Description of the attraction
The huge ensemble of Peterhof is the most famous and most magnificent of the suburbs of St. Petersburg, the long-standing residence of the imperial house. Its visiting card is the famous fountains, but besides them, you can see several palaces built for different emperors and members of their families, numerous park pavilions, ponds, churches, etc.
Lower park
The history of Peterhof began with Peter I … Before him, there were several Finnish villages, and Peter decided to build himself a small travel palace, in which he could stop on the way to Kotlin Island.
Here, in 1714 year a grandiose park with a palace and fountains was laid. On the shores of the Gulf of Finland appeared Grand Palace, and between it and the bay was dug channel … A park arose along the banks of the canal, and on the terraces that rise to the palace, fountain system, which are rightfully considered the most beautiful in the world. Here on two cascading staircases there are seventy-five fountains and two hundred and fifty-five statues decorating them, as well as two grottoes … Under the Grand Cascade is the most famous statue of Peterhof - Samson, tearing the mouth of a lion. In addition to the Grand Cascade, there is also the Golden Mountain Cascade and several separate groups of fountains located in the park. One of the expositions of the Grand Palace is devoted to the history and arrangement of these fountains.
For himself, Peter built a small palace called "my pleasure" - Monplaisir … It was built in accordance with the personal drawings and wishes of the king: on the very shore of the bay, very small, but very comfortable. The palace was finished according to the latest technology, for example, a plumbing was installed in the kitchen with sinks for washing dishes. Now here, in addition to the collections of paintings and Chinese porcelain that Peter I collected for himself, you can also see some of his personal belongings: a washbasin, a nightcap and others. In front of the palace, the famous cracker fountains, in the form of benches in the kindergarten. Anyone who sat down on such a bench was immediately doused with a stream of water. Now the fountains work and in hot weather serve as entertainment for tourists. These are not the only comic fountains in the Lower Park of the Peterhof Palace - for example, there are fountain in the form of an oak, painted to resemble natural wood, a fountain in the form of an umbrella, under which it is impossible to hide from the water, and others.
At Elizabeth a small new building was attached to Monplaisir especially for her, and under Catherine II, the architect D. Quarenghi it was completed and decorated. It contains museum exposition, which tells about the life of the palace, but at the moment the building is being restored, and the museum is closed.
For painful Maria Feodorovna, wife of Alexander II, a whole complex for hydrotherapy was built here - Bath building … It had a steam room, rooms for warm and cold baths, etc. Now here Museum, where you can see the interiors of the middle of the 19th century, and reproduce some comic bathing fun dating back to Peter I.
Another small guest palace built during the reign of Peter I - Gauze … It is on the shore Marlinsky pond, where fish were once bred. Under the next Romanovs, it was used as a rest house and as memorial house of Peter I - his personal belongings were kept here. Now in the museum you can see them, interior items from the time of Peter the Great and a collection of Western European paintings.
The Grand Palace during the reign of Peter the Great was also simple and small. He owes his current appearance to his daughter Elizabeth - it was she who ordered the architect F. Rastrelli reconstruction of the palace in the Baroque style. The interiors were also designed by F. Rastrelli. They are decorated with sculptures, carvings, stucco moldings and paintings. The front hall is decorated painted "Allegory of Spring" - in fact, this is an allegory glorifying the kingdom of Elizabeth. The Empress loved balls - and the entire western wing was almost entirely occupied by a huge dance hall. The east wing housed in 1751 court church of Peter and Paul … It has an unusual octagonal layout and is richly decorated with Elizabeth's gold ornaments and monograms. The church has been operating since 2011; in the refectory you can see an exhibition telling about its history.
The interior of the palace also changed under the following rulers. At Catherine II the famous Chesme Hall … Here were collected paintings in honor of the victory of the Russian fleet in 1770. Under Catherine, a lover of various oriental exotics, appeared in the palace chinese cabinetsfinished with lacquered screens. In addition to authentic Chinese objects, European stylizations imitating Chinese art were collected here - for example, English and French furniture decorated with inlays and lacquer paintings. Under Catherine, the interior of one of the central halls was updated, and it was turned into Picture hall with a large collection of paintings by the court portrait painter P. Rotary.
Precious relics of the entire Romanov dynasty: commemorative cups, snuff boxes, rings, dishes with coats of arms and monograms, dresses of empresses and uniforms of emperors, products of the famous Faberge company - can be seen in exposition "Special pantry", which was housed in the personal chambers of Catherine II.
The park continues to improve Alexander I … Under him, the old wooden galleries in front of the Grand Palace were dismantled, in which there were also various water ideas. Architect A. Voronikhin creates here empire colonnades decorated with figures of lions.
Alexandria
The second complex of buildings of Peterhof was created already under Nicholas I. This Alexandria parknamed for his beloved wife Alexandra Feodorovna … It was this place that became the summer residence of the Romanov family in the 19th century.
The main building was the neo-Gothic Palace Cottage … Its interiors have been almost completely preserved, and now there is a museum exposition telling about Nicholas I and his wife.
A farm was set up not far from it, which soon became Farm palace … There was indeed a small dairy farm that supplied fresh milk to the emperor's family. The stone building was disguised as a wooden one: the roof was painted to resemble thatch, and the Empire columns imitated birch trunks. With the birth of the heir, special living rooms were added here for him, and the cowshed was moved. The matured Alexander II made this place his favorite summer residence. The current exposition tells about his life here: his study, the private chambers of Empress Maria Feodorovna and much more have been preserved. Once upon a time there was a grandiose playground for his children: a mill, his own farm, a country house. From all this, now in the park you can see a children's fire tower, arranged according to all the rules. On the second floor of the palace there is an exposition dedicated to the peterhof dachas and summer residents of the 19th-20th centuries.
In 1834, the park appears gothic chapel - home church of Nicholas I … This is the Orthodox church of St. Alexander Nevsky, but it was built in such a way that it is like a Gothic cathedral in miniature. Now he is sanctified and in action.
Another place that testifies to the love of the emperor for his wife - Tsaritsyn pavilion … Initially, there was a swamp here, but it has turned into a landscaped pond with artificial islands. Two romantic pavilions in the antique style were built on two islands: Tsaritsyn for Alexandra Feodorovna and Holgin for her daughter Princess Olga Nikolaevna. Both islands are now museums.
Interesting Facts
Originally, the pipes for the water supply to the fountains were made of wood. In the 19th century, they were replaced by metal ones - many of these pipes are still in use.
The favorite flower of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was roses. Now in the garden of the Tsaritsyn pavilion, roses of ancient varieties are blooming - those that once could grow with her.
The oldest watch factory in Russia is located in Peterhof. It was founded by Peter I in 1725 as a workshop for cutting precious stones. Now the factory continues to operate and in 2015 produced the world's largest watch.
On a note
Location: St. Petersburg, Peterhof, st. Adjustable, 2.
How to get there: by train from the Baltic Station or by meteor from the Palace Embankment.
Official website:
Working hours. Lower Park and the Grand Palace: 09: 00-21: 00, museum exhibitions in pavilions and other palaces 10: 00-18: 00, fountains work from 11:00.
Ticket prices: Lower Park. Adult 450 rubles, concessionary - 250 rubles. Grand Palace. Adult - 450 rubles, concessionary - 300 rubles. Entrance to expositions in pavilions and other palaces is paid separately.
