In the south of Moscow lies one of the most famous places in the capital and Russia, Tsaritsyno. In the 18th century, A.F. Raevsky wrote about it: "Everything that nature has of elegance, everything that art has of beauty, you will find in Tsaritsyno."

Among the architectural monuments of the museum-reserve, the Grand Palace stands out particularly. It was built for Empress Catherine the Second by architect M.F. Kazakov from 1786 to 1796 on the site of three pavilions that had been created by V.I. Bazhenov and demolished by the order of the empress.

Although Kazakov tried to preserve the style chosen by Bazhenov, based on Moscow architectural traditions, it was evident that the new project did not harmonize with the existing structure of the estate. The new palace was meant to become the central element of the development, emphasized by the creation of a grand square in front of it.

The palace had a three-part structure: the central part housed the ceremonial halls, the western part contained the empress's chambers, and the eastern part included the apartments of her son, Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich, and his family.

The Gothic style of the palace was highlighted by eight towers with spires, giving it a resemblance to a Western European medieval castle.

In 1790, construction was halted, and the height of the building was reduced by one floor. Kazakov had to urgently prepare a new project, even though the previous one was not yet completed. The change in the building's height made its silhouette less distinct, disrupting the original proportions and relationships of the palace's parts.

In November 1796, Catherine the Great suddenly passed away. By this time, the construction of the Grand Palace was nearly complete, but Kazakov had not managed to finalize the interior layout with the empress. The building was covered with a temporary roof, and interior finishing works began. After the coronation, Pavel I visited Tsaritsyno and decided to halt construction.

The Grand Palace, like other structures in Tsaritsyno, never became an imperial residence. Left unattended, it began to deteriorate and overgrow with greenery, turning into ruins. By the mid-19th century, the iron roofs and inter-floor ceilings collapsed, and the palace became a wreck.

By the early 21st century, only the main walls of the palace remained. From 2005 to 2007, a full-scale reconstruction was carried out. The overall shapes and proportions of the building were recreated, but there are significant differences between its historical and current appearance.

Firstly, the iron roofs of the palace in the 18th century were painted black, giving it a gloomy look. After restoration, they became light green. Secondly, in the 1790s, Kazakov did not have time to decorate the palace's roofs with the architectural decor envisioned and approved by Catherine the Second. Modern architects added numerous decorative elements to the roofs of the reconstructed building. The restored palace now delights visitors with its festive appearance, reminiscent of fairy-tale halls.