Peterhof Palace and Park Ensemble

The Peterhof Palace and Park Ensemble is a realm of fountains, a fairyland of playing water, palaces in which the era of Peter the Great comes alive, brilliant interiors of the times of Empress Elizabeth and Tsar Nicholas I.

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Highlights

If you got to Peterhof on the Meteor, from the pier you go straight to the Lower Park. If you came by land, then first before you will be the Upper Garden – do not miss the opportunity and go into it, it is small (only 15 hectares), but very beautiful. It has five fountains, the most impressive of which is the central one – “Neptune”. Along the fence of the garden stretches covered alleys covered with greenery.

Entrance to the Upper Park is free, but for the pleasure of admiring the fountains of the Lower Park you have to pay, regardless of which side you enter it from. There are ticket offices at all entrances, including the wharf.

Peterhof was founded in the very early 18th century by Emperor Peter the Great as a majestic monument glorifying Russia’s victory in the struggle for access to the Baltic Sea. It is the most luxurious summer royal residence. The extravaganza of many playing water cannons made it world famous. In the summertime, the park is jam-packed, especially on weekends.

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The main attraction of the park is a unique fountain system, created in Peter the Great times under the direction of the first Russian hydraulic engineer Tuvolkov. It is often compared to that of Versailles, but in some respects it is even superior to its French counterpart.

Peterhof’s fountains operate on the principle of communicating vessels due to the height difference of the relief and do not require special pumping of water. Fountains and cascades are fed by fresh water coming from the springs of Ropsha Heights through a 22-kilometer gravity-flow water pipeline.

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The Lower Park stretches along the coastal strip for 2 km and occupies an area of 102 hectares. Its special originality is given by the proximity of the sea, with which it is so organically connected. The Gulf of Finland is connected by a specially dug Sea Canal to the Grand Cascade – the largest fountain structure in the world, including 75 fountains and about 250 sculptures and decorative ornaments.

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Waterfalls, water cannons, gilded statues, bas-reliefs, vases, balustrades, the unceasing sound of water – all this strikes with its splendor and creates a solemn and festive mood.

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The Grand Cascade is especially beautiful on holidays, when it becomes a platform for magnificent costume performances framed by a multitude of crystal water jets, accompanied by light and music effects and fireworks.

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In 1735, in honor of the 25th anniversary of Russia’s Poltava victory over Sweden, a sculptural group “Samson tearing the jaws of the lion” was installed near the Grand Cascade. Samson here symbolizes victorious Russia, and the lion allegorically represents Sweden. The jet of water bursting out of the lion’s mouth rises to a height of 20 meters.

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There are 22 fountains along the Sea Canal – this is the so-called Fountain Alley. And along the canal, by the way, in Petrine times, high-ranking guests could go by ship to the palace itself.

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There are three more impressive cascades in the park – “Chess Mountain” (“Cascade of Dragons”) in the eastern part of the park and two in the western part – Marlinsky (“Golden Mountain”) and Lion cascades.

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In addition, there are many magnificent fountains in the Lower Park, the most famous of which are the Pyramid, the Sun, Adam and Eve.

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The Lower Park is also famous for its jester fountains, which can easily pour water on a hapless visitor. If you want to see their action, go to the eastern part of the park, where you will find metal fir trees, oak trees and tulips splashing water jets in all directions, “Umbrella”, showering all comers, as well as seemingly ordinary-looking park benches, which are not safe to pass in front of – from behind their backs can suddenly fly out a thick canopy of sparkling jets. Such “pissing amusements” were very popular in the eighteenth century.

Not so long ago revived and another entertainment of Peter’s times – “Water Road”. According to the tsar’s idea, the whole alley was to be covered with a water arch, and all the walkers were wet from head to toe. And now in summer time three times a day at 13.00, 14.00 and 15.00 three hundred inclined jets, bursting out to meet each other from the other side of the alley leading from Chess Mountain to Montplezir, form a “water road” to the delight of delighted visitors. Especially, of course, fountains-jokes like children, so if you are going to Petrodvorets with a child, bring a towel and a change of clothes for him, so that the trip does not end with a cold.

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In Peterhof museums you can see posters with a funny, but relevant in this place warning: “Visitors in wet clothes are not served”. And you can visit a lot of interesting things here – from the Grand Imperial Palace to the museum of tsar’s bicycles or bird cages. In total, there are more than 20 different museums in the Peterhof Reserve.

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The bulk of visitors tend to get to the Grand Palace, which in the summer season is not so easy to do because of the huge influx of people who want to create large queues. Note that although the palace is open from 10.30, but in the high season in the morning it is allowed to order foreign groups, and Russian tourists on tickets usually begin to pass from 12.00. In winter, the fountains do not work, the park is practically deserted, and you can get into the palace at any time without any problems.

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In the Lower Park there are two small pavilions-voliers, in which in imperial times kept birds. They are twelve-sided pavilions surmounted by domes and lanterns, and their walls, lined with tufa and shells, are almost entirely occupied by wide, finely glazed windows. Now the tradition of keeping birds in aviaries has been restored, and the visitors of the park can see and hear here what was seen and heard here, for example, by the guests of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in the middle of the XVIII century. In the cages, made according to ancient engravings, live again overseas birds, which it was customary to breed three hundred years ago. Silence is necessary for them to sing, so 5-6 people are allowed inside. To enter, you have to “bow” to the birds: since the Petrine era, the door to the aviary is very low.

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Another interesting opportunity is to visit the Great Grotto of the Grand Cascade with a guided tour. To do this, a ticket must be purchased at the ticket office located on the upper terrace. When a group gathers, the excursionists descend into the dungeon under the palace terrace.

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This is only a part of the possible pastime in Peterhof. In addition, you can visit Peterhof’s Marly and Hermitage palaces located in the western part of the park, or stop by one of the many local museums.

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While in Peterhof, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the most beautiful Neo-Russian style church – the Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (32 St. Petersburg Ave.). The cathedral was erected in 1905 by architect Sultanov. The uniqueness of its design is in the hipped pentaglaze and a covered gallery girdling the building. The cathedral is active, the entrance to it is free, and for a small donation you will be given the opportunity to climb the stairs to the upper gallery, which offers a stunning view of the surrounding area.

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On one side there will be parks and the sea, and on the other side you will see Olga Pond with two islands – Olga and Tsaritsyn with beautiful pavilions. You can visit them too.

Another interesting Peterhof park is Alexandria. It is located just behind the Lower Park towards St. Petersburg (open daily from 09.00 to 22.00, in winter until 19.00, entrance in summer – 50p., on weekends – 70p., preferential – 30p., foreigners – 100p., foreign students – 50p.). This is the former summer residence of Emperor Nicholas I, named in honor of his wife Alexandra Fyodorovna. Work on its arrangement began in 1826, when the tsar ordered the construction of a “country house” called Cottage. In this comfortable, bright, elegant and cozy house, conveniently located on a hill and surrounded by a landscape park with shady alleys, winding paths, lawns and groves, embodied the ideas and dreams of “Peterhof landowner” (as Nicholas I called himself) and his romantically inclined wife.

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In addition, in Alexandria Park you can visit the recently restored Gothic Chapel, the Farmer’s Palace, the Palace Telegraph Station.

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Since June 2010, the Farm Palace in Alexandria Park has been open to the public after a long restoration. It was erected in 1831 according to the project of architect A. Menelas and then completely rebuilt by A. Shtakenshneider for the future Emperor Alexander II and his young wife Maria Alexandrovna. After remodeling, the former park pavilion with a farm turned into a real summer country residence, where the Tsar could retreat and have a full-fledged rest with his family. Here he also worked on important documents, met with advisers, so, in particular, it was here that meetings on the preparation of peasant reform were held.

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In addition to these parks in Peterhof there are still quite abandoned Lugovoi (where recently restored the pavilion Belvedere, arranging in it a hotel), Colonial, English, Alexandrinsky.

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You can walk around Peterhof all day long, and you’ll hardly have energy left for anything else.

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Great Peterhof Palace

The Grand Palace rises triumphantly on a steep ledge above the Lower Park. The elegant building with galleries and gilded domes of side buildings stretches its facade along the upper terrace for almost 300 meters. The architects Braunstein, Leblon, Miketti, Zemtsov worked on its creation, and under Empress Elizabeth it was rebuilt by the outstanding Baroque master Rastrelli, who, giving free rein to his creative imagination, decorated the premises with fabulous luxury. Under Catherine II, some of the halls were redecorated in the classical style by architect Felten.

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Until 1917 it was the ceremonial summer residence of the imperial family, official receptions, lavish balls and important celebrations were held here. The luxurious interiors of the palace, preserved by Rastrelli, are very beautiful: gilded wooden carvings flowing around numerous mirrors, silks on the walls, set parquet. At the end of the visit you will find yourself in the Oak Cabinet of Peter the Great, a sharp contrast to their background – the walls here are covered with wooden carved panels, striking jewelry carving technique.

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In the halls of the Great Peterhof Palace you can see ceremonial portraits of Russian emperors, paintings glorifying the victories of the Russian fleet, rich collections of antique porcelain, furniture and artistic bronze. The palace, as well as the park, was very badly damaged during the Great Patriotic War (Peterhof was on the front line) and was revived by the hands of talented restorers.

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If the queue to the Grand Palace scares you, go to other Peterhof museums, where you can also see a lot of interesting and unique things. For example, instead of crowding at the main entrance to the palace, walk along its facade to the left (if facing the sea) and enter another door, located almost at the exit from the park. There is an Enclosure under the coat of arms, in which the Special Pantry is open to the public.

On the other side of the palace is the Church Building with its recently restored five gilded domes. It too has been open to the public since 2011.

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There are also many interesting and accessible small palaces and pavilions in the Lower Park. We especially recommend a look at Peter the Great’s favorite palace, the Montplaisir. It is located on the seashore in the eastern part of the Lower Park.

A unique museum of ancient life is the Bath House, built in the XIX century. built next to the Montplaisir.

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On the other side of the Montplaisir is the Catherine Corps.

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The three structures named above form the elegant Montplaisir Garden, closed from sea winds, with brightly patterned parterres and five fountains.

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  • Razvodnaya St., 2
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  • Tel. 450-52-87, 427-74-25
  • Open daily, except Mon, from 10.30 to 18.00, in summer until 19.00 (ticket office closes an hour earlier). The last wtth of each month is a sanitation day
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  • Inspection – 1h. Entrance -280 p., preferential (including schoolchildren) – 140 p. For foreigners full – 520 p., preferential – 250 p.
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Church building

In the recently restored palace church, designed by F.B. Rastrelli, you can admire the magnificent six-tier iconostasis with twisted columns and the monogram of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, elegant gilded carvings and picturesque paintings on religious subjects, as well as to see icons of the XVIII-XIX centuries, items of ceremonial vestments of clergy and old church utensils.

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  • Razvodnaya Street, 2
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  • Tel. 427-74-25
  • Open daily, except Fri and Tues of the last month from 10.30 to 18.00. The box office is open until 17.00
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  • Entrance-200 p., discount -100 p. Foreigners – 350 p., preferential – 200 p.
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Special pantry in the Corpus under the coat of arms

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Here you will have a unique opportunity to see the chambers of Catherine II, as well as personal belongings of the rulers of Russia, from Peter the Great to the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II. There are coronation and award things, ceremonial silver and gold tableware, precious snuff boxes, a rare collection of miniatures with portraits of emperors, diamond brooches and earrings, porcelain, old shiny uniforms, luxurious ball gowns, fans, mirrors, toilet articles, and products of the famous Faberge company.

  • Razvodnaya Street, 2 (in the Corpus under the coat of arms)
  • Open daily, except for the last Friday of the month, from 10.30 to 18.00. The cash desk is open until 17.00
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  • Inspection – 30-40 min. Entrance-200 p., preferential-50 p. For foreigners full – 500 p., preferential – 200 p.
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Montplaisir

This small building on the shore of the Gulf of Finland was Peterhof’s first structure. Its name translates as “my pleasure”. Peter the Great was very fond of the Montplaisir and almost always stayed there on his visits to Peterhof. “Even when he was in Peterhof in the summer – wrote the Holstein envoy to the Russian court Count Bassevich – the air of the vast gardens of the palace seemed to him suffocating, and he always slept in Montplaisir.” Falling asleep, he heard the splash of waves, going out on the terrace in the afternoon, could see Kronstadt and St. Petersburg. Here in the central parade hall festivals and receptions of official guests were organized. It is interesting to look at Peter’s bedroom, his study, kitchen and decorated in a bright oriental style exotic Lacquer Cabinet, where on carved gilded shelves are about 150 vases and bowls of valuable Chinese and Japanese antique porcelain.

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  • The museum is open only in summer except on the last Wed of the month, from 10.30 to 18.00
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  • The ticket office closes one hour earlier
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  • The museum is closed during rain and high humidity
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  • Inspection -20 min. Entrance – 150 p., preferential (including schoolchildren) – 80 p. For foreigners full – 360 p., preferential – 180 p.
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Bathhouse

The building was built as a bathhouse with a complex of therapeutic and hardening baths for Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander II, who suffered from an incurable at that time disease – consumption. The heavy air of St. Petersburg was harmful to her weak lungs, and for the summer she traveled to Peterhof, as the fresh sea climate combined with dense park greenery was considered beneficial to her health. Here you can see the cold and warm bathrooms, the steam room, as well as visit the Assembly Hall, the Cookhouse and the Tafeldecker Room with Kofishenskaya. In the cold bathroom, be sure to check out the original chandelier that served as a shower at the same time.

  • During the summer period, the museum is open daily, except Wed, from 10.30 to 18.00
  • In winter it is open only on weekends from 10.30 to 17.00
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  • The ticket office closes one hour earlier
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  • The museum is not open during rain and high humidity
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  • Inspection – 30-40 min. Entrance – 150 p., preferential (including schoolchildren) – 80 p. For foreigners full – 360 p., preferential – 180 p.
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    Catherine Corps

    This building is called the Catherine Corps because it was from here that Catherine II secretly went to St. Petersburg on June 28, 1762, where she led a conspiracy aimed at overthrowing her husband Peter III from the throne. After gaining power, the new sovereign used the building for ceremonial dinners and annual balls for the graduates of the Smolny Institute, which she had founded. Gradually, the Catherine building turned into a palace-museum of the late XVIII – early XIX century. Furniture, mantel clocks, candelabras, vases – everything corresponds to the classical architectural decoration of the halls, is distinguished by the nobility of forms and lines.

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    • Open daily in summer, except for the last day of the month, from 10.30 to 18.00
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    • In winter, open only on weekends from 10.30 to 17.00
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    • The ticket office closes one hour earlier
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    • Inspection – 30 min. Entrance – 200 p., preferential (including schoolchildren) – 100 p. For foreigners full – 360 p., preferential – 180 p.
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    Excursion “Grottoes of the Grand Cascade”

    This excursion will give you an opportunity to visit under the Grand Cascade – the Grand Grotto decorated with tuff stone and gilded sculptures, where in Peter the Great times noble visitors gathered. The idea of its creation belonged to Peter the Great himself. Even on the hottest day it is cool, and a large vase with a pyramid of fruits on a stone table looks especially tempting. But if you reach out to them, water jets fly out of inconspicuous holes in the table’s circumference. This is another Peterhof fountain-joke. Besides, the guide will show you the winding fountain pipes and tell you about the witty device of the local water pipe. At the end of the tour you will leave the grotto right in the middle of the Grand Cascade and will find yourself among the jets buzzing from all sides.

    • Excursions are held in the summer period daily from 11.00 to 18.00 (on weekends – 19.00)
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    • Duration – 30-45 min
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    • Ticket – 200 p., discount – 100 p. For foreigners – 300 p., preferential – 150 p.
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    Marli

    Marli is a palace located in the western part of the Lower Park of the Peterhof palace and park ensemble. The exposition of the Marly Palace presents unique exhibits: the naval overcoat of Emperor Peter the Great and a caftan with the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, books from his library, a table with an “aspid” board made by the Tsar’s hands, his personal dishes. There is also a collection of paintings collected by the emperor, which forms the basis of the picturesque exposition of the palace. It includes works by little-known Dutch, Flemish and Italian masters of the XVII-XVIII centuries: A. Silo, A. Storck, P. Belotti, A. Celesti and others. Some furnishings are authentic, others carefully selected by analogy, in accordance with the surviving documents.

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    The westernmost part of the Lower Park is occupied by the Marlin Garden, divided by the Great Pond into the Garden of Bacchus (located south of the pond) and the Garden of Venus (located on the northern side, closer to the sea). The gardens were laid out simultaneously with the construction of the palace and had utilitarian significance. In the Garden of Venus, fruits were grown for court meals. The name of the garden of Bacchus is transparent: during the reign of Peter the Great grapes were tried to grow here, but unsuccessfully. The Garden of Venus is protected from the winds from the Baltic by an earthen rampart, piled when the ponds were laid.

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    On the east side of the Marly Palace is the Marly Ponds, and on the west side are the Sectoral Ponds. Their purpose was not only decorative: the ponds contained fish for the tsar’s table, brought from various parts of Russia, and from 1724 it began to breed here. Marlinskie ponds are a kind of active monument. The tradition of breeding fish is renewed in our time, and lovers of fishing can spend their leisure time in Marli for their favorite pastime.

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    • Open during the summer period every day except Mon from 10.30am to 5pm
    • The box office closes an hour earlier
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    • Entrance – 100 p., discount 50 p. Foreigners – 150 p., preferential – 100 p.
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    Hermitage

    The Hermitage in Peterhof served as the prototype of all Russian “Hermitage” built in the 18th century.

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    The Hermitage was built according to the design of Braunstein in 1721-1725. The two-story Hermitage building is 11 meters high and stands on a continuous massive stylobate, emphasizing its lightness and grace. The pavilion is surrounded by a deep and wide moat, the walls of which are made of brick and bordered by a light-colored stone border. The moat was filled with water, and a drawbridge was thrown over it.

    A distinctive feature of the Hermitage are the windows and glazed doors that occupy most of the facades. As a consequence, the second floor seems almost transparent, and the entire pavilion resembles a crystal box.

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    The pavilion was intended for entertaining and secluded pastime of persons from the immediate entourage of the “royal personage”. Important affairs of state were discussed in the Hermitage. The Hermitage Hall served as a literary salon.

    On the first floor of the Hermitage there was a lobby, a kitchen and a scullery with a lift table mechanism. Behind an oak partition was a staircase to the second floor. The second floor was a single hall of 80 square meters.

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    Of particular interest was the engineering of the lift table for 14 persons, which allowed the nobles to eat without the presence of servants.

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    • Open in summer every day except Tues from 10.30 to 18.00
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    • In winter it is open only on weekends from 10.30 to 17.00
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    • The ticket office closes one hour earlier
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    • The pavilion is closed during rain and high humidity
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    • Entrance – 100 p., preferential – 50 p. Foreigners – 150p, preferential – 100 p.
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    • The Hermitage’s main antique “idea” – the recently restored unique lifting table – can be seen in action on weekends at sessions at 13.00, 14.00, 15.00. Special prices are available for these sessions.

    Cottage

    Everything here is imbued with the spirit of neo-Gothic. Arched arches of balconies, masterly carving of window and door slopes, screens and chairs in the Gothic style, bright plates with stained glass patterns, a collection of table clocks in the form of Gothic cathedrals – such medieval details look very unusual against the background of light rooms covered with greenery. Gothic decor is repeated in handmade carpets, decor of ovens, marble fireplaces and candelabras. By the way, you may have seen this palace in the movie “The Blackmail King” from the famous Sherlock Holmes series.

    • The palace is also used in the movie “The Blackmail King”.
      • Alexandria Park
      • In summer, open daily, except Mon, from 10.30 to 18.00
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      • In winter, open only on weekends from 10.30 to 17.00
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      • The box office closes one hour earlier
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      • Inspection – 45-60 min. Entrance-200r., preferential (including schoolchildren) -100r. For foreigners-300r., preferential – 150 p.
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      Olga and Tsaritsyn pavilions

      Olga’s pond was dug in 1838 at the command of Nicholas I on the site of a former swamp. It was filled with water from the Ropsha springs, and to this day it serves as a basin feeding the eastern group of fountains in the Lower Park. Two islands were formed from the excavated land – Tsaritsyn and Olgin. On the islands, pavilions for the wife and daughter of Nicholas I were built according to the design of architect Shtakenshneider.

      Tsaritsyn pavilion was built as an entertainment palace in the fashionable at the time “Pompeian spirit”, Olga’s pavilion – in the taste of a southern Italian villa. The islands amaze with an abundance of flowers, sculptures, marble benches, ruins resembling fragments of ancient buildings, fountains, pergolas. Stepping on their territory, it seems that you are transported from the cold north to warm Italy, the land of dreams and dreams.

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      • Peterhof’s Colonial Park
      • Open only in summer daily from 10.30 to 18.00
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      • Visit the pavilions only with a guided tour (groups of 6 to 12 people), duration – about 2 h.
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      • During the rain excursions are not conducted
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      • Entrance – 300 p., preferential – 100 p. For foreigners – 540 p., preferential – 270 p.
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      Gothic Chapel

      The Gothic Chapel is the home church of the royal family, built in honor of Alexander Nevsky. The small building with stained-glass rose windows and lancet portals is decorated with cast-iron lace of Gothic ornamentation. Despite its appearance, it is an Orthodox temple with a carved gilded iconostasis. Here members of the royal family prayed before important events in their lives, and here the maid of honor of Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna was married.

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      • Alexandria Park
      • Open only in summer daily, except Mon, from 10.30 to 18.00
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      • The ticket office is open until 17.00
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      • Inspection – 15-20 min. Entrance – 100 p., preferential – 50 p. For foreigners – 140 p., preferential – 70 p.
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      Visitors

      • Tel: 450-52-87, 427-74-25
      • The Lower Park is open from 9.00 to 19.00 (until 20.00 in summer)
      • Full ticket on weekdays costs 150 p., discount (students and pensioners) – 80 p. On weekends, a full ticket costs 250 p., discount (students and pensioners) – 100 p. Preschool children are free of charge. For foreigners – 400 p. (full), 200 p. (discounted)
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      • Fountains work from May to early October from 11.00 to 18.00 (on Saturday, Sunday and holidays – until 19.00)
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      How to get there

      There are different ways to get to Petrodvorets, located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. The shortest and most impressive is by fast-moving “Meteor” by water. It takes only half an hour. Naturally, it is possible only during the navigation period (from May to September). “Meteors” depart from the wharf located on the Palace Embankment opposite the Hermitage, as well as from the wharf at Senate Square, and dock at the wharf in the Lower Park of Petrodvorets. Minuses: a trip this way will cost you the most, in bad weather flights can be canceled. Transportation of passengers on “Meteora” is engaged in different companies, so the prices vary: adult one-way – about 500 p., children’s one-way – about 300 p. When buying a round-trip ticket, the trip is cheaper.

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      Cheaper ways are the electric train or bus (marshrutka). If you choose the railroad, then you need to go from the Baltic railroad station (metro station “Baltiyskaya”) to the station “New Peterhof”. The journey takes about 45 minutes. Unfortunately, the beautiful neo-Gothic station “New Peterhof”, which looks like Westminster Abbey, is quite far from the park, and you will have to go to it by bus № 344, 348, 350, 351, 352, 355, 356, about 10 minutes. They leave from the square in front of the train station.

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      It is more convenient to take the metro to the station “Avtovo”, cross the road and take bus 200, 210 or marshrutka № 224, 300, 424, 424a, which will take you without interchanges to the entrance to the park. From the metro station “Leninsky Prospekt” there also goes Shuttle cab № 420, 103.

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      By car you should leave St. Petersburg along Stachek Avenue through Avtovo and further – along the Peterhof highway, which runs along the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. Petrodvorets is located 29 km from St. Petersburg. A kilometer and a half after entering it, there will be a park on the right side. The drive from the city center takes about an hour.

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