The Royal Palace of Madrid is one of the most famous sights of the city and its hallmark. 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 the works of Velasquez and Goya, Caravaggio and Tiepolo, examine in detail the collection of ancient weapons, study the collection of violins of the famous Stradivarius. On the territory of the Royal Palace, you can also stroll through the beautiful parks Campo del Moro and Sabatini, stretching throughout the territory surrounding the palace and stretching to the Manzanares River itself.

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, towered in its place. Later, the Habsburg dynasty built a castle for themselves in its place, but it was damaged in a fire in 1734.

In 1735, Philip V, who was ruling at the time, issued an order to build a palace in the capital, modeled on that of Versailles. As many as three architects worked on the project of a new building, and when the project was ready, in 1738 the construction of the palace began on this site, which continued until 1764. The construction of the palace was completed during the reign of Charles III, which is why it was he who became the first inhabitant of the new residence. Since then, all the rulers of Spain have lived in the castle, up to Alfonso XIII.

Nowadays, the Royal Palace in Madrid receives tourists daily and closes only occasionally during the official events of King Juan Carlos II of Spain, but officially it is also considered the main residence of the country's rulers.

Excursions

Having examined appearance buildings and enjoying its grandeur located on 135 thousand square meters, even more I want to see what then is in its interiors. The building itself has the shape of a rectangle, inside which is a courtyard. On the southern facade 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 Giaquinto himself. On the second floor of the palace, you can climb the chic Sabatini staircase with 70 steps. In total, there are more than 3 thousand different rooms, rooms and halls in the Royal Palace in Madrid, but there are several of them that are most often visited by tourists.

Throne room: one of the richest halls of the Royal Palace, upholstered in red velvet with gilded trim, with a ceiling painted by the then famous Tiepolo.

Armouries: this hall presents 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, whose age is calculated from the 13th century.

Picture gallery: in this room are the masterpieces of such famous artists as Velasquez, Goya, Madrazo, Sorolla. Here is the picture of the "Virgin and Child" by Morales and "Salome with the Head of John the Baptist" by Caravaggio, as well as other heritage of the country.

Porcelain room: interior decoration of this hall of the palace is completely made of beautiful porcelain in white and green color.

Hall of Mirrors: in this room of the Royal Palace there are dozens of mirrors of different sizes.

Royal Library: more than 300 thousand copies of various old books and manuscripts are presented in this room.

Old Pharmacy: Nowadays, in the premises of the former pharmacy, there is the Pharmacopoeia Museum, which presents old cabinets in which various medicinal plants, medicine bottles, potion recipes for the treatment of the king's family.

Salon of halberdiers: here is a collection of ancient frescoes, which are based on various plots from myths.

Column Hall: this section represents the whole history of the architectural development of the country, its ceiling is painted by Giakvinto himself, on its walls 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 famous for its chic chandelier rococo crystal and vegetal-style 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 still retains its original historical appearance.

Sabatini Park: from the northern part of the building there are beautiful gardens measuring 2.5 hectares. He is famous for many various kinds plants, including pines, cypresses, magnolias, lilies, trimmed in the form 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 are another beautiful Madrid gardens measuring 20 hectares in a romantic style. Here are tens of thousands of trees, of which about 400 species of palms, 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 gardeners' houses with surrounding grottoes and caves.

Palace opening hours

The Royal Palace of Madrid is open daily winter time from October to March from 10:00 to 18:00, during the 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, an accessible environment for people in wheelchairs has been organized.

Tickets and free entry

The cost of entry to the Royal Palace will be 10€ for an ordinary visitor, the ticket price for privileged categories of persons will be 5€, the agency price is 8€. Additionally, if necessary, you need to pay a guide at a cost of 4 €, or an audio guide worth 4 €. A combined visit to the palace and the kitchen will cost 14€ and 9€ for beneficiaries, a visit to the royal kitchen alone will cost 5€. A visit to the Royal Palace and the Royal Theater - 15 €.

Free admission 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 it, as well as for citizens of Latin American countries (but you must provide a document confirming citizenship or residence permit and permission to job). You can enter the palace for free in these categories 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 of Madrid

The palace building is located in the very center of the city, so it will not be difficult to get to it both by your own and by public transport. In the immediate vicinity of the Royal Palace, there is the Opera metro station, lines 2 and 5. A walk to the palace from this station will take no more than 5 minutes. Right next to the palace entrance 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 Calle Mayor street signs (there is a large parking lot near the museum), or use a taxi service in Madrid: MyTaxi, Join Up Taxi, Tele Taxi or others.

Royal Palace of Madrid on google panoramas

Royal Palace inside on google-panoramas

Interior of the Royal Palace of Madrid

Video of the Royal Palace of Madrid

The best way to view the Royal Palace is from the Chao Phraya River. The palace complex and the temple of Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) cover an area of ​​almost 10 hectares. This flat plain was declared a holy place in the 18th century. The complex is surrounded by a white wall that contrasts with the bright buildings.

The Royal Palace itself is not the residence of the ruler, but a room used only for solemn ceremonies. The four buildings that make up the complex are closed to the public. The largest building, the 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 copious gilding and gold leaf, lotus-bud ornaments, and columns inlaid with brilliant mosaics, these colors are everywhere, and they 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 in internal walls temple is almost complete.

The Emerald Buddha itself is small compared to the famous Buddha statues in Thailand, but it has great religious significance. The origin of the sculpture is shrouded in mystery; it was first mentioned in Chiang Rai, in the 15th century. The Lao invaders took the statue to Luang Prabang, from there to Vientiane, but they managed to find it and return it to Thailand in the 18th century. This was done by Rama I, the founder of the ruling Chakri dynasty.

Entrance to the territory

The walled area of ​​the palace complex can only be entered through the Wisetchaysi Gate (Gate to Miraculous Victory), from where a wide street leads to the outer courtyard. On both sides of the street are modern buildings where government offices are located.

If the guards find the tourist's clothing completely indecent, they will be asked to wear a "sarong" (a piece of cloth wrapped around the hips). Sarong is issued free of charge in exchange for a deposit in the form of an identity document.

Having bought 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, carved wooden furniture and other interior items are interesting.

temple complex

The gate, guarded by two mighty figures of demons, leads to the temple part, in the center of which stands the impressive Wat Phrakew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). The figures of the guards - a gift from Chinese merchants - seem like a foreign body among the typical Thai architecture of the temple complex. At the entrance gate, the wall painting illustrates the beginning of the Ramakian epic; there are also marble tablets with verse inscriptions re-composed by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). If you turn to the left, you can immediately see the gilded Phra Si Ratana chedi, standing on a round five-stepped base. Inside this chedi is kept a relic - the bone or hair of the enlightened Buddha. The chedi spire, resembling an igloo, is a typically Thai development of the form of an Indian (or Ceylon) pagoda.

Phra Monthop

Behind the Phra Si Ratana chedi is Phra Monthop, a building richly decorated with small glass mosaics that impresses with its graceful lightness. The four corner figures of Phra-Monthop are of the Borobodur style (14th century). Compared with its neighbors - the Pantheon (Prasat Phra Thepbidong) and the reliquary chedi (Phra Si Ratana) - the building seems low. Inside, there is a sumptuous black lacquer bookcase with mother-of-pearl inlay, where the holy scriptures Tripitaka (Tripitaka) are kept. The floor in Mondhop is solid silver.

Model of Angkor Wat

Rama IV installed on the terrace a stone model of the temple complex of Angkor Wat (now located on the territory of the state of Cambodia), which at that time was in vassal dependence on the Siamese crown. Even without the impressive size of the original, surrounded by virgin forest, this model is of interest to visitors as a visual aid to history.

Near the model of the Angkor Wat temple complex there are sculptures of elephants with noticeable scuffs on the head and neck. This is due to a belief: in order to return to Wat Phrakew, you need to pat the elephant's head first, then yourself.

In Phra Vihan Yot, to the left of the terrace, there is the oldest attraction of the entire palace complex: the stone throne of King Rama Kamhaeng (XIII century), an 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 Thepbidon

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 inner premises of the temple are open to the public only once a year, on April 6, on the Day of the Chakri Dynasty.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Descending from the terrace, the visitor approaches the holy of holies Phrakeu Wat - the Temple of the Emerald (Jade) Buddha. The temple can be accessed through one of the side portals - the central one is for the king only. Inside the bot, on a high pedestal under a nine-tiered canopy, there is a figure of Buddha only 75 cm high. It was carved from a single piece of jade, but according to one legend, in Pataliputra (India), according to another - in Burma. Through Ceylon and Cambodia, she got to northern Thailand, where she was found in Chiang Rai, when, during transportation, the gypsum shell that had masked her until then flew off (1434). After many further wanderings, the Emerald Buddha ended up in Bangkok, where, since 1778, it has been standing in the Phrakew Temple. Three times a year, a solemn ceremony is held, during which the king personally changes the clothes of the Buddha. It is good to admire the beauty of the lines of this statue during the rainy season (from May to October), because in the “cold” season (from November to February) it is almost completely covered with a golden mesh cape.

Of particular note are the delightful wall paintings and bote, although they have been heavily damaged by time and have undergone restoration and are therefore not authentic. Above one of the entrances are scenes from the life of the Buddha, on the opposite wall - the Universe in the representation of Buddhist astrology. The paintings above the windows and doors tell in pictures and lines of poetry the episodes of the Ramakian epic.

Surrounding area

After seeing 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. There are small pavilions between Phra Kaew Wat and the covered gallery that separates it from the rest of the space. 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 episodes from the Ramakian epic and the history of Thailand.

Boromphiman Palace

Boromphiman Palace is the official name of the building, behind which a vast lawn extends; formerly, the Royal Garden Reception was held here annually. The frescoes on the walls of Boromphiman depict four Hindu gods: Indra, Yamuna (Saraswati), Varuna and Agni as the guardians of the world-building. Below are tablets with Sanskrit inscriptions listing the "ten royal virtues" (reasonable generosity, right conduct, readiness for sacrifice, sincerity, mercy, modesty, diligence, freedom from anger, freedom from evil intentions, patience and reasonable activity). Since Rama VI, all crown princes have grown up here. Today, the building is used only on special occasions: it accommodates visiting heads of state or high hierarchs of Buddhism.

Mahamonthian with Amarinsa-Vinitchai Hall

To the west of the Chakri Palace is a complex of three buildings called Mahamonthian (Supreme Residence). Its front part (where visitors are admitted) consists of a single hall called Amarinsa-Vinitchai (Divine Decree). King Rama I received honors in it, sitting on a huge wide throne. King Bhumibol (whose coronation took place here on May 5, 1950) also uses this hall for solemn state receptions, but at the same time he sits on a new throne placed in front of the old one, on which you can sit in a European way. 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 accomplished something outstanding in the social sphere. Leaving this building, you need to go around the hall with columns in front of it. It was here that royal judgments were once proclaimed to the people. Royal elephants were tied to a red and gold pillar.

Grand Chakri Palace

In the midst of manicured green spaces stands the Grand Palace of Chakri. Its western wing used to serve as the home of the kings of Thailand, and the queens lived in the east (closed to visitors). Nowadays, King Bhumibol, who moved to the residence of Chitralada, receives foreign ambassadors and delegations here. The palace was built by an English architect in the Italian Renaissance style, however, 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, there is an urn with the ashes of eight deceased rulers of the Chakri dynasty.

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 features four-tiered roofs of red and green poured 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 harmonic 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 audience hall for 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 belong to a later time, when only solemn farewells were already held here with the bodies of dead kings or members of the royal family - the last time they said goodbye in 1995 to the mother of King Bhumibol. The richly decorated couch also dates from the era of Rama I.

Aphon Phimok Prasat

In front of the exit from the Dusit Palace is Aphon-Phimok-Prasat, a small wooden pavilion that served the king for changing clothes between the “exit” in the palanquin and the audience. When the king entered the pavilion, the curtains embroidered with gold between the pillars were lowered.

If you have been to Thailand at least once, you must have heard about the Royal Palace, which is located on the territory of Bangkok. This attraction annually attracts huge crowds of tourists who want to look at the grandeur of the old walls and appreciate the ancient beauty of Thai architecture. What's so interesting about it, you ask? The answer is quite simple and is as follows:

• a huge territory - the entire palace complex consists of 218 thousand square meters, so you can evaluate the power and beauty of buildings all day long;
• a unique memorial building - the Royal Palace was erected at the end of the 18th century, which attracts not only tourists, but also specialists in history or architecture.
• valuable historical exhibits - inside the palace there is a huge number of ancient valuable items that are a real storehouse of Thai history.

The Grand Royal Palace in Bangkok is the main cultural and historical attraction of the capital of Thailand. Until recently, it was the official residence of kings. Located in the heart of Bangkok, between Sanam Luang Square and the Chao Phraya River.

The construction of the palace began in 1782, when Rama I decided to move the capital of the state from the city of Thonburi to Bangkok. Initially, the palace complex consisted of several wooden buildings fortified with a wall, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which was built by the king for personal worship of the deity.

Unfortunately, the walls of the ancient palace could not protect against attack and further burning by the Burmese. But nevertheless, the rulers managed to restore the palace, betraying him new look and past importance.

The palace was the residence of the king, the place of residence of his family and the seat of government.

Today it is a large tourist complex. But on part of its territory they continue to function state institutions. The royal nobility does not live here, but the palace remains the venue for important official events.

Territory of the complex

The Royal Palace is located on an area of ​​218 thousand m², is a complex of combined buildings surrounded by four walls 2 km long: 95 sacred pagodas, temples, museums, galleries, the royal pantheon and much more.

The vast territory of the palace is explained by the fact that this complex was built according to the perfect prototype of the whole capital. ancient city Ayutatsi. Quite often, tourists think that the royal family lives on the territory of a huge estate, or once lived, however, everything is not so.

They stop at the palace grounds for a while during official celebrations and ceremonies. If a noble family likes to stay on the territory of this building, then you can only imagine how beautiful and majestic it is. On its territory are located:

• old art galleries;
• several royal libraries with a huge number of collectible books;
• incredible throne rooms;
• Buddhist temples;
• rare pagodas and much more.

At the entrances and exits, you will be met by Yakshi - five-meter demonic creatures guarding the treasures of the gods and devouring greedy people. Many statues of mythical creatures: Kinari, Garuda - bird people, bronze lions guarding the entrance to the main temple. No epithets can be found to generally describe the beauty of the Royal Complex. More popular attractions include:

- a small copy of the Cambodian shrine, is of interest to tourists as a visual aid to history.

Regalia Pavilion where Thai coins from different eras are presented, devices and tools with which they were made. At the exit, you can buy coins for memory different sizes and denominations. The royal pantheon "Prasat Phra Thep Bidon", which means "shrine of heavenly ancestors".

It is open to the public only one day a year, April 6th. On this day, several centuries ago, the Chakri dynasty was founded. Boromphiman Palace is surrounded by a beautiful garden, where in the old days a royal reception was held once a year. Currently, the palace is used only for receiving important guests: heads of state and especially respected monks. The walls of the building are painted with frescoes depicting Hindu gods, here is a list of virtues that a ruler should be guided by.

The Mahamonthian complex (Supreme Residence) consists of three buildings. The largest hall of the residence is used for royal and state receptions. On the anniversary of the coronation of the current monarch, a solemn ceremony of rewarding citizens for outstanding achievements for the benefit of the state is held here.

The Grand Chakri Palace "Chakri Maha Prasat Hall" is surrounded by greenery and flowers. Despite the fact that the palace was designed in the style of the Italian Renaissance, it is dominated by features characteristic of Thai architecture. The western wing of the building housed the apartments of the king, and the eastern wing of the queen.

You can’t go inside, but on the first floor of the building there is a museum of weapons. There are two expositions here: small arms and piercing and cutting weapons. Nearby is a pavilion-museum of cannons, where you can trace the entire history of weapons.

Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. More like a traditional European museum. The building located to the right of the entrance to the Grand Palace. The museum presents collections of textiles from East, South and Southeast Asia.

The museum introduces the history of traditional Thai costume, silk production, the queen's wardrobe, as well as the process of making fabric on a loom. When you exit you will see a small shop. Various exclusive products are sold here. self made. Part of the Royal Palace, where the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is located, is surrounded by covered galleries.

There are always many tourists here. The place attracts attention with wall paintings, frescoes with accurate drawing of details. But for a while here you can hide from the scorching sun.

Time and cost of visiting

If you are going to consider all the beautiful and interesting places in the Grand Palace of Bangkok, you should leave yourself a day or two for this. Due to the vast area and the mass of interesting sights, it is simply impossible to see all the beauties of the complex quickly. For your convenience, special audio guide players are sold near the entrance, with the help of which you will learn about the historical sources of a particular composition without spending a lot of money on a guide who speaks Russian.

The palace is open daily from 8.30 to 16.30, after 15.30 the entrance to the territory is closed for new visitors. Ticket offices are located at the very beginning of the street leading to the palace complex.

Ticket price - 500 baht, it consists of several tickets intended for visiting different temples and museums of the palace complex. In addition, they offer to rent an audio guide for two hours for 200 baht. The assortment includes 8 languages, including Russian.

The main attraction for the Thais themselves is the emerald Buddha statue, which is located on the territory of the palace itself. Many years ago the complex was built in wooden form, and only closer to the 20th century they began to remake it under a stone. In what time period was built King Rama I ordered the construction of a real emerald palace in the form of a Deity is unknown, however, there is evidence that the attraction was discovered in the middle of the 15th century. The height of the famous emerald Buddha reaches 66 centimeters.

How to get there

Tuk-tuk or taxi, tell the driver what you need to get to the King Palace, but immediately agree on payment by the meter. average cost trips 200-300 baht on the counter. Buses No. 1, 25, 32, 44, 47, 53, 82, 91, 123, 201, 503, 508. The price of the trip is from 5 to 25 baht.

Royal Palace on Bangkok map

Express Boat on the Chao Phraya River to the pier - Tha Chang. The cost of the trip is 15-30 baht, depending on the distance. Then go in the direction from the river, passing the market on the right side to see a long white wall surrounding the palace. Entrance from Na Phra Lan street. If you live on the main tourist street of Bangkok, Riverside or China Town, you can get there on foot.

Address: Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
Telephone: +66 2 623 5500

There are several entrances to the Palace grounds. Tourist entrance at the gate, Wisetchaysi (Gate to miraculous victory). Near them is always crowded. You will not be allowed into the territory with a large bag, suitcase or backpack. And there are no storage rooms.

It is important to know that not everyone is allowed into the Grand Palace, since there is a certain face control there. Clothing should be loose and not tight, all parts of the body are covered, up to bare heels. If you didn’t have time to change clothes, you shouldn’t worry either, you can immediately purchase a special cape near the entrance, with which you can easily walk around the main attractions.

It is worth remembering that when entering any place that the locals consider holy, you should take off your shoes, or you will be considered a boor and may be taken out of the temple altogether. You can get to the territory of the famous Grand Palace in Bangkok with the help of regular buses that take tourists there regularly. You can also always sail to the appointed place by taxi along the water channel. Locals are always happy to help tourists and show the way to the places of their pride and pilgrimage.

Protection is carried out by the royal guards. You can take pictures with them. But in temples, palaces and museums it is forbidden to take pictures, here they zealously monitor the observance of this rule.

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The official residence of the Spanish monarchs, the Royal Palace of Madrid is located in the western part of the city on the site of an ancient Moorish fortress. Its construction began in 1738 and was completed in 1764, during the reign of Charles III. Today it is one of the main attractions of the Spanish capital: the facade of the palace is a masterly mixture of architectural features of the Baroque, Rococo and East, in the interiors you can admire the paintings of Caravaggio, Goya, Tiepolo, Velazquez and admire the collection of ancient weapons and Stradivari violins, and then take a walk through the magnificent gardens - Campo del Moro and Sabatini, descending to the Manzanares River itself.

Today, the Royal Palace is used only for the official ceremonies of Juan Carlos II, and the rest of the time it is open to the public.

A bit of history

The Royal Palace in Madrid is the heir to a long "dynasty" of royal residences that were located in the past in its place. In the Middle Ages, there was a Moorish fortress of the emirs of Cordoba and Toledo, which then gave way to the Habsburg castle, which burned down in 1734. The history of the current building begins in 1735, when King Philip V, who ascended the throne, ordered that a semblance of the Palace of Versailles be erected in Madrid. Three architects successively worked on the project of the Royal Palace, and in 1738 its construction began in the Italian Baroque style with numerous references to oriental motifs. Construction lasted almost 30 years and was completed only in 1764. King Charles III was the first to settle here, and since then the palace has been officially considered the Royal residence. True, today it is used only for official ceremonies, and the rest of the time, to the delight of tourists, it is open to the public.

The interior of the Porcelain Room, as the name implies, is made of porcelain, and in the Hall of Mirrors you will repeatedly be reflected in dozens of large and small mirrors.

What to watch

The Royal Palace of Madrid is a pearl of baroque architecture, no less beautiful inside than outside. Everything here is to match the well-being of imperial Spain: a majestic facade, amazing interiors, lush gardens...

After admiring the appearance of the palace, hurry inside. On the ground floor there is a royal library with more than 300 thousand ancient manuscripts and old books, a pharmacy - today the Pharmacopoeia Museum and an armory room with an impressive collection of horsemen in full armor.

Climbing up the pompous staircase to the second floor, pay attention to the ceiling frescoes of Corrado Giaquinto. You will see some more beautiful frescoes on mythological scenes in the Salon of halberdiers, and the Salon of Columns is a real chronicle of Spanish architecture. The pearl of the Gasparini Room is a stunning rococo crystal chandelier. The interior of the Porcelain Room, as the name implies, is made of porcelain, and in the Hall of Mirrors you will repeatedly be reflected in dozens of large and small mirrors. The throne room is the most luxurious room in the palace, an abundance of red velvet and gilding. Also worth seeing is the collection of Stradivari violins (plus one cello) and the collection of paintings with paintings by Caravaggio, Goya, Tiepolo, Velazquez and Diego de Ribera.

Royal Palace

Practical information

Address: Madrid, Calle Bailen, Palacio Real. Web site

Opening hours: daily from 9:30 to 17:00 from October to March and from 9:00 to 18:00 from April to September, on Sundays and public holidays- only in the morning.

The Grand Royal Palace is an obligatory point of the program and, probably, the most significant sight of Bangkok. I would say that this is a must see for every tourist coming to the city, such as Red Square in Moscow, the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Tower of London. Therefore, upon arriving in Bangkok, my husband and I first of all went to inspect the palace, and I can say that indeed many other tourist places in the city fade against its background. By the way, we are avid tourists, and have already managed to travel around many countries, see a large number of beautiful and amazing places, but even despite our experience, the Royal Palace managed to delight and charm us.

From the moment you enter the territory of the palace, you never get tired of being amazed by its beauty! Amazing architecture, a riot of colors in everything, sacred places and temples, numerous sculptures of mythical animals and the opportunity to touch history - that's what I remember.

The only negative that I noticed is a large influx of tourists. Particularly annoying are the noisy Chinese bands and their yelling guides. I would still like to be able to contemplate such beauty in relative silence and loneliness. But, probably, the territory of the palace is always so crowded and nothing can be done about it.

Otherwise, the place is definitely beautiful, interesting and worth visiting. By the way, in the evening, when the lights turn on, the palace also looks amazing, so after dark I advise you to take a walk around the palace.

History of the Grand Royal Palace

First, let me tell you a little about the history of this attraction. It began in 1782 when King Rama I decided to make Bangkok the capital of Siam and commissioned the construction of his residence. During its existence, the palace was rebuilt many times, restored and changed its appearance, which is not surprising, because every monarch wanted to remake it for himself.

Initially, the buildings were wooden, but over time they were almost completely replaced by stone ones. From the 18th century until the middle of the 20th century, the Grand Palace served as the official residence of the reigning monarch. But after the mysterious death of King Rama VIII in 1946, the royal family moved to another palace, also in Bangkok.

Now the Grand Royal Palace is not residential, but still serves as a venue for important state receptions and royal ceremonies. It is a whole complex of buildings and covers an area of ​​218 thousand m².

How to get to the Grand Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is located in the old part of the city, on the banks of the Chaopraya River, its address is Thanon Na Phra Lan, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok. Below you can see its location on the map of the city.

Unfortunately, there is no metro station near it, but there are other ways to get to your destination. To get to the Royal Palace in Bangkok, you can use one of the many options, which I will discuss in more detail.

On foot

For tourists staying on Khao San Road, Chinatown or Riverside, it is not difficult to walk to the palace on foot, since these areas are in close proximity to the palace. So for example, from Khaosan road to the sights is only 2 km.

You can also walk from Chinatown. The road from Chinatown will take about half an hour, which, in principle, is also not so much.

But from other parts of the city you will either have to take a taxi or use public transport.

public bus

For budget tourists, there is an opportunity to save money and get to the Royal Palace in Bangkok by city bus. Since my husband and I stayed quite far from the center on our visit to the city, this is exactly the option that we used in the end. And I can say with confidence that there is nothing wrong with traveling by public transport, but at the same time, the savings in terms of money are tangible, and at the same time there is a flavor.

The bus ride will cost $0.17–0.72 (6–25 baht), depending on the distance, and is by far the cheapest option unless you are walking. Here are some of the routes that follow to the Royal Palace: No. 1, 3, 9, 15, 25, 30, 32, 33, 39, 43, 44, 47, 53, 64, 80, 82, 91, 201, 203, 501, 503,508, 512. The only disadvantage of such a trip is its duration. So, for example, my husband and I had to make a transfer and get on two buses. We spent more than an hour on everything about everything, perhaps for someone it will be too much, but we are very philosophical about such things. By the way, we compiled our route using Google maps and found all the stops and buses without any problems. You can also ask at the reception of your hotel which buses run near you.

Taxi or tuk tuk

For those who want to get there quickly and comfortably, there is always the opportunity to hire a personal transport. In Bangkok, this can be a taxi or a tuk-tuk. The only thing is that the cost must be discussed with the driver in advance. If you take a taxi, it is best to ask the driver to turn on the meter, but even here various frauds are not ruled out.

The meter price starts from $ 1 (35 baht) for 2 km, further, for each subsequent kilometer, $ 0.14 (5 baht) is added, somehow there are still money for standing in a traffic jam, but here I can’t provide accurate information can. When choosing a tuk-tuk, the price must be discussed in advance, for this it is advisable to ask your hotel staff how much such a trip should cost in order not to overpay, or check on the Internet.

By water transport

If you live near the metro, then you can try to combine the metro and the boat. By metro you need to get to the Saphan Taksin station, where you can get to the pier from which express boats run along Chaophraya and take a boat to Tha Chang pier, located within walking distance from the Royal Palace (a boat trip will cost $ 0.5 (15 baht)).

This is how we got back, after sightseeing in the center, we got on a boat that took us to the metro. Also, with the help of a water taxi, you can swim through the city canals, but this is not the most convenient way, since the nearest water taxi stop (Phan Fa Liat) to the attraction is almost 2 kilometers from the palace. The cost of such a trip starts at $0.5 (15 baht) from the Siam area, and increases depending on the distance.

Opening hours and ticket prices for the Grand Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is open daily from 8:30 to 16:30, but you should pay attention that ticket sales stop at 15.30, and after this time new visitors are not allowed to enter.

The ticket price is $15 (500 baht) per person, by paying $6 (200 baht) you can rent an audio guide, where there is Russian. My husband and I took one for two, and that was enough for us. It is also worth bearing in mind that there is a dress code on the territory of the palace, and if you are dressed inappropriately (short shorts or a skirt above the knees, a T-shirt or a sleeveless T-shirt), then you will need to rent clothes. This service at the palace is free, but you will need to leave an additional $6 (200 baht) deposit per person. All I can say is you better take care of yourself. appearance in advance, because the clothes that are given out in the yard leave much to be desired, and my husband, for example, flatly refused to be photographed because of the ridiculous pants that they gave him there. My advice is not to spoil your mood and photos, you should immediately dress accordingly.

What to see on the territory of the Grand Royal Palace

Unfortunately, far from the entire territory of the palace is accessible to tourists, for example, the entrance to the royal residence and offices is closed. But even what is in the public domain is more than enough to impress, amaze and exhaust visitors. Visitors can enjoy visiting pagodas, temples, palaces, as well as visit the museums and galleries of the palace complex.

The territory of the palace is quite large and boasts a huge number of attractions, which are indicated on the map below.

As can be seen from the yellow numbers indicating this or that interest, there is something to see there. Of course, I will not tell you about every place, I will focus only on those that, from my point of view, deserve more attention, and I will start in order.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Buildings 1–12 belong to the temple complex dedicated to the Emerald Buddha. For me it was the most interesting and memorable part of the palace. And I advise you to spend most of the allotted time here. The main attractions include: the Royal Library, the Royal Pantheon, the Golden Stupa and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha itself.

Many tourists visit the Grand Royal Palace just to see the Emerald Buddha, which is considered the main protector of the state. Read more about the temple complex in a separate one.

Phra Maha Montien group of buildings

Buildings marked on the map with numbers from 16 to 25 are part of the so-called Phra Maha Montien group. It was here until 1946 that the official residence of the king was located.

Here you should pay attention to Amarindra Winichai Hall (room 16), where the hall for receiving high-ranking guests is located. Amarindra Winichai Hall is open to tourists on weekdays. And in Paisan Taksin Hall (17) there is a throne room. In addition, various pavilions are located on the territory of the former royal residence, for example, a place where the monks blessed the king's food, a pavilion for taking baths before important ceremonies, a chamber for resting, changing clothes and much more. You can learn about all this from the signs and signs.

Chakri Maha Pasat Hall

One of the unusual and memorable buildings on the territory of the complex is Chakri Maha Pasat Hall (number 26 on the tourist map). You do not need to study architecture to notice that it is different from all others. If not for the Thai roof, I would say that this is some kind of European palace. Such a bizarre design came about due to controversy that arose during its construction. The building was built under King Rama V in the 19th century to receive royal guests. The king wanted the building to be built in a European style, but his family insisted on the need to adhere to Thai traditions, and this whimsical mix was born. It is said that he is jokingly called a European in a Thai hat.

At the entrance to the building there is a guard of honor, with which everyone is photographed. Here I could not resist and took a picture with serious but nice guards. They say in certain time here you can watch the changing of the guard, but we didn’t get to see it, so when it happens and how it happened remained a mystery to us.

And on weekdays you can visit the exhibition of royal weapons, but I no longer had the strength or desire, but my husband went while I was resting in the shade of the trees, but I didn’t notice much enthusiasm in his eyes.

Dusit Maha Prasat Hall

At number 31 is the throne room, which was built during the reign of Rama I (the founder of the palace). It was the first throne room in the complex. It is also open to the public only on weekdays, and it is worth looking into it if only to see a beautiful carved wooden throne, decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay, and the bed on which the king rested between audiences.

This is where we ended our tour of the Grand Royal Palace. Of course, it was also possible to visit museums located on the territory, for example, the Emerald Buddha Museum, the Museum of Weapons, the Museum of Coins, but, to be honest, we didn’t have much desire and we had to run to other sights of the capital.

And finally, based on my experience, I would like to give some tips that may come in handy when visiting the Grand Royal Palace:

• It is best to visit the Grand Royal Palace in the morning, when it is still not so hot and there are not so many "package" tourists who are usually brought by 10-11 o'clock. This is the line we found at the entrance to the palace, it was just around 10 am.

• For inspection, you need to allocate at least half a day and be sure to take an audio guide to listen to interesting stories related to the history of the complex.
• At the entrance, they give out a good map of the palace with a description of its sights for free, so you don’t need to buy a map from vendors near the entrance.
• Also, you do not need to be led to other attempts to rob you. At the very entrance to the palace, you can be met by cunning Thais (sometimes they even come across dressed in the uniform of guards or employees of the palace), who will tell you that the palace is not working today and offer their tours, or, seeing that you are dressed inappropriately, they will try dress you for money, although you can take things on the territory of the palace for free on bail.
• Keep a close eye on your things: thieves often spin even on the territory of the palace, which is often reminded by the loudspeaker.
• Do not buy tickets by hand as they are more likely to be counterfeit.
• You should not take large backpacks with you or try to get to the palace right away from the airport / train station, since there are no left-luggage offices there, and with bulky bags you simply will not be allowed into the territory. At the entrance, the contents of the bags are checked and everyone is escorted through the frames.
• But still, it is advisable to prepare a small backpack with everything you need: sunscreen, water, a small snack, since the inspection can drag on for a good half day.
• The best thing would be to combine a visit to the Grand Royal Palace with other attractions that are in the neighborhood, namely (Wat Pho / Wat Pho) and the Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun / Wat Arun).

Have a nice trip!