Former Site of the Prechistenka Palace in 1774-1776 (Moscow)

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A temporary palace was built here for the extended stay (22 Jan until 26 December 1775) of Catherine the Great during her visit to Moscow, which coincided with celebrations on the occasion of the conclusion of the Kuchyuk-Karnadzhiisky peace with Turkey.

Matvei Kazakov (it is his first work as an architect) created the complex using three neighboring estates, those of the Golitsyns, the Lopukhins and the Dolgorukys, as this was greatly desired by their owners.

These estates were united by galleries into one complex with the main wooden building whild held a throne-room. it is said that in this palace Catherine gave birth to the illegitimate child of Potyomkin.

The decision to build residence here was accepted because Catherine was unwilling to live in the Kremlin and the Golovinsky (Annengofsky) palace in Lefortovo was unfit, having burned down in 1771 during plague revolt. After departure of the empress the wooden building of a palace was transferred to Swallow Hills.