Peterhof Palace and Gardens

The main sight to see at Peterhof is not the Palace but the grounds, especially the 176 fountains. There are actually several "palaces" at Peterhof, all of them very modest compared to Catherine's Summer Palace. The main palace or what is called the Grand Palace, sits on a bluff right above the Gulf of Finland. You might just want to bundle up for this trip, because the wind coming off the Gulf up that bluff will get your attention! Just below the Grand Palace are a series of amazing fountains modeled after the ones at Château de Marly in France. Perhaps the greatest technological achievement of Peterhof is that all of the fountains operate without the use of pumps. Water is supplied from natural springs and collects in reservoirs in the Upper Gardens. The elevation difference creates the pressure that drives most of the fountains of the Lower Gardens, including the Grand Cascade.

There is a lovely cafe in the middle of all these gardens right below the Grand Palace. You can sit outside and enjoy some tea or glass of wine while viewing these amazing fountains. I am sure Peter had great fun traipsing around this property creating what is considered the seventh great wonder of Russia. There are four other palaces to visit at Peterhof, all of which are relatively small - Monplaisir (Peter's favorite), Marly, Cottage and Hermitage - as well as acres of parkland, which would take a whole day to explore. Don't miss a walk down to the western part of the Lower Park to see the Chess Hill (Shakhmatnaya Gora), a water cascade tiled in the black and white like a chessboard.

Видео Peterhof Palace and Gardens канала Musings on Art by Cathy Locke