St. Petersburg, Pavlovsk: attractions

The city, the palace and the adjacent park, are located on the banks of the small river Slavyanka. In this suburb, the artless spontaneity of nature and the solemn grandeur of a luxurious golden palace are harmoniously merged.

The ensemble of the Pavlovsk Palace and Park is one of the most unique monuments of art, the construction of which began in 1777. The most talented masters of the past centuries took part in its creation. Even the list of their names is very impressive: C. Cameron, J. Quarenghi, C. Rossi, V. Brenna, A. Voronikhin, P. Gonzago.

In different years, the best specialists of those times worked in Pavlovsk, masons, carpenters, furniture makers, carvers, as well as thousands of serfs. Its decoration reflects many outstanding events in the history of the Russian Empire, including the victories of the Russian army in many wars.

The palace arose on the site of a small estate of the future Emperor Paul and has always belonged to the Romanov family. The ornate building stands on a high hill and blends perfectly into the surrounding landscape.

The main building of the palace was designed by Cameron. At various times the rooms were rebuilt and completed by other prominent architects (Brenna, Voronikhin, Quarenghi), which helped to create a graceful and austere appearance.

Particularly impressive is the huge park. which is divided into seven districts, each of which has its own unique appearance. The ornate, formal part with geometric layouts of paths near the palace, passes into the natural valley of Slavyanka. Everything in the park emphasizes the grandeur and beauty of Russian nature.

The most impressive structures are rightly considered to be the Apollo Collonade, the Pavilion of the Three Graces, the Red-domed Pavilion, the Pil-tower, the Visconti Bridge, and the Temple of Friendship. In front of the entrance to the park there are Cast-iron Gates by C. Rossi.

During the war, much was destroyed, but today both the palace and the park have been restored almost in full. The exquisite furnishings of the interiors, the collection of paintings and original sculptures, unique furniture, expositions and exhibitions can be seen almost daily.

Come to Pavlovsk, walk through the beautiful park, to feed the many squirrels is worth every tourist visiting St. Petersburg.

The soft and unobtrusive beauty of Pavlovsk will be remembered for a very, very long time.