The suburbs of St. Petersburg are rightfully among the most popular and visited sights of Russia. Immortal masterpieces were created by Russian masters according to the designs of famous architects Zemtsov, Rastrelli, Quarenghi, Voronikhin, Rinaldi and other architects. No matter how delightful the impressions of St. Petersburg may be, without visiting the magnificent palaces and parks in the vicinity of Northern Venice, they will be incomplete.
The best suburbs of St. Petersburg
Peter the Great, who founded St. Petersburg, on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, chose a place for his vast seaside residence, which he called Peterhof. The picturesque ensemble included a palace, parks and gardens in the surrounding area. Tsarskoye Selo was mainly intended for receiving ambassadors, and Pavlovsk was created as the residence of the Grand Duke. Precious metals, marble, malachite, porphyry, lapis lazuli, amber were used in the decoration of palaces and pavilions.
In Peterhof, Strelna, Kronstadt, Lomonosov, Pushkin, Pavlovsk, there are currently 1/3 of the total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. "Northern Venice" and its suburbs are fantastically popular with tourists. Travelers pay no less attention to the city of Gatchina, Leningrad Region (45 km from the metropolis). Starting from the XVIII century, there were estates of the favorites of the royal family, and then palace buildings for the imperial family were built. In Soviet times, interiors and furniture were restored in the Gatchina Palace. The halls feature unique art collections.
Rest in the vicinity of "Northern Venice"
The charming suburbs of St. Petersburg are a celebration for eyes and soul. Thanks to the exceptional beauty of the summer residences of the Russian emperors, the satellite towns and the village of Strelna gained fame as popular resorts. The former imperial estates are in perfect harmony with the landscapes of the Gulf of Finland and the North-West of the Russian Plain. Rest in the suburbs of St. Petersburg gives an unforgettable pleasure. This is not only a tour of world famous sights, but also walks in parks among palaces, bridges, fountains, visiting beaches in the summer.
Not far from Peterhof and Lomonosov is Sergievka - a beautiful park and a palace ensemble. On the opposite coast of the Gulf of Finland there is a beautiful resort - Sestroretsk. Picturesque lakes, a forest and a smooth coastline allow you to relax and contemplate the beauty of nature.
Transport links with the suburbs. Hotel Accommodation
A great help in traveling, sightseeing and finding a hotel is a map of the suburbs of St. Petersburg. Well-established transport links and developed roadside infrastructure allow you to visit the sights of the satellite cities of Northern Venice for several days. It is possible to go on a sightseeing trip together with an organized group or on your own (by train, bus, taxi, rented car).
The palace and park complexes of the cities of Pushkin and Pavlovsk are located 23–28 km south of the metropolis. The western suburbs - Strelna, Peterhof and Lomonosov share small distances with the "Northern Venice". The hotel “Light of the Lighthouse” in Strelna is only 3 km from the Konstantinovsky Palace, the distance to Peterhof is 9 km and 25 km to the Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. In the immediate vicinity of the magnificent sights are located the hotels of the suburbs of St. Petersburg - Baltic Star, New Peterhof, Samson, Imperial Belveder Palace. Domik Dock Hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Oranienbaum Architectural Park and 8 km from Peterhof. The name of the hotels in the southern suburbs - Pushkin - remind of Russian antiquity, historical characters (Potemkin, Katarina Hof, Hunting Manor, Old Castle). There are hotels located a 5-10 minute drive from the famous Alexander Park.
Peterhof - the capital of fountains
All the suburbs of St. Petersburg have a unique appearance, and Peterhof is given an honorable place in this "constellation" of sights. Petrodvorets is often called the “Russian Versailles”, “a precious Russian pearl”. For 200 years, Peterhof served as the suburban residence of Russian tsars. In front of the facade of the Grand Palace is the central cascade - gilded statues depicting ancient gods and heroes. In the center is a fountain in the form of Samson tearing apart the mouth of a lion. The figure is allegorical, it personifies Russia, who defeated Sweden in the Northern War. The gilding of sculptures shimmers in the sun, sparks of water sparkle, striking the imagination of visitors with magnificent colors and greatness of design.
The suburbs of St. Petersburg. Attractions Peterhof
The construction of the suburban residence of Peter I in the south of the Gulf of Finland began in the first decade of the 18th century. Under the guidance of the best European architects and Russian engineers, projects of palaces, pavilions, fountains, fences were created and embodied in stone, metal and wood. In Peterhof you can visit and see:
- palaces (Bolshoi, Marly, Cottage, Monplaisir and others);
- 14 well-maintained parks;
- many sculptural compositions;
- 150 operating fountains and 4 cascades;
- the richest museum collections and exhibitions.
The magnificent interiors of the palaces of the middle of the 18th century are richly decorated with gilded wood carvings and painted ceilings. The floors are inlaid with precious wood parquet. In the halls of the times of Catherine the Great (1770s) there is less pomp, elegant interiors are decorated with stucco molding, precious silk upholstery, porcelain vases and much more.
Strelna settlement and palace and park ensemble
Strelna is currently a luxurious architectural and park complex, dominated by the magnificent Konstantinovsky Palace. The suburb is conveniently located 30 minutes from St. Petersburg, 7 minutes from Peterhof and 15 minutes from Pulkovo International Airport. In summer, you can go on the water of the Gulf of Finland on excursions "Suburbs of St. Petersburg" (Strelna, Peterhof, Lomonosov, Kronshtadt). Motor ships depart from the berths on the Neva in the historical center of Northern Venice. Since 2003, the Palace of Congresses has been located in Strelna - the residence of the President of the Russian Federation, a museum and a business center. When there are no high-level meetings of statesmen in the palace, visitors are allowed to inspect the interior. The interiors were carefully restored from archival documents, old photographs and paintings.
Sights of Strelna
In 1715, Peter I wanted to build the “Russian Versailles” in Strelna, which is located 19 km west of St. Petersburg. In Peterhof, the sovereign found more suitable conditions for the water supply of the fountain system. The construction of the residence in Strelna continued under the Grand Duke Constantine, the son of Nicholas I. The main attractions of the complex:
- Konstantinovsky palace and park;
- Travel Palace of Peter the Great;
- Lviv Palace;
- Oryol Palace;
- expositions of works of art;
- cellars with one of the greatest collections of elite wines in the world.
The city on the island and the city - "orange tree"
Interesting suburbs of St. Petersburg - Kronstadt and Lomonosov (Oranienbaum). At the beginning of the XVIII century, associate of Peter the Great Alexander Menshikov received the estate on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. The name Oranienbaum, according to one version, comes from the German words "orange tree". The modern city of Lomonosov is located from St. Petersburg at a distance of 44 km. The grand palace of the Oranienbaum architectural complex was built in the classical Baroque style; it took 17 years to erect. Since the 1730s there has been a summer residence of Peter III. Built in the rococo style, the Chinese Palace is richly decorated with paintings, sculptures and other works of art. All suburbs of St. Petersburg were severely destroyed during the years of World War II (1941–1945). Only the city of Lomonosov and the picturesque park were not affected by the bombing. Currently, you can enjoy the original landscapes and interiors of the suburban residence of Russian tsars. The historic city center and the Oranienbaum architectural and park complex are listed by UNESCO.
Kronstadt - a fortress built in the Gulf of Finland on about. Kotlin. Founded by Peter the Great to defend St. Petersburg and base the Russian fleet. Around Kronstadt in the XVIII – XIX centuries, more than 20 forts were built. The main attraction is the Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas - one of the largest in Russia. With its appearance, the temple resembles St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople.
City Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo)
When planning a trip to the suburbs of St. Petersburg, Pushkin's sights can be seen first. The estate in this territory was given by Peter the Great to his wife Catherine I. During the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna , a settlement formed around the palace. The daughter of Peter I turned Tsarskoye Selo into a luxurious summer residence. The first years of the reconstruction of the Catherine Palace are associated with the name of the greatest architect Rastrelli, who created a brilliant masterpiece of Russian Baroque.
In 1755, the Amber Cabinet was moved here from the third Winter Palace - an entire room covered with amber panels, shining and reflecting light. In the years 1811-1843. In Tsarskoye Selo an elite educational institution was established for children from noble families. At the Lyceum, the great Russian poet A.S. Pushkin was educated. Among the main attractions of the Catherine Palace is the unique Amber Room, reconstructed and opened for inspection in 2003. It is considered the "eighth wonder of the world."
The magnificent building of the Alexander Palace was built in a classic style. The halls display works of art, costumes and personal belongings of the Romanov family. Palaces and other buildings are surrounded by picturesque Catherine and Alexander parks with ponds, hills and beautiful lawns.
Palaces and parks of Pavlovsk
On the banks of the Slavyanka River in 1777, the summer residence of the Russian Emperor Paul I was founded. Under Catherine the Great, a palace ensemble was born here, born of the genius of architect Cameron. The architect, being a fan of ancient Greek and Roman art, led the construction in the classical style. Paul I hired the Italian architect Brenn, who gave the buildings more gloss and splendor. The palace, destroyed by fire, was rebuilt by
architects Voronikhin and Stackenschneider. In this form, it has survived to the present day. The ceremonial halls are decorated on the basis of collections of furniture, bronze, silk and paintings belonging to Paul I and Empress Maria Fedorovna. Pavlovsky Palace is surrounded by one of the most romantic and picturesque parks in Europe. Tall trees, winding streams, paths harmonize with classic statues and comfortable benches.
If you are lucky enough to come to St. Petersburg, be sure to visit its suburbs. The former capital of the vast Russian Empire is encircled by fabulously beautiful palaces and parks. The names “Peterhof”, “Strelna”, “Pushkin”, “Pavlovsk”, “Gatchina” and other sights will fill the list of your favorite places to visit.