The GATCHINA Palace

Located on a hill in the central city of Gatchina next to Lake Serebryany, the Gatchina palace is a UNESCO world site (1990), an hour and a half from Saint Petersburg.

There are an endless number of palaces in Saint Petersburg and its region, since it used to be the capital of the empire for more than two hundred years, probably the most cultural years too, following the creation of Saint Petersburg by Peter the Great in 1703.

Gatchina Palace is not the most famous one, but one of the biggest. Of course, most tourists, as I did when I came to Saint Petersburg, immediately heard about Peterhof or Catherine Palace (Tsarskoye Selo) and ended up visiting it.

But fewer of us heard about Gatchina Palace, unfortunately.

So today, let's discover this majestic place together !

In 1765, the estate was gifted from Catherine 2, empress of Russia, to her favorite, the count Grigory Orlov.
From 1766 until 1781, the Italian architect Antonio Rinaldi led the construction, which led to a palace in a classical style, similar to an Italian palazzo.
When the count died shortly after the end of the palace (1783), Catherine, the second, bought it back and gave it to her son, spending a lot of time there.
The estate remained in the royal family and had only, over the years, taken a better look.
In 1881, Alexander III chose Gatchina as his main country residence and for many years, it remained the most beloved, dear and warm home for all members of the Russian Imperial family.
Unfortunately, the Great Patriotic War caused great damage to the entire palace and park ensemble.

In 1917, after the February Revolution, it became a museum and public park.
Restoration of the palace began only in 1976; large-scale restoration and exhibition work have been carried out in the palace since then.
In 2016, the palace celebrated its 250th anniversary.

The Marbe Stairs

Grecian Gallery

Emperor Paul I’s idea of building a Greek-style gallery stemmed from European society’s fascination with the classical era in the late 18th century.

It served as a “museum” of this kind with Italian copies of Greek sculptures prevailing in its decoration.

Throne Room of the Empress Maria Feodorovna

In the time of the Count Orlov, it was a Chinese room designed in the oriental style that was in vogue then.

Displayed in the room now are fifty-nine paintings.

White Hall

The largest room in the suite of state apartments, occupying the central section of the palace, opens onto the terrace, offering a spectacular view of the parade ground and austere walls of the Kitchen and Arsenal Wings. The White Hall was used for large scale entertainment.

The Anteroom

It served as a reception room for visitors awaiting the appearance of His Highness to attend a church service or dinner.

The Crimson Drawing Room

This is the first room in the suite of state apartments belonging to the Empress Maria Feodorovna, Paul’s consort.

Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Tower Study

This relatively small room affords a splendid view of the park, the White Lake with the Chesma Obelisk and the semi-circular gallery of the Palace.
Some elements of its interior decoration date back to Orlov’s time.

The State Bedchamber

The Empress Maria Feodorovna’s bedchamber belongs to Vincenzo Brenna’s finest interiors. In the 18th century, the ceremonial rooms like this one were traditionally intended for visitors to see, thus, emphasising the social status of the owners and exalting the mundane aspects of life.

The Arsenal Hall

It was a beloved gathering place for the members of the Imperial family and their guests. It was a place where receptions were held with meals, dances and games. The hall had a small stage, a billiard parlor, swings, and even a slide.

Underground Passage

A unique folie of the 18th century designed for the entertainment of guests, the underground passage running to the Silver Lake was arranged back in the time of the Palace’s first owner Grigory Orlov.

The Marble Dining Room

one of Vincenzo Brenna’s most refined interiors in Neoclassical style. The space of the room is divided into two architectural volumes: a larger area, where tables for ceremonial dinners were set, and a butler’s pantry separated from the main space by the balustrade.

I found this place very beautiful and elegant; there is something in the external architecture that reminds me of Windsor Castle.

The interior is huge; even if we can't have access to the whole castle, there are so many inspiring rooms accessible to the public.

You must come here for the day to enjoy not only the castle but also the park.
The park in the spring is typical of a Russian landscape (a lot of birch trees, small islands, and swamps surrounded by water).
You should come on a sunny day to enjoy the joy of simply sitting outside; you could even do a picknick.

After my visit, I realized that there are many hidden places to be discovered in the park, even though there is currently a big renovation process going on, which doesn't provide access to everything in its full beauty.

My favorite place in the park was the Venus Pavilion. It's a magical temple, basically on the water of the lake, with a beautiful roof fresco and open windows on the lake.

The Venus Pavilion on the Island of Love

Dedicated to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, this relatively small structure was designed by Vincenzo Brenna and modelled on the pavilion found on Prince de Conde’s estate at Chantilly, France.

Inside the Venus Pavilion

View from the Venus Pavilion.

The Triumph of Venus

An enormous ceiling painting, painted by Johann Jacob Mettenleiter in 1797.

Sylvia Gate

Apart of the woodland was made into the park in 1792 that came to be known as Sylvia.

The Sylvia Gate serving as its entrance, was erected under the supervision of Kiryan Plastinin in 1792-1793.

Chesma Obelisk

One of the park’s oldest structures, The Obelisk was erected in the honor of Alexey Orlov, the brother of Gatchina’s owner. He was a commander of the Russian squadron during the victory over the Turkish fleet at the Chesma Battle in 1770.

It's very interesting to notice how Russian culture during the Empire period has always been deeply inspired by Greek antiquity, Egypt and old religion, which are present everywhere in the small details and design.

Each palace I visited in Saint Petersburg until now showed me how refined and cultivated the people living there, were during this period.

Here, you can find some of these interesting details.