imperial
residences
St. Petersburg was founded as the capital of the Russian Empire. Each Russian Emperor built new residences in the city and its region. These residences reflected tastes and policy of the each new monarch. For construction the best architects of Europe and the best architects, artists and sculptors of Russia were invited. Palaces were strongly destroyed during Second World War. Almost all of them are already restored. Now these precious palaces and parks are visited by millions of people from around the world. We will be glad to show you these treasures.
Strelna
The Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna is the official residence of the President of Russia. The palace was built by the Emperor Peter I. In the XIX century the palace belonged to the Grand duke Konstantin therefore it is called Konstantinovsky. The palace was strongly destroyed during World War II. Now it is completely restored. To get at excursion to the palace and park it is possible only on preliminary booking.
 The Marble Hall. |  Konstantinovskiy Palace. |  Konstantinovskiy Palace. |
|---|---|---|
 Strelna Imperial Residence. |  Konstantinovskiy Palace. |  Konstantinovskiy Palace. |
 Konstantinovskiy Palace. |  Peter the First Palace. |  The Drawing room. |
Peterhof
Peterhof (now the city Petrodvorets) was the main summer Grand Imperial residence. It was founded by Peter the Great. Here are its favourite private palaces Monplaisir and Marli, Hermitage Pavilion. His daughter Empress Elizabeth built the grandiose Grand palace with the world famous Cascade of fountains. Each subsequent Emperor built the private palace in Peterhof. In Peterhof there are tens gardens and parks with fountains and a sculpture. During Second World War Peterhof was occupied by Germans. The Grand palace burned down, other treasures were broken and plundered. In 70 years after war almost all historical buildings of Peterhof were restored and now it is one of the world's largest museum.
 The Grand Palace. |  The Grand Palace. |  Tsaritzyn (Queen's) Pavilion. |
|---|---|---|
 The Throne Hall. |  Monplaisir Palace. |  Marli Palace. |
 The Laser Show. |  Grand Cascade. |  Fountain Tritone. |
 Fountain Neptune. |  The Ball Hall. |  Cottage-Palace. |
 Cascade Gold Mountain. |  Cascade Chess Mountain. |  Belveder Palace. |
Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo (now the city Pushkin) is the favourite summer residence of Empresses Catherine I, Elizabeth and Catherine II. The grandiose Grand Ekaterinskiy palace was built in the XVIII century by the Empress Elizabeth. Catherine the Great constructed here many pavilions and created landscape park. For the Emperor Alexander I the great new palace was built. In Aleksandrovskiy palace there was the last residence of the last Russian Emperor Nicholai II.
 Amber Room. |  The Turkish Bath Pavilion. |  Alexandrovskiy Palace. |
|---|---|---|
 Pavilion Chapelle. |  Portrait Room. |  The Small Chinese Brige. |
 The Marble Brige. |  Grand Pond. |  The Grand Hall. |
 Empress's bedchamber. |  Chinese Village. |  Chinese Village. |
 Chesma Column. |  Catherine Palace. |  Catherine Palace. |
 Catherine Palace. |  Blue Drawing room. |  Anti-chamber. |
Oranienbaum
Oranienbaum (now the city Lomonosov) at first was under construction as the residence of the favourite Peter the Great of the governor of St. Petersburg and the region of the prince Alexander Menshikov. From the middle of the XVIII century Oranienbaum is the Imperial residence. Except the Grand Menshikov Palace there is a palace of the Emperor Peter III, Chinese Palace, Stone Hall, the Pavilion which remained from "Montagnes russes", the first Russian art Museum named the Painting house.
 Peter the III Palace. |  Pavilion of "Montagnes russes" |  Oval Hall. |
|---|---|---|
 The Oak Ladder. |  Menshikovskiy Palace. |  Menshikovskiy Palace. |
 Menshikovskiy Palace. |  The Lobby Room. |  The Hall of Muses. |
 Grand Chinese Hall. |  Chinese Palace. |  Beads Room. |
Pavlovsk
Pavlovsk was founded in 1777. Pavlovsk was the favourite summer residence of the Emperor Paul I. The big classical palace surrounds huge landscape park (600 hectares). In park many classical and romantic pavilions are constructed. Near the palace there is an interesting toy fortress named "Bip".
 Rotonda Hall. |  Pavilion "Friendship". |  Сentaur Brige. |
|---|---|---|
 The Greek Hall. |  Pavlovskiy Palace. |  Bip Fortress. |
Gatchina
Gatchina is the known Russian city since the XV century. In the XVIII century the palace for the favourite of Empress Catherine the Great the earl Orlov was built here. Over time the palace became the residence of the Emperor Paul I. As Paul I was the Master of the Catholic Order of Malta, for Prior of this Order in Gatchina the gothic palace was built. The huge landscape park with two lakes and many pavilions surrounds both palaces.
 Priory Palace. |  The White Hall. |  Priorу Palace. |
|---|---|---|
 The Marble Dinnig Room. |  Mask Pavilion. |  Grand Gatchina Palace. |
 Grand Gatchina Palace. |  The Grand Bedchamber. |  The Crimson Drawing room. |