Catherine's Palace in Tsarskoe Selo

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

For more than three hundred years, the majestic building of the Catherine Palace has occupied the main part of Tsarskoye Selo. Around the palace there is no less chic Catherine Park. Despite its advanced age, the Catherine Palace still impresses with its scale, splendor and beauty. Over the years of centuries-old history, more than one generation of roy alty has changed in the palace, many great architects participated in the design and construction.

St. Petersburg, Catherine Palace. The beginning of the story

At the beginning of the 18th century, in the place where a chic palace was later built, there was a Finnish village called the Saar Manor. In 1710, these possessions were presented by Peter I to his future wife Catherine (Marta Skavronskaya).

After the founding of St. Petersburg in 1703, Peterhof was considered the residence of the tsar, which is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, it was built in1710. But over the course of many centuries, all the heirs to the throne loved the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo more and spent most of their time there. The palace has become a real state residence.

In 1717, Catherine begins the construction of the palace. The German architect Braunstein was involved in the construction. At the same time, he was engaged in the architectural ensemble in Peterhof. Construction work was completed in 1724, and a big celebration was organized on this occasion. "Stone Chambers" - that's what Catherine I called her two-story mansion.

Reconstruction of the palace under Elizabeth

Elizaveta Petrovna became the new owner of the palace chambers in 1741. At her direction, at the end of 1742, the architect Zemtsov began to rebuild the palace, but his quick death did not allow him to carry out his plans. Such prominent architects as Kvasov A. V., his assistant Trezzini, were involved in the work afterwards, in 1745 - Chevakinsky S. I.

In 1752, the great architect Rastrelli was hired to work. Elizabeth decided to completely change the appearance of the palace, as she considered it small and old-fashioned. It was after this grand reconstruction, which lasted four years, that the most beautiful, modern Catherine Palace was born, surprising us with its magnificence even today. The presentation to foreign guests and nobles took place on July 30, 1756. The grandiose building 325 meters long impressed the guests with its scale and grandeur.

The beauty and charm of the Catherine Palace

For todayday for every tourist arriving in St. Petersburg, the Catherine Palace is on the list of attractions in the first place. Why did this chic palace surprise guests so much at the opening and surprises so far?

The building was made in the Baroque style. Huge size, as already mentioned: the length of the palace stretches along the line of the garden and is 325 meters, the beauty, grandeur, originality of architecture still does not leave anyone indifferent.

The facade is made in azure color, white columns, golden ornament give the palace a solemn look. The special charm of the facade of the building was emphasized by the figures of Atlanteans, stucco decorations. The northern building of the palace was crowned with five gilded domes of the church, the southern building had a front porch, as well as a spire with a multi-pointed star. Under Elizabeth, the palace building became three-story, at the same time, the famous monogram in the form of “E I” appeared on the gates and decorations of the palace.

No less attractive are the interior apartments built according to Rastrelli's designs. The front doors are located along the entire length of the palace. The entire Front Enfilade was painted with gilded carvings.

Immediately, next to the Sunday Church, the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum is located. Gifted children studied there, including Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. Tsarskoye Selo was renamed in his honor in Soviet times.

Catherine's Palace in St. Petersburg

At the end of the 18th century, Catherine became interested in ancient architecture. The Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo during the reign of Catherine II experienced the finalreconstruction. To carry out the work, she hired a connoisseur of antiquity - an architect from Scotland, Charles Cameron. It was he who created the Blue, Silver cabinets, Arabesque, Lyon living rooms, the Chinese Hall and the Domed dining room in the palace. All the interiors created by Cameron emphasized a sophisticated strict style, surprised by the beauty and mystery of the finishes.

Thanks to the same architect, the Catherine Palace acquired the Chinese Blue Drawing Room, the Front Blue Room, and the Green Dining Room. They were specially equipped for Pavel Petrovich, the son of Catherine II and his highly esteemed wife, and a bedchamber and a waiter's room were also built for them.

In 1817, during the reign of Alexander I, the architect Stasov created the Front Office with several adjoining rooms convenient for work. All these rooms were decorated in a style dedicated to the glorious victory in the war with the great Emperor Napoleon.

1860-1863 The Catherine Palace survived, perhaps, the last major stage of reconstruction and restructuring. The architect Monighetti was engaged in the work. The main staircase of the palace was presented in the "second rococo" style.

Until 1910, the Catherine Palace was called the Great Tsarskoye Selo.

Palace tour

To everyone who visited Tsarskoe Selo, the Catherine Palace appeared as a wonder of the world. Passing modern familiar interiors (turnstiles, souvenir shops, cash desks), tourists will certainly find themselves in the Great or Throne Hall. Its dimensions are very impressive: length - 47 meters,width - 18. This hall is the largest among all St. Petersburg palaces. The picturesque plafond covering the entire ceiling demonstrates allegories of Abundance, Peace, Navigation, Victory and War, Art and Science. Decorated in an artistic style, the parquet attracts curious glances for a long time.

Rooms with huge windows, as if uniting, move from one to another. So, moving around, you can visit the Silver, Blue cabinets, Arabesque, Lyon drawing rooms, the Chinese Hall, the Domed Dining Room, the Waiter's Room, the Bedchamber, decorated by Charles Cameron. I would like to pay special attention to the mysterious Amber Room.

Amber room. Creation history

In 1716, the Prussian king presented Tsar Peter with amber panels as a gift, which were delivered to St. Petersburg. They decorated the Catherine Palace only in 1755. The Amber Room itself somewhat exceeded the area of the panels, and in 1763 Empress Catherine II ordered additional fragments for an amber panel from German craftsmen. For these purposes, it took 450 kg of amber. The Amber Room acquired its final chic appearance in 1770. The huge panel occupied three tiers. The central place was covered by a mosaic depicting the five senses in an allegory. The whole room was lined with the finest work of amber items, on which the best craftsmen of the 17th-18th centuries worked.

The Amber Room in the 20th century

The fragile amber components of the panel required special caretreatment and care. During the war, this played a fatal role in the fate of the Amber Room. For the best preservation, the room was not touched during the evacuation; it was left in the Catherine Palace. The Nazis took her to Koenigsberg. During the war years, the Amber Room disappeared without a trace. Several versions of her disappearance are put forward, each of which seems plausible.

In 2003, the Amber Room was recreated in the Catherine Palace for the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg. For more than 20 years, a whole staff of employees, which included restorers, historians, chemists, forensic scientists, have been working to bring the masterpiece back to life. Kaliningrad amber was used for work, which was processed using a special technology. Now the revived Amber Room is again available for visiting. So, where did the original go? The mystery remains unsolved yet.