Grand Kremlin Palace

The Grand Kremlin Palace stands at the heart of the Moscow Kremlin, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1990. The central building was put up between 1838 and 1849 under Tsar Nicholas I to a design by Konstantin Thon in the Russian-Byzantine revival style, meant to evoke both imperial power and the Orthodox tradition. Thon linked the new wings with older sections from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries, such as the Faceted Chamber and the Terem Palace, into a single complex. The five state halls are named after Russian orders of chivalry; the most famous is the white-and-gold Saint George Hall listing every recipient of the Order of Saint George. The palace is the official residence of the Russian president today; tours are rare and require advance booking.