The village of Borodino is found on the northern perimeter of Borodino Field, across the River Koloch. Its records go back to the C17th, at which time it belonged to Tsar Alexey Romanov. At that time there was a church of the Smolensk Ikon of the Blessed Virgin in the village. However, the village was perilously damaged during the Battle of Borodino – the village was nearly burned to the ground, villagers themselves were hiding in the woods, and in the winter the church was converted into a shelter for those made homeless. Later the village was purchased by the Royal Family, who built a transit palace and other infrastructure services. In the soviet era this palace and outbuildings were all destroyed. For the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, a reconstruction of this transit palace, where Tsar Nicholas II stayed during the 100th Anniversary ceremonies, was built. Of course, it is a reconstruction, but it appears credible as a palace.