Peter the Great’s Summer Palace – St. Petersburg, Russia
by: Rick Chapo
During the communist reign in Russia, architectural styles could best be
described as bland. Fortunately, the summer palace of Peter the Great
wasn’t affected.
Peterhof
Known as Peterhof, the summer palace of Peter the Great is a very
impressive area. The palace is arranged with a central rectangle format
over roughly two or three acres. This area is then surrounded by areas of
wood and “nature” as the Russians call it. Peterhof stands out like a jewel
among the bland communist structures found in greater St. Petersburg.
At the time of construction in 1715, Peter the Great was clearly in his
“fountain” phase. Peterhof isn’t so much a palace as a collection of some
of the most impressive fountains you’ve ever seen. There are fountains in
the front, back, each side, in the bathroom and so on. All of them are
impressive and worth a look.
Foremost of the fountains of Peterhof is the Great Cascade. Arriving from
St. Petersburg by boat, one is offloaded on a long pier at the end of the
Grand Canal. The Grand Canal cuts through the woods surrounding
Peterhof directly to the front of the palace. As you proceed, you start to
notice something big and colorful at the front of the palace. Welcome to
the Great Cascade.
The Great Cascade sites at the base of Peterhof and is more impressive
than the palace. Created in the Baroque style, the Great Cascade is hard
to describe. At its base is a pool a large pool with rock platforms crowned
by golden statutes spouting water. Rising up from the pool to the palace
are two sets of steps surrounding a plateau. The steps are a combination
of black marble inlaid with gold and white marble. The steps are crowned
with statues and, again, fountains, which make them a combination of
sprouting water and cascading falls. All of this is built up on a collection of
rock and rises over 30 feet to the base of the palace. As I said, the Great
Cascade is hard to describe. If you would like to see it, just do a search
for “Peterhof” on your search engine of choice.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Great Cascade is the power
source. With fountains blowing water thirty to fifty feet in the air, there must
be some serious pump action at work? Nope. Peter the Great created a
system that runs entirely off gravity. Great, indeed!
Day trips to Peterhof are hocked something fierce in St. Petersburg. While
I usually disdain tourist traps, this is one you should definitely see.
About The Author
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel
journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories. Visit http:
//www.nomadjournaltrips.com to read more travel articles and
travelogues.
by: Rick Chapo
During the communist reign in Russia, architectural styles could best be
described as bland. Fortunately, the summer palace of Peter the Great
wasn’t affected.
Peterhof
Known as Peterhof, the summer palace of Peter the Great is a very
impressive area. The palace is arranged with a central rectangle format
over roughly two or three acres. This area is then surrounded by areas of
wood and “nature” as the Russians call it. Peterhof stands out like a jewel
among the bland communist structures found in greater St. Petersburg.
At the time of construction in 1715, Peter the Great was clearly in his
“fountain” phase. Peterhof isn’t so much a palace as a collection of some
of the most impressive fountains you’ve ever seen. There are fountains in
the front, back, each side, in the bathroom and so on. All of them are
impressive and worth a look.
Foremost of the fountains of Peterhof is the Great Cascade. Arriving from
St. Petersburg by boat, one is offloaded on a long pier at the end of the
Grand Canal. The Grand Canal cuts through the woods surrounding
Peterhof directly to the front of the palace. As you proceed, you start to
notice something big and colorful at the front of the palace. Welcome to
the Great Cascade.
The Great Cascade sites at the base of Peterhof and is more impressive
than the palace. Created in the Baroque style, the Great Cascade is hard
to describe. At its base is a pool a large pool with rock platforms crowned
by golden statutes spouting water. Rising up from the pool to the palace
are two sets of steps surrounding a plateau. The steps are a combination
of black marble inlaid with gold and white marble. The steps are crowned
with statues and, again, fountains, which make them a combination of
sprouting water and cascading falls. All of this is built up on a collection of
rock and rises over 30 feet to the base of the palace. As I said, the Great
Cascade is hard to describe. If you would like to see it, just do a search
for “Peterhof” on your search engine of choice.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Great Cascade is the power
source. With fountains blowing water thirty to fifty feet in the air, there must
be some serious pump action at work? Nope. Peter the Great created a
system that runs entirely off gravity. Great, indeed!
Day trips to Peterhof are hocked something fierce in St. Petersburg. While
I usually disdain tourist traps, this is one you should definitely see.
About The Author
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel
journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories. Visit http:
//www.nomadjournaltrips.com to read more travel articles and
travelogues.
ST PETERSBURG RUSSIA HOTELS
ST PETERSBURG RUSSIA TOURS
ST PETERSBURG RUSSIA HOTEL
ST PETERSBURG RUSSIA TOURS
ST PETERSBURG RUSSIA HOTEL
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