Peterhof

Peterhof is an extravagant collection of palaces, fountains and landscaped gardens and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It is located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland about 19 miles west of St. Petersburg.  Peter the Great originally came across the site in 1705 and in 1714 commissioned the building of a palace which would resemble and rival that of Versailles in France. From this location he could control access by water, to St. Petersburg.  Most of the plans for Peterhof were completed by 1725 but each of the tsars after Peter expanded on the palaces and gardens and continued well into the 19th Century.  It also includes several smaller palaces, sculpture, pools, parks, a greenhouse and a beach.

  

My camera can't even take in the entire palace.

The Grand Cascade comprises 37 gilded bronze sculptures, 64 fountains and 142 water jets.  It descends from the terraces of the Great Palace, through the estate, and finally out into the gulf.

I'm glad that it snowed the night before.  

In spite of the cold, it was rather magical.

The palace is 300 meters long.

The fountains operate without pumps.  Water is supplied from natural springs and collects in the Upper Gardens.  The elevation difference creates the pressure.

We braved the cold and wind and started our trek beside the Sea Channel to the Gulf of Finland.  There were very few tourists.

Are we having fun yet?

And a look back; only half way.

Almost to the end we cross a bridge to continue back to the Palace.

Gulf of Finland

This is were the hydrofoil drops off and picks up 

passengers -- but only in the summer.

Front gate with Upper Gardens and Peterhof Palace in background.

After taking the tour and walking the grounds, we went back to the main road and attempted to catch a taxi.  Wish I knew what this building is.

Since it was not a sunny day, 

and it was very cold outside, 

and my frozen fingers were trying to click pictures, 

and they wouldn't let us take pictures inside, 

I decided to snag some pictures off the internet (below).

Peterhof Palace, Grand Cascade and Samson Fountain

Aerial view of Peterhof Palace, with the Upper Gardens, the Grand Cascade, the Lower Gardens and the Sea Channel.

Grand Cascade

The Main Staircase

The Throne Room

The Ballroom of the Grand Palace

Sofa Room

White Dining Room

The Oak Study of Peter the Great

Picture Hall has 368 paintings.  They are mostly of variously dressed women with a difference in appearance and age, yet most of them are of the same single model.  They were purchased in 1764 from the widow of the Italian artist, P. Rotari, who died in St. Petersburg.  The paintings are not individually framed; they are mounted on the wall and then the moldings run horizontally and vertically.

In 1941 the German Army destroyed the fountains and the palace was partially exploded and left to burn.  Only a portion of the treasures were saved.  Restoration work began after the war and continues today.

visited:  Wednesday, November 25, 2015