The palace-and-park ensemble consists of the Gatchina Palace (architect A.Rinaldi, 2nd half of the XVIII century), and the park - the first landscaped park in Russia. The palace throughout its history was the residence of the Russian emperors Paul I nicknamed "the most romantic Russian Emperor", and Alexander III. On display: gala halls of the XVIII century, exhibition of Western-European and Russian paintings and arms of the XVII-XIX centuries. The romantic feature of Gatchinsky Palace is an underground tunnel to the lake. The pride of the park are the unique pavilions "Beriozovy Dom" ("Birch House") and "Pavilion Venery" ("Pavilion of Venus").

Open: 10.00 - 17.00. Closed on MON and on the first TUE of every month. Tel. (271)134-92

 

The palace-and-park ensemble on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland opposite the town-fortress Kronshtadt (architects D.Fontana and J.Schedel). In 1743, Oranienbaum became the summer residence of the future emperor Peter III. A fortress ensemble with a petite palace was constructed for him to the design of architect A.Rinaldi. Later, A.Rinaldi was commissioned by the Empress Catherine the Great to erect the Chinese Palace and the Katalnaya Gorka (Sliding Hill) with a pavilion. The architectural style of these monuments is distinguished by the subtle blend of elegant rococo style with traces of classicism. Oranienbaum is famous for its landscape parks dating back to the middle of the XIX century. The following palace-museums are available to visit: the Chinese Palace, the palace of Peter III, the Japanese Pavilion of the Bolshoy (Menshikovsky) Palace.

Open: 11.00 - 17.00, MON till 16.00.

Closed on TUE and on the last MON of every month. Tel. 422-3753.

 

This is a superb palace-and-park ensemble of the late XVIII - early XIX centuries which was used as a summer residence of the Russian emperor Paul I and his family. The landscape park, one of the largest in Europe, covers the area of 600 ha. The works on the palace-and-park ensemble on the winding banks of the Slavyanka river lasted for 50 years. Architects: Ch.Cameron, V.Brenna, G.Guarenghi, A.Voronikhin, C.Rossi, sculptors M.Kozlovsky, I.Martos, I.Prokofiev, F.Gordeyev, G.Demut-Malinovsky. The formation of the collections of the Pavlovsky Palace was closely connected with the trip of its owners over Europe in 1781-1782. They visited workshops of well-known artists, ordering and acquiring paintings, furniture, bronze articles, silk fabrics, china sets, etc. They brought to Russia a large number of antique sculptures from Italy, as well as gifts from European royal courts. The museum also displays an excellent collection of portraits by Russian artists and a number of Pavlovsk landscape paintings and drawings. Residential Rooms of Empress Maria Fedorovna decorated by architects Guarenghi and Voronikhin at the beginning of the XIX century and enrapturing with their harmonious beauty, are open to the public. After essential restoration, the library by Rossi is open. The library was built in 1824 for the Empress Maria Fedorovna to host abundant collection of books and rarities.

Open: 10.00 - 17.00. Closed on FRI and on the first MON of every month. Tel. 470-2156.

 

The Palace-and-Park ensemble of Tsarskoye Selo - a former country residence of Russian emperors - is a fascinating monument of the world's architectural and gardening arts of the XVIII-XIX centuries. Its three parks occupy the area of 600 ha, on which over 100 architectural constructions rise: from magnificent palaces and grand monuments to intimate pavilions and park sculptures. The compositional centre of the Tsarskoselsky ensemble is Catherine's Palace, containing exquisite decorative objects, furniture, Russian and Western-European paintings, unique collections of porcelain, amber, arms, decorative bronze, sculptures etc. Nowadays, the collection of the museum Tsarskoye Selo numbers about 20,000 items. During the celebrations of the tercentenary to St.Petersburg, the "Amber Room" was opened after its restoration, one of the official gala halls in Catherine's Palace.

The Tsarskoselsky Lyceum, an elite school established in Russia in the beginning of the XIX century for noble families offsprings which the great Russian poet A.S.Pushkin attended, is situated next to the palace. In the Catherine's Park, the exhibiton "Passions, Weaknesses, Delights... (Man and Woman in the Ancient Days)" is open.

The exposition "Recollections in the Alexander's Palace" is open in the last residence of Russian emperors, architectural chef d'oeuvre of the XVIII century (architect G.Guarenghi). In its 12 halls, with authentic or partially reconstructed attire, artworks like paintings, graphics, decorative and applied art, costumes, personal belongings etc. are represented, related to the life of its crowned owners.

Catherine's Palace open: 10.00 - 17.00.

Closed on TUE and on the last MON of every month.

Tel. 466-6669.

The exhibition in Alexander's Palace open: 10.00 - 16.30. Closed on TUE. Tel. 466-6669.

 

 

THE PALACE-AND-PARK ENSEMBLE PETERHOF

Peterhof is a jewel of the Russian art, a town of parks, palaces, and fountains. In the past it used to be an exquisite summer residence of Russian tsars. Verkhniy (Upper) Garden and Nizhniy (Lower) Park, genuine masterpieces of landscape design, number over 150 fountains, 4 monumental cascades. On the territory of the reserve, there are 10 working museums: the Grand Palace, Monplaisir, Catherine's Block, Marli, Hermitage, the church of St.Alexander Nevsky (Gothic Capella), the Benois family museum, Cottage, the Bath Block including Tafeldecker and Kaffeeschenk Rooms and The Kitchen, and the Museum of Collectors. The exposition of the Special Treasury and the private room of Catherine the Great in the Block-under-the-Armcoat of the Grand Palace are open for public.

The Grand Palace museum is open: 10.30 - 17.00.

Closed on MON and on the last TUE of every month. Tel. 420-0073.

Other museums are open: 10.30 - 17.00.

The Nizhniy Park museum is open: 9.00 - 20.00, weekends till 21.00.

Fountains are playing: 11.00 - 17.00, on SAT and SUN till 18.00.

 

THE CONSTANTINE PALACE

A state residence, historical and cultural monument, and modern business centre. The idea of construction of a palace-and-park ensemble in Strelna dates back to 1715 and is connected to the name of Peter I. The palace was conceived as a state residence, the grandeur and beauty of which would outshine the famous Versailles. Many architects participated in the creation of Strelna complex:

G.-B.Leblond, N.Michetti, M.Zemtsov, P.Eropkin, F.B.Rastrelli, A.Voronikhin, A.Stackenschneider, etc. Construction works were launched in 1720. But by 1730 Peter I-s concern switched over to the neighboring Peterhof. In 1797, the Emperor Paul I presented the deserted palace to his son ? Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich, and "Strelina Myza" became a grand-ducal estate. In 1990, UNESCO added this unique architectural complex to the list of monuments of world historical and cultural heritage in danger of complete decay. But it was only in 2001 that the restoration of the palace-and-park ensemble in Strelna began under a decree of President Putin. The works were completed by the tercentenary of St.Petersburg.

Today, the visitors of the Governmental Complex "Congress Palace", a part of which is the Constantine Palace, can learn of the Palace history, its creation and reconstruction, life stories of its owners. For connoisseurs, the wine collection of the Palace will be of interest: there are 13,000 bottles in it worth 20,000,000 Roubles. Wine-testing from the cellars is offered.

Open: 10.00 ? 18.00, excursions hourly. Closed on WED.

Tickets are sold in the booking-office on the day of excursion.

On the days of special events, the complex is closed for the public. Tel. 438-5360.

 

PALACE OF PETER THE GREAT

Wooden palace was built in 1716 as bivouac palace for Peter I and later redesigned by the architect F.B.Rastrelli. The palace makes a significant mark at Peterhof Road landscape. Since June 2000, the historical and artistic museum is open here which is now the main information center on Strelna history. Permanent exposition introduces "The History of the Palace, Strelna, and Its Owners. Exhibition of the interior of the XVIII century".

Open: 10.30 - 17.00.

Closed on MON and the last TUE of every month.

Settlement Strelna, 2 Bolnichnaya Gorka ul. [map ee-6], tel. 421-4131.

Suburban trains from Baltic Station terminal to the Strelna station (30 km from S.Petersburg, trip time 25 min.); alternatively, charter taxis from Baltiyskaya.

 

Historical, architectural, and natural museum and preserve situated on the coast of the Bay Zashchitnaya of the Vyborgskiy Gulf covers the area of 163 ha. During about two centuries (1788-1943), Park Monrepos belonged to the family of Barons Nicolai, whose progenies contributed the glory of Russian State. Manor and park ensemble created at the edge of the XVIII-XIX centuries is the historical core of the preserve. It comprises Main House and the Library Outbilding, nice examples of wooden architecture styled in classicism, and romantic landscape park with its rocks and boulders. Architects D.Martinelli, A.Montferrand, A.Stackenschneider, Ch.Tatam, artists J.Mettenleiter, P.Gonzago designed the park layout. Natural preserve lies in a particular geographical zone, unique Ice Age stone ridges up to 20 m high in it, and is able to boast of 48 species of plants including very rare, and rich wildlife.