Peterhof

Peter the Great's Palace

    Peterhof is one of the most famous suburban ensembles, sometimes dubbed "the capital of fountains", a magical sight of water and gold, marble and bronze, magnificent parterres and age-old trees.  The residence was founded by Peter the Great at the beginning of the 18th century.  By the middle of the same century it had grown into a gigantic ensemble impressing both Russians and foreigners.

    At the end of September 1941, after hard battles, the Soviet troops had to leave Peterhof.  Until January 1944 the town and all its ensembles of palaces and parks had been under occupation.  Only part of the exhibits were evacuated.  On the day of the seizure of Peterhof, the Great Palace caught fire because of the shell which hit the Church Block.  The Nazi forbid anyone to put the fire out on pain of shooting.  As a result, one of the most beautiful mansions in Europe turned into ruins.  Peterhof was liberated on January 19, 1944, and reconstruction works were immediately started and continued until 1973.  Pictures taken prior to the destruction were used by artisans to restore the palace to its original magnificence.

Sometimes called, "The capital of fountains" - founded by Peter the Great

Opened in 1723, magnificent Peterhof Park covers 1,500 acres

General Architect LeBlond designed grounds to rival Versailles outside Paris

Grand Cascade is fed by underground springs about 14 miles away

Water falls over the marble, tuff- and shell-faced stairways, and trickles down into a vast pool decorated with pagan gods sitting on the banks

Grand Cascade is one of biggest fountain ensembles in the world with more than 60 fountains, 250 statues and reliefs.

Sampson Fountain has highest water jet. Lion-heraldic symbol of Moscow princes

Main staircase is a hymn to the reign of Empress Elizabeth, daughter of Peter I

Dance Hall (Light Gallery) is prototype of Mirror Gallery in Versailles

Throne Room is biggest hall in palace painted and decorated with mirrors

Equestrian portrait of Catherine II in full-dress uniform (she had many lovers!)

White Dining Room used for solemn dinners w/ service of "royal" cream biscuit

Beautiful tulips in gardens at Orangery Pavilion entrance

Triton Fountain in the Orangery Garden (Triton fighting with sea monster)

More colorful flower gardens to the east of the Great Parterres

Double-tier fountains in Parterres Garden made in granite and marble

Two eight-sided pools contain  Roman fountains made in Venice

Chessboard Hill Cascade resemble a chessboard with cascading water

One of the many marble statuettes along Marly Avenue

More tulips line the many pathways

Peter I enjoyed playing tricks on guests - water squirted when stepping on rocks

A person is in window of shack behind tree controlling water spirts

Again, a person is sitting behind bench causes water to rise at right moment!

More gardens at the Adam and Eve Fountains

Mal stands near the Sun Fountain at the Menagerie Garden

Marine Canal enabled tsars to sail from Gulf of Finland up to Great Palace

Water flows from mascarons on the sides of the canal walls

Don waits to board hydrofoil taking us back to St. Petersburg

Hydrofoil was actually smooth 22-mile ride  in the Gulf of Finland

Now back in St. Petersburg passing the Rostrun symbolizing ship victories

Catherine's Palace                                           Helsinki