Description of the attraction
Gatchina is one of the most picturesque and interesting suburbs of St. Petersburg. It was the residence of the most mysterious and romantic Russian emperor - Paul I. There are two of his palaces, which now house museum expositions, and a huge park complex, consisting of gardens, ponds, utility and decorative buildings.
Background
Once upon a time there was a village Hotchino, but since the 17th century there has been a “Gatchina manor”. Catherine II favors this estate to his favorite Grigory Orlov in 1765. At this time, three years after the palace coup that elevated Catherine to the throne, Orlov was the second person in the state. He turns over a lot of money and starts a grandiose construction of his own palace on the estate.
Orlov hires an Italian architect Antonio Rinaldi … He is an architect loved by the court - before that he built a lot in Oranienbaum, then he will build the pavilions of Tsarskoye Selo. The palace is being built slowly - from 1766 to 1781. The resulting building looks more like knight's castlethan a country cottage: a three-story main building with two towers and adjacent two square wings, also similar to small castles, with turrets and courtyards. The cladding was made of local stone, which was quarried nearby in the village of Paritsy.
Orlov lived here for only two years. From his time, besides the palace itself, several park buildings have survived - for example, Eagle Pavilion and Eagle Columndecorated with heraldic eagle. Under him, Chesme obelisk, in memory of the great victory of the Russian fleet in the Chesme Bay in 1770. After his death, the estate passes to the heir to the throne. Pavel Petrovich.
Paul I in Gatchina
Pavel is 29 years old by this time. His relationship with his mother does not work out - the imperious empress does not allow her son to come to power and does not trust him with anything serious. He just married a tall blonde German princess Sophia Dorothea, who in Russia began to be called Maria Fedorovna … When it became clear that the mother would not allow the young to live peacefully in the capital, and the heir to the throne - to take at least some part in the government and have his own opinion, Paul moved away from the court. First in Pavlovsk, where he builds a palace for his young wife (Pavlovsk will forever remain her beloved residence), and then to Gatchina.
Gatchina becomes his personal little kingdom, with its own little court. Here life goes on, and they do not want to hear about Catherine II and St. Petersburg here.
In 1796, the heir began to rebuild the palace. He wants to settle in one of the outbuildings - so they are being built on. In another wing they arrange home church of St. Trinity - now it works again. Pavel is keen on military affairs - and the square in front of the palace is surrounded by walls and turns into a parade ground for maneuvers and parades. A garden is laid out on the other side of the palace, and the whole complex is surrounded by three large park areas. Pavel is guided by the palace complex he saw in Europe in Chantilly … Numerous pavilions, fountains are built here, terraces are poured, artificial islands - this is a real huge city, created according to the personal taste of the owner and his wife.
Preserved, for example, Birch house - a trompe l'oeil pavilion, presented as a gift to Paul by the Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna. It is made of hewn wood and looks like a huge woodpile from the outside, but inside it is elegantly finished and was supposed to make its owners smile. Inside, the house is equipped with a system of trompe l'oeil mirrors, which expand the volume, hide the doors, etc.
The relationship of the grand ducal couple reminds Island of love - an artificial island with a regular garden and a wooden water surrounded on three sides Venus pavilion … The temple has two entrances - one could enter it from the garden, or one could sail to its portico by boat. The ceiling is decorated with paintings dedicated to Venus.
A whole system of artificial islands was built on the water - with their own names and legends. They were connected by a complex system of bridges, crossings and ferries - a water labyrinth. There were seven stone bridges and many wooden ones. On the largest island, Long, architect Vincenzo Brenn, under whose leadership the entire complex was rebuilt, created a stone pier on piles. It was decorated with statues representing different arts. And two lions guarded the entrance to the garden on the island. Pavel had his own fleet of 24 ships in Gatchina, and sometimes naval battles were arranged for him, in imitation of the "amusing" battles of Peter the Great.
To secure the palace, a huge greenhouse … There were grape, peach and apricot greenhouses, their own strawberries, wild strawberries and watermelons were grown. The ruins of the Forest Conservatory have survived, in which plants were once grown in tubs that adorned park paths in summer. Maria Fedorovna, a great lover of gardens and flowers, organized a practical gardening school here.
Another palace is being built, which has survived to our time. Priory Palace created by the architect N. Lvov and most of all resembles a small Western European monastery. The palace was built using a unique technology, from pressed clay soaked in a solution. It was assumed that this palace would be the residence of the Prior of the Order of Malta, but the Order of Malta did not take root in Russia. The palace was little used - at one time a Lutheran church was located there, then it was again used for housing. In the Soviet years, the Gatchina Museum of Local Lore was located here, then it was restored for many years, and since 2004 it has been again available for inspection.
Gatchina in the 19th century
After Paul's death, the Empress Dowager remains mistress Maria Fedorovna … But she prefers to rest in her beloved Pavlovsk, so nothing changes here until 1844. After her death, the emperor Nicholas I rebuilds and refurbishes the palace, in 1851 installed in front of it monument to his father, Paul I.
Under him, in the city is being built cathedral of st. Paul in the Russian-Byzantine style. This is one of the few cathedrals in the Leningrad region, which was active almost all the time, it was closed only for the period from 1938 to 1941. The cathedral remembers the shrines that were once kept here. The Order of Malta transferred several Christian relics to the Priory Palace to Paul: the right hand of John the Baptist, part of the robe of Christ, and the Filerma Icon of the Virgin. They were stored first there, then in the house of the Trinity Church of the Gatchina Palace, then in the Pavlovsk Cathedral, and in 1919 they were taken abroad. They are now in Serbia.
Alexander II also loved this place very much. A passionate hunter, he transferred hunting here from Peterhof - he liked the local forests better. A special hunting settlement and a large menagerie were built here.
During the reign of Alexander III, Gatchina is being improved again - using the latest technology. The entire system of the city water supply and sewerage system is being changed, electricity and telephone communications are being installed in the palace, heaters are installed instead of stoves.
Museum
After nationalization in 1917, the palace was turned into Museum … During the war, it was not possible to take out all the valuables from the palace. Some of the things were buried, some remained in the basements. During the occupation, a number of valuables from the exposition were taken to Germany, and the Gatchina Palace itself was blown up by the Germans during the retreat. Only part of the wall has survived; it can now be seen.
In the post-war years, the remaining part of the building is being renovated, but there are not enough funds for the full reconstruction of the museum. Collections are distributed to other museums, and here they arrange naval school … Only the park is considered a protected museum area. But since 1976, the restoration of the ceremonial halls in the form in which they looked in the 18th century began, and in 1985 the palace was opened to visitors. Work on the restoration of the palace and park continues to this day, but the main thing has been done.
Now available for inspection Great Gatchina Palace … The interiors have been recreated, some of the things have been returned from here from other museums. There are rich collections of furniture, dishes, interior items, paintings and graphics. Available for inspection underground passage in the basement, Trinity Church, state rooms and an exhibition of weapons.
The second museum object - Priory palace and park Around him. The chapel of the Priory Palace has excellent acoustics, so concerts are regularly held here.
V Palace park there are more than 30 attractions. These are four specially arranged gardens - Own, Botanichesky, Lipovoy, Upper Holland and Lower Holland, seven gates, five bridges, many monuments, grottoes and park pavilions. Some structures, such as a poultry house or a forest greenhouse, are in ruins, but most of the buildings have been restored.
Interesting Facts
In the Gatchina Palace, two films were filmed about Emperor Paul - "Steps of the Emperor" and "Poor, Poor Pavel".
In Gatchina, a new mobile service, "Virtual Tour Guide", was recently launched. When you point your phone at a plate with a QR code, a virtual Paul I appears and talks about his beloved city.
On a note
- Location. Leningrad region, Gatchina, Krasnoarmeisky prospect, 1
- How to get there: by electric train from the Baltic station of St. Petersburg to the station. Gatchina Baltic, Gatchina Varshavskaya. Bus No. 431, route taxis No. 18, 18a, 100 from the station. metro "Moskovskaya" and №631 from the station. metro station "Pr. Veterans ".
- Official website:
- Working hours. 10: 00-18: 00
- Ticket prices. Gatchina Palace: adult - 400 rubles, preferential - 200 rubles. Priory Palace: adult - 200 rubles, preferential - 100 rubles.
