Russia Saint Petersburg Pushkin Catherine Palace guided tour

Itinerary

The city of Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) is one of the historical suburbs of St. Petersburg, known as the former suburban imperial residence. Today on the territory of the city there is a state museum-reserve, a monument of palace and park art.

Catherine Palace

The palace was conceived as a summer residence for the wife of Peter I, Catherine. Seven years later, the palace was ready for living, however, it did not differ in special luxury. Everything changed when Empress Elizabeth, daughter of Peter, became its owner.

For the reconstruction of the palace, the empress invited the famous architect Rastrelli. The talented Italian spared no time, effort and royal money in order to turn a modest palace into a masterpiece of architectural art. The baroque mansion was complemented by a no less luxurious park with an ideal landscape.

For official receptions, the Big Palace Hall with 13 panoramic windows and huge mirrors was used. Catherine II, who came to power, also devoted much time to caring for the palace, but at the same time considered it too luxurious and tried to make the palace more adapted to ordinary living.

Each of the halls of the palace was made and decorated in an individual style, and the Amber Room was the most legendary and mysterious.

The History of Amber Room

The Amber Room was originally created in Germany. The architect Schlüter performed it to decorate one of the royal palaces. But the idea of ​​an amber interior was rejected, and parts of the room were disassembled and handed over for storage.

Emperor Peter I found out about a unique work of art, and was fired up with the idea of ​​moving the room to his homeland. Having received it as a gift from the Prussian king, Peter transferred the treasure to Tsarskoye Selo.

For many years, the Amber Room impressed with its splendor and received the title of the eighth wonder of the world. Chic panels were complemented by paintings of Florentine mosaics, successful lighting effectively transferred the warmth and tenderness of amber of various colors.

During the Second World War, the Amber Room was lost. Numerous attempts to find treasure in Germany did not bring any result. It was decided to restore the room. A special amber workshop was created for this. Restoration work was carried out on the basis of survived photographs. The work was completed in 2003 on the eve of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg.

Today, the treasures and magnificence of the Amber Room and the Catherine Palace can be admired during an excursion to the city of Pushkin. The participants of the tour will learn the detailed history of the creation of the architectural and park masterpiece, will be able to walk in the park area, enjoy the natural landscapes and fresh air, appreciate the beauty of its pavilions and arbors.