PETERHOF, Grand Palace

Seen from the garden, the Grand Palace of Peterhof looks really impressive, but in reality, it is not particularly large. In fact, it only has around thirty rooms. It was built between 1714 and 1721 on a design by the architect Jean-Baptiste le Blond following the original drafts of Peter the Great who wanted a two-storey villa with two side wings built on a hill.

The present appearance is mainly due to the work carried out during the reign of Empress Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great. The palace was modified and enlarged by the Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who added a floor, a new wing and a small dome church. In addition, the interior was renovated in Baroque style, with the exception of the study of Peter the Great, which remained intact.

The Palace was further embellished during the reign of Catherine the Great, when Yury Felten decorated the wonderful Throne Room, the largest of the Palace, of about 300 square meters.

During your visit, you can enter the wonderful rooms of this palace and imagine the sumptuous lifestyle of the greatest Russian emperors....