Furniture from the summer palace of Peter I. Story. Interior of the palace

Until 1703, here, near the Neva and Fontanka, there was the estate of the Swedish officer Konau. Immediately after the founding of St. Petersburg, the summer residence of Peter I was located on this site, which began to be called the Summer Garden.

According to the historian K.V. Malinovsky, the Konau house was moved closer to the Neva for its reconstruction as the summer residence of the Tsar. From the autumn of 1706 to the spring of 1707, this was done by the draftsman of the artillery order, Ivan Matveevich Ugryumov. The death of Ugryumov in 1707 slowed down the work, which is confirmed by Kikin’s report to Peter I in February 1708: “ Mansions are now being built in Your Majesty's house, which have been ordered to be moved, and will be ready next month"[Quoted from: 3, p. 39]. On March 12, Kikin again wrote to the king: " In your house there are mansions that have been moved in a week, although not all, but the cook and others will be ready" [Quoted from: 3, pp. 39, 40].

By that time, a small Havanese had already been dug near the Summer House of Peter I. It is known that in 1706 Ugryumov was deepening it. Thus, the water surrounded the building on three sides and approached the porch itself.

In January 1711, Peter I ordered the wooden building to be moved to another location “near the Kalinkin Bridge.” On the vacated site in May they began to build the foundation for the stone Summer Palace of Peter I. This house was built in the Dutch style, as Peter I loved. The Tsar personally drew up the design of the building, after which it was adjusted by the architect Domenico Trezzini. It became one of the first stone residential buildings in St. Petersburg, along with the Menshikov Palace, Golovkin's house. The construction of the Summer Palace of Peter I took four years.

The facade of the building is decorated with 28 bas-reliefs by architect Andreas Schlüter, which depict the events of the Northern War. Above the door is the figure of Minerva (goddess of wisdom) surrounded by victory banners and war trophies. Schlüter came to Russia in 1713 and lived in the Summer Palace even before its construction was completed.

A weather vane was installed on the roof of the Summer Palace in 1714, showing not only the direction of the wind, but also its strength. The weather vane was mechanically connected to a device that showed these parameters on a kind of display inside the building. This device was ordered by Peter I in Dresden from the court mechanic. The weather vane was decorated with a gilded figure of St. George the Victorious.

On the first floor of the Summer Palace there were Peter's chambers, on the second - his wife Catherine and children. On the ground floor there was the king's reception room. Here he accepted written requests and oral complaints. A punishment cell was set up next to the reception area, where Peter personally shoved the guilty and then released them himself. From the reception area one could enter the large “Assembly” room. On the second floor there was the empress's reception room, the throne room and a kitchen with an oven in which Catherine I baked pies for her husband.

The first sewerage system in St. Petersburg appeared in the Summer Palace. Water was supplied to the house by pumps and flowed into the Fontanka. The operation of the flowing sewer system was facilitated by the fact that the building was washed on three sides by water, driving force there was a current of the Fontanka. After the flood of 1777, Havanets was filled up and the sewerage system ceased to function.

There were no utility rooms other than kitchens in the Summer Palace. For them, another building was built along the Fontanka, known as the “People's Quarters”. It was in these premises that the famous Amber Cabinet, Ruysch's anatomical collection, and the library of Peter I were located. A special gallery connected the Summer Palace with the people's quarters.

Peter I lived in this house only from May to October. That’s why the palace is called the Summer Palace and has fairly thin walls. There are 14 rooms, two kitchens and two corridors. The ceiling height is only 3.3 meters. One of Peter I’s favorite rooms in the Summer Palace was the turning room. Her household was managed by the famous mechanic Andrei Nartov.

The Summer Palace served as a place for Peter I to receive visitors with their written requests. State meetings of ministers under the leadership of the emperor were also held here. After one of these meetings, in the lobby of the Summer Palace, an attempt was made on Peter I by one of the schismatics. After this, his fellow believers were ordered to wear a piece of red and yellow fabric on their clothes in order to distinguish them from other people.

The Summer Palace existed as a royal residence until the mid-18th century. Then they began to adapt it to the needs of officials. The corresponding renovation work has changed the appearance historical building. In 1815, the Minister of War, Prince Gorchakov, lived here, the next year - the Minister of Justice, Prince Lobanov-Rostovsky, in 1822 - the military general, governor Count Miloradovich, after him - the Minister of Finance Kankrin.

During the St. Petersburg flood of 1824, the Summer Palace was flooded up to the middle of the first floor windows. An ancient bronze plaque reminds of this event, demonstrating the level of water rise.

Since 1934, a historical and everyday life museum has been operating in the Summer Palace.

The Summer Palace of Peter I in St. Petersburg is located in the Summer Garden, which was founded in the early years of the city's founding. The Summer Garden and the Summer Palace of Peter I are currently under the jurisdiction of the State Russian Museum.

With the start of construction on the left bank of the Neva Admiralty, the construction of residential buildings also began. Peter I chose the section of the Neva bank between the Nameless Erik (Fontanka) and the Mya (Moika) River for his summer residence.
At first Peter I lived in wooden house, built in 1903 and completely unlike the royal residence. It was this building that was seen in 1710-1711 by the author of “Description of St. Petersburg and Kronshlot”: “Right near the river,” he writes, “the royal residence, that is, a small house in the garden of the Dutch facade, colorfully painted with gilded window frames and lead ornaments ".
Peter called this house his “summer palace,” and then this name was inherited by a new building, built in stone, in which the royal family actually lived in the summer.

After the Moika was connected to the Neva by the Lebyazhy Canal, a small island was formed. In its northern part, in 1710-1714, the Summer Palace was built, which was one of the first stone palaces in St. Petersburg. The author of the project is architect D. Trezzini. The interiors were created under the direction of the German sculptor and architect Andreas Schlüter. Russian artists A. Zakharov, I. Zavarzin and F. Matveev participated in the decoration of the rooms.

According to legend, the tsar ordered the construction of the house so that the building would symbolize the new policy of Russia. Then D. Trezzini positioned the residence building so that six of its twelve windows looked east, and the other six looked strictly west. “So our Russia is equally facing both the West and the East,” explained the architect, and the tsar approved this expression of his ideas.

The two-story brick building of the Summer Palace in the Baroque style with a hipped iron roof is crowned with a copper weather vane in the form of St. George slaying a serpent with a spear. At the corners of the roof there are gutters in the form of winged dragons, made of slotted iron.
The entrance of the palace is framed by a portal made of black marble, above which is a bas-relief depicting Minerva with war trophies. The main decoration of the facades of the palace of Peter I are 28 bas-reliefs, made using a rare technique of hand-painting, located in frames between the windows of the first and second floors. The theme of the images is worship sea ​​power Russia. Perhaps the sketches of these compositions were proposed by the German sculptor and architect A. Schlüter, who used engravings of European masters depicting sea creatures.

The theme of triumph in the decoration of the palace façade allows us to consider it the first monument to Russia’s victories in Northern War. The scenes presented on the bas-reliefs are mythological, but the meaning contained in them is divorced from the context of the myths and becomes understandable only in connection with the main events in the life of Russia and Peter I himself - the struggle with Sweden for access to the sea. The subjects of the bas-reliefs were undoubtedly chosen by the sovereign, and it is no coincidence that some of them coincide with the subjects of ship carvings ("The Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite", "Perseus defeating Medusa", "Cupids on Dolphins", "Cupids on Hippocampi"). The interpretation of these allegories can be found in printed descriptions of the triumphal gates erected on the occasion of victories over the Swedes, where Neptune and Amphitrite are the personification of the maritime glory of Russia and a symbol of its growth, Peter himself is represented in the images of ancient deities and heroes (Mars, Hercules, Perseus), and the king's opponent, the Svei state, is called "hydra, chimera, cunning serpent."

The palace is small (which is commensurate with the tastes of Peter I): 26.5 x 15.5 m; height of two floors - 8.1 m; height to the roof ridge - 13.3 m; the height of the rooms is 3.3 m. The layout of both floors is the same. The tsar's chambers were on the first floor, and his wife Catherine and children were on the second floor.

The palace was intended only for living in the warm season (from May to October), which is why it has thin walls and single frames. The palace has only 14 rooms, two kitchens, two internal corridors. The arrangement of the rooms is enfilade, and the service rooms communicate with the internal corridor, which eliminated the need for servants to appear in the front rooms. The service corridor opens onto: a) Dressing room (original pine wardrobes for storing clothes have been preserved - they are attached to the walls with special forged hooks); b) Denshchitskaya (1st floor); Freylinskaya (2nd floor); c) cookhouses, toilets, furnace openings; d) a service spiral staircase hidden behind an oak carved structure resembling a wardrobe (made in accordance with Peter's instructions dated May 2, 1714). The outer door from the corridor opened onto the front Neva gallery.

The location of the palace on the peninsula was used to install a flow-through sewer system. The idea of ​​the architect J.B. Leblond, at that time - the last word technology, Peter was very fascinated. A sewer tunnel was laid under the foundation of the building, connecting the Neva with the Havanese, through which water circulated. Six palace toilets were connected to the tunnel using wooden boxes (the flow-through sewerage system operated only until 1777, since the Havanese was filled up after the flood).

According to the project of Zh.B. Leblon equipped the lower kitchen of the Summer Palace - a hearth, cutting tables, pantries and a sink with running water appeared here. “What is of great convenience and what one can only dream of,” wrote Leblond, “is to have running water by running pipes with water from a nearby source.” Water was supplied to the palace from a fountain system Summer Garden, was pumped into a lead tank in the attic, from where it flowed through pipes to the cookhouse.

A unique description of the interiors of the Summer Palace, left by an unknown author in 1720, has been preserved: “... a palace, very beautifully decorated with various Chinese upholstery. In three rooms there were velvet beds with wide braiding that matched the entire decoration. There were many mirrors, many decorations, marble floor "Adjacent to the rooms is a kitchen, the walls of which are covered with upholstery, like rooms in other palaces. It contained pumps, utility rooms, cabinets for silver and pewter utensils. One of the rooms opposite was filled with turning and metalwork tools..."

In Peter's Palace, doors, wall panels, and stairs are made of oak. The exceptions are two offices - Green (on the 2nd floor) and Personal Area Peter's (on the 1st floor), where the doors and wall panels are trimmed with walnut (this refers to the room previously called by researchers the Turning Room - the lathes of Peter I, which are now kept in the State Hermitage, were demonstrated here). The rooms adjacent to the Study are the dining room and the king's bedroom. On the panel of the door leading to the bedroom is an image of Golgotha ​​(presumably the work of Peter I). The emperor's office and kitchen are decorated with unique Dutch tiles, and the fireplaces are decorated with stucco bas-reliefs. The lampshades of the office are beautifully painted (master G. Gzel).

There is a unique wind device in the Cabinet. The carved frame, whose carvings are made on the theme of maritime symbols, contains three disks with a scale: the upper one is a clock with hands (hour, minute and second), the lower disks are “wind decrees” connected to a weather vane on the roof of the palace. A device with “wind instructions” is a navigation device that allows you to determine the strength and direction of the wind in the Baltic region. It was ordered by Peter I to the Dresden masters Dinglinger and Gaertner in 1713. In 1714, the wind device was brought to St. Petersburg and installed in a place chosen by Peter himself - in his Office. A weather vane in the form of the figure of St. George the Victorious, installed on the roof, sets the mechanism of this device in motion.


The decoration of the Green Office on the top floor is well preserved. This is one of the first examples of interior decoration in the spirit of the new French fashion, brought to Russia by the architect J.B. Leblon, which involved decorating the walls with panels with decorative paintings, mirrors, and desudéportes. In this office, in the closets, the doors of which are still glazed with squares of “lunar” glass from the early 18th century, objects from Peter’s first Kunstkamera were placed.

After the death of Peter I and Catherine I, almost no one lived in their house. At one time, meetings of the Supreme Privy Council were held there, and later the imperial courtiers came here to relax.

The appearance of the palace has hardly changed over three centuries. This is explained by the fact that even during the life of the emperor, new summer chambers were built near the Swan Canal. After the construction of the large Summer Palace of Elizabeth Petrovna on the banks of the Moika River (on the site of the current Mikhailovsky Castle) old palace Peter I was abandoned. This saved him from alterations and preserved him original appearance. The Green Office, the dining room and the premises in which Catherine I’s ladies-in-waiting lived were preserved in their original form. The personal belongings of Peter and Catherine remained, which later became the main exhibits of the museum.
The fact that the palace has survived to this day without significant changes is confirmed by both the historical plans of the Summer Garden of the first half of the 18th century and the recording drawings of M.G. Zemtsov 1727.

The Summer Palace is not only one of the first stone buildings in St. Petersburg, from which the city “began,” but also a unique example of the architectural creativity of its founder, which reflected the unique personality of Peter I.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Summer Palace served as a summer residence for senior government officials. The museum history of the building begins in 1903, when, for the 200th anniversary of St. Petersburg, an exhibition dedicated to Peter I was opened within its walls.

After 1917, the palace was preserved as a historical and architectural monument. In 1934, a historical and artistic memorial museum was opened in the Summer Palace of Peter I. Currently, the exhibition of the Summer Palace includes personal belongings of Peter the Great and Catherine I, as well as furniture, paintings, tapestries, glass and porcelain items from the Peter the Great era.

Materials used from the site www.rusmuseum.ru

K. P. Beggrov. View of the Palace of Peter I in the Summer Garden. Lithograph based on a drawing by V. S. Sadovnikov. 1830

About Peter's residence in the Summer Garden of St. Petersburg.

It seems that the rare researcher working on the “Summer House” - as the palace of Peter I was called at the beginning of the 18th century - did not complain about the lack of sources related to this building by the architect D. Trezzini. “No correct information has been preserved about the construction of the [Summer Palace],” wrote the writer A. P. Bashutsky in 1839. “The history of the Summer Palace has not yet been clarified,” summed up the art critic I. E. Grabar at the beginning of the 20th century. “The early history of the royal summer residence is covered in legends,” echoes archaeologist V. A. Korentsvit. The tsar's small two-story house, pushed into a corner of the Summer Garden, looked least like the residence of an all-powerful monarch. “Peter I founded it more for his own amusement than with the intention of building an imperial palace,” noted the Swedish scientist K. R. Burke in 1735. The Prussian official J. G. Fokkerodt, who apparently visited the palace during Peter’s lifetime, even calls Trezzini’s creation “a miserable house, not at all commensurate with everything else.” According to him, the Summer Palace was “so cramped that a wealthy nobleman probably would not have wanted to fit in it.” Fokkerodt considered the reason for this to be the poor taste of the Russian monarch, who loved small, low chambers. “The drawing presented by one Dutch architect, with cramped rooms and successfully gaining free space,” writes an official about some of Peter’s buildings, “forever retained Peter’s advantage over the plan that was drawn with great taste by one Italian or French architect.” Sometimes the opinion is expressed that the tsar, who built such an outwardly inconspicuous palace for himself, wanted to live in it as a private person, while the palace of Prince A.D. Menshikov had “representative functions.” This is hardly true. Sources report: the summer residence of Peter I was visited by foreign ambassadors, prominent dignitaries, and architects. For example, in October 1722 “in the Summer House of His Imperial Majesty<…>there was a consultation” about stone construction in St. Petersburg, where, in addition to the tsar, the head of the office of city affairs U.A. Sinyavin and architects D. Trezzini and Stefan van Zwieten were present. Entertainment also took place here: the Scotsman P. G. Bruce, who served under Peter I, reports that he often gave balls and held receptions in his Summer Palace, “and not at Prince Menshikov’s, as before.” Audiences of ambassadors also took place in the Summer Palace, as mentioned by one of the participants in the Polish embassy that visited St. Petersburg in 1720. The testimony of an unknown author, who appears in the literature as a “Pole eyewitness,” is extremely valuable, since it is the only description of the inner chambers of the Summer Palace of the era of Peter I. The Tsar took the ambassador with him to the palace, “very beautifully decorated with various Chinese upholstery.” In three rooms the Pole saw velvet beds with wide braiding, many mirrors and decorations. The floor is marble. The kitchen is “like rooms in other palaces.” In the kitchen there are pumps for water supply, cabinets for silver and pewter utensils. Getting acquainted with the “equipment” of the royal kitchen, you involuntarily come to the conclusion: it was with the construction of the Summer Palace that Peter finally received a well-established life. In any case, now the words of the Danish envoy Yu. Yulya, who wrote in 1709 about the first Winter Palace the following: “The king was eating at home. It is curious that his cook ran around the city from house to house, borrowing dishes from some, tablecloths, plates, and food supplies for the household, because the king did not bring anything with him.” The following fact also attracts attention: although Peter had already been living in his new residence for several years, it was still not finished - apparently, his constant absence from the capital due to the wars prevented Peter from controlling the process of decorating the palace. At the same time, the monarch could not help but notice how quickly A. D. Menshikov’s palace was being rebuilt and modified, which caused the highest discontent. The Austrian resident in Russia, O. Player, reports on the scolding that Peter I gave to His Serene Highness on the latter’s name day, November 23, 1714. Reproaching the favorite for numerous wastes, the king angrily said to him: “You, prince, always build well: at the end of summer you ordered half of your house to be demolished, and by winter it was already rebuilt again, and not like the old one, but better and taller. You started a guest house at the end of summer, which is larger than mine, and yours is more than half ready, but mine is not.” Researchers often agree that the palace of Peter I in the Summer Garden is an imitation of country Dutch villas. Indeed, in the explication to the plan of the 1740s from the collection of Trinity College in Dublin (Ireland), this palace is designated as “a Dutch estate in which Tsar Peter I lived with his entire family.” By the way, a statement on this subject by the owner of the “Dutch estate” himself, heard by an eyewitness, has been preserved. Apparently, Peter did not consider the Trezzini Chambers as the final option, but was thinking in the future - probably after the end of the war with Sweden - to build a residence in the garden more appropriate to his rank: “For now, let’s live like good Dutch citizens live,” he told Catherine, “And once I’ve managed my affairs, I’ll build you a palace, and then we’ll live as princes should live.” According to the Traveling Journals of Peter I, the royal family moved from the Winter Palace to the Summer Palace in April or May (apparently depending on the weather). For example, in 1715 the move took place on April 16, and in 1720 - on May 21. We returned to our “winter apartments” with the first cold weather that arrived in October. Following the family, the “Office-Chancery” moved, headed by A. V. Makarov, which apparently occupied the first floor of the People’s Apartments adjacent to the palace (in the inventory of this building on the first floor under No. 11 it says: “Government from Makarov”...

The city that is rightfully considered the cultural capital of Russia is St. Petersburg. Having visited it once, you want to come back again and again. Every corner of it, every centimeter is soaked centuries-old history Russian Empire. Streets, squares, gardens, parks, bridges, museums and architectural monuments create a unique atmosphere in this city. Anyone who comes to St. Petersburg will be able to feel the unique harmony of excellent settlement. The sights of St. Petersburg never cease to amaze its guests. Particularly popular among tourists is the main pearl of which is the palace of Peter I, on which we will focus our attention.

The history of the first Summer Palace

After construction of the Admiralty began on the left bank of the Neva, residential buildings began to appear house after house. Peter I also chose a site for his residence - the territory on the coast of the Neva between the Mya (Maika) river and the Nameless Erik (Fontanka). The first Summer Palace was a small wooden structure. The plastered and painted structure did not stand out in any way among the other buildings located in the neighborhood, and bore little resemblance to the royal residence.

Symbol of the new policy of Russia

The victory near Poltava in 1709 meant a turning point in the Northern War in favor of the Russian army. The hasty construction of numerous stone buildings began in St. Petersburg. During this period, the Lebyazhy Canal was built, which connected the Moika to the Neva. As a result, a small island formed between the rivers. It was on this piece of land that Peter I decided to build a stone palace. By order of the tsar, a project was created that symbolizes the new political direction of Russia. The architect of the Summer Palace, Trezzini, proposed to position the building of the future royal residence in such a way that the same number of windows faced both the west and the east. Peter I approved this idea, and on August 18, 1710, construction of the palace began, which was completed in April 1712.

Summer house

An amazing feature of this structure was that during its construction the city's first sewer system was built. Water was supplied to the house using pumps, and the drain went into the Fontanka. Since the Summer Palace was surrounded by water on three sides, the driving force was the flow of the river itself. However, after the flood that occurred in 1777, the small Gavanets Bay, located in front of the house, had to be filled up. This caused the first sewerage system to cease to function.

First floor of the palace

The Tsar moved to the Summer Palace, the photo of which is presented below, with his entire family immediately after construction was completed and lived in it from spring until late autumn. It occupied six rooms located on the ground floor, including a bedroom with a fireplace. Nearby there was a reception room where various meetings were held and important matters were decided. The king's favorite room was a lathe with a machine, where the emperor free time mastered the craft of a carpenter. He spared no effort for his work and was proud of the fact that he had calluses on his hands.

Second floor of the palace

The Summer Palace of Peter I also had a second floor, to which a massive oak staircase led. There were six rooms here, which housed the queen with her ladies-in-waiting and children. The interior of the second floor was significantly different from the first, as there was great amount mirrors and paintings. Next to the bedroom of Catherine I there was a beautifully decorated throne room in which the queen decided her affairs. The Green Cabinet surprised visitors with its magnificent gilded decoration, numerous ivory and wood figurines, and amazingly beautiful Chinese frescoes. A special room was allocated for parties and dances.

Summer garden

A magnificent garden was laid out near the palace in 1720, which resembled a huge park. Beautiful alleys stretch across the entire garden. They share an area with beautifully trimmed trees and shrubs. Sculptures symbolizing Russia were installed throughout the territory. In addition, in the garden there were many marble busts, the creation of which was carried out by the best Italian craftsmen. Particular attention was paid to the construction of fountains, which served as decoration for the palace grounds. Due to the fact that the Summer Palace was surrounded by water on three sides, special boats were offered to guests for walks.

Historical memo

The Tsar loved the Summer Palace very much. This is where he spent last days own life. In 1725, in the lobby of the palace, Peter I was attacked by one of the schismatics, which ended in death. After the death of the Tsar, Catherine I never lived in the residence. For some time, meetings were held here, but eventually the palace became a resting place for the imperial courtiers.

Everything beautiful is forever

After three centuries, the Summer Palace in St. Petersburg has undergone virtually no changes. Time has not made any adjustments to the exterior decoration of the palace. Not only the austere appearance of the building, built in the Baroque style, has been preserved to this day, but also the summer frieze under the roof, consisting of twenty-nine bas-reliefs that separate the floors. Under the high hipped roof, gutters built in the shape of winged dragons have been preserved, and on it there is a weather vane in the form of St. George the Victorious, showing. In addition to the external appearance, the main part of the interior decoration has been preserved: artistic carvings on the walls, painted ceilings and tiled stoves. The Green Study, the dining room and those rooms in which the royal ladies-in-waiting resided have practically the same appearance.

Tour of the Summer Palace

Today this palace is rightfully included in the “Best Sights of St. Petersburg” section. Thousands of tourists strive to visit it. What can you see in the palace?

The main decoration of the lobby is a large panel - a bas-relief of Minerva, carved from wood. It is impossible not to pay attention to the door, the trim on which is made of black marble. It leads to a room that was once the king's reception room. The next room is intended for orderlies; it is not of particular interest. Next is the Assembly Room (Second Reception Room), the main decoration of which is the “Triumph of Russia” lampshade. And between the windows there is an Admiralty chair, which previously belonged to Peter I. Behind the second reception room there is narrow room, which once served as the king’s dressing room.

Continuing to explore the Summer Palace, let's move on to the next room - the emperor's office, where some of the king's personal belongings have been preserved. Thus, of interest is a gift from the English King George I - ship's furniture. In the corner there is an oak cabinet with beautiful carvings. In the center there is a huge table and a work chair. A door leads from the office to the royal bedroom. What attracts attention here is the lampshade, which depicts the god of sleep Morpheus holding poppy heads in his hands. Looking at it, determining the purpose of the room is not difficult. In the bedroom there is a beautiful fireplace, in which, according to legend, the royal court jester Balakirev hid.

On the second floor, the most interesting will be the Green Office, which has retained all its decoration in its original form, which has already been described. There is a fireplace in the corner with sculptures of cupids on it. Moving into the dance room, you will find yourself in a world of mirrors. The large mirror in a walnut frame with unique carvings deserves special attention. In the children's room you can see a lampshade depicting a stork holding a snake in its beak, which symbolized the glorious reign of the heir and the death of enemies. Finally, you need to go to Catherine’s throne room, where her throne still stands.

The palace still has a cozy, homely atmosphere that attracts many tourists. People come here not only to see this landmark of St. Petersburg and get acquainted with history. Many people want to understand exactly how the emperor lived and what surrounded him.

Where is the Summer Palace and how to get to it

The palace is located at the address: Summer Garden, building 3. To get to this place, you need to get to the metro station " Gostiny Dvor" After this Sadovaya Street walk to the Lebyazhya Canal embankment. It is necessary to move towards reducing the numbering of houses. The entrance to the Summer Garden is located near the embankment.

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The Summer Palace of Peter I is considered one of the oldest buildings in St. Petersburg. The house is in a very beautiful place called Summer Garden. This park was laid out at the beginning of the 18th century, when Northern capital They were just starting to build. Peter I invited famous architects and gardeners to work on his summer residence. The Tsar dreamed of arranging a garden here in the Versailles style. Looking ahead, let's say that he succeeded and to this day the Summer Garden remains one of the favorite vacation spots for tourists and city residents.

The Summer Palace of Peter I in St. Petersburg is not distinguished by its splendor. This is a very modest building in the Baroque style, completely different from the royal mansions.

Peter chose the location for the Summer Palace between the Neva and Fontanka (in those years - Nameless Erik), exactly where the estate of the Swedish major Erich von Konow was located. It was here that a small two-story stone house was built according to the design of the architect Domenico Trezzini. True, Peter initially made the house plan on his own, and Trezzini only corrected it. It is worth noting that the Summer Palace of Peter I is not distinguished by its splendor. This is a very modest building in the Baroque style, completely different from the royal mansions. The layout of both floors is exactly the same. There are only 14 rooms, 2 kitchens and 2 internal corridors. The tsar's rooms were located on the first floor, and his wife Catherine's on the second. The owners used this house only in warm weather - from May to October. That is why the Summer Palace of Peter I has thin walls and single frames in the windows. The façade of the palace is decorated with 28 bas-reliefs depicting the events of the Northern War.

On the roof of the Summer Palace of Peter I there is a copper weather vane in the form of St. George the Victorious slaying a serpent. The weather vane sets in motion the mechanism of the wind device located inside the house. A special display panel indicated the direction and strength of the wind. Peter I ordered this unusual device for that time in Dresden from the court mechanic.

Despite its outward simplicity, the Summer Palace of Peter I had everything that was required for the needs of the sovereign. In the reception room he read letters, dealt with complaints and sometimes received visitors. Next door there was a lathe and a lathe, at which Peter worked, a bedroom, a dressing room, a kitchen, a dining room and a large room - the assembly. A punishment cell was provided for those who were guilty. Interior decoration the palace in allegorical form glorified the victory of Russia over the Swedes in the Northern War. On the second floor there was Catherine's bedroom, a children's room, a room for maids of honor and a separate room for dancing.

It is interesting that the Summer Palace of Peter I was equipped with a sewerage system - the very first in all of St. Petersburg. The building was washed on three sides by water, which entered the house using pumps. The flow of the Fontanka River served as the driving force for the sewerage system.

Next to the palace there is another building - the Human Quarters. Here was the famous Amber Room, a huge library and numerous collections of various things that Peter collected. For example, the anatomical collection of the Dutch scientist Ruysch was kept in the Human Chambers. In fact, this house housed a large museum: here the king brought various curiosities, mechanisms, many compasses, astronomical instruments, stones with inscriptions, and household items different nations and many many others.

The Summer Palace served its main function as the Tsar's country residence until the mid-18th century. Then officials began to use it. For some time the palace even stood abandoned. This is what saved it from perestroika. In 1934, a historical and art museum was located here. The building was damaged during the Great Patriotic War. But a large-scale reconstruction in the mid-50s of the 20th century helped to completely restore the palace. Today the Tsar's residence is part of the Russian Museum; anyone can go inside and find out how Peter I lived.

Practical information

Summer Garden address: St. Petersburg, Kutuzov embankment, 2. The nearest metro station is Gostiny Dvor. Entrance to the garden is free, opening hours are from 10.00 to 20.00. Day off is Tuesday.