailand everything has been preserved. The multi-colored glitter reminded me of the design of the old VDNKh pavilions.
The silhouette of the palace is defined by three tall buildings: Phra Siratana Chedi, Phra Mondop and Phra Prasat Thephidhon.
Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew
But the main thing, of course, is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew. The Buddha is not made of emerald at all, but of jadeite (a type of jade).
Inside Wat Phra Kaew, a sacred place for Buddhists, you can only enter without shoes and photography is strictly prohibited. There are many references on the Internet to the fact that visitors who were caught taking photographs had their frames destroyed. It is possible that in the future there will be a relaxation here, since the guidebook from 2005 says that photography is prohibited throughout the palace, but now everyone is freely clicking their cameras.
The temple is bright, the green color of the Buddha appears golden as he is dressed in a golden robe. A special team of monks (some say the king himself) regularly dresses him in new clothes.
According to legend, the 66 cm tall Buddha was found in 1436 among the rubble of a pagoda destroyed by lightning. After this, the statue traveled to different cities in Thailand and Laos until in 1779 it was placed in Bangkok in this temple built especially for it.
The Emerald Buddha is the shrine and talisman of Thailand. And they seem to sincerely believe in this. There are inscriptions in English in the palace: “Budda is not for decoration - respect common sense” (I would translate: “Budda is not for decoration - respect the feelings of believers”).
Other temples of the royal palace
Encased in shining gold is a fragment of Buddha's bone. Prince Shakyamuni, who devoted his entire life to the search for truth, would probably be surprised by such veneration of a part of his mortal body. But this, apparently, is the fate of the righteous - after death they are deified.
It contains the texts of the Tripitaka, the Buddhist scripture. It's essentially a library, but you can't enter it. Its walls are decorated with Buddha figures.
There is a model at the northern entrance. Well, I saw this miracle of ancient Khmer architecture in the original. The inscription says that the model was created by order of King Rama 4 as a sign of admiration for the real Angkor.
is a royal pantheon, inside of which are images of the kings of the current Chakri dynasty. But it is opened only once a year, in October, when the founding of the dynasty is celebrated.
Temple
Temple Gallery
The entire temple complex is surrounded by a gallery, all of whose walls, which are more than 170 meters long, are painted with frescoes on the theme of the epic “Ramayana”, “Ramakien” in Thai. And the pictures are funny and well done, but since I’m not on topic, I didn’t understand anything. Apparently, we need to grow up with the Ramayana, just as we grow up with the fairy tales of Andersen and the Brothers Grimm.
a person found something familiar
The temples are beautiful in their own way, although, as elsewhere in Thailand, they are too bright for my taste. Many different buildings and structures, statues of incomprehensible deities and supernatural creatures, unusual columns, multi-colored patterns. You walk around and are amazed. If it were not for the heat and the countless crowds of Chinese, then there would be no need to wish for anything better.
Flowers - offering to Buddha
Chinese lion and lioness. The lioness is with a lion cub, and the lion is with an orb in the form of a ball.
It took me an hour and a half to explore the temple complex. At the exit from it to the royal palace itself there is an inscription that if you leave, you will not go back. The European elderly couple turned back. And I, satiated with bright colors, left.
Royal Palace
The palace buildings are mostly European in style with some Thai inclusions. I don’t know what’s inside, because they’re not allowed inside. First you pass by the king's private chambers.
Then the palace Chakri Maha Prasat, where the audience halls, the queen's chambers and urns with the ashes of the kings are located.
In front of this palace there are statues of elephants, under one of which, as the writer Paustovsky believed, the “Russian Queen of Siam” was buried. In fact, the Russian Ekaterina Desnitskaya was the wife of a Thai prince, divorced, then married an American and died in Paris.
There is a very nice garden with bonsai in front of the palace.
Throne Dusit Palace During my stay it was restored and draped.
Palace Guards
From time to time, groups of guardsmen in white uniforms walked past tourists. They say that this uniform is similar to the Russian one. I didn't notice this.
When the guards were marching, the leader walking in front shouted: “No photo, no photo!” But the tourists did not pay any attention to this, and some particularly annoying Chinese lined up and marched next to the column. We also constantly took pictures with the guardsmen standing at the post, but they did not rent weapons from them.
The guards are small, ours are much larger, about one I even thought that a child had been entrusted with a machine gun. And they don’t march very orderly.
In addition to living soldiers, the palace is guarded by various supernatural creatures, sculptures and images of which can be found here and there.
Then I also admired the exhibition of guns, for some reason mostly English.
Then I drank some wonderful iced mango juice in a cool, air-conditioned cafe. How pleasant it was after the sweltering heat!
At the end, with the same ticket, I went to the museum of Buddhist relics and even managed to take a few photographs until they told me that photography was not allowed.
In total, I spent about 2 hours on the entire palace. It’s certainly interesting to watch, but I wasn’t particularly delighted. I don’t know whether the reason for this is the unbearable heat or the fact that our and the Thais’ concepts of beauty are too different. One thing I can say for sure: it was not for nothing that the witty French named the peninsula Indochina.
Indian influence probably predominates, but Chinese influence is certainly strong.
Grand Royal Palace in Bangkok, how to get there
The Royal Palace is located in the center of Bangkok, on the island of Rattanakosin (Great Jewel), which, in general, is not an island, but an area of the city, separated from it by the Chao Phraya River and an inconspicuous canal-klong.
Palace on the map
You can get there by taxi or tuk-tuk. The trip will cost from 200 baht and above, depending on your desire or ability to bargain. Can be reached by bus for 5 – 25 baht. Buses No. 1, 25, 32, 44, 47, 53, 82, 91, 123, 201, 503, 508 go there.
You can get to the Saphan Taksin metro station, and then take the Express Boat along the Chao Phraya River to the pier next to the Royal Palace. It will cost 15 baht. You can travel through the canals by water taxi. The nearest water taxi stop, Phan Fa Lilat, the final one, is almost two km from the palace.
You can take the metro to the station closest to the palace, Siam or Paya Thai, and then walk. But... The Bangkok metro is not very convenient. Its lines are owned by different owners, so when moving from one line to another you have to pay again. And the trains don't run very often. And it’s a bit of a walk from the metro, about an hour, which is not very pleasant in the heat.
In general, choose to your taste.
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The best way to view the Royal Palace is from the Chao Phraya River. The palace complex and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) occupy an area of almost 10 hectares. This flat plain was proclaimed a holy place in the 18th century. The complex is surrounded by a white wall, contrasting with the bright buildings.
The Royal Palace itself is not the residence of the ruler, but a room used only for ceremonies. The four buildings that make up the complex are closed to the public. The most large building- Royal Palace Hall - was built by British architects in the late 1880s.
It is impossible to prepare in advance for the impression that Wat Phra Kaew makes. The colors of Theravada Buddhism are rich red, green, orange and yellow; combined with rich gilding and gold leaf, lotus bud designs and columns inlaid with brilliant mosaics, these colors are found everywhere and are so bright that they are almost painful to look at. The stupas are gilded and the multi-tiered roofs are covered with shiny orange and green tiles. The Thai version of the Ramayana story is illustrated almost entirely on the interior walls of the temple.
The Emerald Buddha itself is small compared to the famous Buddha statues in Thailand, but it has enormous religious significance. The origin of the sculpture is surrounded by mystery; it was first mentioned in Chiang Rai in the 15th century. Laotian invaders took the statue to Luang Prabang, and from there to Vientiane, but it was found and returned to Thailand in the 18th century. This was done by Rama I, the founder ruling dynasty Chakri.
Entrance to the territory
The walled grounds of the palace complex can only be entered through the Wisetchaisi Gate (Gateway to Miraculous Victory), from where a wide street leads to the outer courtyard. On both sides of the street there are modern buildings housing government services.
If security finds the tourist's clothing to be completely indecent, he will be asked to wear a sarong (a piece of cloth wrapped around the hips). The sarong is issued free of charge in exchange for a deposit in the form of an identity document.
Having purchased an entrance ticket (the ticket office is located at the beginning of the street leading to the palace complex itself), the visitor walks past an inconspicuous building where the Museum of Royal Orders and Coins is located. On the ground floor there are interesting carved wooden furniture and other interior items.
Temple complex
The gate, guarded by two powerful demon figures, leads into the temple area, at the center of which stands the impressive Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). The figures of the guards - a gift from Chinese merchants - seem foreign body among the typically Thai architecture of the temple complex. At the entrance gate, a wall painting illustrates the beginning of the Ramakian epic; There are also marble tablets with poetic inscriptions composed anew by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). If you turn left, you can immediately see the gilded chedi of Phra Si Ratana, standing on a round five-step base. Inside this chedi is kept a relic - a bone or hair of the enlightened Buddha. The spire of the chedi, reminiscent of an igloo, is a typically Thai development of the Indian (or Ceylonese) pagoda form.
Phra Monthop
Behind the Phra Si Ratan chedi stands Phra Monthop, a structure richly decorated with small glass mosaics, impressive in its graceful lightness. The four corner figures of Phra Monthopa belong to the Borobodur style (14th century). Compared to its neighbors - the Pantheon (Prasat Phra Thepbidon) and the chedi with reliquary (Phra Si Ratana) - the building seems low. Inside is a luxurious black lacquer bookcase with mother-of-pearl inlay, where the books of the sacred scripture “Tripitaka” (Triple Basket) are kept. The floor in Mondhop is made of pure silver.
Angkor Wat model
Rama IV installed on the terrace a stone model of the Angkor Wat temple complex (now located in the territory of the state of Cambodia), which at that time was a vassal state of the Siamese crown. Even without the impressive size of the original, surrounded by virgin forest, this model arouses the interest of visitors as visual material on history.
Near the model of the Angkor Wat temple complex there are sculptures of elephants with noticeable abrasions on the head and neck. This is due to the belief that in order to return to Wat Phra Kaew, you first need to pat the elephant on the head, then yourself.
In Phra Wihan Yot, to the left of the terrace, is the oldest landmark of the entire palace complex: the stone throne of King Rama Kamhaeng (13th century), the outstanding ruler of the medieval Thai state of Sukhothai. The throne was discovered by King Mongkut (Rama IV) during his monastic wanderings and brought to Bangkok.
Prasat Phra Thepbidong
The third building on the spacious terrace is Prasat Phra Thepbidon, also called the Pantheon. Inside are life-size statues of the first eight rulers of the Chakri dynasty (the reigning King Bhumibol is the ninth representative of this family). The interior of the temple is open to the public only once a year, on April 6, Chakri Dynasty Day.
Temple of the Emerald Buddha
Descending from the terrace, the visitor approaches the holy of holies of Wat Phra Kaew - the Temple of the Emerald (Jade) Buddha. You can enter the temple through one of the side portals - the central one is intended only for the king. Inside the boat, on a high pedestal under a nine-tiered canopy, stands a figure of Buddha, only 75 cm high. It was sculpted from a single piece of jade, but according to one legend, in Pataliputra (India), according to another - in Burma. Through Ceylon and Cambodia it reached northern Thailand, where it was discovered in Chiang Rai when, during transportation, the plaster shell that had masked it until then fell off (1434). After many further wanderings, the Emerald Buddha ended up in Bangkok, where since 1778 it has stood in the Phra Kaew Temple. Three times a year a solemn ceremony is held during which the king himself changes the clothes of the Buddha. The beauty of the lines of this statue is good to admire during the rainy season (from May to October), because during the “cold” season (from November to February) it is almost completely covered with a golden mesh cape.
The delightful wall paintings and botha deserve special attention, although they have suffered greatly from time to time and have undergone restoration and are therefore not authentic. Above one of the entrances are scenes from the life of Buddha, on the opposite wall is the Universe as represented by Buddhist astrology. The paintings above the windows and doors tell the episodes of the Ramakian epic in pictures and poetic lines.
Surrounding area
After visiting the temples, it is worth walking through the beautiful and well-groomed territory of the complex. The graceful gilded statues are called kinnari (bird girls). The expressive figures of demons “carrying” a stepped chedi are also interesting. Between Wat Phra Kaew and the covered gallery separating it from the rest of the space, there are small pavilions. Previously, they served for the preparations necessary for the king before holding ceremonies in the bot. Now in their shade you can hide from the sun on a hot day. The wall paintings in the gallery have been lovingly restored in every detail. Their plot is based on episodes from the Ramakian epic and the history of Thailand.
Boromphiman Palace
Boromphiman Palace is the official name of the building, behind which lies a vast lawn; Previously, the Royal Garden Party was held here every year. The frescoes on the walls of Boromphiman depict four Hindu gods: Indra, Yamuna (Saraswati), Varuna and Agni as guardians of the universe. Below are tablets with Sanskrit inscriptions listing the "ten royal virtues" (prudent generosity, right conduct, willingness to sacrifice, sincerity, mercy, modesty, industry, freedom from anger, freedom from evil intentions, patience and intelligent activity). Since Rama VI, all the crown princes have grown up here. Today the building is used only for special occasions: It accommodates visiting heads of state or high Buddhist hierarchs.
Mahamonthian with Amarinsa-Vinitchay Hall
To the west of the Chakri Palace is a complex of three buildings called the Mahamonthian (Supreme Residence). Its front part (where visitors are allowed) consists of a single hall called Amarinsa Winitchai (Divine Decision). King Rama I received honors there, sitting on a huge wide throne. King Bhumibol (whose coronation took place here on May 5, 1950) also uses this hall for state receptions, but sits on a new throne placed in front of the old one, on which one can sit in a European style. On the anniversary of his coronation, the king invariably distributes medals of merit here, not only to high-ranking officials and courtiers, but also to people from all walks of life who have done something outstanding in the social sphere. Leaving this building, you need to go around the hall with columns located in front of it. Here royal court decisions were once announced to the people. The royal elephants were tied to a red and gold pillar.
Great Chakri Palace
In the middle of manicured green spaces stands the Grand Chakri Palace. Its western wing formerly served as the home of the kings of Thailand, and the queens lived in the eastern wing (closed to visitors). Nowadays, King Bhumibol, who has moved to the Chitralada residence, receives foreign ambassadors and delegations here. The palace was built by an English architect in the Italian Renaissance style, but at the request of King Rama V, it was topped with a characteristic Thai stepped roof with three decorative chedis. In the middle of them, the highest, an urn with the ashes of eight deceased rulers of the Chakri dynasty is kept.
All halls of the palace are decorated with valuable paintings, including portraits of all the kings of Thailand. Royal proclamations used to be read from the balcony on the pediment. The medallion in the middle depicts Rama V, the builder of this palace.
Dusit-Maha-prasat
To the west of the Chakri Palace stands the graceful Dusit Maha Prasat, a palace built in 1789 by King Rama I. The building is distinguished by four-tiered roofs of red and green brick that intersect over ornate pediments and rise to a golden peaked chedi rising above them. The support of the chedi and at the same time the harmonious connection between the slopes of the roofs are four garudas - mythical birds on which the god Vishnu flies. Garuda is still present in the coat of arms of Thailand.
The interior of the palace, a spacious hall for the audience of Rama I, is open to visitors. But the king received his guests not on the throne that stands in the middle of the hall today, but on a higher one, today hidden in a niche in the southern wing. The wall paintings date back to a later time, when only solemn farewells were held here with the bodies of deceased kings or members of the royal family - the last time they said goodbye here was in 1995 with the mother of King Bhumibol. The richly decorated box also dates back to the era of Rama I.
Aphon Phimok Prasat
In front of the exit from the Dusit Palace stands Aphon Phimok Prasat, a small wooden pavilion that served the king for changing clothes between his “exit” in the palanquin and the audience. When the king entered the pavilion, the gold-embroidered curtains between the pillars were lowered.
