If you are going to St. Petersburg and decide to visit its suburbs and small towns nearby, include Gatchina and your tour list. This place deserves a visit for many reasons, but you definitely won’t get bored there. We talk about where to go in Gatchina in our material.
A little about Gatchina
Gatchina, the mention of which first appears in chronicles as early as 1500, is located just over forty kilometers from the Northern capital. Considered a city since the end of the eighteenth century, today Gatchina is a city of military glory (it received this status in 2015). The settlement, which in the Soviet era managed to “vilify” such names as Trotsk and Krasnogvardeisk (Gatchina became in 1944), spreads over 29 square kilometers. It is home to a little more than ninety thousand people.
What is famous for Gatchina? At least with its palace and park ensemble of the same name - it, along with the historical center of the city, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. During the war, the ensemble was seriously damaged - the fact is that Gatchina was occupied by the Germans. However, in the post-war period, the dilapidated city itself and its main attraction were restored. So where to go in Gatchina?
Sights of Gatchina
So, you have arrived in Gatchina! Where to go, what to do, what interesting things can be seen in this small city? Do not be confused by the size of this settlement - in spite of its compactness, you definitely will not be bored. Maybe there are not so many entertainments in Gatchina, but there is something to see. Next, we dwell on the main attractions of the former Krasnogvardeisk.
Gatchina Palace and Park Ensemble (Museum-Reserve)
The Gatchina Museum Reserve covers an area of 146 hectares. It combines several sites at once: it is the Big Gatchina Palace, Palace Park, Priory Palace with the same park, Venus Pavilion, Birch House and many more various park structures that are better to see with your own eyes.
The history of the reserve dates back to 1765 - from the very moment the Gatchina Manor was donated by Catherine the Great to her favorite Count Orlov. He ordered to build a palace on its territory - this is how the Great Gatchina Palace arose, the architect of which was the famous Antonio Rinaldi in those years. By order of Orlov, the park near the palace was also defeated, and they performed it in the English style - then such parks became fashionable at the court. Palace Park became the first landscape park in Russia with islands, bridges and even an underground passage connecting the park and the palace with each other.
When Count Orlov passed away, Catherine the Second bought the estate and presented it to her son Paul. At that time, many elements appeared on the territory of the ensemble that have been preserved there until now: the Venus Pavilion, the Humpback Bridge, and so on. At the same time, the Gatchina Palace itself was first rebuilt (the reconstruction concerned it more than once and subsequently).
After the October Revolution, the Gatchina Palace became available for visiting as a museum. During the Great Patriotic War he was badly damaged, as was the adjacent territory. Restoration work was carried out for a long time, only in the mid-eighties the doors of the palace reopened for visitors. Currently, the restoration is underway again on the territory of the palace and park ensemble, but it is possible to go inside the palace.
The address of the museum-reserve in Gatchina, where you should definitely go today, in order to personally see this splendor and touch the history, is as follows: Gatchina, Krasnoarmeysky Avenue, 1. About some of the "exhibits" of this Gatchina ensemble - hereinafter.
Venus Pavilion
This building is located on the territory of the museum-reserve, in the Palace Park on the island of Love. The idea of building such a pavilion, Paul the First brought from Chantilly. On the model of Chantilly was not only built, but also the Gatchina pavilion was painted.
Humpback bridge
The bridge, which offers a magnificent panoramic view of the park, is a favorite place for guests and citizens for all kinds of photo shoots. Street artists often work on it. It connects the two islands on White Lake - the only one of all the bridges available (the rest connect the islands and the coast).
Priory Palace
Previously, secular persons lived in this building, and now there is a museum there. The palace was built in 1799 especially for the knights of the Order of Malta. Since then, a lot of water has flowed, the palace managed to visit both the camp site and the house of pioneers, but now it tells about its own story. It is interesting and useful to visit the palace museum for both adults and children.
Cathedral of St. Paul
Let’s leave, perhaps, the amazing territory of the palace and park ensemble and think: where else can you go to Gatchina even if only in company?
Of course, to the Cathedral of the Holy Apostle Paul: even if you are not a very religious person and do not want to go inside, the view of the cathedral from the outside will undoubtedly impress you.
Pokrovsky Cathedral
For twenty long years a temple was erected in Gatchina, now called Pokrovsky. It was opened in 1914 and is still operating. During World War II, the cathedral was closed - a warehouse was operating in its premises. The church building was returned only in 1990, a year later the first service was held, and now the largest church in the Leningrad Region, consecrated in honor of the Virgin, works “like a clock”.
It is rightfully considered the main temple of Gatchina and impresses with its magnificent decoration. Although this is not the place in Gatchina where you can go with a child or a girl for entertainment, however, to expand your horizons and the opportunity to touch the story or at least stand near the cathedral and admire its appearance, it is certainly worth it.
Cinemas
Where to go in Gatchina with a child? Of course, to the cinema! There are several of them in the city: Sky Cinema on General Knysh Street, in the premises of the Pilot shopping and entertainment complex, Pobeda on October 25 Avenue and Kinopolis on Pushkinskoye Shosse.
Sky Cinema is a completely new cinema, this summer it will be one year old. It consists of five halls, two of which are superior rooms, designed only for 50 spectators. The cinema uses the latest equipment that allows you to watch movies in 3D and with Dolby Digital 7.1 sound.
There are two halls in Victory, one of which is large and the other small. In total, the cinema accommodates almost 700 spectators, of which a little less than 150 people - the capacity of a small hall. In "Victory" also installed modern equipment.
As for Kinopolis, it is considered the most modern. It has as many as seven halls, four of which belong to the VIP class.
Children are very fond of going to the cinema, as this is an opportunity to watch a movie, and indispensable popcorn, and new experiences. So, whatever movie theater you choose, any of them will turn out to be the same place in Gatchina, where you should definitely go for fun with your offspring.
Park "Menagerie"
The entertainment park for children in Gatchina, of course, also includes the Zverinets landscape park near the museum reserve. Its territory is rather big - more than 340 hectares. The park began to develop several centuries ago under Count Orlov.
He planned this picturesque place as a reserve: wild animals (including rare ones) were brought there, bridges were built in the park, linden alleys were broken, artificial ponds were created. It is good to take a walk and admire the surrounding flora and fauna. This is a kind of zoo, and in zoos children are always interested.
Where to go in Gatchina: a trip around the region
Not only in Gatchina itself there are interesting places - there are many of them in the nearby villages. So, literature lovers and admirers of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin should definitely go to the village of Kobrino - the poet’s nanny’s house is located there (now there is a museum in it). For two centuries, he was inextricably linked both with the life of Arina Rodionovna herself and with her family. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from ten to sixteen hours.
Be sure to visit the village of Siversky. There, on Pushkinskaya Street, you will find the house-museum of the composer Isaac Schwartz.
This cozy house is remembered not only by the maestro - many of his eminent friends stayed here: Bulat Okudzhava and Joseph Brodsky, Vladimir Vysotsky and Andrei Mironov ... The atmosphere that was in him during Schwarz’s life is still preserved in the house.
You can enjoy the atmosphere of that time from Wednesday to Sunday from eleven to six hours.
Shopping and entertainment complexes
Still wondering where to go with your baby in Gatchina? Well, of course, in the shopping and entertainment complex! For example, in the “Pilot” on the street of General Knysha! This is the only such complex of the European level in this city, and there is truly everything that may interest the modern offspring: a children's area, a cinema, a food court, and many shops. Hours of the complex: from nine in the morning to eleven in the evening every day.
In addition to the “Pilot”, in Gatchina there are children's entertainment in the shopping center “Megapolis”. It works from ten to twenty-one hours from Monday to Sunday and is located on October 25 Avenue, in building number 42.
Young Spectator Theater
Where to go in Gatchina on the weekend? How about the temple of Melpomene? For example, visit the Theater of the Young Spectator. And it’s not at all necessary to go there with a child, because the troupe’s repertoire includes not only children's, but also adult productions.
In Gatchina, a cultural institution has been operating for sixteen years, and its performances are popular with the audience. The theater has a studio for young children.
Theater address: Varshavskaya street, house 47 (building 2), from ten in the morning until six in the evening.
Gatchina Philharmonic
If you don’t know where to go with a girl in Gatchina, do not hesitate to buy tickets to the philharmonic. Mostly there are concerts of classical music, but jazz artists also perform. By the way, if your child shows interest in music, you can also take him to a similar concert.
The Gatchina Philharmonic is located at 66 Chkalova Street.
Interesting facts about Gatchina
- Gatchina received the status of the city in 1796 by decree of Paul the First.
- It was in Gatchina that the first tests of the passenger monorail in our country were carried out. This historical event happened in 1900. A wagon with a capacity of up to twenty people rode along the paved road.
- Gatchina is generally famous for the tests carried out in it: for example, they tested the famous Mosin rifle, which was in use until the end of World War II.
- At the end of the nineteenth century, Russia's first telephone network connected the Gatchina Palace and the Winter Palace of St. Petersburg.
- The first military airfield in our country, the first aeronautical school also appeared not anywhere, namely in this small city. And electric lighting, too, for the first time passed a “strength test” right here. By the way, in Gatchina there are many monuments in honor of these significant events - you can see them by walking along the streets of the city.
- According to a 1900 poll, Gatchina is the most comfortable small town in Russia.
- Unlike other suburbs of St. Petersburg and the settlements of the Leningrad Region, the name Gatchina is only used once in local folklore (among proverbs, idioms, sayings, tricks, riddles). This is a riddle for schoolchildren: "There is a pig from Gatchina - everything is dirty." The answer is a chimney sweep.
- Gatchina got her name from the word "hat" - that is, the road through the swamp, lined with logs and brushwood. Allegedly on the site of the city, such a road has long passed through the White Lake, which today lies on the territory of the Palace Park. There is another version: “Gatchina” is a redone version of “Hotchino”, which was mentioned in the Novgorod annals. It is believed that such a name came from the male name Khotin (by analogy with Ivanovo, Petrovo).