Peterhof

It is Peter the Great's favorite summer residence which is located about 29 km from Saint Petersburg on the Coast of the Gulf of Finland. Peterhof presents a grandiose complex of palaces, fountains and gardens of 18th-19th centuries. Peterhof is considered by many people to be "the Russian answer to Versailles". Unlike Versailles, where expensive devices had been built to raise the water, Peter the Great made water run by gravity, with the aid of a canal, from the heights of Ropsha.

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The Great Palace is the center of the Peterhof architectural complex. Palace founded in the time of Peter the Great and rebuilt by the daughter of Peter Elizabeth, preserves the interiors from the time of the founder of the residence, the gala rooms in baroque and elegant rooms in the classical style. The tzars used this palace as a place for important celebrations, dances and gala dinners.

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Monplaisir is Peter the Great's favorite palace that was built by his own sketches. Monplaisir is the French word that translates as "my pleasure". Peter the Great always stayed in this small palace during his visits to Peterhof. Until today you can see there the objects that belonged to Peter, paintings of the Dutch and Flemish masters collected by Peter the Great, the varnish panels, the tiles, the Chinese porcelains.

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The best time to visit Peterhof is from May to September when more than 150 fountains of the Lower Park - "the Russian Versailles" operate.