Grand Peterhof Palace

TOUR GRAND PETERHOF PALACE WITH US: Tour of Grand Peterhof Palace and Fountain Park for cruise passengers, Tour of Grand Peterhof palace and Fountain Park for independent travellers

Grand Peterhof Palace is the central part of Peterhof Fountain Park ensemble. Its elegant 3-storey facade flanked with glass galleries and shining gilded domes of Peterhof Church and Coat-of-Arms pavilion is seen from far away. Grand Peterhof palace stands on a 16-m terrace above Peterhof Lower Fountain Park. Peter the Great first developed his idea to create Peterhof in 1714. He personally drew sketches of the future Grand Peterhof palace and park.

Peterhof was opened in 1723. Grand Peterhof palace was originally of a smaller size. The building had been many times redesigned and rebuilt until in 1747 Peter's daughter Elizabeth commissioned the Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli to put up a new palace. Luxury and room sizes of new Peterhof palace were strikingly impressive. The palace room plan corresponded to the royal gala procession rituals: ceremonies of empress's appearance in front of the court and guests. Luxurious gilded staircase led to no less luxurious Ante-room decorated with gilded wood carvings and paintings. The gala enfilade seemed endless.

Baroque style soon went out of fashion and was succeeded by Classicism in 60-s of XVIII century. Major architectural changes were done in 1770-s by the architect Y. Felten. He redesigned palace interiors in classical style.

The result of more than 200-year construction history was Grand Peterhof palace where side-by-side with Peter the Great's time interiors glowed Gala baroque rooms of mid. XVIII century, elegant classical and second rococo halls of XIX century.

In XVIII-XIX centuries Grand Peterhof palace was the official state residence of the Russian royalty. It was the venue of important state events, gala dinners and masquerades. More than 3000 guests would attend Peterhof balls. More than 10 000 candles would be lit on gala occasions.

After Bolshevik Revolution Grand Peterhof palace was nationalized and turned into a state museum.

During WWII Peterhof palace was completely burnt and destroyed. Only in 1957 Palace facade was restored anew. Admission to the palace started in 1964.

Open: 10.30-18.00. In summer, it is necessary to book your entrance to the palace in advance due to high tourist flow.

Closed - Mondays, last Tuesday