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A photo of an Aerial view of Peterhof Palace and gardens by Godot13 –

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Peterhof Palace

Peterhof Palace is a series of palaces and gardens located in Petergof, Saint Petersburg, Russia. The palace was commissioned by Peter the Great as a direct response to the palace of 麻豆APP. The place was commissioned during the reign of Louis XIV of France.

So, the response to Peter the Great was from Louis XIV of France. Most of the building of the Peterhof complex was completed between 1714 and 1723. The grand opening of the palace was officially done in 1723. In the article are the top ten interesting facts about Peterhof Palace.

1. Two architects designed the complex and the gardens

A photo of an Aerial view of Peterhof Palace and gradens by Godot13 –

Peter the Great intended to expand the palace in 19079. This was due to his visit to the French Royal Court. Domenico Trezzin, a Swiss architect was the architect between 1714 and 1728. The style he employed in the palace became the foundation for the Petrine Baroque style. The style was favored throughout Saint Petersburg.

Jean-Baptiste Alexandre Le Blond, a French architect and garden designer was the one chosen to design the Peterhof gardens. There are claims that Le Blond was chosen due to his collaborations with 麻豆APP landscaper Andre Le Note.

2. Peterhof Palace is recognized as a World Heritage Site

Peterhof Palace by Andrey Filippov –

The palace is ensembled along with the city center and is recognized as UNESCO World Heritage. Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments is the name used by UNESCO.

It was given this name when it collectively designated the historic core of the Russian city of Saint Petersburg. Also, the buildings and ensembles located in the immediate vicinity are a World Heritage Site since 1991.

3. The palace was built after the Great Northern War

The end of the Great Northern War resulted in the treaty of Nystad in 172. Much of the Swedish empire was ceded from the Baltics Sea to the rising Tsardom of Russia. Peter the Great had already begun construction of his new capital ST. Petersburg in 1703. This was after he successfully captured Swedish provinces on the eastern coast.

Throughout the early 18th century, Peter the Great built and expanded the Peterhof palace complex. This was part of his goal to modernize and westernize Russia. The land he used was captured from Sweeden during the Great Northern War which started in 1700 and ended in 1721.

4. Monplaisir Palace is part of Peterhof Palace

A photo of an Aerial view of Monplaisir Palace by Godot3 –

Monplaisir Palace is situated near the harbor of Kronstad. Note that this is where he took his summer retreat but it was not Peter the Great’s summer place. The construction of the palace began in 1714. The palace is built according to his sketches.

It was Peter the Great who chalked out the site and also designed the inside layout. He would use the palace on his way coming and going from Europe through the harbor at Kronstadt. Peter made his maritime study from the seaward corner of Monplaisir Palace. He could see Kronstadt island to the left and St. Petersburg to the right.

5. There are numerous gardens at Peterhof Palace

As I said earlier, the French architect Jean-Baptiste Le Blond made the initial designs of the Peterhof Palace and gardens but later Domenico Trezzin designed the palace, and Le-Blond was given the gardens.

There is a lower garden that is 1.02 km2. the lower garden comprises most of Paterhof’s land area. The majority of Peterhof’s fountains are situated in the Lower Gardens. The Alexandra Park with the 19th-century Gothic Revival structures is found on the East of the Lower Gardens.

The Grand Palace sits in the middle of the Lower Gardens. South of the Lower Gardens is the upper Gardens. Upon the bluff’s face below the palace is the Grans Cascade. The Grand Cascade and the Grand Palace are the centrepiece of the entire complex. The foot of the complex starts at the Sae Channel and bisects the Lower Gardens.

6. The Palace has a Grand Cascade

A photo of Peterhof Palace and Grand Cascade by Fumihiko Ueno –

The Grand Cascade is modeled on one constructed for Louis XIV of France at his Chateau de Marly. It is memorized in one of the park’s outbuildings. At the centre of the cascade is an artificial grotto with two stories. the stories are faced inside out with hewn brown stone.

The cascade currently contains a modest museum of fountains’ history. The table carrying a bowl of artificial fruit is one of the exhibitions. The table-carrying bowl is a replica built under Peter’s direction.

The table is rigged with jets of water. The jets soak visitors when they reach for the fruit. This is a feature of Mannerist gardens that remained popular in Germany.

7. The Great Samson Fountain in Peterhof Palace

A photo of the Great Samson Fountain by W. Bulach –

There are 64 fountains in the Grand Cascade located below the grotto. The grotto is connected to the palace above and behind by a hidden corridor. Waters from the fountains flow into a semi-circular pool which is a terminus of the fountain-lined sea.

The largest fountain is called the Samson Fountain which is also in the pool. The Samson Fountain is symbolic. It depicts Russia’s Victory over Sweden in the Great Northern War where some Sweden provinces were annexed by Peter the Great.

The Fountain depicts the moment when Samson tore the jaws of a lion. The lion is an element of the Swedish coat of arms. From the Lion’s mouth shoots a 20-meter vertical jet of water. This is the highest jet in all of Peterhof.

8. Chesma Hall in the Grand Palace

The Grand Palace looks quite imposing when seen from the Lower or Upper Gardens. However, it is quite narrow and not overly large. It has approximately thirty rooms. It has a Chesma Hall which is decorated with twelve large paintings.

The hall is named after the paintings because the paintings were adopted from the Battle of Chesma which took place on 7 July 1770. The portraits show the stunning victory of the Russo-Turkish War. German artist Jacob Philip Hacket was the one who drew these portraits. The portraits were painted between 1771 and 17773.

9. Peterhof was captured in WW2

A photo of Peterhof Palace by AwOiSoAk KaOsIoWa –

Peterhof was captured by German troops in 1941 a year after World War II had started. It was held until 1944. Employees were only able to save a portion of the treasures in the palace. This was between the German invasion of the Soviet Union and the appearance of the German Army.

An attempt was made to dismantle and bury the fountain sculptures. However, three-quarters of the fountains including the largest ones remained intact. The occupying of the German Army largely destroyed Peterhof. The palace was partially exploded and left to burn.

10. The original name of Peterhof was restored in 1997

A photo of Peterhof Palace by 袦邪泻褋懈屑 校谢懈褌懈薪 –

The palace was greatly destroyed during the German Invasion of Russia. The name changed to “Petroderts” in 1944. This was a result of Wartime anti-German sentiment and propaganda. The Lower Park was reopened to the public in 1945. The post-Soviet government of Russia restored its name to Peterhof in 1997.

Peterhof is truly an interesting palace to visit while in Saint Petersburg Russia. It is one of the largest and oldest palaces in Russia. Visit the palace and experience the rich life that Peter the Great lived. Also, don’t forget to visit the table carrying a bowl of artificial fruit and the Samson Fountain.