Ансамбль Императорского путевого дворца на «Государевой дороге» в Торжке

Abstract

Torzhok is rightfully considered among the most ancient cities in the Tver region, since the settlement on the territory of the Novotorzhsky Kremlin appeared no later than the turn of the 10th century. There, in the Middle Ages, over the years the administrative center of the city was formed and existed until the second half of the 18th century. The landmark in its history were the urban planning reforms initiated by Catherine II. Having given instructions to adjust the layout of Torzhok taking into account other, “regular” principles of organizing the urban environment, the Empress ordered her residence in this city to be located on the opposite, not the “Kremlin”`s, left bank of the Tvertsa. As a result, in the 1770s, the beginning of the formation of a new square — the Palace Square — was laid here. Almost simultaneously with the palace ensemble, the construction of several more administrative complexes began on this square, including offices, the houses of the mayor and treasurer, the post office, as well as various “services” necessary for their full existence. The “regular” square, stretched along the east-west axis, was organically linked to the route of the "Tsar's Road" so that the representatives of the royal family could get to their travel residence without interference. At the same time, the Imperial Palace served not only as the main city-forming accent of the square, but also as the dominant one in this part of the Left Bank, since the main building of the complex was placed on the high bank of the Tvertsa. However, the palace function did not remain decisive for this ensemble for long. After several decades, it was significantly adjusted, and by the middle of the 19th century the palace was a dilapidated architectural complex. Only the transferring of it to the department of education allowed to breathe new life into the ensemble created in the second half of the 18th century.