S.Petersburg Suburbs

Peterhof

Peterhof is located one-half's drive to the west of St.Petersburg. Peterhof was built by direction of Peter the Great to commemorate Russia's victory in the Nothern war. The palace and park complex with its unique array of fountains is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. Over one hundred forty fountains and cascades adorn the spacious grounds, which are dominated by a lavish palace. The park began to take shape in 1705 during Peter I-s reign. In addition to the Grand Palace, the complex also includes the "Monplaisir" and "Marly" Palaces and the Hermitage Pavilion. Peterhof is the kingdom of fountains, the magical play of water that brings you back to epoch of Peters the Great. It is famous also through brilliant interiors of Empress Elisabeth.

In the summer you have an opportunity to take hydrofoil to travel to Peterhof or back to Saint-Petersburg (to the Winter Palace). It is the most impressive and enjoyable way to get here, which takes about 50 minutes.

Pushkin (formerly Tsarskoye Selo)

This royal residence is located on the high hill dominating the surroundings. Earlier a small farmstead known as the Saari-mojs ("high place"), was on this site. In 1711, it was presented to Catherine together with five other former Swedish estates. Thus the foundation was laid for the magnificent country estate, which would be the main residence of the Imperial court for a long time.

The compositional centre of the palace and park complex of Tsarskoye Selo is the Great Catherine Palace. Many well-known architects took part in its creation completed by the celebrated Rastrelli. The palace is a brilliant achievement of the Elizabethan Baroque.

The earliest part of the Catherine Park is the Old Garden laid out in the regular manner in the early eighteenth century. Its concept belonged to Jan Roosen, the designer of the Summer Gardens. In the 1770s the garden was substantially altered. The trees were no longer cropped since that period and towards the end of the century the formal and landscape parts of the Catherine Park merged together.

Pavlovsk

A superb palace and park ensemble, dating from the late 18th to the 19th century, Pavlovsk was a summer residence of the Russian emperor Paul I and his family. Its architects were amongst the greatest of the period: Cameron, Brenna, Quarenghi, Voronikhin and Rossi. The landscape park, one of the largest in Europe, covers an area of 600 hectares.

The formation of the Pavlovsk Palace collections was closely connected with the journey by its owners through Europe in 1781-82. They visited workshops of well-known artists, ordering and acquiring paintings, furniture, bronze articles, silk fabrics, china sets, etc. They also brought back to Russia a large number of antique sculptures from Italy, and gifts from European royal courts. Many of these treasures are on view, together with an excellent collection of portraits by Russian artists, and a number of Pavlovsk landscape paintings and drawings.

Following a long restoration, the ravishingly beautiful private rooms of Empress Maria Fedorovna, which were decorated Quarenghi and Voronikhin, are again open to the public.