Petrodvorets - Peterhof

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Peterhof is the extensive estate of palaces, gardens and spectacular fountains as imagined by Peter the Great. In the Soviet era it was called Petrodvorets. It is always a must see on a visit to St. Petersburg. Along with many of the former imperial estates and palaces surrounding Leningrad, it had been destroyed during World War II and the Siege of Leningrad. While many other historic properties, including the Catherine Palace, were still in a state of restoration in 1975, Petrodvorets had been restored within the 30 years since the war. Then as now, Petrodvorets is reached via hydrofoils skimming along the Gulf of Finland.

Our visit to St. Petersburg also included a journey to the suburb of Pushkin, once known as Tsarskoye Selo. Tsarskoye Selo had been home to several opulent eighteenth century palaces during the Tsarist times, the Catherine Palace, the Alexander Palace and the Pavlovsk Palace. All of them, along with Peterhof, were destroyed by the Germans during the Siege of Leningrad in World War II. Credit must be given to the Soviets that they were determined to restore the palaces in full as cultural heritage, despite the deprivations of the post-war period. However it required decades to conduct the restorations. In 1975, the Catherine Palace was still under restoration, the exterior much more drab looking than it is today. I would have to wait another 41 years to see it.

We did see the Pavlovsk Palace, which had only been reopened a short time before. The Pavlovsk Palace had been built in 1781 by Catherine the Great for her son, Grand Duke Paul (Pavel). He became Tsar Paul I. After his death in 1801, it became the home of his widow, Maria Feodorovna (1759–1828). The palace was designed in a Palladian style by Catherine's Scottish architect Charles Cameron.

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Photos

Marine Canal
Peterhof (Petrodvorets). Marine Canal and fountains leading to the Great Palace.
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Trick Fountain
Umbrella trick fountain at Peterhof (Petrodvorets). EE1975068

Lower Park
Lower park at Peterhof (Petrodvorets). EE1975067p1

Marine Canal
Peterhof (Petrodvorets). Marine Canal and fountains leading to the Great Palace. EE1975066p1

Triton Fountain
Triton Fighting a Sea Monster fountain at the Grand Orangerie. EE1975069

Grand Cascade
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Samson Fountain
Peterhof (Petrodvorets). Samson Fountain at the foot of the Grand Cascade. In the background is the Western Voronikhin Colonnade. EE1975071

Grand Cascade and Marine Canal
Peterhof (Petrodvorets). Marine Canal from the Grand Cascade. EE1975072

Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Architecture and history
This part of the world provides an education.