On the marble obelisk costing at a fencing of the Top garden of Peterhof, are cut figures: 29. The distance in kilometers from St.-Petersburg up to a brilliant country residence of Russian emperors, and nowadays world famous "capitals of fountains" - Peterhof is those.

The plan of creation of a country residence which on the luxury would not concede to the French Versailles, has arisen at Peter I in 1714. The kept figures of tsar, its decrees and marks on documents enable to approve, that the general concept of a lay-out of ensemble, and sometimes and detailed development of separate elements of architecture and gushing constructions belong to the founder of Peterhof.

Rates with which the residence was erected, amazed and amazed. In August, 1723 (Peterhof solemn opening Peterhof, took place in translation with Dutch – Peter's Court yard). The majestic panorama opens at the approach to Peterhof from the sea: the highest point is borrowed with the Great Palace towering on edge of a natural 16-meter terrace. On its slope the Great cascade sparkles gold of sculptures and silver of gushing jets.

In front of the cascade and in the center of a water ladle the powerful jet of a fountain "Samson" soars up, and further waters direct to a gulf on direct, as an arrow, to the Sea channel which the north - the south is планировочной an axis. The channel – one of the oldest constructions of Peterhof, designated already in the foregrounds which were outlined by Peter I. It has started to lay in 1715 simultaneously with construction of the Upper chambers.

Reverted by a granite and gold decorated the Sea channel makes one of the main sights of Peterhof, evidently showing indissoluble geographical and art communication of a seaside residence with water space.

Avenue of fountains along the Sea channel

FOUNTAINS and CASCADES of PETERGOF

Peter has not casually chosen a place for construction of Peterhof. Surveying district, it has found out some reservoirs, eaten keys beating from under the ground. Creation of water-spending system was entrusted to Russian master Vasily Tuvolkov.

Under his management within summer of 1721 sluices and the channel on which of reservoirs with Ropsha heights water went to memory pools of the Top garden have been constructed, here again it was possible to arrange only small jets-fountains on height. Other business - the Bottom park which has stretched at bottom of a terrace. Water from 16-meter height on pipes from pools of the Top garden by a principle of informed vessels with force directs downwards to soar up set of high jets in fountains of park.

The principles of water supply found still by Peter I operate and until now, testifying about talent of the founder of Peterhof.

FOUNTAINS

fountain «Samson»	fountain «Pyramid»	fountain «Mezeumny”
fountain «Neptun»	fountain «Snop»	fountain «The Sun»

fountain «Menatcherny»	fountains «Jokes»	fountains «Eva» and «Adam»

CASCADES

Great Cascade	Cascade “Golden mountain”	Lion's Cascade
Great Cascade (fragment)	Cascade “Chess mountain	“Sentry lion”

PALACES and MUSEUMS

pavilion Hermitage

Marli Palace

Great Palace

Palace Cottage

Monplesire Palace

Travelling Palace of Peter I

In the western part of park on coast of a gulf, closing prospect of the avenues going from the Great cascade, the pavilion the Hermitage (1721, the project of architect I.Braunshtejn) is located. In translation from French - "desert hut". Smart purpose of the Hermitage was reflected in thin grace of its appearance. Square by way of, the two-storeyed pavilion amazes with harmony of all architectural and decorative elements.

On the artificial crosspiece between Marli and Sectoral ponds the Marli Palace (1719 - 1720) is located. The pond is similar to a huge rectangular mirror, and sectoral ponds make a semicircle divided into four sectors by stone three-arch bridges. Originally constructed one-storied, the palace, under Peter's order, has been raised "on one habitation", that has given to its proportions surprising steadiness.

The largest architectural construction of the Peterhof ensemble – the Great Palace. It borrows a leading position in a composition of park and crowns with itself the Big cascade. The graceful building in three floors with galleries, with sparkling gilding of domes cases closing it - "Church" and "the Case under the arms " - was stretched by the facade along a terrace almost on 300 meters. The existing shape of a palace is created as a result of construction and reorganizations which were made with breaks within two centuries.

Palace Cottage – the basic architectural construction of park Alexandria in Petrodvorets. The palace is located on the top terrace, in a southeast part of park, the panorama of gulf of Finland with outlines of Petersburg seen in the distance and Kronstadt whence opens. From different directions the palace is surrounded by landscape park with shady avenues, twisting paths, lawns, куртинами trees and bushes. The cottage has been constructed per 1826-1829 under the project of architect A.Menelas in so-called "Gothic" style.

Unlike the Great palace, Monplesire Palace is located on most protect gulf of Finland. Construction of a palace was begun in May, 1714, and by August 1723 when in Peterhof the first big holiday was spent, the palace has been completely completed. The high terrace lay out by huge granite boulders and enclosed by an easy white balustrade, repeats view an one-storied brick building with a high roof. In last years of Peter's I live here were arranged small receptions.

The ensemble of the Travelling Palace of Peter I and the Orchard is between the Bottom and Top Peterhof roads. The palace has the three-private decision; to the central part completed by a triangular pediment, two lateral wings adjoin. The six-columned portico supporting a balcony, gives to a building an imposing kind. The architects created palace, have successfully entered it in surrounding landscape. Main, northern facade of the building is turned to the sea.

GARDENS and PARKS

English Park

Pond in the English Park

Colony Park

Meadow Park

Park "Alexandria"

Peterhof is well-known not only the fountains, cascades and palaces, but also numerous parks. Many do not suspect, that, passing on the city of Peterhof they pass from one park in another. Many parks also are not similar to parks in our understanding, it is woods with the avenues laid on them more likely but, nevertheless, it is so-called landscape parks.

The first landscape park in Peterhof, English Park, has been broken at Ekaterina II. The device of park was entrusted to English garden master Jams Meders and architect Dzhakomo Kvarengi (1744-1817). The composite center of park became the picturesque pond which has appeared here still at Peter I when in 1720 an earthen dam have partitioned off proceeded in a deep ravine to the west of Bottom park Troitsky a stream. After it was connected with Ropsha channel, and began to be filled with spring water. From the English pond through sluices water acts in Upper-garden channel and on the Western party of the Great cascade.

In 1832 - 1857 two landscape parks with extensive ponds – Colony's and Meadow have been created. Small Colony's park in 29 hectares is located by the area of all near to the Top garden. Its significant part extensive Holguin borrows a pond with two островками, bordered by avenue of silvery willows. On two островках a pond Tsaritsyn and Holguin pavilions are constructed. The pond has received the name in honor of great princess Olga, daughter Nikolay I.

The ensemble "Alexandria" - a residence of Russian emperors XIX - the beginnings of XX centuries. Located to the east of the Bottom park, it is separated from it by a stone wall which cut Animal, Nikolsky's and the Sea gate, and on the other hand borders on manor Znamenka. The southern border of Alexandria passes along highway Petersburg – Oranienbaum (Lomonosov), and northern on coast of gulf of Finland. The area of park - 115 hectares.