The Cottage Palace in Peterhof / Petrodvorets

The carefully preserved mid- nineteenth century Cottage Palace is one of the former residences of Emperor Nicholas I, Russian ruler between 1825 and 1855.

Only the family's closest courtiers were invited here, and the Emperor spent his free time watching ships sailing by on the Baltic Sea and drinking tea on an open verandah.

In a great public relations move Nicholas regularly invited peasants to watch him and his family during tea parties. Of course, the peasants were more than flattered and spread the word how human and family- oriented their monarch was. Yet, in reality Nicholas' reign was a time of political oppression and economic backwardness, resulting in Russia's humiliating defeat in the Crimean War.

Peterhof is an immensely luxurious royal estate, lying on the shore of the Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea), a combination of several palaces and parks, the "capital of Russian fountains" and "the Russian Versailles".

Despite all the damage done to the Grand Palace during WWII, its interiors has been carefully restored and are truly breathtaking.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Daily.

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Contact Information

The Cottage Palace in Peterhof / Petrodvorets
Petrodvorets
198903 St.Petersburg, RU

Tel. +78124277146

http://www.saint-petersburg.com/museums/cottage-palace-in-peterhof.asp