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Peterhof (also called Petrodvorets) is located just 29 kilometres away from the city and is perhaps St. Petersburg's most famous and spectacular Imperial estate.
Nestled on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, the palace was built by Peter the Great initially as a resting place en route to the Imperial naval base at Kronstadt. But the Tsar was quick to recognise the attractiveness of the area and masterminded a vast estate intended to rival the famous gardens of Versailles. Peterhof is the kingdom of fountains, that play of water that brings you back into the glorious time of the Russian Empire.
The Grand Palace, filled with fascinating and elaborate interiors, sits on top of a high seashore ridge overlooking the vast Lower Park. The original palace was built between 1714 and 1725. Later that century during the reign of Empress Elizabeth the court architect Francesco Bartholomeo Rastrelli (the creator of the Winter Palace, the Catherine Palace, Smolny Cathedral and many more of St. Petersburg's major landmarks) extended it to its present size and turned it into the Emperor Palace for special ceromonies. During WWII the palace was seriously damaged but most of the rooms have now been restored to their former glory.
The palace is situated amidst an enormous park, adorned with fountains, statues and pavilions. The Upper Garden, located between the St. Petersburg highway and the Grand Palace, is a typical French-style formal garden with five fountains. The estate's Lower Park lies between the Grand Palace and the seashore and boasts the world's largest system of fountains, earning it the title the "Russian Versaille". The park's unique fountain system was designed in the 18th century by the engineer V. Tuvolkov, and doesn't require the use of any pumps to operate the fountains.
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There are three major cascades and over 120 fountains in the park. The most impressive is the Grand Cascade, located directly below the Grand Palace and featuring 3 waterfalls and an impressive golden statue of Samson grasping the mighty jaws of the lion. The avenue leading to it has 64 fountains and 37 gilded statues. The park's other cascades feature black and white chess board designs, Chinese dragons and numerous other features, as well as several joke fountains which are guaranteed to delight your children!
The park also features numerous pavilions and small palaces, amongst which is Peter the Great's favorite, Monplaisir. Among the park's other pavilions are the Hermitage, designed and built specifically for holding Imperial dinner parties, and the two-story residential Marly Palace. Away from the luxury of the Lower Garden in the overgrown Alexandria Park stands the modest English-style Cottage Palace, built in 1829.