Peterhof is a renowned Imperial estate of Saint Petersburg. It lies on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, around 30 kilometers away from the city center. It has many palaces and park and overlooks the large Lower Park.
Grand Palace is one of the most beautifully built edifices of Peterhof. This Grand Palace was constructed in-between the years 1714 and 1725 for Peter the Great. Later it was redesigned by Francesco Bartholomeo Rastrelli, who acquired huge popularity for building Catherine Palace, Smolny Cathedral, Winter Palace and many other major landmarks of Saint Petersburg. The rooms reflect the traditional Baroque decor. During WWII the palace suffered heavy damages. However many of the rooms of Grand Palace have been renovated.
Peterhof- The Imperial Estate of Saint Petersburg
Peterhof is nestled amidst a picturesque garden with statues, fountains and pavilions. The upper garden of this estate is situated between the Grand Palace and Saint Petersburg highway. It is a typical French-style garden featuring 5 fountains, among which one depicts Neptune (the Sea God). On the other hand, the lower park of Peterhof is located between the seacoast and
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the Grand Palace. It has more than 120 fountains, among which Grand Cascade is the most impressive one. It features a gold- made statue of Samson.
Parks and Fountains in Peterhof
The lower park houses the "Russian Versaille", the biggest fountain system of the world. In the 18th century it was designed by V. Tuvolkov (an engineer). Pumps are not used for operating the fountains. Some of its fountains feature Chinese dragons and chess board designs. As huge number of fountains are found there, the place is often known as the "Capital of Fountains".
How to Reach Peterhof
By taking a local train, people can reach the Novy Peterhof station from the Baltic Railway Station. The tourists can avail the double-decker buses to reach this place from nearby destinations. The English meaning of the term Peterhof is Peter’s Yard or Peter’s residence. During summer seasons, people can get into this place by hydrofoil. It takes maximum 50 minutes time to reach Peterhof from the Winter Palace.
The Winter Palace remains open for public view from 10 am to 5 pm. The Palace is closed on Mondays.
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