Visit to Petergof Palace and gardens

General information

Destination
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Program details

Built in the 18th century by Peter the Great as his summer residence, the Peterhof is today an ensemble of more than 20 museums and palaces that reflect the power and the wealth of the Romanov dynasty.



Located in a picturesque position overlooking the Gulf of Finland, the Peterhof originally consisted of a small palace designed by the Tsar himself called Monplaisir. He later extended it to include a chateau-style palace and a park modelled on Versailles. It was, however, his granddaughter, Empress Elizabeth, who made the palaces and parks the spellbinding sight that you see today.



Other buildings on the site are the original Monplaisir Palace and the small Marly Palace, which was modelled on a French hunting lodge. There is also a hermitage, something very much in vogue across Europe at the time, and a Gothic revival chapel. The lower park features lakes and a Garden of Venus filled with fruit trees and statues, and a Garden of Bacchus. The Upper Gardens display beautiful flower beds, topiaries and fountains.



You will visit The Peterhof Grand Palace that was designed to be the centerpiece of Peter the Great's "Russian Versaille" in 1721. Its elegant 3-storey facade is flanked with glass galleries and the shining gilded domes of Peterhof Church and Coat-of-Arms Pavilion can be seen from far away. In 18-19th centuries Grand Peterhof Palace was the official state residence of the Russian royalty.



Others

The tour is not available the last Tuesday of each month.