SUBURBS

The Palace-and-Park ensemble of Tsarskoye Selo - a former country residence of Russian emperors - is a fascinating monument of the world's architectural and gardening arts of the XVIII-XX centuries. Its three parks occupy the area of 600 ha, on which over 100 architectural constructions rise: from magnificent palaces and grand monuments to intimate pavilions and park sculptures. The compositional center of the Tsarskoselsky ensemble is Catherine's Palace, containing exquisite decorative objects, furniture, Russian and Western-European paintings, unique collections of porcelain, amber, arms, decorative bronze, sculptures etc. Nowadays, the collection of the museum Tsarskoye Selo numbers about 20,000 items. The Tsarskoselsky Lyceum, an elite school established in Russia in the beginning of the XX century for noble families offspring which the great Russian poet A.S.Pushkin attended, is situated next to the palace… More.

The world-famous palace, fountain and park ensemble of Peterhof, often called the "Capital of Fountains", is situated 30 km from the center of Saint Petersburg. Without any overestimation Peterhof can be called the main gem of Saint Petersburg's "pearl necklace", as unique suburbs of the city are often called.
   The history of Peterhof dates back to the reign of Peter the Great. The Emperor regularly traveled from Saint Petersburg to Kronshtadt to oversee the construction works. In order he could rest during the long and wearisome trip several wooden houses were built on the place where Peterhof would later appear. In 1714 Peter the Great conceived the creation of a splendid official royal summer residence that would in its splendor overcome French Versal. The Emperor himself took part in the design and construction of the palace - numerous drafts, working drawings with the marks and notes of the tsar have preserved till nowadays witnessing that Peter the Great worked not only on the general layout of the ensemble but created smallest details of the architectural constructions and fountains… More.

The history of Pavlovsk as the splendid palace and park ensemble dates back to the 12th of December 1777 when Catherine the Great gifted a small land, 6 km from Tsarskoye Selo, to her son Paul and his wife Maria Fyodorovna on the occasion of the birth of their first son, the future Emperor Alexander I. The new estate was named Pavlovskoye Village, but shortly after the construction of the palace and park ensemble began under supervision of prominent architects the beautiful estate could hardly be called a village.
In 1779 in Pavlovkoe two small wooden palaces, one in honor of Paul, another in honor of Maria, were built. In 1780 the construction works acquired larger scale as the favorite architect of Catherine the Great, Charles Cameron, was invited to design the ensemble. The foundation stone of the Great Palace was laid on the 25 of May 1782 and already by 1786 the new palace, a marvelous example of Russian Classicism, was erected… More.

The beautiful and comfortable town Gatchina is situated about 45 kilometers away from Saint-Petersburg. The land around this town always attracted people with its beauty - the strange current of the river between two low hills, little lakes, groves and a wood, set of springs and magnificent transparent Silver Lake. Even the climate differs a little bit of Saint-Petersburg. The palace is the center of architectural ensemble of Gatchina.
Built like the lonesome castle it stands high above a silent and smooth surface of water and dominates the landscape. So huge, with 10 towers, limestone walls, underground tunnel which leads to the lake it has nothing in common with other royal country residences.
The wild nature was transformed into fashionable landscape in English style due to the work of the gardeners and different craftsmen.
Specially selected park trees of different shape and color of the leaves are burning with bright colours at the autumn and at the winter they look like graceful graphic silhouettes with faded sky on the background. The attractive view opens from the towers of the palace… More.

The historical name of this city is Oranienbaum which means orange tree in German language. Most likely this strange name is connected with the fact that there were palace greenhouses where exotic plants were raised. 1948 the town was renamed Lomonosov and now exists under double split name. It is situated near another beautiful suburb of Saint-Petersburg - Peterhof, on the south coast of Finnish Gulf.
Ensemble was founded with building of The Great Palace (1710-25) which later was rebuilt in baroque style. The central part is connected by two galleries with 2-domed pavilions (Church and Japanese). It is situated near the Lower Park, which composite axis is the channel conducting to the sea.
In 50-70 of 18 century The Upper Park was formed. Then architect Rinaldi have built there the Palace of Peter III(1758-62), the Chinese palace (1762-68 mix of baroque architecture, classicism and Chinese motives) and the "The Sledge Riding Hill" Pavillion (1762-74)… More.