In Crimea, palace complexes are the most popular attractions among tourists. They allow us to look into our past, to imagine the luxury and splendor of the influential persons of a bygone era. Most often people are interested in the Livadia and Vorontsov palace and park complexes, followed by the Bakhchisarai and Massandra palaces. The latter, together with Vorontsovsky, is part of the Alupka Palace and Park Museum-Reserve.
As the name of the museum suggests, the Massandra Palace is located in the vicinity of Alupka, or rather, on the outskirts of the Massandra village. It is separated from residential buildings by a strip of forest, which creates an atmosphere of privacy. This is exactly what the original owner, Count S.M. Vorontsov, sought, who approved the project of the house for his family.
History of creation and owners of the Massandra Palace
The initiator of the construction of the palace in this place was Semyon Mikhailovich Vorontsov, the son of the count who built the Vorontsov Palace. In 1881, Semyon Mikhailovich managed to lay the foundation of his house, break pedestrian paths in the future park and equip fountains, but sudden death did not allow him to finish what he had begun and see his palace in its finished form.
After 8 years, the state treasury bought the palace from the heirs of the count for Alexander III. Redevelopment of the building and decoration began to give the house a royal sophistication. But the emperor also could not wait for the completion of the renovation of the Crimean residence, because he died.
His son Nicholas II took possession of the house. Since his family preferred to stay at the Livadia Palace, the residence in Massandra was usually empty. Nevertheless, for that time it was very technologically equipped: there was steam heating, electricity, hot water.
After the nationalization of tsarist property, the Soviet government converted the building into the anti-tuberculosis boarding house "Proletarian Health", which functioned until the beginning of the war.
After her, the Magarach wine-making institute moved into the former palace, but since 1948 it was redesigned as a state dacha. The entire party elite rested in the Massandra Palace, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, and before them - Stalin and their close people repeatedly stayed at the cozy dacha.
A hunting lodge was built nearby for those who lived in the country and went out to hunt in the forest. An interesting fact - all the general secretaries of the USSR and the presidents of Ukraine visited this hunting lodge, but none of them spent the night here. On the other hand, picnics were regularly held in the meadow, at which the leaders of the country dined and breathed fresh pine air.
After the collapse of the USSR, the Ukrainian government opened the doors of the palace to the general public. In 2014, Crimea joined Russia as a result of a referendum, now the Massandra Palace is a Russian museum. Although the palace has changed many owners, it was nevertheless named after Emperor Alexander III. The owners of the royal residence and the state dacha are forever imprinted in the interiors of the building and the park, as well as in the exhibitions.
Description of the museum. Exhibition halls and excursions
The complex has survived two main eras, Tsarist and Soviet, and the expositions are dedicated to these times.
The two lower floors showcase the life of the imperial family. The royal chambers include:
The elegant interior speaks of the high price of furniture and finishes, but is not striking. You can closely examine the personal items of the empress or the king, tableware. Part of the exhibition material was provided by the Vorontsov Palace Museum.
You can walk around the imperial chambers on your own. This option is chosen by people who are familiar with the history of the palace and who only want to take a closer look at things belonging to the emperor or his family members.
Most tourists join the group that paid for the tour "Architecture, sculpture, flora of the palace of Alexander III". During it, the guide goes around the building itself, the territory of the park with tourists, focusing on the park sculptures, for example, on the sphinx with a woman's head.
We recommend that you look at Buckingham Palace.
In early spring, hundreds of rose bushes bloom in the park, decorating the green area until late autumn. The garden of fragrant plants will delight tourists with aromas of rosemary and mint, oregano and marigolds.
On the third floor, in 8 halls, the exhibition "Artifacts of the Soviet era" is located. There are canvases by artists, sculptures, rare things that tell about the time of the post-war revival of the country. Soviet ideology and eternal art are intertwined in the exhibits, evoking nostalgia in some, and an ironic grin in others. The younger generation is surprised to discover some moments of the life of their parents and grandfathers.
In the palace and park complex, you can spend both a few hours and the whole daylight hours. On the territory there are toilets, souvenir tents with a large selection of commemorative products, as well as a cafe. When there is no desire to look into the interior museum premises, visitors simply stroll through the flowering garden, green park or along the paths around the palace.
A visit to the Massandra Palace is also carried out within the excursion "History of the Upper Massandra". In addition to walking through the park, groups of tourists go deeper into the forest to inspect the hunting lodge, cut down by Stalin's orders. A glass pavilion was added to the wooden frame under Brezhnev. The house has become another state dacha, called "Malaya Sosnovka". Next to it there is a holy source and the ruins of an ancient temple. The forest area is carefully guarded, only organized groups accompanied by a guide are allowed to the dacha.
Ticket prices and opening hours
Children under 7 years old are admitted to all excursions free of charge; beneficiaries and schoolchildren up to the age of 16 pay 70 rubles for any excursion. The entrance ticket inside the palace expositions costs 300/150 rubles. for adults and children 16-18 years old, respectively. For an exhibition of the Soviet era, the ticket price is 200/100 rubles. for adults and adolescents 16-18 years old, respectively. A walk in the park without entering the museum will cost 70 rubles. The ticket office sells single tickets, which open access to all expositions. Photo and video filming is free. A sightseeing tour of the Upper Massandra costs 1100/750 rubles.
The museum complex is open to the public all week except Mondays. Entrance is allowed from 9:00 to 18:00, and on Saturday, the possible visit time increases - from 9:00 to 20:00.
How to get to the Massandra Palace
The official address of the museum: Simferopol highway, 13, town. Massandra. You can get to the Upper Massandra from Yalta by sightseeing bus, city taxi, public or private transport. Distance - about 7 km.
Optimal route:
- In Yalta, take any transport to Nikita, Gurzuf, Massandra.
- Get to the stop "Upper Massandra Park" or to the eagle statue (warn the driver that you are going to the Massandra Palace).
- Climb the mountain along the asphalt road past mansions, parking, residential two-story buildings to the museum checkpoint.
Similarly, travel is carried out on your car. The trip from Yalta will take 20 minutes.
