Amusement Palace

The Amusement Palace is a palace in Moscow's Kremlin featuring stone walls decorated with intricate white carvings across multiple levels. The building sits between the Komendantskaya and Troitskaya towers and displays ornamental details on its facades.

This building was constructed in 1651 as a residential chamber for boyar Ilya Miloslavsky, father-in-law of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. It remains the last surviving boyar residence within the Kremlin.

The palace took its name in 1672 when Russia's first theatrical performances happened here, establishing the beginning of Russian theater traditions. The space became a center for artistic experimentation and new forms of court entertainment at that time.

The palace serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kremlin Commandant's Office today and is not open for regular visitors to enter. The best view of the structure comes from outside along the Kremlin walls.

This palace has a distinctive architectural feature: an arched passage running through its center that was necessary to connect the northern and southern Kremlin courtyards. This tight placement between the fortress wall and the tsar's residence created this unusual design solution.

Location: Tverskoy District

Inception: 1651

Part of: Grand Kremlin Palace

GPS coordinates: 55.75128,37.61439

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:41