Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo style. Great Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg

Tsarskoe Selo is a museum-reserve located near St. Petersburg in the city of Pushkin. Tsarskoye Selo is one of the three most visited attractions in St. Petersburg, not counting the northern capital. The other two attractions are of course the Hermitage and Peterhof. During our short acquaintance with St. Petersburg, among other things, we visited two of them. And today we will talk about Tsarskoe Selo, a museum with a rich and complex history.

How to get to Tsarskoye Selo

The easiest, most convenient and fastest way to get to Tsarskoe Selo is minibus. To do this, you need to take the metro to Moskovskaya station. There is a parking lot between Moskovskaya Square and the House of Soviets commuter buses and minibuses. If you find it difficult to find your way, just ask the commuter bus stop or the House of Soviets. From this stop they go to Tsarskoe Selo minibuses No. 287, 342, 545. You can view the route map of minibuses with stops in detail using the application. There is another option by train from Vitebsky station, but in Pushkin you will still have to change to a minibus. We left for Tsarskoe Selo from the Moskovskaya metro station and were there within 30 minutes.

Having arrived in Pushkin only after lunch and having analyzed the queue to the palace, we decided to limit ourselves to a walk in the park. It is worth noting that a ticket to the park, for which you also need to stand in line, is not entrance ticket to the palace, where you need to stand additionally after entering the park. There are several pavilions in the park, and several exhibitions in the palace. Prices for visiting museum exhibitions can be found on the official website of the Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Reserve.

There is an arch next to the ticket office. This arch connects the Church wing to the Imperial Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, where Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin studied from 1811 to 1817 and graduated from it among the first cohort.

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Great Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo

The Catherine Palace is named after Empress Catherine I, by whose order the building was founded in 1717. The Saarskaya Manor estate was a gift from Peter I to his wife, now it is Tsarskoe Selo. The palace was the country residence of three Russian empresses: Catherine I, Elizaveta Petrovna and Catherine II. Each of the empresses contributed something different to the appearance of the Great Catherine Palace. The current appearance of the palace is the work of the famous architect Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli, whose bust is installed on the north side of the palace.

By order of Elizabeth Petrovna, Rastrelli rebuilt and significantly enlarged the Catherine Palace. So in 1756, a 325-meter palace with a gilded facade appeared before the stunned guests. After the death of her predecessor, the Palace and the park passed into the possession of Catherine the Great, who until the end of her reign made adjustments to the appearance of the park and the palace, but nothing changed significantly in the palace.

The palace building was badly damaged during the Nazi occupation during the Great Patriotic War. In addition to the burnt building, the palace lost its main relic - the Amber Room, which was taken from Russia. Now the Amber Room, meticulously recreated by restorers, is open to the public in the Grand Catherine Palace. And the palace itself is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Catherine Park in Tsarskoe Selo

You can get to the Catherine Park, as well as the Catherine Palace, only through one entrance, although there are more of them. It is located on Sadovaya Street, not far from the minibus stop; they deliver you to the very entrance and pick you up from there. Catherine Park is fabulously rich. You can walk around the park for more than one day and it will still be difficult to leave here after seeing all its attractions. On an area of ​​more than 100 hectares, in addition to the palace itself, there are many pavilions, bridges and monuments built in different time and in different architectural styles.

Cameron Gallery

You can start exploring the park's pavilions not far from Grand Palace, from the southern wing. The southern wing of the palace, or as it is correctly called Zubovsky, is named after the last favorite of Catherine II, Platon Zubov, for whom it was erected. The Cold Bath and Cameron Gallery are also located here. All three pavilions are connected by a ramp with the faces of Roman emperors.

The Cameron Gallery is named after the architect Cameron, who built this pavilion. The upper tier is decorated with busts of idols of Catherine the Great, and the pavilion itself was intended for philosophical walks and conversations.

From here they open beautiful views the entire park and the Maid of Honor garden.

Cameron's commitment to ancient art is visible to the naked eye.

Mirror Ponds and Upper Bath

Opposite the Great Catherine Palace there is a regular park, one of the main places in which is occupied by two Mirror Ponds. On the north side of the pond farthest from the Cameron Gallery is the Upper Bath.

As the name suggests, this building served as a steam room for members imperial family. Currently, admission to this pavilion is free; it features an exhibition dedicated to cinematic art, or more precisely to all Russian films filmed on the territory of Tsarskoe Selo. In one of the rooms, equipment from the Anna Karenina film set is displayed as exhibits.

Not far from the Upper Bath, there is the Lower Bath pavilion, where entry is paid.

The only thing that can ruin a walk is the rainy St. Petersburg weather, otherwise it’s very pleasant to walk along the cozy paths, shady alleys and symmetrically cut lawns and it’s easy to forget about time.

Pavilion Grotto, Tsarskoe Selo

The regular park can be divided into the Old Garden and the Hermitage Grove. The Old Garden includes two Mirror Ponds, the Upper and Lower Baths and the Grotto Pavilion.

The grotto, built by Rastrelli himself, was decorated in accordance with its name. Patrons of the seas, dolphins and shells create the mood of the sea. The interior decoration of the Grotto was changed many times, so the tuff disappeared from the walls, making the room even more like a grotto. Many sculptures and paintings from the Grotto are currently in the St. Petersburg Hermitage Museum.

Hermitage Pavilion, Tsarskoe Selo

The old garden is separated from the Hermitage Grove by the Fishing Canal, through which several stone bridges are thrown. The bridges fit very colorfully into the created landscape.

The Hermitage Grove is named after the main building in this part of the park. The Hermitage Pavilion is also the main attraction of the entire regular park.

The Hermitage is one of the classic examples of Russian Baroque. Typically, the project was developed by Zemtsov, and Rastrelli only executed it, adding some details, such as columns. The interior decoration is also typical of the Baroque architectural style, as you can easily see by purchasing a ticket to the Hermitage Pavilion. By paying a little more and arriving at a certain time, you will be given a tour of the internal halls of the Hermitage with a demonstration of the lifting table mechanism. The lifting mechanism allowed the reigning persons to receive replacement dishes without seeing the servants. The mechanism lowered the table into the kitchen, located on the ground floor, and the already set table rose into the refectory hall.

Lower ponds and their attractions

The northeastern border of the park is conditionally limited by the lower ponds. Behind the last third there is a symbolic gate.

The gate “To my dear colleagues” was built in 1817 in honor of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. The text engraved on the gate belongs to the hand of Alexander I.

Nearby there is a cast-iron gazebo where you can relax from the hustle and bustle of the regular park. It should be noted that almost no one comes to this part of the park.

The cascade bridge separates the Second Lower Pond and the Third Lower Pond.

The same cascade bridge separates the First and Second Lower Ponds. Next to this cascade bridge is the Morean Column, which is a monument to Russia’s victory in the Russian-Turkish War.

So, moving from the Third Pond to the First, we reached the Big Lake, on the shores of which, and on the lake itself, there are many attractions. The first thing we saw was Rabbit Island, there is a ferry nearby that takes everyone to the Big Island. The ferry has a schedule and cost. And on Big Island there is a concert hall “On the Island” and the Chesmenskaya (Oryol) Column, works of the famous architect Antonio Rinaldi. It was erected in honor of the naval victories of Count Orlov.

Admiralty and Turkish Bath

Here, on the shores of the Big Lake, already at the end of the 18th century, three brick buildings were built under the common name of the Admiralty. These buildings are no longer built in the Russian Baroque style, but closer to Gothic.


On the opposite bank of the Big Lake from the Grotto pavilion, there is a Turkish bath. The pavilion conceived by Alexander I was brought to life by the architect Monighetti. The Turkish bath was built in memory of the Russian-Turkish war. During the Great Patriotic War, the pavilion was destroyed and later restored. Entrance to the Turkish Bath pavilion is paid.

Landscape Park, Tsarskoe Selo

Behind Big lake Landscape Park begins. Many canals with bridges, paths, hills and trees make the walk unforgettable. While here, you can easily lose your sense of reality and fall into a real fairy tale.

Walking through the Landscape Park, we crossed Ramp Alley, which leads to the Cameron Gallery. And on the way we will see the Granite Terrace. I would like to admit that we looked up all the names and locations of pavilions and alleys in the free map that is issued at the ticket office along with a ticket to the park, so you will not be left without a life-saving landmark.

The Granite Terrace, decorated with exact copies of ancient statues, overlooks the Admiralty.

And if we look straight from the terrace, we will see the same Concert hall on the Big Island, in front of it is the sculpture “Nerves, Caesar of Rome”, and even closer to us is the statue “Venus with Cupid”.

In the southwestern part of the park there are Upper Ponds, which became the main element of the landscape design of this part of the park.

In the very depths of the islands, surrounded by a pond, is the Ruin Kitchen Pavilion.

Nearby is the Concert Hall pavilion.

Already quite on the border with the Alexander Garden is the Creaking (Chinese) gazebo, conceived by the architect Rastrelli and embodied by Neelov.

From here you can already move towards the exit from the park, that is, towards the Great Catherine Palace. On the way we came across another pavilion, the Evening Hall. One of the latest structures of the Catherine Park, built already in the 19th century.

Already almost next to the Zubovsky outbuilding, to which we came out, there is a colorful Pergola (Trellis gazebo), a favorite place for photo sessions of newlyweds.

The perlog is the conditional boundary of the so-called Own Garden. It is easy to recognize by its marble fountain and the “Nymph” sculpture.

We left the territory of the Catherine Park not through the main entrance, but through Triangular Square, past the Golden Gate of the Catherine Palace. We showed this side of the palace at the very beginning of the article. By the way, entrance to the inner territory of the palace is allowed only as part of excursion group by passes.

Opposite the Golden Gate to the Catherine Palace is the entrance to the Alexander Garden. Having gone around the palace buildings, we again find ourselves on Sadovaya Street, next to the arch. Next to the Lyceum is the first stone church in Pushkin.

Tsarskoe Selo - review

There are some tips for everyone who decides to visit Tsarskoe Selo in St. Petersburg. If your trip coincides with the tourist season, which is May-September, then be prepared for a huge number of people. As mentioned above, Tsarskoe Selo is one of the most visited attractions of the northern capital. The visitors here are very diverse and not only our compatriots, but also many foreigners, and delegations from China are very numerous. Therefore, if you have a desire to take a walk not only on Catherine Park, but also to visit the Catherine Palace itself, you should come here early in the morning and take sandwiches with you, because standing in line and walking through the park can last the whole day.

As for us personally, the road from St. Petersburg is not at all tiring. It only tires a large number of of people. But not everything is so bad here, there are large crowds only at the Catherine Palace itself (the queue for the palace) and at the Cameron Gallery. The rest of the park is almost empty, so it will be comfortable to walk around even at rush hour and in the peak season. As for entering the palace, if you still intend to get inside, be prepared to stand in a 2-3 hour queue. But the inconvenience will not end there. Due to the large flow of tourists, you will not be allowed to walk freely through the halls of the palace. The excursion is very limited in time, and you will see the Amber Room almost without stopping. So if you still want to see the legendary Amber Room, be patient.

Great Catherine Palace in Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo)

Category: Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo)

The Great Catherine Palace is also known as the Great Tsarskoye Selo Palace. Included in the list of objects cultural heritage RF. Architectural style: Elizabethan Baroque - a direction in architecture characteristic of 1741–1761, the era of the reign of Elizabeth I Petrovna. Its most famous representative was Bartolomeo Rastrelli, according to whose design this building was built. imperial residence in Tsarskoe Selo.

From a small building to a luxurious palace

The history of the palace dates back to 1717. But then it was not yet the Great Catherine that we know today. Initially royal residence was a modest-sized two-story building. The German architect Johann Braunstein worked on its construction. Then it was conceived as the summer residence of Catherine I.

In 1843, the new Empress Elizaveta Petrovna decided to expand and equip it. The task was entrusted to architects Andrei Kvasov and Mikhail Zemtsov.

This first building “lasted” until 1752, and it was rebuilt. So I saw the light luxurious palace, fully consistent with its high status. The palace included many service buildings and even a palace church. When decorating, they did not skimp on gold. The interiors were covered with gold, both inside and outside. The figures of Atlanteans on the main façade were even covered with gold.

The Grand Catherine Palace acquired its current appearance precisely under Elizabeth. Even after the reconstruction, she considered the previous building small and outdated. The dismantling of the old palace and the subsequent reconstruction lasted four years. And now the 325-meter palace is ready! When it was presented on July 30, 1756 to the royal nobles and guests from Europe, everyone was shocked by its splendor and scope.

Some features of the Catherine Palace

The azure facade was decorated with white columns, stucco moldings and figures of Atlanteans. Gilding gave the palace more solemnity. The wings, connected by covered galleries, extended from the central part of the palace. The five-domed palace church sparkled with gilded domes above its northern wing. Above the southern noble metal shone a dome, the spire of which was crowned with a multi-pointed star. Just imagine: about 100 kg of red gold were used for interior and exterior decor!

Under Elizabeth, the ceremonial rooms were located along the entire length of the palace - they formed the ceremonial golden enfilade. At the same time, the famous Amber Room and Picture Hall appeared. Famous foreign masters worked on the first one for more than five years. And in the hall there were collected more than a hundred masterpieces of Western European artists of the 17th – early 18th centuries.

Catherine the Great, who was partial to ancient architecture, also made her contribution to the arrangement of the Great Tsarskoye Selo Palace. The Empress entrusted the work on further reconstruction of the palace to the Scottish architect Charles Cameron. Through his efforts, he acquired the Blue and Silver cabinets, the Dome dining room, two living rooms - Lyon and Arabesque, and the Chinese hall. With her, the Agate Pavilion and the Cameron Gallery, the Cold Bath and the Zubovsky Building appeared. For Tsarevich Paul and his wife Maria Feodorovna, the State Blue and Chinese Blue Living Rooms, as well as the Waiter's Room, the Green Dining Room and the Bedchamber were created in the palace.

The front office and adjacent rooms (architect V.P. Stasov) were created already under Alexander I Pavlovich in 1817. They were designed to commemorate the victory over Napoleon. In 1862–1863, the final stage of perestroika was the creation of the Grand Staircase.

In 1910, the palace changed its name from Bolshoi Tsarskoye Selo to Bolshoi Catherine Palace.

The Amber Room in the Catherine Palace

The authentic Amber Room, created by the German master Andreas Schlüter for the King of Prussia, Frederick I, and then donated by the monarch to Peter I, disappeared without a trace during the Great Patriotic War.

The Nazis who kidnapped her first exhibited this masterpiece in Royal castle Koenigsberg from 1942 to 1944. But in August 1944, after a raid by the British Air Force, a fire broke out in the castle. However, the amber panels were unlikely to be damaged: they were packed and hidden in the basements. When, in April 1945, the Red Army began to storm Koenigsberg, the Amber Room seemed to have sunk into oblivion. Since then, nothing has been known about her whereabouts: searches have yielded no results.

In 1981, work began on recreating the stone-cutting masterpiece of the 18th century. The reconstruction until 1997 was led by A. A. Zhuravlev. For this purpose, a special amber workshop was created in Pushkin. For the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg, celebrated in 2003, the Amber Room was completely restored. According to Baron Eduard von Falz-Fein, who saw the lost original at one time, the restored Amber Room is even better than the previous one.

Some halls and premises of the Catherine Palace

Main staircase. Luxurious marble staircase in Rococo style. Decorative elements: through carved balustrades and figured vases. The stucco decoration includes a large clock and a calendar.

Picture hall. Intended for diplomatic receptions. Contains a collection of paintings by Western European artists of the 17th–18th centuries. The most famous painting is “The Battle of Poltava”, commissioned by Peter I.

Big hall. In the 18th century it was called the Light Gallery. The front room is in the Elizabethan Baroque style. The hall is two-height, spanning the entire width of the palace. It has 13 windows on each side, its area is approximately 1000 sq. m. m.

Chinese living room of Alexander I. These were the emperor’s personal chambers. The walls are decorated with portraits of Russian autocrats: Peter the Great, Catherine I, Catherine II, Elizaveta Petrovna, Anna Ioannovna and a large portrait of Alexander I himself.

The Great Catherine Palace, together with the Catherine Park, forms a single palace and park ensemble in the Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Reserve.

As a result of the restoration, 18 halls were restored in the palace, representing different eras in the development of the domestic interior.

The restoration of the palace is still ongoing, and on a strictly scientific basis, and its completion is still far away. But visitors can view exhibitions in rooms that have not yet been restored.

Address: 196601, St. Petersburg, Pushkin, st. Sadovaya, 7.

Opening hours: Monday - from 10:00 to 21:00, Wednesday - Sunday - from 12:00 to 18:00. Closed: Tuesday and every last Monday of the month.

History of the construction of the Catherine Palace

Construction of the palace began in 1717, and for almost 300 years it has been the main attraction of the city of Pushkin and, together with the Catherine Park, occupies its central part. The first architect brought in was Johann-Friedrich Braunstein. By 1724, the palace was a two-story small building, and was called the “stone chambers of Catherine I.”

During the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, it was decided to expand the palace. The reconstruction of the building began in 1743 and lasted 13 years, during which one architect replaced another. In 1748, Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli took the position of chief architect of Tsarskoye Selo. Having led the construction of the Catherine Palace, Rastrelli attached paramount importance to the reconstruction of wooden galleries into full-story structures. Thanks to his work, the palace became the first place in Russia where the length of the enfilade was equal to the length of the entire building.

The architect adopts unusual and bold color solutions for Russia at that time and actively uses sky blue in combination with white and gold. In 1760-1770 The reconstruction of the palace began to suit the tastes of its new owner, Catherine II. The ornate decoration of the façade was removed, the stucco decorations disappeared, and the gilding was replaced with paint. The architect Charles Cameron created new interiors of the palace: the Arabesque and Lyon drawing rooms, the Bedchamber. Unfortunately, during the war they were destroyed and have not yet been restored.

Parks were laid out at the same time as the palace. The landscape park became part of the panorama, and the regular park was laid out with ledges on the slope in the form of terraces. There are many pavilions and sculptures in the park, but its main decoration is the Hermitage, Grotto, Upper and Lower Baths.

In 1817, the architect V. Stasov created the State Office and several adjacent rooms for Emperor Alexander I in memory of the brilliant victories in the Patriotic War of 1812. In 1863, the Grand Staircase was created in the style of the “second Rococo”.

Exhibition rooms of the Catherine Palace:

• Throne room,
• White formal dining room,
• Raspberry and Green Pillar,
• Amber Room (the best craftsmen from different countries worked on its creation for 5 years),
• Picture Hall (it presents more than 100 paintings from the works of Western European masters of painting of the 17th - early 18th centuries of various national schools),
• Green dining room,
• Waitress,
• Bedchamber

Modern times

During the Great Patriotic War, most of the decoration of the palace was destroyed and looted, including the famous Amber Room. Today, thanks to the colossal work of scientists and restorers, much has been restored. Of the 58 rooms of the palace destroyed during the war, 32 have been restored.

• The central building of the palace is decorated with caryatids, Atlases, cartouches and mascarons
• The main pediment of the Middle House is decorated with cartouches with the monogram of Empress Catherine I “E” and a crown
• In 1756, all sculptural elements of the palace decoration were covered with gold. About 100 kilograms of pure red gold were used for gilding
• The most famous hall of the palace is the Amber Room.
• Over 130 paintings are in the Picture Hall

Editorial staff of the website Pushkin.ru

The famous magnificent large Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg, which represents the central part of the huge architectural ensemble, is located on the territory of Tsarskoe Selo. Every day its halls are visited by several thousand tourists from all over the world. The building is, which was previously the summer residence of Elizaveta Petrovna, as well as Catherine I and Catherine II. This attraction is listed as a heritage site. World Heritage UNESCO. The residence was named in honor of Catherine I, by whose order it was built. The start of construction dates back to 1717. Since then, the building has been rebuilt several times, this moment time, it is a striking example of the late Baroque.

After a tourist finds out the address of the Catherine Palace, he, as a rule, tries to find out when exactly is the best time to visit it. There is simply no clear answer to this question. In summer you can fully enjoy the facades of the palace, as well as the views huge park, wide green alleys, take a walk near the Big Lake. Horseback riding or a ride in an electric car are also very popular. You can ride a gondola around the lake. The only drawback of the summer period is the huge influx of guests, so in order to get inside the palace a tourist will have to stand in line for a lot of time. Experienced travelers claim that the park is best visited in spring or summer, but you can get inside the palace in winter.

The literature often mentions the Catherine Palace in autumn. Indian summer seemed to poets to be a particularly wonderful period. The riot of colors amazes the imagination; the foliage on the trees of the most unusual colors merges into a single composition.

Indeed, autumn for these territorial regions is considered a prosperous season for planning travel. Thus, the Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg can be visited in the middle - end of September, when the rainy season has not yet begun, but the sun is no longer so hot. The autumn decoration of the garden looks just as great as its spring version, but from March to early May the St. Petersburg weather is rainy.

History of the Catherine Palace

It is worth noting that the palace has survived several eras, which is why its architecture is reflected in each of them. In addition, the personal taste preferences of each of the rulers of those times for whom the building was the residence also had an influence. 1717 is considered the year the construction of the palace began, which was carried out under the strict guidance of the architect Johann Brauestein from Germany. The building was planned from the very beginning as the residence of Catherine I. The completion of construction dates back to 1724. According to the first design plan, the building was a small two-story building, made in the Dutch style. If you view photo of the Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg during different rulers, you can notice a certain dynamics. For example, after Elizabeth Petrovna ascended the throne, she instructed famous Russian architects not only to increase the area of ​​the building, but also to improve it.

As the story goes, modern tourists see the Catherine Palace exactly as it became during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna.

The year 1752 was also a period of change. The Empress felt that the residence was too cramped and old-fashioned, so she entrusted its restoration to the architect known as Bartolomeo Rastrelli. The reconstruction work lasted four years. The changes were enormous; it was after this period that the building received the Russian Baroque style, in which it has remained to this day. One hundred kilograms of gold were used to gild the facade, which also decorated the statues located along the perimeter of the roof. The park area is also particularly elegant, the presentation of which together with the palace took place in 1756. At that time, the Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg made an indelible impression on foreign ambassadors and Russian nobles.

State rooms

The tourist is greeted by the Grand Staircase, for the manufacture of which white marble was used. An architect named I. A. Monighetti worked on its creation. This unsurpassed architectural creation occupies part of the Chinese Hall, which is distinguished by special thematic decorations, including porcelain dishes and vases. Particular attention should also be paid to such interior details as a large wall barometer and clock. The staircase is decorated with two Cupids, one of which is still fast asleep, and the other has just begun to wake up. Carved stucco molding of unsurpassed quality was used to decorate the ceilings and walls. The ceiling space is occupied by the famous painting “Aeneas and Venus”, “The Judgment of Paris”, as well as “Jupiter and Callisto”. The staircase leads its guests to the halls of the Catherine Palace in Pushkin, a photo of which can be viewed online:

In addition, there is enough information not only about the outstanding advantages of the attraction, but also about how to get to the Catherine Palace to save your time. The most convenient way to get to your destination is from the Vitebsky station, from where the train departs, heading to the platform called “Tsarskoye Selo”. From the station you can get directly to the museum by bus No. 371 or minibus No. 377.

It is noteworthy that each individual room is a unique, fully completed composition, which is characterized by moderate luxury. After the tourist understands where the Catherine Palace is located, he needs to understand that it is best to choose the time before lunch for the excursion, since it lasts quite a long time. In any case, it is better to visit the building itself and the surrounding park in two approaches, so as not to miss a single detail.

Audio guide, tickets 700 rubles, payment by card.
St. Petersburg, Pushkin city, Sadovaya street, 7
+7 812 415‑76-67, +7 812 415‑76-68

One of the most famous attractions of the suburbs of St. Petersburg is the Tsarskoye Selo Palace Park Ensemble in the city of Pushkin. Its pearl is the Catherine Palace. This place receives a huge number of tourists every year. After all, visiting St. Petersburg and not seeing its most famous palace is a big omission for a guest of the city. Let me tell you a little about the Catherine Palace. I am sure that the views of the palace and its famous halls will inspire you to visit this place.

A little history

The palace was founded in 1710. In this year, Tsar Peter I gave his wife Martha Skavronskaya, the future Empress Catherine I, the Sarskaya manor with the surrounding villages. A few years later, the architect Friedrich Braunstein built a small two-story palace. After the death of Catherine I, it passed to I’s daughter, Elizaveta Petrovna.

Since 1741, Tsarskoye Selo became official residence Russian monarchs. Under Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, the palace underwent significant changes. By order of the Empress, it was decided to expand the palace building. Many famous architects worked on this: M. G. Zemtsov, A. V. Kvasov, G. Trezzini, S. I. Chevakinsky. To improve the interior decoration and appearance palace was invited by F.B. Shot. He began work in 1756. It was he who came up with the idea of ​​decorating the palace in the Baroque style. Subsequently, each emperor living here brought something of his own.

The palace greets its visitor with a gilded grille of the front gate. The facade is made with special chic in the Baroque style. The azure ribbon in combination with snow-white columns, gilded ornaments, and figures of Atlans is the hallmark of the palace. He is unique! The luxury and splendor of the building leaves an indescribable feeling of awe and admiration. The Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo, being the official residence of Russian monarchs, hosted the most magnificent balls and masquerades. Here, in the northern wing of the palace, is the Palace Church of the Resurrection. Nearby, the building of the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum is connected by an arch, about which you can read. Around the parade ground there are service buildings - circumferences.

State halls of the Catherine Palace

The first thing that greets you is the Grand (Main) staircase of the palace, made of white marble. This is a magnificent creation by the architect I. A. Monighetti. It was built on the site of the Chinese Hall. The walls are decorated with vases and dishes made of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, and a large clock and barometer also hang on the wall.

The staircase is decorated with sculptures “Waking Cupid”, and on the opposite side - “Sleeping Cupid”. The walls and ceilings are decorated with carved stucco. On the ceiling there are paintings “The Judgment of Paris”, “Jupiter and Callisto” and “Aeneas and Venus”. The first two were obtained from the collection of the State Hermitage. The third was donated to the museum by a Leningrad resident.

The staircase leads its visitors to the halls of the palace.

Big hall

The first room you enter leaves the most exciting impression, because you find yourself in the Great Hall of the palace. It was also called the Light Gallery - the largest room. It was intended for official receptions and gala balls. The hall still amazes with its wealth and beauty. Gilded carvings, lampshades and mirrors all around - all this takes your breath away, and you want to examine and remember every bit of the decoration of the hall.

Thanks to 13 large windows on each side and mirrors between them, the architect F.-B Rastrelli was able to achieve such an effect that the hall seems huge and endless. Any sound is repeated 32 times. This was necessary so that the empress’s voice would be more menacing and powerful.

When restoring the hall after the war, architects spent a long time trying to restore this acoustic effect. A few years later he appeared on his own. During the day, the entire hall is shrouded in sunlight reflected in gold, and in the evening and at night it is buried in candles. The picture is completed by a parquet floor made of stained and lightened oak and a lampshade decorating the ceiling with images of soaring figures. Here you want to remember and hum a few notes from the waltz and dance, spin to the beat of the music.

At the ball in Ekaterininsky Far East The guests were eagerly awaiting the appearance of the Empress. And when the doors of the hall opened, their gaze was struck by the golden front suite yard tsa stretching along the entire building. The Empress walked through this enfilade, completely surrounded by gold, like a living portrait in a golden frame.

This was another brilliant plan of the architect F. -B. Rastrelli, embodied in the Catherine Palace. We heard a lot about balls and masquerades of that time, when festivities began in the evening and continued until the morning. The magnificent decoration of the palace made an indelible impression on foreign guests.

It is a well-known fact that Empress Elizaveta Petrovna was an unrivaled fashionista. She forbade appearing at the ball in the same suit twice. The empress herself had about 15 thousand dresses in her wardrobe. The balls were held on a grand scale. Her courtiers had to comply in everything.

Cavalier's dining room

Near Large hall The Cavalier Canteen is located. Its walls are decorated with paintings and carved gold patterns. The dining table is in the center of the room. It is draped with a tablecloth and gracefully decorated with ribbons. Here are items from the famous order services. The Cavalier Dining Room hosted receptions for small groups of guests, as well as small balls. She is more modest and cozy.

White formal dining room

The white formal dining room served for dinners for the imperial family. Formal dinners and celebrations were held here with luxurious and elaborate table settings, fountains of wine and champagne. On the walls of the hall hang paintings by the court artist I.F. Groota. They depict hunting scenes and still lifes. It was I.F. Groot introduced such a direction in painting as “hunting still life”.

Picture hall

The Picture Hall of the Catherine Palace contains works by the most famous and talented Western European artists of the 17th-18th centuries. A special place is occupied by the painting “Battle of Poltava”, commissioned by I. The room was intended for diplomatic meetings and receptions. Its design was carried out by the above-mentioned architect F.-B. Rastrelli. The paintings were selected by size and color combination to ultimately create a single mosaic covering all the walls of the hall. During the Great Patriotic War, the room was completely destroyed. The paintings were taken out, preserved, and then returned.

Arabesque Hall

The Arabesque Hall is one of Catherine the Great's favorite state rooms. It was decorated by the architect C. Cameron. The panels with arabesques depicted scenes from the life of the ancient Romans: men and women, mythical monsters, subjects of myths and legends. Restraint and exquisite simplicity in details are the hallmark of the room.

Raspberry and Green Pillar

The Crimson and Green Pillar Rooms were named so because of the original design of the walls. Glass "pillars" decorated the walls. Under the glass there was colored foil imitating a precious stone. The rooms got their names in accordance with the color of the foil.

Raspberry Pillar was used for holding board games.

There was previously a pantry in Green Stolbovaya. Silverware and porcelain were stored here.

Portrait Hall

In the Portrait Hall of the palace there are paintings with ceremonial images of imperial persons. Presented here the most famous image of Empress Catherine I in her ceremonial dress and with the ribbon of St. Andrew the First-Called, as well as ceremonial portraits of Natalya Alekseevna (sister I), Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, Empress Catherine II.

the Amber Room

The eighth wonder of the world - that’s what they call it. It was supposed to serve as an office where one could retire, or, for example, play cards. The amber panels were presented by the Prussian king Frederick William I as a diplomatic gift to Peter I. The Amber Room did not immediately take its rightful place.

Initially, the room in Winter Palace. Only after Empress Elizaveta Petrovna started reconstruction of the palace, the panels were transported to Tsarskoe Selo. They were carefully carried in their arms into the palace, into the room reserved for them. To room b It was completely filled with a delicate golden color, the architect F.B. Rastrelli applied the already tested illusory effect with mirrors. The fire of candles and the midday light of the sun was reflected in the mirrors and amber panels, enlivening the room, saturating it with warm amber light.

The Amber Room was completely lost during the Great Patriotic War. After the Nazis occupied Tsarskoye Selo, she was taken outside Russia. According to one version, in Koenigksberg. According to another, the room was hidden at the bottom Baltic Sea. Until now, this secret has not been revealed.

Scientists and amber craftsmen from Tsarskoye Selo have been working on restoring the room since 1979. They reconstructed the room from surviving photographs. The Amber Room was completely restored in 2003, for the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg.

Work to restore the palace and interiors is still ongoing. Some of the rooms have been restored, but much more needs to be pieced together literally. Architects meticulously, with the help of photographs and documents, create a layout (wooden model), and gilders cover each decorative element with gold leaf. A whole staff of professionals works painstakingly on every detail of the interior. Their work is difficult to overestimate.

When to visit

When is the best time to visit the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo? It is difficult to give a definite answer to this question. Visiting it in summer, you can admire the views of the palace and park, its wide alleys and the view of the Great Lake. Horse ride with a crew, on an electric car through the park or on a gondola on the Big Lake will make a visit to Tsarskoe Selo unforgettable. But in the summer there are so many visitors that you will have to sacrifice your time standing in line to get into the palace. This can last 20 or 40 minutes. Therefore, many advise visiting the palace in winter and the park in summer.

In my opinion, the most beautiful time to visit is early autumn. The period of “Indian summer” in Tsarskoye Selo was so loved by many writers and poets. The autumn sun is still warm like summer. The foliage on the trees amazes with a riot of colors and combinations. It is no longer as hot and stuffy as in summer, but also not cold and rainy as in autumn or winter. The beauty of the autumn decoration of the trees is in no way inferior to the beauty of the palace, but complements it.

How to get there

The State Museum-Reserve "Tsarskoye Selo" is located at the address: , city, no. 7.

There are several ways to get to the museum:

• From Vitebsky station there is an electric train to the Tsarskoe Selo station. The cost of the beater will be about 40 rubles. Travel time is 30 minutes. Then you can get to the museum by minibus No. 371, 377, 382 or by bus No. 371, 382. You can walk. This will take approximately 30 minutes.
• From the Moskovskaya metro station there are minibuses No. 286, 287, 342, 347, 545. Their stop is located behind the “singing fountains” near the House of Soviets. Travel time will be less than an hour depending on traffic jams. The cost of the trip is about 40 rubles.
• Bus No. 187 goes to the railway station in Pushkin. Travel time will be approximately 75 minutes. The fare is 30 rubles. From the station you can take a minibus or bus to the museum.
• From the Kupchino metro station there are minibuses No. 545, 286, 287, 347, and bus No. 186. Travel time is less than an hour. The fare is 40 rubles.

In my opinion, the most convenient way to get to the museum - take a minibus from the Moskovskaya metro station, quickly and comfortably get to the museum.

Opening hours and prices

Palace opening hours: 10.00 - 18.00. The ticket office is open until 16.45.

Closed: Tuesday and last Monday of the month.

In order to enter the palace, you need to buy a park ticket between April and October.

The cost of an adult ticket is 120 rubles.

For schoolchildren, students, military personnel, cadets, members of the unions of architects, artists, designers of Russia - 60 rubles.

For pensioners of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus - 30 rubles.

For visitors under 16 years old - free.

I hope my review was interesting and useful. I am sure you will get the most pleasant emotions from visiting the museum and will return there again and again!