Description of the attraction
The "Roller Coaster" pavilion in the "Oranienbaum" palace and park ensemble is an original architectural work by Antonio Rinaldi, which has no analogues either in modern Russian or Western European architecture. A shady alley leads to the pavilion from the western facade of the Chinese Palace. At the end of the alley, a magnificent meadow begins, framed by slender rows of fir trees. At the end of the meadow, on the edge of the coastal terrace, there is a structure, the nobility and beauty of the forms of which immediately rivets the eye. This is the “Roller Coaster” pavilion. It was once a small part of the rolling mountains - a large entertainment facility built in 1762-1774. in the northwest of the park.
A rather unusual architectural design, the structure had a length of 532 m and included one straight line and three undulating descending slopes. From this mountain they rode exclusively in the summer on special carriages, which moved along the tracks laid on the slopes. On both sides, the slopes were framed by covered galleries decorated with vases and sculptures. They were a picturesque and yet majestic sight.
In the middle of the 19th century. the rolling mountains were dismantled. Only a meadow and slender rows of fir trees determine their former location.
"Roller Coaster" is the only monument that reminds of the existence of similar entertainment structures that existed here in the 18th century in Russia.
The pavilion is a two-story building, standing on a high plinth, which is cut by large oval windows and is crowned with a light bell-shaped dome, on which once stood the statue of Terpsichore, carved from wood and gilded. The building of the "Roller Coaster" is blue, with white columns, against the background of the gray water of the Gulf of Finland and lush park greenery, it looks especially elegant, being an example of an extraordinary combination of space and architecture. The noble restraint of the classics is given to the building by the severity of architectural forms, clarity of composition and special plasticity of decorative elements.
The interiors of the pavilion are distinguished by their elegance and splendor of decoration. The murals on the walls of the Round Hall, the only floor in the country made of imitation marble, which softly reflects the waves of light pouring through the large window-doors, stucco ornaments of a magnificent design, carefully accented with gilding, made in gentle and light colors, give the interior a solemn uplifting mood.
A true masterpiece of decorative art - the Porcelain Cabinet. Its architectural decoration includes porcelain groups, which were made in 1772-1775. specially for the interior of this pavilion at the Meissen manufactory based on models by the sculptor I. I. The outstanding value of this collection is in its high artistic merit and in the fact that it is an allegorical story about the life of Russia in the 18th century, about its naval victories, rapid economic growth, the development of science and art, and an amazing combination of elegance of form and depth of content.
The architectural solution of the White Office and its decoration reflected the creative quest of the architect Antonio Rinaldi from the grace and sophistication of Rococo to the consistency and clarity of classicism.
In addition to the famous architect, skillful craftsmen worked on the creation of the Katalnaya Gorka pavilion: the artists S. Barozzi and S. Torelli, the marble maker G. Spinelli, the modeler A. Jani, the masons I. Andreev and N. Uglovsky. Carpentry work was carried out by K. Ipatov, K. Fedorov, M. Potapov.
Only thanks to the efforts, labor and talent of Soviet restorers (sculptors, painters, marblers, gilders, molders), this rare monument of Russian architecture of the 18th century. in 1959 it opened its doors as a museum.
