Peterhof (Petrodvorets): photos, fountains, how to get there, prices, opening hours. Peterhof. Palace and park ensemble Peterhof Fountains

A large cascade stretches out in front of the façade of the Grand Palace. This is not only the most majestic fountain complex in Peterhof, it is one of the most beautiful fountains in the world. The complex was supposed to glorify the victory of the Russian army in the Northern War. Peter I dreamed that all guests of his country residence would be speechless at the sight of this masterpiece of park architecture. And to this day, everyone who comes to Petrodvorets freezes in admiration before this splendor.

The Grand Cascade became a large-scale project, on which leading architects, hydraulic engineers and sculptors of that time worked: I. Braunstein, J.-B. Leblon, N. Michetti, the Barratini brothers, C. Rastrelli and many others.

⛲ large-scale work lasted from 1714 to 1724;

⛲ more than 2000 people worked to create a complex water cascade system;

⛲ via the sea canal the main basin of the Great Cascade is directly connected to the Gulf of Finland;

⛲ the composition combined 64 fountains and 225 sculptural decorations.

During the Great Patriotic War, workers of the museum-reserve buried the statues of the cascade underground and hid them in hiding places to protect them from destruction. But not everything was saved: the statues of Samson, Neva, Volkhov and Tritons were stolen. The period of post-war restoration lasted until 1956. Just imagine - all the unique sculptural decor of the cascade was restored bit by bit.

Today you can admire this pearl of fountain art. The complex is especially transformed on the opening and closing days of the fountains, which take place in late May and mid-September. For several days, the Grand Cascade becomes a bright backdrop for laser shows and theatrical performances.

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Photo gallery

The Samson Fountain is the compositional dominant of the Grand Cascade and one of the most recognizable symbols of Peterhof. The luxurious sculpture was created in 1735 by order of Empress Anna Ioannovna, who wanted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava in such a solemn way. B.K Rastrelli himself was involved in the development of the sketches.

⛲ Samson was originally dressed in a cloak and had a beard;

⛲ sculptures of eight dolphins decorating the composition symbolize the calm Baltic Sea;

⛲ gilded lions represent the four cardinal directions;

⛲ Samson's water column is capable of reaching the height of an 8-story building without the help of pumps; the flow is ensured solely by the pressure difference.

Samson's story is truly unique. The fountain changed its appearance three times. So, at the end of the 18th century, the sculpture lost its gloss and shine, so it was decided to replace lead with bronze. The reconstruction project was led by M.I. Kozlovsky, who tried to preserve the ideological concept of the fountain as much as possible.

During the Great Patriotic War, the statue was stolen; in the 50s, sculptors V. L. Simonov and N. V. Mikhailov began recreating the fountain masterpiece, using pre-war photographs and drawings in their work. Today Samson dazzles us with his magnificence and when you look at him you will undoubtedly see the reflection of several eras.

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Photo gallery

Petrodvorets has a completely unique attraction - the grottoes of the Grand Cascade. These underground structures are the architectural center of the fountain complex. Having made a trip here, you will understand how grandiose the project was conceived by Peter I. According to his plan, all the park’s fountains were supposed to work not with pumps, but with the help of a special power supply system from nearby reservoirs. A whole team of architects worked on the project: Jean-Baptiste Leblond, Ivan Braunstein and Nicola Michetti.

⛲ construction of the Upper and Lower grottoes lasted from 1716-1720;

⛲ dungeons were built here, where a complex hydraulic system of fountain pipes passed;

⛲ the pipes are painted in different colors, since previously very young boys became students of fountain masters, who had to quickly navigate which fountains certain pipes were connected to;

⛲ the profession of a fountain master was incredibly honorable, but specialists had to work in difficult conditions; due to constant exposure to darkness, many began to have serious vision problems;

⛲ Since Peter’s times, the legendary joke fountains have been working in the grottoes: the joke table and the water curtain.

A walk through the grottoes will be unforgettable for you; along the way you will definitely visit an amazing museum. Here is a unique exhibition that tells a fascinating story about the work of the fountain masters of Petrodvorets. You will see the work suits of master hydraulic engineers and get acquainted with rare documents and photographs. The Grand Cascade Grottoes will lift the veil of secrecy for you, and you will be able to find out exactly how the greatest fountain complex in the world functions.

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When coming up with the composition of the Russian Versailles, Peter I wanted to decorate each of the palaces of the residence with a unique cascade of fountains. So the Hermitage Cascade was supposed to rise near the Hermitage pavilion. Nicolo Michetti thought out all the compositional details in detail, but the construction of the fountain was postponed and the project was never brought to life. Only in 1799 did the architect Andrei Voronikhin develop a completely new sketch of the cascade.

⛲ at the end of the 18th century, the cascade looked like a rectangular pool with waterfall ledges and marble bowls;

⛲ the main decoration of the fountain of that time were the figures of Hercules and Flora;

⛲ this is the only cascade of the park located on a flat terrace, and not on a slope;

⛲ the cascade in the style of late classicism, which we can see now, appeared only in 1855 and was developed by Andrei Stackenschneider;

⛲ From the composition of the architect A. Voronikhin, only bronze figures of lions have been preserved.

The image of the Lion Cascade has become absolutely unique for Petrodvorets: no luxury, gilding or pomp. The strict, seasoned composition fascinates with its symmetry and sophistication. To decorate the center of the cascade, sculptor Fyodor Tolstoy created a unique sculpture - the Nymph Aganipa with an elegant jug on her shoulder.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Lion Cascade was practically destroyed; in fact, only the base was preserved; the columns and bowls were completely destroyed. Large-scale restoration work was completed only by 2000 and solemnly marked the completion of the post-war restoration of the Lower Park.

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Photo gallery

Chess Mountain

In front of the largest square of the Lower Park you will find a picturesque cascade of fountains with black and white slopes. This is the famous Chess Mountain, which is also called the Dragon Cascade. Initially, Peter I planned to create a unique fountain composition here, which would become a symbol of the victory of the Russian Empire over the Swedish fortresses. The fountain was supposed to be stylized in a special way: to build a complex in the form of a destroyed tower. But due to a lack of resources, this project was not destined to be implemented

⛲ the appearance of Chess Mountain was formed from 1737 to 1769;

⛲ cascade height 21 m;

⛲ just like the Grand Cascade, the composition includes the Upper and Lower Grottoes;

⛲ next to the steps there are 10 unique marble statues brought from Italy in 1724;

⛲ according to the original design of Peter I, it was planned to install Neptune’s cart with four horses at the top of the complex, and later the sculpture of B.K. Rastrelli was moved to the Upper Park;

⛲ chessboard style painting appeared only in 1769.

Leading architects of the 18th century took part in the creation of the cascade at different times: Johann Braunstein and the Barattini brothers, Mikhail Zemtsov and Timofey Usov. Leading fountain master Vasily Tuvolkov was responsible for the hydraulic engineering work.

The key reconstruction of the cascade took place in 1737: Mikhail Zemtsov developed a fundamentally new project. The cascade was decorated with figures of dragons, which were carved from wood. So the fountain complex acquired a new name - Drakensberg Mountain.

During the Great Patriotic War, employees of the park ensemble buried the fountain statues in the ground, thus saving the greatest sculptures of the 18th century. After complete restoration, they returned to their places, but the chess slopes and dragon figures were recreated anew. Today you can see for yourself that this is one of the most solemn fountains of Peterhof; it lies majestically on a natural hillside and amazes with its bright composition.

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Once you see the magnificent decoration of the Golden Mountain, you will remember it forever. The gilded steps and luxurious sculptures on the hillside are mesmerizing. Peter I conceived the idea of ​​​​creating the Golden Fountain Cascade after he saw the country residence of Marly le Roy of the French king Louis XIV. Peter was amazed by the grandeur of the fountain cascades and wanted to decorate Peterhof with a similar ceremonial composition.

⛲ work on the composition of the cascade was carried out from 1722 to 1732;

⛲ the cascade composition is decorated with 18 sculptures, including one of the best works by Italian architect Pietro Baratta: Andromeda chained to a rock;

⛲ according to the original project, Nicolo Michetti, the cascade staircase was supposed to consist of 80 steps, but Peter I had to reduce their number to 21, given the limited length of the slope of the Lower Park.

Unfortunately, Peter I did not see the final work on the cascade; the creation of the complex continued after his death. The project was headed by architect M. Zemtsov. It was under him that the feet were covered with gilded sheets. The Marlinsky cascade acquired a second name - Golden Mountain.

In 1870, a key reconstruction of the fountain complex took place. Ten mythological statues were delivered to Petrodvorets from the Italian city of Carrara to order, which replaced the time-worn lead sculptures.

During the Great Patriotic War, all the statues of the cascade were hidden in underground storage facilities. The steps of the fountain were completely destroyed. The restoration work was divided into several large-scale stages, with the final reconstruction completed in 2015.

The Golden Mountain has an incredible colorful facade, compositionally it is connected with the Grand Cascade and also glorifies the naval power of the Russian Empire. The solemn appearance of the cascade will amaze your imagination; it looks especially festive on a sunny day, when the feet shine especially brightly with their gilding.

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Crackers

The famous joker fountains will bring you a sea of ​​joy and laughter. Peter I had an incredible sense of humor and was therefore inspired by the Versailles tradition of organizing such fun for guests of country residences.

Cracker fountains are true symbols of the park traditions of that time. They were extremely popular in the 18th century and reflect the stylistic features of Baroque and Rococo.

Crackers are hidden in different parts of Peterhof. If you get too close to such fountains, you will certainly fall under a scattering of splashes. However, during tsarist times, not all guests were happy with such fun, as ladies loved to stroll along the alleys in luxurious, expensive clothes.

Almost all the surprise fountains are hidden in the eastern part of the Lower Park, near Monplaisir Alley. It was here that “playing places” were organized for the royal guests.

⛲ Fountain "Oak"

- was created in 1735 according to the design of B.K Rastrelli;

— consists of a metal tree, five tulips and two benches;

— when you approach the composition of branches and tulips, jets of water rise;

⛲ Fountain “Sofas”

- was created in 1723 according to the design of Nicola Michetti;

— visually designed in the manner of trellis sofas, which were in fashion at the beginning of the 18th century;

— jets of water rise from the area in front of the sofa when you try to approach it;

⛲ Fir-tree fountain

— was created in 1784 according to the design of the architect F. A. Strelnikov;

— visually designed as three decorative Christmas trees;

— the mechanism works as soon as you pass by;

⛲ Fountain "Water Road"

- was created in 1721 according to the design of Nicola Michetti;

- in the times of Peter the Great, the alley was illuminated by a water canopy of three hundred jets, the fountain was not popular due to the effect of surprise and was quickly closed, the idea received a second embodiment in 2001;

— the water arch appears on schedule at 13.00, 14.00 and 15.00;

⛲ Fountain “Umbrella”

- was created in 1796 by the architect F. Brower;

— visually designed as a canopy in the Chinese style, decorated with armchairs with carved armrests along the perimeter;

- you must run under the canopy before jets of water begin to fly out of one hundred and sixty-four tubes;

⛲ Fountain “Splash Table” and “Water Curtains” in the Lower Grotto of the Grand Cascade

- were created in 1727 according to the design of Pyotr Eropkin;

— a luxurious table was specially placed in the grottoes, on which there was always a bowl of fruit; as soon as the guest tried to reach out to the vase, streams of water scattered from the tubes placed around the perimeter of the table;

— to this day, when leaving the grottoes, an invigorating water curtain suddenly appears.

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Photo gallery

Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve is an amazing composition of fountains located on Marlinskaya Alley. Structurally, Adam is the eastern center of the Lower Park, and Eve is the western center. These fountains were planned by Peter I. The creation of the figures was carried out by the Venetian sculptor Giovanni Bonazza. Today you will find them in the center of the squares, where the alleys converge to form a star pattern.

⛲ the project to create fountains lasted from 1717 to 1728;

⛲ technically, water flows are not sprayed, but are designed in such a way as to fall in large jets;

⛲ fountains are unique in that you can see them from all points of the Lower Park;

⛲ since 1726, Adam and Eve acquired a new allegorical meaning: the fountains sang the first emperor and the first empress of the Russian Empire - Peter the Great and Catherine I;

⛲ Adam and Eve are the only composition in Peterhof that has preserved its original sculptural decoration.

Diplomatic representative of Peter I Roguzinsky S.L. was actively involved in the purchase of statues for the Summer Garden in Italy. At the same time, by order of Peter I, he ordered the Venetian sculptor Giovanni Bonnaza to produce majestic sculptures of Adam and Eve. The result exceeded all expectations, Peter was delighted.

The first to be created was a fountain for the sculpture of Adam, designed by Nicolo Michetti. The fountain started working under Peter I, but the Eva fountain was launched only during the reign of Catherine I. The Eva pool was designed by the famous architects N. Usov.

During the Great Patriotic War, employees of the palace and park ensemble buried the sculptures in the ground, and miraculously the figures were saved. In the post-war period, a long period of restoration of the statues began. The pedestal of the sculpture of Adam was completely destroyed and had to be recreated. Today you can travel back in time and see Adam and Eve in their original form; the paired composition of the fountains has been reconstructed and fully conveys the original plan of Peter I.

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The sun is a real masterpiece of fountain art. From an engineering point of view, its design is one of the most complex in Peterhof. This unique fountain adorns the central pond of the Menagereine Garden in the Lower Park in the immediate vicinity of the Monplaisir Palace.

⛲ in the fountain there is a wheel that moves with the help of water flows, this is how the column rotates;

⛲ the discs at the top of the column have 187 holes for water outlet;

⛲ on a sunny day, jets of water create an amazing spectacle: colorful rainbows flash everywhere.

Initially, the pond was decorated with a more simple fountain. At the beginning of the 18th century, Peter I wanted to organize a real menagerie in Peterhof. By his order, the Menagere Garden was laid out, decorated with a long pond. In 1724, the architect N. Michetti made a number of changes to the general concept and gave the garden a ceremonial appearance; it was during this period that the first fountain was installed in the pond, which did not strike the imagination at all.

The Sun Fountain appeared much later: under Catherine II. She decided to reconstruct the pond and arrange a royal bath in the garden. I. Yakovlev and Y. Felten took on the project. It was during this period that a multi-level fountain design was developed, which became a real decoration of the garden.

For more than a hundred years, the bathhouse was hidden by walls that completely blocked the fountain. Only in 1926 the fence was completely dismantled. During the war, the fountain was badly damaged; its final restoration was completed only in 1956. During the restoration work, the open version of the fountain was used as a basis. So now you can endlessly admire the most iridescent fountain of Petrodvorets.

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Roman fountains are majestically located on the square in front of the Chess Mountain cascade. Seeing them will undoubtedly transport you to the capital of Italy, because they are incredibly similar to the famous fountains at St. Peter's Basilica. The two symmetrical compositions were designed in 1739 by famous 18th century architects Johann Blank and Ivan Davydov.

⛲ the fountains have a two-tier design, which was incredibly popular in the 18th century;

⛲ in the mid-18th century, garden master Bernhard Fock created unique flower lawns that exactly repeated the shape of Roman fountains;

⛲ from the center of the upper bowl, water flows can rise to a height of more than 10 meters;

The appearance of the Roman fountains underwent several stages of reconstruction, which were carried out under the leadership of F. B. Rastrelli and F. P. Bower, the chief architect of Peterhof. Thus, wooden parts were replaced with stone ones, brick and granite became the main materials, and marble was used for cladding the facades. Thus, the structure became more durable and acquired a solemn appearance.

During the Great Patriotic War, the twin fountains suffered greatly: the pipeline and stone pools were destroyed, and decorative decorations were lost. But despite the serious damage, it was the Roman fountains that were among the first to be reconstructed. Their launch took place already in 1949. And in 1954, decorative elements were completely recreated based on Andrei Gurzhiy’s models. So today you can fully enjoy the incredible grace of the Roman fountains, which have become a true decoration of Peterhof.

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Palace and park ensemble Peterhof, built under Peter the Great according to his own idea, is located near St. Petersburg, 29 km from it, near the Gulf of Finland.

Peter the Great always reached out to the west. So, having become saturated with the architecture of Europe, he decided to build a residence near St. Petersburg. He himself took part in the development of the project by the architect I. Braunstein and himself supervised the grandiose construction of the park ensemble, stretching over an area of ​​21 hectares. Later, under Catherine II, architectural amendments were made in such a way that the palaces acquired similarities with the then famous Versailles

Undoubtedly, the most famous and attracting the attention of not only all Russians, but also foreign guests, was and remains, perhaps, the mesmerizing landmark of Peterhof itself - Grand Cascade as part of the Big Grotto. Each threshold of the cascade is decorated with beautiful fountains and gilded statues of mythical heroes and gods.

34 tons of water splash out every second to the delight of the admiring glances of visitors who come annually from all over the planet to see with their own eyes this miracle created back in the distant 18-19 centuries. At its foot there is a pool with the famous twenty-meter sculpture of Samson tearing the jaws of a lion. Other fountains and Peterhof sculptures surprise with their beauty and grandeur.

The Grand Cascade is located in close proximity to the center of the palace and park ensemble - the unsurpassed Grand Palace of Peterhof. The three-story, 268-meter palace is located on a terrace with a stunning view of the Gulf of Finland. It houses the famous workroom of Pantocrator Peter I - an oak office. All halls and rooms, thanks to restoration, retain the chic and luxury that were inherent in those centuries. Bronze, marble, crystal, gold and gilding are found throughout the interior decoration.

Peterhof can also please you with other royal palaces and pavilions in which the Tsar himself lived until the moment when the Grand Palace was finally erected and prepared.

For example, the Monplaisir Palace, located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland - Peter’s favorite place - is beautiful in its own way.

Peter the first was a lover of new, interesting, and fun things. He expressed his sense of humor in the joke fountains that unexpectedly splash water on park visitors peacefully sitting on benches to rest or enjoy the beauty of nature.

Construction of the Hermitage pavilion began in 1721. It was here that all the meals of Peter I took place. Unfortunately, an unusual mechanism, not only for those times, but even for modern times, has not survived to this day, which consisted in the fact that the refectory table was lowered down to the first floor in order to servants could change culinary delights.

You should also definitely visit the “Marly” pavilion with its wonderfully located nearby ponds, the “Cottage” pavilion in the center of a landscape park surrounded by lawns, shady alleys, well-groomed bushes and paths, the English Park with the palace of the same name and a pond.

Everyone should visit the amazing Peterhof! This is the most beautiful landmark of Russia from the point of view of architectural embodiment, the presence in one place of such a large number of beautifully designed, combined and decorated parks, palaces, fountains, artificially created and natural ponds. The city of Petra is the heritage of our great country.

The Mezheumny fountain is located in front of the main entrance to the Upper Garden of Peterhof. Currently, the image of the fountain is one of the postcard views of Peterhof.

The fountain also has a second name, “Uncertain,” which reflects numerous changes in the sculptural design.

In 1738, the sculptural group “Andromeda” was installed in the fountain, which depicted Perseus on a horse, protecting Andromeda from the dragon. Four dolphins swam around the sculpture. The sculpture remained in the fountain until 1775. It was too large to provide water for the fountain. Of the entire sculptural group, only a dragon and four dolphins remained.

In 1859, a crater vase was installed in the middle of the fountain.

During World War II, the fountain was completely destroyed. After the war it was restored by A.F. Gurzhiy based on surviving sketches.

Fountain "Pyramid"

The Pyramid fountain, created by the architect Nicolo Michetti in 1724 on behalf of Peter I, is located in the eastern part of the Lower Park of Peterhof. It is one of the most beautiful fountains in Peterhof.

Its peculiarity lies in its layout, thanks to which the fountain site is not visible from the alleys. Therefore, the water pyramid sparkling with splashes suddenly opens up to the eyes of visitors when they find themselves in close proximity to the fountain.

The fountain consists of four cascades oriented to the cardinal points. It also has important symbolic meaning. In the 18th century, the Russian army had a tradition of installing pyramid-shaped obelisks at battle sites. One of these obelisks was a water pyramid on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, dedicated to the victory of Russian troops in the Northern War.

Fountain Favorite

The Favorite Fountain, or Favorite, is one of the most interesting and original fountains of Peterhof. It is located behind the western Voronikhin colonnade. The fountain was made in three months in 1725 by order of Catherine I, it was designed by the architect M. Zemtsov. The fountain clearly illustrates J. Lafontaine’s fable “Ducks and the Poodle”: “The Favorite dog is chasing ducks on the water, then the ducks told her this: you are suffering in vain, you have the strength to chase us, but you do not have the strength to catch us.”

The composition of the fountain is constantly in motion: in a small pool, a funny dog ​​chases four copper ducks, brightly painted in oil, in a circle. Streams of water fly out of the duck beaks and the dog's mouth. The musical accompaniment is the barking of a dog and the quack of ducks.

The fountain figures are set in motion by a special mechanism hidden at the bottom of the pool.

During the Great Patriotic War, the fountain was destroyed. In 1957, the water supply system of the fountain was reconstructed, and the ducks and dog Favorite were recreated from copper.

Western Square Pond (with the "Venus of Italy" fountain)

One of the so-called “Square Ponds” (which are actually rectangular) is located next to the Special Storeroom of the Grand Palace.

Square ponds were intended to store water supplied to the Grand Cascade.

In the center of the pond there is a fountain with a sculpture of the Italian Venus - a copy of the sculpture of the same name by Antonio Canova.

Fountain Sun in Peterhof

The magnificent fountains of Peterhof are famous not only for their extraordinary beauty but also for their great diversity of both architectural and engineering ideas. One of the most interesting fountains in the park, without a doubt, is the Sun Fountain.

The fountain is located in the southern part of the Lower Park, not far from the Monplaisir Palace. During the time of Peter the Great, the Menagerie, a menagerie, was located here. In the pond surrounding the fountain, sturgeons brought here from the Volga were bred; swans, geese and ducks glided along its water surface.

The fountain was built in 1721 according to the design of Nicola Michetti with the active participation of the emperor. Fifty years later, the design of the fountain was significantly redesigned by the architect Yuri Felten and it acquired the appearance we are familiar with today. At the base of the fountain there is a turbine, which, under the pressure of water, rotates a bronze column topped with gilded disks. From the holes in the disks, like the rays of the sun, thin streams of water shoot out in all directions.

Fountain "Adam"

The Adam Fountain was built in St. Petersburg between 1718 and 1726. designed by the Venetian sculptor Giovanni Bonazza.

This fountain, located on the territory of the Peterhof Palace and Park Ensemble, is part of a single architectural concept, along with the “Eva” fountain. The fountains are similar in artistic style and engineering design.

The “Adam” and “Eve” fountains are located on the axis of the main alley of the park (Marlinsky Alley) at the central points of the eastern and western parts of the park, respectively.

The fountain's pool has the shape of a regular octagon, in the center of which there is a sculpture on a pedestal, which is surrounded by sixteen inclined jets of water.

These are the only fountains on the territory of Peterhof that have retained their original appearance.

Fountain "Sheaf"

The Sheaf Fountain is located in the Monplaisir Garden of Peterhof. The garden, like the palace itself, was created according to the design of Peter I in the eastern part of the Lower Park.

Construction began in 1721 under the direction of the architect N. Michetti.

The fountain is a powerful water jet. Twenty-four jets shoot from the base of a circular pool whose diameter is twenty-one meters. The streams burst out in the form of ears of corn, which form the shape of a sheaf. The central jet shoots up four and a half meters.

The fountain is surrounded by four bell fountains, which create a complete composition of the Monplaisir Garden.

Currently, the garden is one of the most popular places in Petrodvorets.

Oak Fountain

The Oak Fountain is the first fountain in the Upper Garden in Peterhof. In 1734, P. Sualem created a plan for the future fountain. B.K. Rastrelli created sculptures for him from lead: an oak tree, modeled after the same sculpture at Versailles, three tritons and six dolphins. The lead oak was moved to the Lower Park in 1746. Over the course of two hundred years, the fountain was constantly rebuilt; by the 19th century, only dolphins remained from the original composition. In 1929, the fountain took its final form.

Now the fountain, which has retained its former name "Oak", delights with its elegant decor. In the middle of the round pool, the bottom of which is lined with slabs of dark and light granite, there is a tuff slide in the shape of a starfish with six rays. At the ends of the starfish there are six bronze dolphins, from whose mouths thin streams of water are directed upward. In the center of the hill you can see the marble sculpture "Cupid Putting on a Mask".

Terrace fountains Peterhof

Terrace fountains are located on the sides of the Grand Cascade in Peterhof, on the terraces in front of the Grand Palace. The idea of ​​creating fountains on terraces arose in the first quarter of the 18th century. In 1799-1800, the architect F. Brower and the fountain master F. Strelnikov, according to the design of A. Voronikhin, created 20 bowl fountains and 10 cascades from Pudost limestone. In 1852-1854, according to the drawings of A. Stackenschneider, the details of the cascades and bowls were made of marble. The fountains have been preserved in this form to this day.

Ten identical fountains are located five to the left and right of the Grand Cascade. There are marble bowls on the ledges, from each of them a stream of water shoots upward. Below the bowls are marble cascades of four steps, their vertical walls ending in triangular pediments with gilded mascarons, from which water flows down the steps. At the bottom of the cascades, single-jet water jets can be seen in the long marble trough that connects the five fountains together.

Fountain - joker Dubok

The joke fountain "Dubok" is a funny fountain-curiosity in Peterhof. It was originally made according to the design of B.K. They were shot in 1735 as part of a fountain in the Upper Garden. In 1802, it was installed in the Lower Garden as part of a composition of several jokes.

The Oak Fountain is a six-meter tall metal tree with a hollow trunk, five hundred tubular branches and several thousand metal leaves painted green, standing on an oval island surrounded by a narrow stream. Jets of water shoot out from the tips of each branch. There are five fountain tulips under the tree. Next to the tree there are two benches, on which you just sit down and water jets rise from behind the backs.

During the war, the entire composition of the fountains, including oak trees, tulips and benches, was destroyed. The fountain was created anew in 1947 by the Lavrentyev craftsmen, according to the design of the architect A.A. Olya and according to the surviving fragments and a drawing from 1828.

Fountains "Clochy"

In 1724, near the Marly Palace in the western part of the Lower Park, on the alley along the reservoir, it was planned to build four fountains based on the scenes of Aesop's fables. However, the plan was not realized, and the figures of four “Tritons”, made in 1721 from bronze according to a drawing by the architect I.-F., were transferred to the prepared places from the arches of the Grand Cascade grotto. Braunstein. Wooden bowls with tubes, from which water flowed over the heads of the Tritons, were replaced at the end of the 18th century by flat disks with a conduit outlet in the center. Water flowing out under low pressure forms something like a bell. “Tritons”, surrounded by a transparent veil, seem to be in their native element of the underwater kingdom. Since then, the fountains began to be called "Cloches", which translated from French means "bells".

Destroyed during the Great Patriotic War, the Cloches were recreated in 1955.

Sea canal with fountain alley

The creation of the Sea Canal, 12 meters wide, was the idea of ​​Peter I. The canal was assigned not only a decorative, but also a shipping role; in the middle of the 18th century, light ships could sail through it to the harbor in front of the Great Palace. The Alley of Fountains is 22 pools with fountains on the lawns on both sides of the Sea Canal.

According to the idea of ​​Peter I, 22 swimming pools were installed along the canal. Initially they were called Nishelnye, as they were located in niches, and further from the water than they are now. Four pools had fountains decorated with sculptural groups based on scenes from Aesop's fables. There were also vase fountains. In 1835, the pools with fountains were moved closer to the canal, the fountain pipes were altered in such a way that the water jets formed different geometric shapes, including pyramids. Therefore, the fountains began to be called Pyramid.

In 1854-1860, fourteen pools were replaced with new ones made of Carrara marble. The eight pools remained the same, only they were painted the color of marble; they were replaced later, in the 60s of the 20th century. Single-jet water cannons were installed in the pools, shooting to a height of four meters; perhaps it was from then on that the name Alley of Fountains appeared, since the jets looked like amazing trees made of water.

Fountain Eva

The Eva Fountain in Peterhof is named after the legendary biblical ancestor of the human race. Its construction began in 1725 under the leadership of T. Usov, in 1726 the fountain was tested. Located in the western part of the park, the Eva Fountain is paired with the Adam Fountain, located in the eastern part . Both fountains are located on the axis of Marlinskaya Alley.

The Eva Fountain is a sculpture of Eve located on a high pedestal in the center of an octagonal basin made of hewn profiled granite. The sculpture is surrounded by sixteen fan-shaped water jets seven meters high.

There is a small area around the fountain, from which large and small alleys radiate.

Fountain "Neptune"

The Neptune Fountain, decorated with a three-tiered sculptural group, is the central fountain of the Upper Garden of Peterhof. The statue of Neptune stands on a high pedestal, surrounded by masks of sea monsters, from which slanted streams of water shoot out.

The composition entitled “Neptunov’s Cart” was installed in the central pool of the Upper Garden in 1736. The sculptures were made of gilded lead. In 1797, instead of the “Neptune’s Cart”, a sculptural group “Neptune” was installed, which has survived to this day. After the war and the dismantling of the fountains, they were launched again by craftsmen under the leadership of A. Smirnov only in 1956.

The fountain figures were made in Nuremberg to commemorate the Peace of Westphalia and then sold to Russia. A copy of the fountain, installed in the Nuremberg city park, has been there since 1902.

During his visit to France in 1717, Peter I visited Versailles, and this palace and park ensemble made a huge impression on him. The Emperor decided to do something similar in Russia, and this is how the famous palaces, parks and fountains of Peterhof. All tourists visiting St. Petersburg include this iconic place in their itineraries.

The dominant feature of the complex is the Great Peterhof Palace; it links the Lower Park and the Upper Garden into a single whole. It took 11 years to build, and the result was a very modest building in the “Petrine” Baroque style. Elizabeth I was not satisfied with such a residence, and she began its reconstruction, setting the architect B. Rastrelli a difficult task: to preserve the walls of his father’s palace, harmoniously fitting them into the new concept. The great Bartolomeo coped with this brilliantly, increasing the number of floors and completing the galleries with adjacent side buildings.

In the era of Catherine II, the pomp of the Baroque went out of fashion, and Grand Palace changes its internal appearance in accordance with the classicism style.The last significant changes to the Peterhof Palace occurred under Nicholas I, who, in honor of the marriage of his daughter Olga, ordered the completion of the floor above the eastern building. All the time, right up to the October Revolution, the Grand Palace was one of the favorite summer residences of the Russian emperors, and since 1918 it has become a museum.

Peterhof is famous not only for its palaces, but mostly for its park ensembles with their famous fountain cascades.

At first it was the gilded “Neptunov’s Cart”. But over time it became dilapidated, was dismantled and replaced with a new group. This “Neptune”, without the “cart”, but with dolphins and lead oak garlands, has been preserved to this day.Near the main gate of the Upper Garden there is the Mezheumny fountain, which received its name due to the frequent changes in sculptural decor.

The latest version features a bronze sea dragon and 4 dolphins, from which jets of water shoot up.

The lower park was formed immediately as a regular park from 1714 to 1723. Architects and garden craftsmen created it in the French manner, and although many decorative details were lost, the main concept was preserved.The park is divided into 3 logically interconnected parts: Parade, Marlin and Monplaisir. Each park alley ends with a palace or fountain.

The main building of the western part of the park is the Marly Palace, so named in memory of the visit of Peter I to the residence of Louis XIV.

The Emperor himself made sketches of the architectural features and decoration of this building. The result was a Dutch-style palace with austerity in both its external and internal appearance.

Monplaisir housed collections of Western European paintings and Chinese porcelain. The tsar's office was decorated in a nautical theme; from its windows there was a wonderful view of the Gulf of Finland, Kronstadt, St. Petersburg, Peterhof. In the discreetly beautiful State Hall of the palace, family celebrations, celebrations in honor of the victories of Russian weapons, and receptions of foreign ambassadors were held. After the death of Peter I, Monplaisir became a museum where his personal belongings are still kept.

The main attraction decorating Peterhof - park fountains, an indescribable water extravaganza. Initially, it was planned to build cascades of fountains in Strelna, but this idea was later abandoned due to inevitable flooding. Peterhof became an ideal option due to its varied topography.

All that remained was to find a reliable source of water supply, which was soon discovered on the Ropsha Upland. Peter I gave instructions to dig a canal that would supply water fountains of Peterhof. At the same time, ponds were built in the Upper Garden where it was supposed to accumulate.

This is how the Peterhof fountain system was born, which developed until the middle of the 19th century. The result is about 40 km of canals, through which water flows into 18 reservoirs with a total area of ​​more than 100 hectares, and then through pipes it is supplied to fountains. Due to the height difference, this hydraulic masterpiece operates without the use of pumping equipment.

The huge reserve of groundwater in the Ropsha Upland allows the Peterhof fountains to operate for 8 hours every day from May to October.

Opening of fountains in Peterhof is a luxurious holiday attended by thousands of people. The first to wake up is always the Grand Cascade, located at the foot of the Peterhof Palace.

Its center is the famous Samson tearing the lion's mouth.

Initially, according to the plan of Peter I, a sculpture of Hercules killing the Hydra should have stood here, but this idea did not come true. During the time of Anna Ioannovna, the plan was returned to, and a fountain was built in honor of the 25th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Poltava. But instead of Hercules on a 3-meter pedestal surrounded by dolphins, the biblical hero Samson fights with a grinning lion, from whose mouth water gushes to a height of 20 meters.

In the Monplaisir part of the Lower Park there is the “Chess Mountain” cascade. It got its name from the drain steps, painted to look like a checkerboard.

To the side of the ceremonial ensembles is the largest fountain, the Pyramid. It was created according to the plans of Peter I and is made in the form of a 4-sided pyramid, the shape of which is created by 505 water jets.

The Sheaf fountain, one of the oldest, fits no less harmoniously into the composition of the eastern part of the Lower Park. It is made in the form of a bunch of ears of corn from which a stream of water shoots out.

Along the axis of Marlinskaya Alley, Peter I ordered the installation of paired fountains “Adam” and “Eve”.

Around each of them there are 16 seven-meter jets.

In the western part of the Lower Park there is the beautiful “Golden Cascade”, so named because of the vertical parts of its draining steps, decorated with gilded copper sheets. This splendor is guarded by sculptures of ancient heroes made of Carrara marble.

The height of their jets is 15 m, but the water consumption is minimal due to the design features proposed by Peter I himself.

The last, fourth, called “Lion” cascade was built instead of the lost Hermitage cascade and is located on the lower terrace, and not a slope, like its 3 brothers.

During the Great Patriotic War, Peterhof was captured by the German occupiers, who mercilessly destroyed it. Deforested gardens, looted and blown up palaces, this is what it was turned into Peterhof, photo the war years - the memory of that terrible time. So that the German name would not offend the ears, in 1944 the city was renamed Petrodvorets.

And only after more than half a century it was finally returned to its original name - Peterhof.

How to get there: by bus from the stations Baltiyskaya, Avtovo, Leninsky Prospekt. By train from the Baltic station to the New Peterhof station, then by local buses running in the city. By meteor from the pier on Palace Embankment or near Dekabristov Square (meteors begin running from May to September)

Opening hours: ticket office 09:00 – 19:30, fountains from 10:00 – 18:00, on weekends: 10:00 – 19:00.

Ceremonial launch of fountains: Big Cascade: 11:00, Cracker Fountains “Water Road”: 13:00, 14:00, 15:00.

Today Peterhof is the most popular of all St. Petersburg suburbs. During the period when the fountains are open (from May to September), the area is full of tourists. Such popularity is not easy, because Peterhof is often called the Russian Versailles, with all its fountains and palaces. You can verify this by visiting this suburb. It is easy to get to Peterhof from St. Petersburg. You can use any type of transport convenient for you: train, bus or meteor. The entire journey will take no more than 30 minutes. Please note that if you go by train, to get to the palace and park ensemble you will need to walk a few more kilometers, or take a local bus. A ticket for this bus will cost no more than 15 rubles. But by choosing this type of transport, you will be able to get to know the city of Peterhof better, and not just the part where the park is located. Meteor and a commuter bus will take you straight to the palace and park ensemble and you won’t have to get lost.

The palace and park ensemble itself consists of two parts: the Upper Park, the palace and the Lower Park. Actually, all tourists strive to get to the Lower Park, since this is where the famous fountains are located. To enter the park you need to purchase a ticket. For adult residents of Russia, a ticket will cost about 350 rubles. There are also discount tickets, they are cheaper. The ticket gives you access to the park where all the fountains are located. However, if you want to get into the palace or another complex located in the park, you will have to buy a ticket to enter them separately. Please note that if you arrive in Peterhof by meteor, you will go straight from the pier to the middle part of the park, leading straight to the main cascade. If you arrive in Peterhof by bus or train, your journey through the park will begin directly from the palace, from the Upper Park.

I don’t like to go into history and overload readers with dates, however, in order to have an understanding of how such beauty was built, I will give some facts. Peterhof was conceived by Peter I after visiting Paris. During his visit to France, Peter spent a lot of time in the suburbs of Paris and paid special attention to Versailles. He liked this suburb so much that he decided to build something similar, but more magnificent, in Russia. This is how the idea of ​​constructing a palace and park ensemble with a huge number of fountains was born. Now many may say that Peterhof is something like a plagiarism of Versailles. However, in my opinion, Peterhof has many differences from Versailles, which create its uniqueness. For example, it is more compact, and its palace fits more organically into the park ensemble than Versailles. These are completely different buildings and cannot be compared. A large amount of effort was invested in the construction of Peterhof. The best architects of France, Russia and Italy took part in its construction. The most difficult thing was to think over the water supply system for the fountains. There were several water supply projects, but all of them were either too expensive or very cumbersome. As a result, Peter I himself, who had a good engineering education, developed a water supply system. He proposed supplying water from the Ropshinsky Heights, from where it flowed by gravity into the fountains and provided the required pressure. To this day, this system is considered unique in the world. Now, of course, many fountains use electric pumps that provide the required water pressure, but some fountains still receive water using a system of height differences, in a natural way.

Musicians often perform in the park in the summer

The fountains were first launched in 1721, in honor of the celebration of Russia's victory in the Northern War. The opening was attended by a large number of representatives of foreign countries with their retinues. After the opening of Peterhof, Peter moved his summer residence here. But the development did not stop there. During the reign of Nicholas I, new parks were laid out here - Alexandria, Lugovoy and new buildings were built - the Farmers' Palace, the Gothic Chapel, the Belvedere. After the First World War in 1918, the park was nationalized and given to the state, but there was not enough money to maintain it, many fountains fell into disrepair and were closed. The 1924 flood worsened the park's condition. Water from the Gulf of Finland flooded the Lower Park and clogged many fountains with sand and silt. Soon, specialists began restoring the fountains, and in 1926, many of them were already restored. However, another misfortune awaited Peterhof - during World War II, as a result of fierce fighting, Soviet troops had to abandon the city. On the day the city was liberated, January 19, 1944, a terrible picture of devastation and desolation was discovered: museums were looted, palaces were in ruins, fountains were destroyed. None of the suburbs of St. Petersburg suffered as much as Peterhof. After the war, its active restoration immediately began and already in August 1946 the fountains were launched again. Now, thanks to restorers, architects and engineers, we can once again admire the beauty and richness of this historical monument.

Upper Park

The upper park covers an area of ​​about 15 hectares. There are numerous small gardens (bosquets), arched alleys (berso) entwined with plants with gazebos, flower beds and lawns. Such parks had the function of the main entrance to the palace. But the main role in the park is not given to the palace, but to the mirror pools with fountains located in the center:

After walking through the entire Upper Park you will see a magnificent palace that separates the Upper and Lower Parks.

Lower Park

It will take you longer to explore the Lower Park than the Upper Park, so be patient and don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes. If you are traveling with small children, you can use the services of electric excursion cars that will take you throughout the lower park past the fountains.

The park has 150 fountains and 6 large cascades. When you enter the Lower Park, you immediately find yourself near Grand Cascade– the largest fountain ensemble in the world, including 60 fountains. This cascade was restored and restored three times. The design of the large cascade includes more than 250 sculptural works, shining with gold. It looks especially beautiful in the sun. Each sculpture has its own meaning: for example, Neptune and Amphitrite symbolize Russian naval victories, and Diana and Actaeon personify Russia and the Swedish king Charles XII. The entire cascade as a whole praises Russia's victory in the Northern War.

Big and Small grottoes, located in the center of the Grand Cascade, decorated with fountains and not noticeable at first glance, give the cascade grace and lightness. The grottoes can be visited by purchasing a separate ticket.

All the waters of the Grand Cascade descend into a vast bowl pool – Ladle. On the sides of the bowl are pagan and forest creatures that create new streams of water. The Grand Cascade is crowned by the most famous composition, which is worth paying special attention to and enjoying its beauty - fountain "Samson tearing the lion's mouth". This fountain was created in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava and symbolizes Russia's victory over Sweden. The stream escaping from the lion's mouth reaches a height of 20 m; in one second the fountain consumes up to 70 liters of water! During the launch of the Grand Cascade, the Samson fountain is the first to be turned on, and only when the stream from the lion’s mouth reaches its peak height, the other fountains of the cascade are launched.

Samson and the Voronikhin Colonnade

Departs from the Grand Cascade Sea channel, connecting the palace with the Gulf of Finland. There are 22 fountains along the canal, gushing from marble bowls. This canal serves as the central axis of the Lower Park. Previously, it was navigable; ships of guests visiting the palace entered here. After the establishment of the Grand Cascade, navigation through the canal ceased. Now there are 2 small bridges on the canal, from which a beautiful view of the palace opens.

There are a large number of fountains in the lower park, each with its own history and characteristics. However, I will not talk in detail about all the fountains, otherwise it will be an endless story. I will only tell you briefly about the main ones.

• Fountains of the Large parterre flower beds: Nymph and Danaid. These are the first fountains of Peterhof.

  

• Fountain Favorite. This is a fabol fountain or a fountain “with a hidden meaning.” Find it yourself!
• Fountains Adam and Eve. They symbolize the marriage of Peter I and Catherine I.

  

• From a distance, the stream escaping from a pipe raised above the water really looks like a whale stream.

  

• Management fountains. The strength and height of the jets of these fountains reaches 15m. Peter I himself made drawings of fountain water cannons for them.

  

• It adorns the Orangerie Garden, the richest garden in terms of flower diversity. Here, as before, you can see tulips, daffodils, roses, phlox and other flowers. In the center of the composition is Triton’s fight with a fantastic beast. This fountain had not only aesthetic value, but also economic value. Previously, water was taken from it to water flowers and trees in the garden.

  

  

  

  

  

• Two fountains, the architectural design of which is inspired by the fountains in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. From the place where the fountains are installed, 7 alleys diverge, including the alley leading to the Monplaisir Palace.

  

  

  

• This is the most abundant fountain in the Lower Park with a water flow of more than 150 liters per second. The fountain's water jet consists of 505 nozzles.

  

  

• It is the central structure of the Menagereisky Garden, where Peter the Great’s Menagerie with ponds and aviaries for birds was originally located. The central water jet of the fountain is equipped with a rotating column, on top of which a structure with 187 holes is fixed. Rotating, the jets resemble the rays of the sun. Today it is a rare example of a mechanical fountain.

  

• Cracker fountains. Some of the most interesting fountains in the park. They suddenly turn on, spraying their jets of unsuspecting passers-by. There are several joker fountains in the Lower Park: Umbrella, Oak, Fir-trees, Sofas, Water Road. The last fountain turns on 3 times a day for only a few minutes. Don't miss the opportunity to see this spectacle!

  

When talking about Peterhof, you shouldn’t limit yourself to just fountains. The park complex contains a large number of pavilions that are of no less interest: the Hermitage, Bath complex, Aviaries for birds, Monplaisir, Marly Palace. Special attention should be paid to Monplaisir (translated as “my pleasure”). It was here, and not in the large palace, that Peter I most often stayed when coming to Peterhof. Adjacent to the palace is a Dutch-style garden with several fountains and sculptures. Montplaisir is worth visiting and enjoying its decoration.

Peter I. If you put a coin in your boot, your wish will come true

Swans swim in the pond behind the enclosure

In the center of the park is the Great Peterhof Palace, which was created by several architects, one of whom was Rastrelli. For a long time, it housed the ceremonial residence of the royal family. In the interiors of the palace you can see numerous paintings and portraits of Russian emperors, silk flowing along the walls and gilded wooden carvings.

View from the palace to the Chalice fountain

Of course, the Peterhof palace and park ensemble occupies one of the important places in the cultural and historical heritage of Russia. Everything here is imbued with royal luxury. It is worth visiting Peterhof during the fountain season. Please note that during winter all fountains are turned off. But as soon as spring comes, the park blooms again with all its colors. Next to the park ensemble there is another park, which does not have fountains, but that makes it no less interesting - Alexandria Park. It is a wilder park with exquisite pavilions. You can walk along it or take a sightseeing tram.

It’s not for nothing that Peterhof is considered the most visited suburb of St. Petersburg. Many tourists strive to come here. The beauty, wealth and splendor of the environment that reigns here tirelessly remind us of the power that Imperial Russia possessed! Well, did you feel its resemblance to Versailles?