Peterhof

Background

Peterhof stands on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, about 30 km south-west of central Saint Petersburg, Russia. The ensemble centres on the Grand Palace. The Upper Gardens are a formal parterre with flower beds, bronze statues and fountains; at the foot of the palace, the Grand Cascade is decorated with gilded bronze statues and reliefs, and the jet of the Samson Fountain, in which Samson tears open a lion's jaws, rises about 20 metres. The Lower Gardens stretch from the Grand Cascade to the sea, and hidden among them are trick fountains that suddenly spray unsuspecting visitors. Peter the Great built this seaside residence to rival Versailles and to strengthen Russia's position on the Baltic coast. Design work under the architect Le Blond began in 1714, and in August 1723 Peter first showed the residence to guests, who were most impressed by the fountains. Water from springs on the Ropsha Heights, about 20 km away, collects in the pools of the Upper Gardens and then drives the fountains of the Lower Gardens by the difference in height, with no pumps at all. In the mid-18th century Rastrelli enlarged the Grand Palace for Empress Elizabeth, and its Chinese Cabinets were decorated in the 1760s. The palace and gardens were severely damaged in the Second World War and restored over the following decades; in 1990 Peterhof was inscribed on the World Heritage List as part of the "Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments".

Local customs

• Walk along the sea canal path for a distant view of the Grand Cascade and the Gulf of Finland
• in the warm season, watch all the jets rise at once when the fountains are switched on
• step inside the Grand Palace to see its Baroque halls and the Chinese Cabinets.

Travel tips

• The fountains run only in the warm season and the basins are drained in winter, so check the official information before you go
• palace and garden tickets are sold separately. Before travelling, check the latest travel safety advice and visa requirements issued by your country. From central Saint Petersburg, a hydrofoil runs along the Neva and the Gulf of Finland directly to the Lower Gardens pier, or you can take a bus or suburban train and change
• the gardens are explored on foot, with slopes between the Upper and Lower Gardens.
• May to September, when the fountains run, is the best time, and the gardens are especially beautiful in the summer white nights
• in winter the palace stays open but the fountains are off, which suits snow scenes and the interiors. Check opening hours and the fountain season with the official sources.