Top Things to do in Peterhof
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Top 10 Things to do in Peterhof, Russia
Discover the best top things to do in Peterhof, Russia including Peterhof Grand Palace, Park And Gardens of Peterhof, The Bath Block, Peterhof State Museum Preserve, Sovereign's Fun, Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, The Marly Palace, Monplaisir Historical Palace Museum, Aleksandria Historical Park, Gothic Kapella.
Restaurants in Peterhof
1. Peterhof Grand Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
Once a formal garden built for Peter the Great, this popular park still has more than 80 of the original marble statues and sculptures and houses Peter's Summer Palace, a simply designed two-story building that now displays many of the ruler's own artifacts.
Reviewed By Allkuans - Singapore, Singapore
We traveled to Peterhof Grand Palace by commuter train from Baltiisky Railway Station (Baltic Railway Station) to Novly Peterhof (New Peterhof) Station. From here, we took UberX to the Palace gate.
The entrance was poorly signposted but we walked in the general direction of the palace and reached the palace park. During winter season, there is no charge to enter Lower Park The entrance to the Grand Peterhof Palace is located in the centre of the building flanked by the Special Treasury Exhibition and the Church Wing, at the further end.
We had earlier done online booking for all 3 attractions. The Special Treasury was worth visiting and Grand Peterhof Palace was not to be missed. The Church Wing ... well, in my opinion only if you have the time.
The exchange of the online booking voucher for the entry ticket was straightforward. Audio guide was available only for the Grand Peterhof Palace. One tip is to bring your own earphones to plug into the audio guide. Tour of Special Treasury was conducted only in Russian.
Grand Peterhof Palace has been masterfully restored and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Peterhof is comparable to Versailles Palace in almost every aspects. The Lower Park was very beautiful in winter and the Cascade was stunning even though the water Fountain was not functional in winter. One advantage of visiting during winter is the smaller crowd.
Overall Ratings
5 based on 676 reviews
Reviewed By BobandJosie - Reading, United Kingdom
With snow still very much around, and crunching underfoot, we looked down from the main Terrace overlooking the Fountains (not working) and the sumptuous gilded statuary surrounding the cascades. Peter the Great truly created his own grand version of Versailles!
3. The Bath Block
Overall Ratings
5 based on 850 reviews
Reviewed By Uladzimir P
Brilliant attraction) we spent a lot time enjoying there! All my family liked it so much! Souvenirs there are not overpriced.
4. Peterhof State Museum Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By David W
Peterhof is known as “the Pearl of the Baltic, the capital of Fountains.Peter1 founded Peterhof and built the Great Palace and Gardens with Fountains in the early Seventeen hundreds. The palace presents a wonderful vista of Fountains and the Gulf of Finland.The Fountains set to music provided a memorable display of water at eleven o’clock in the morning .”The Great Cascade” was another highlight of the “The Great Palace “.This is a place for every hydrologist and artist to come and enjoy.
5. Sovereign's Fun
Overall Ratings
5 based on 111 reviews
Reviewed By Brun066 - Florence, Italy
Obviously the "trick fountains" of Peterhof were rebuilt after the devastation of World War II; but one wonders how ancient were the original ones.
It's commonly believed that they have been created by the will of the same Peter I the Great. It may be that there are documents to prove it; but the information I've read, talks about the creation of these Fountains beginning from the second half of the eighteenth century, so after the Peter's reign.
However, even if they are uncertain in their origin, the trick Fountains are fun and original.
Why they are fun, I don't need to explain. I say they are original, because I know only one example more (even older) of Fountains aimed at watering guests, still working: the Hellbrunn Palace park, near Salzburg, Austria. It may be that there are other examples, but I don't know any.
6. Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 774 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew E - White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Visited as part of a city tour with a knowledgable guide. Interesting, small Cathedral. Particularly important as the burial place of Peter the Great and many family members. Also important as the place of reburial of Czar Nicholas II and family members who had been murdered in Yekaterinburg in 1917. Well worth a visit.
7. The Marly Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 413 reviews
Reviewed By Oleg Y - Belgrade, Serbia
During our visit to Peterhof, beside of seeing the major site here, that is, the Grand Palace, we visited also this relatively small, charming baroque mansion that was built on the orders of Peter the Great.
It is located in the western half of the Lower Park of the Grand Palace complex. That was the real intimate retreat in the grounds of the Grand Palace, for the Peter I. He found, at the times, actually in 1717, the inspiration for his future little Palace when he visited France and the royal hunting lodge at Marly le Roi, near Paris. This estate and mansion belonged to Louis XIV and Peter the Great after seeing it, decided to make his own personal sanctuary to already existing " Russian Versailles" at Peterhof. Very cute is this whole area inclining to the waters of Finland Gulf. The accurate cut green lawns with the alleys of beautiful deciduous trees, the two ponds, one of rectangular shape, another of crescent form, the golden little statues of the angels, carrying the small Fountains on the plates on their heads, some Fountains like in Grande Palace park, then also present the stone teraces and access wooden Bridges over the crescent pond with the aluminium fences. The house itself was first conceived as a single-storey building but Peter I changed it into two floor mansion.
We just felt here, very calmly, in one serenity of the wonderful surroundings and really enjoyed in the multiple reflections of the house in the still waters of the fishponds.
Great above all !!
8. Monplaisir Historical Palace Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 146 reviews
Reviewed By Oleg Y - Belgrade, Serbia
Right on the shoreline of the Gulf of Finland, in the eastern corner of Lower Park,beside the Bath Block is located this gorgeous and small summer palace, that Peter the Great designed for himself.
One of the first sights, here in Peterhof,when we were approaching by the boat from the side of St Petersburg, was this charming, much alike to the Dutch Colonial mansion, Monplaisir Palace of Peter the Great.
The frontal side, turned to the waters of Finland Gulf is characteristic by its high gabled roof over the central corpus and by its narrow rectangular windows in dutch style, perfect to protect the abode from the cold north winds. On the opposite side of the palace the facade is quite different, with long single - storey galleries, supported with slender columns and with large French windows.
Inside, there are many elements like furniture, that show the Peter's devotion, love to sea, ships and shipbuilding.
Just splendid is such blend of grandeur and homely comfort, all in one beautiful mansion.
Just pearl of building !
9. Aleksandria Historical Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 200 reviews
Reviewed By Januarius Z
the lower half of it was under massive reconstruction this summer. but there is still enough to visit and to look at in the upper part of the park. several palaces and pavillons, the gothic church, several Bridges and monuments. all in good shape.
it's nice that the russian state takes that much care of its historical value.
in the lower part they gonna start reconstructing the lower dacha (e.g. the last heir to the throne was born there) as well.
worth visiting!
10. Gothic Kapella
Overall Ratings
5 based on 87 reviews
Reviewed By 12343434 - St. Petersburg, Russia
To understand the breadth of the Russian soul, you should definitely visit reserve Peterhof.
Founded early in the eighteenth century by Emperor Peter the great not far from the new Northern capital - St. Petersburg, Peterhof was intended to be the luxurious Royal summer residence. Work on the creation of a new residence was conducted with amazing rapidity. In August of 1723, the Grand opening of Peterhof, and by this time was planned out Lower Park, Sea canal dug, acted the part of the Fountains were decorated with top of the chamber, and built palaces "Monplaisir" and "Marley".
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