Tsarskoe Selo
The magnificent palaces and gardens at Tsarskoe Selo were established as a country retreat by Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great. However, it was Tsarina Elizabeth who began extensive work on the estate by commissioning the lavish Catherine Palace. The imperial palace was initially created by Rastrelli, but later redesigned by the Scottish architect, Charles Cameron, at the request of Catherine the Great. The landscaped gardens, created in the late 18th century, were the first of their kind in Russia. Tsarskoe Selo suffered extensive damage during World War II and restoration work continues to this day.
25 km (16 miles) W of St Petersburg • 466 6669 • 465 2024 • Palace open noon–2pm and 4–6pm Wed–Sun (last entry 5pm); noon–2pm and 4–9pm Mon; closed Tue. Park open daily; May–Oct: 9am–6pm; Nov–Apr: 7am–11pm • Train from Vitebsk station to Detskoe Selo, then bus 371 or 382; alternatively, from Moskovskaya ploshchad (next to the metro station), take minibuses K-286, K-287, K-342, K-347 or K-545 or bus 187
• Adm: Palace 320 roubles, children 100 roubles. Park (May–Oct) 100 roubles, children 50 roubles
1. Amber Room
Created in Prussia, the room’s amber panels were gifted to Peter the Great in 1716. It was looted by Nazi troops during World War II. It took 24 years, until 2003, to recreate the room using historical photographs.
2. The Grotto
Construction of Rastrelli’s Grotto began in 1749, but work on the interior, which consists of over 250,000 shells, was not finished for the next quarter of a century.
3. The Great Hall
The Great Hall, located in the Catherine Palace, features mirrors, ornate carvings and a huge ceiling painting, The Triumph of Russia (c.1755), by Giuseppe Valeriani.
4. The Great Staircase
Situated in the centre of the Catherine Palace, this marble staircase, designed by Ippolito Monighetti, was built in 1860. The walls of the landings are adorned with decorative 18th- and 19th-century Oriental porcelain vases and dishes.
5. Green Dining Room
The pistachio-coloured walls of the room, designed by Charles Cameron, are decorated with stucco figures by the Russian Neo-Classical sculptor Ivan Martos.
6. The Blue Drawing Room
Notable for its unusual wallpaper – blue floral motifs painted on silk – this room contains a portrait of Peter the Great by Ivan Nitkin, dating from 1720.
7. The Cavalier’s Dining Room
Elizabeth’s gentlemen-in-waiting dined here. The table is permanently laid in this refined gold and white room, designed by Rastrelli.
8. Small Enfilade
A long, captivating suite of halls, parlours and reception rooms, the Small Enfilade boasts a wide collection of period furniture. It also contains some fine examples of Oriental rugs.
9. Formal Gardens
These lovely gardens are laid out symmetrically, and include finely trimmed trees and hedges, as well as geometrically planned flowerbeds complemented by marble statues.
10. The Cameron Gallery
This Neo-Classical section of the Catherine Palace features busts of philosophers and thinkers. It was a favourite of Catherine the Great’s, especially during her later years.
Ahead of its Time
The Tsarskoe Selo estate is part of the nearby town, Pushkin. This town, originally called Tsarskoe Selo, was renamed in 1937 in honour of Russia’s national poet, who attended school here in 1811–17. Founded in the 19th century, the town boasted the first citywide electrical system in Europe, as well as advanced sewage and water systems. It was also the home of the first radio station (1916) in Russia.
Tip: Avoid Tsarskoe Selo on national holidays as it can get very crowded. Tip: The Imperial Palace Restaurant at the Catherine Palace is a convenient place for a snack or a meal.
