The main fountain of Petrodvorets. Fountains of Peterhof. Ensemble of the eastern part of the Lower Park

Like all tourists or simply lovers of travel, we began our visit to Peterhof from the upper garden. He greeted us with a riot of tulips of various shapes and colors. I was amazed by the well-groomed lawns, shady alleys, and neatly trimmed trees. On the territory of the upper garden there were two small fountains, the first of all their diversity. The weather was beautiful, and against the blue sky the Peterhof Palace looked simply magnificent.

How to get there

From the Avtovo metro station: Minibuses: T-224, T-300, T-424 buses: No. 200, No. 210
From the Leninsky Prospekt metro station: minibuses: T-103, T-420
From the Prospekt Veteranov metro station: minibuses: T-343, T-639B
From the Baltiysky railway station: train to the station New Peterhof or Oranienbaum from the station in New Peterhof 10 minutes by bus: No. 344, No. 348, No. 350, No. 351, No. 352, No. 355, No. 356

I’ll go a little away from the main topic, but I need to write that from time to time you and I worry about the same thing. So, all the toilets are located in remote parts of the park. Therefore, especially if you are with children, we advise you to solve all pressing problems when entering the park, so that later nothing will interfere with your pleasant time. Well, let’s talk about something else right away. A visit to the park will take you all day, no less. Food in the park is very expensive; it is worth stocking up on sandwiches and water (although the latter runs out very quickly). Two of us couldn't stand the hunger strike and "cracked" for a burger using the last of our "cash" (they don't take cards) - and this explains why we got home by bus. If you plan to make purchases (souvenirs, etc.) - take cash.

Let's continue. After admiring the “Samson Tearing the Lion’s Mouth” fountain from above, we decided to go down directly to the fountain itself. And then we were interested in the invitation to the excursion “Grottoes of the Great Cascade”. I won’t describe the manipulations in which we bought tickets without passports, but we did it. The excursion is very unusual - you have to take it. But this is a separate story, and read about it in our separate article.

Next we went down to Samson. Samson is mesmerizing. The statue itself symbolizes the power of Russia, the victory over both Sweden and Nazi Germany. By the way, during the war against fascism, “Samson” was destroyed and rebuilt. The fountain's jets rise proudly. Extraordinary beauty. And if you are at the fountain in good weather, look closely and you will see a rainbow. We would have admired it more, but the time for the excursion had come.

After the excursion, we walked diagonally to the right (if you stand facing the Gulf of Finland from Samson on your left) and found ourselves on a shady alley, where we met a cute, charming squirrel who was intently gnawing on a nut, paying little attention to the children attacking her from all sides. Very quickly we reached the square of the Chess Mountain cascade. There are also two beautiful fountains there. By the way, on this same square there are toilets and numerous fast food kiosks.

In total, there are 147 active fountains on the territory of the complex.

After a short break we moved on. Our path lay to the “cracker” fountains. It turns out that Peter had a certain sense of humor and he liked to suddenly splash his guests with water. Fountains include the "water road", the "Oak" and "Umbrella" fountains. The whole “trick” is that while walking along the road, admiring the oak tree or sitting on the Umbrella bench, you risk getting wet from head to toe at the most inopportune moment. The kids really like it. We know the principle of operation of these fountains, but we will not reveal it to you. The most curious ones, turning their heads in all directions, will understand what the secret is.

After walking along the alleys of the park, we naturally decided to head towards the Gulf of Finland. On the way we came across the “Sun” fountain. In general, there were many fountains; we simply cannot describe them all. Each fountain is remarkable in its own way. “Sun” because at the top of the fountain there is a ball from which jets of water are thrown out and form rays. The ball rotates slowly.

Our path to the Gulf of Finland was disrupted by the “Labyrinth” sign. Since none of us had been there, we decided to look at this miracle of engineering technology. Along the way, we had the chance to admire swans and ducks in a closed enclosure. Regarding the labyrinth - of all the labyrinths, this is the most “not a labyrinth”. There's nothing to do there. Don't waste your time.

And here, finally, is the Gulf of Finland. It immediately became cool. The Gulf of Finland is always cold, so in Peterhof a swimsuit is not included in the mandatory dress code in summer. But it offers a beautiful view of the city, of the cable-stayed bridge (in clear weather). We walked along the road along the Gulf of Finland, periodically dodging the overtaking ubiquitous electric cars with sightseers, and took pictures on all the lawns and by all the streams “because we wanted to.”

So gradually we reached the “Dutch courtyard”. Peter, as you know, loved Holland and recreated its tiny corner here. The small courtyard is planted with amazingly beautiful scarlet tulips. In the center, of course, is a fountain. In a corner of the courtyard there is some kind of entertainment for children, where they are sprinkled with water. But we didn't go there. If you go with children, try it, just take your child a raincoat.

Tired, wearing out the last of our shoes and experiencing incredible pleasure from the walk, we decided to head home. We made the way back in the same order. At the same time, our tireless photographer continued to take pictures. We already wrote above why we made the way back by bus, but we do not advise you to do this under any circumstances - only a minibus.

And in the end I would like to write the following: no matter how many times you come to St. Petersburg, the same number of times you will definitely go to Peterhof. In order to admire the majestic streams of fountains, enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the park, stroll along its shady alleys, see beautiful meadows with flowers, stand on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, or simply feed a small fluffy squirrel.

The fountains are the original water conduit device. Unlike those at Versailles, these grandiose structures operate without pumps or other water structures, and water is supplied to them from many natural and artificial ponds fed by underground springs and springs.

At first, Peter planned to build the Grand Cascade and several more fountains, the water into which was supposed to come from the reservoirs of the Upper Garden, but soon the tireless ruler, who personally explored the area, found additional sources of water, which abounded in the vicinity of the future Peterhof Park. The nature of the relief made it possible to create a system of water conduits through which water flowed by gravity from dozens of ponds located above the Lower Park and Upper Garden.

So everything 4 stages And 191 fountains Petrodvorets (counting the water cannons of the Great Cascade) is fed by the ponds of the Ropshinskaya Upland, located at a distance of 24 kilometers, as well as English, Lugovoy, Holguin and other reservoirs (18 ponds in total) and many streams and springs. All these sources are connected to each other by a complex system of locks and canals, the total length of which is 40 kilometers. The most surprising thing is that The water pipeline system, planned under Peter and with his personal participation, is still in effect today.

Grand Cascade

The main decoration of the Upper Garden can be called fountain "Neptune", in the center of which the sea lord himself rises, leaning on a three-tiered pedestal decorated with sculptural images of nymphs, dolphins, newts, corals, riders on sea horses and other monsters. The fountain is installed in the middle of a central square pool, on the south side of which stands a statue of Apollo Belvedere. Neptune himself, along with his “retinue,” arrived in Peterhof from Germany in the 80s of the 18th century and was installed to replace the dilapidated lead “Neptune’s Cart” by Rastrelli.

The most remarkable of all Peterhof fountains is rightfully considered grandiose and majestic Grand Cascade. This gilded splendor includes 255 sculptures, bas-reliefs and other architectural structures, as well as, no less, 64 fountains that soar up 138 sparkling water jets. The focus of the entire composition is the famous gilded “Samson tearing the mouth of the lion”, and the center of the cascade itself is Lower Grotto with an observation deck, framed by grand staircases decorated with gold sculptures and marble bas-reliefs.

No less attention than the Grand Cascade attracts Alley of Fountains, stretching on both sides of the Sea Canal, which divided the park in two and rushed from the foot of the Grand Palace to the Gulf of Finland. Under Peter, it was built along the canal 22 fountains with sculptures based on Aesop's fables and fountains in the form of vases. The vases themselves have not survived to this day; only eight stone pools located closer to the gateway remind of them.

Another cascading fountain, called Chess slide. Coming down the hillside 20-meter stepped chessboard with two mysterious grottoes, the entrance to which is guarded by three dragons, is also called the Cascade of Dragons. On both sides of the building there are two staircases decorated with sculptures made of white marble. At the beginning of the war, the sculptures were removed and hidden, and the cascade itself was completely destroyed by the Nazis.

As many years ago, visitors to Peterhof Park enjoy special love moving fountains. These include fountain "Favorite", created back in 1725. In his small pool, quacking ducks swim in circles all day long, which a small dog tries unsuccessfully to catch up with. Hitting her on the back with a coin, and in such a way that the money lingers there, is considered a good omen: despite its modest size, the coin park attendants get much more from this fountain than from other pools.

Fountain "Sun" not only resembles a celestial body in shape, but also rotates around its axis, sending its rays around, the role of which is played by jets of water. Under Peter, the reservoir where the fountain is now installed was used for fish farming, but in 1721 the emperor ordered the installation of a fountain in it, which was a water column surrounded by twenty jets of water. After 50 years, the place of the water column was taken by the “Sun” fountain, which played the role of a shower in the royal bath, which the pool turned into. In those days, the reservoir was surrounded by walls, which were later demolished, but to this day the principle of operation of the central part of the fountain has remained unchanged: the “Sun” drives a wheel rotated by water.

On a sultry summer day, it’s even pleasant to suddenly find yourself under streams of cool rain, but it’s unlikely that such a surprise was to the liking of the noble ladies and gentlemen of the Peter the Great era, dressed up and pomaded, with outlandish hairstyles and expensive outfits. But they were the first to experience the effect Peterhof firecrackers, when the unsuspecting courtiers, sitting on a bench or sedately walking along the cobblestone street, were suddenly doused with jets of water. The most innocent of crackers - fountain "Umbrella", resembling a giant mushroom on a thin stalk. As soon as you stand under its roof (or cap), 164 jets of water immediately begin to shoot down along the perimeter of the umbrella, preventing you from getting out. "Sofas"- antique garden benches - they shower passers-by with jets flying out of the backs and seats, and the “wet” job is completed by fountains of water gushing from the side of the path. The “splash table” is located in the Lower Grotto, and in the park itself there are even trees watering - "Christmas trees"(though you won’t be able to get close to them) and bronze "Oak", surrounded by tulip fountains and benches with a catch. A comic “water” alley is also built on the approaches to the garden in front of the Monplaisir Palace, and a couple more firecrackers are installed on both sides of this garden. For kids on a hot day, there is no better fun than walking barefoot across a rectangle lined with round cobblestones, looking for a “magic” pebble that turns on the water, and finding themselves thoroughly wet.

Roman fountains


Cascade Chess Mountain

Peterhof is a luxurious park with many fountains and sculptures, which is located 29 kilometers from St. Petersburg, on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. In its scope, this park is not inferior even to the French Versailles, but in the splendor of its fountains it surpasses it.

The park is divided into two parts: Lower and Upper Peterhof. The Upper Park is much smaller than the Lower Park, but is not inferior to it in beauty and originality. We can say that each of them is unique and interesting in its own way. Our article will focus mainly on the Upper Park. The photographs posted in the article help to at least a little imagine the luxury that Peterhof is distinguished by.

History of the park's formation

Today, the royal ensemble of the park includes 4 luxurious cascades and 176 fountains of unsurpassed beauty. And 300 years ago there were only swamps and villages located around. However, in the 1710s, Peter I issued a decree on the beginning of active architectural and landscape work. Thanks to many surviving documents, drawings and blueprints, we have even received information that the designs of individual fountains, as well as the concept of planning the ensemble as a whole and the development of the water supply system belonged to the emperor himself.

By 1723, the main palace residence was completely completed and named “Peterhof”. The opening of the park along with the launch of the main fountain structure - the Grand Cascade - also happened this year. The name "Peterhof" is translated from German as "Peter's Estate". Since 1762, both the city that grew up around the royal residence and the entire palace and park ensemble that spread around it began to be called Peterhof. The Grand Cascade and a number of other fountains were dedicated to the Russian victory in the Northern War, after which the Russian Empire appeared. The building, which initially served as the emperor's residence, was turned into a museum after the October Revolution.

Difficult period

During World War II, the park experienced a dark period as enemy artillery almost completely destroyed it. However, thanks to the almost superhuman efforts of museum workers, almost 50 statues and about 8,000 items of palace interiors were removed from here even before the German occupation. This was, of course, an important victory for art, but, unfortunately, the objects that were saved were only a very modest part of all Peterhof treasures.

Peterhof began to be revived only after the end of the war, and periodic restoration work continues to this day. In 1945, the Lower Park of Peterhof was opened. And two years later, the famous Samson fountain was reinstalled and completely recreated in it, the stream of which rushes 20 meters into the sky and which, thanks to its incredible beauty, was not destroyed by the Nazis, but was only taken to Germany. Restoration began in 1952, and 12 years later its first halls were opened. The recreated Peterhof practically rose from the ashes. The opening was very solemn.

Peterhof Palace

The Grand Imperial Palace is the most outstanding building in the luxurious Peterhof Park. It proudly rises above the Grand Cascade leading to the park area. The palace was built in a special style, but over time it continued to be completed in the mature Baroque style. Under the palace there is a decorative grotto.

As already mentioned, the park area is divided into Lower and Upper parks. The lower park covers an area of 102.5 hectares and is fed by a 22-kilometer water pipeline. The Upper Park occupies a smaller area, but is not inferior to the Lower Park in the luxury and uniqueness of its fountains and statues.

Sights of the Upper Park

The main attraction for which Peterhof, the Upper Park, is famous is its absolutely perfect symmetry. The fountains here are also located symmetrically: in the center there is “Neptune”, “Oak” and “Mezheumny”, both other fountains flaunt opposite the side palace wings. “Neptune” (fountain) is the dominant feature of the park, decorated with many unique medieval sculptures.

Another attraction of the Upper Park is the four ones created by the Italian Giovanni Bonazza and installed here in 1757. These are "Pomona", "Zephyr", "Flora" and "Vertumn". The Upper Garden is also decorated with a flowering green alley, which takes on a bright red color in the autumn season.

Fountain "Neptune"

Being the main building of the Upper Park, this fountain really looks luxurious and richer than the others. “Neptune” is a fountain decorated with a three-tiered group of sculptures and the sea lord himself towering above it, holding his constant trident in his hand. On four sides of this composition there are pedestals with masks of sea monsters, from which jets of water shoot out.

On both sides of the base with Neptune, river nymphs sit with oars in their hands. The pedestal itself is decorated with many corals, bas-reliefs and other lead details, as well as bronze figures of a girl and a boy. Also around Neptune there are riders on hippocampi (winged sea horses), who seem to protect the mythical god and at the same time chase dolphins. There are also dolphins in the fountain's pool - eight symmetrically arranged figures.

On the southern side of the Neptune fountain there is a small cascade, with water flowing down its three feet and above which there is a statue made of bronze (previously in its place there was a statue of “Winter” made of lead). Both Apollo and Neptune did not appear here immediately, but only in 1736. Initially, in the heart of the pool there was “Neptune’s Cart”, made of lead, however, after it fell into disrepair, it was replaced by the sculptural composition “Neptune” (created in the 17th century in Nuremberg). So the initial period of the sculpture’s existence took place in Germany.

The history of "Neptune"

The creation of a unique fountain group occurred during the heyday of the German Empire, when hundreds of beautiful monuments were erected in the country. Nuremberg also creates something unique to decorate the city market. They decided to commemorate the fountain with the end of the Thirteen Years' War - the most important event in German history. In this regard, the best craftsmen in the empire worked on the creation of the sculpture. The nymphs next to Neptune at that time personified not nameless rivers, but specific ones - Pegnitz and Regnitz. The coats of arms of Nuremberg, the city hall and the chancellor are still present on the pedestal to this day. In total, the sculptural composition included 27 figures.

However, upon completion of the work, it turned out that there was not enough water in the Nuremberg rivers Pegnitz and Regnitz for the functioning of such a monumental fountain composition. Then we had to disassemble it and put it aside until the so-called better times. As a result, only 130 years later the sculpture came in handy - the city authorities decided to replenish their budget at its expense and offered the heir to the Russian throne, Paul, who had stopped by Nuremberg during a trip to Western Europe, to purchase “Neptune”. Pavel, wanting to demonstrate the wealth of the Russian Empire, without hesitation, agreed to this step, buying a sculptural group for 30,000 rubles - a lot of money at that time.

Fountain "Mezheumny"

At the entrance to Peterhof (Upper Park), south of Neptune, there is a round pool decorated with bronze sculptures of a dragon and four dolphins. A stream of water quickly bursts out of the dragon's mouth, and the dolphins also splash water. This pool originally housed the lead “Andromeda”, then over the course of a number of years more than one sculpture visited its place, and as a result, the figure of a bronze winged dragon was installed. In this regard, the composition was called the “Mezheumny” (or “Uncertain”) fountain.

But this is where the story of the inconsistencies of this composition continued. The dragon was replaced by a dolphin-like sculpture “Sterlet”, and over time - by a cast iron vase. The dragon returned to its place in 1958, but it was already completely new. Both the dragon and the dolphins were cast anew according to the few surviving drawings.

Fountain "Oak"

The Oak Fountain in Peterhof is located nearby, in the middle of another, also round pool. It represents a hexagonal star, at the ends of which there are dolphins, and in the center - a gilded marble sculpture of “Boy with a Mask”. It also looked different initially. In 1734 there was a lead “Oak” surrounded by six dolphins and three dragons, but it was removed 12 years later. In 1802, this composition was installed in the Lower Park.

Nevertheless, the name “Oak” was initially assigned to the fountain, although there was no longer any “Oak” in the composition. For a time, there was a carved wooden “Cornucopia” in the center of the fountain, but it fell into disrepair and was eventually replaced by a “Boy with a Mask.”

Other sculptures

“Peterhof” (Upper Park) is also famous for its oldest reservoirs - Square Ponds, dug in 1719 to provide water to the Lower Park. In 1773, sculptural groups surrounded by lead dolphins were installed in the center of these reservoirs. But after many years they became dilapidated and were replaced with ordinary, simple vertical jets. Only in 1956 the Square Ponds were restored to their former appearance.

In the Upper Park you can also see such Peterhof sculptures as the Italian Venus fountain, which is a sculpture surrounded by six dolphins. In the background of the fountain you can see the Church of St. Peter and Paul, which is part of the Peterhof Palace.

Famous park

And this is just a little that you can learn about Peterhof and its precious fountains and sculptures. Of course, such an unsurpassed park is worth visiting - the impressions will be truly unforgettable. They also allow you to enjoy what Peterhof is famous for, photos that, although not fully, still convey the beauty of the world-famous park.

How long have I not seen this beauty!!! There wasn't enough time. And it happened!
All tourists who come to St. Petersburg strive here. And not in vain, judge for yourself.
A little history and my photos:

Peterhof (from German Peterhof - “Peter's courtyard”, from 1944 to 1997 - Petrodvorets)

Peterhof was founded in 1710 as an imperial country residence, and became a city in 1762. The city is home to a monument of world architecture and palace and park art of the 18th-19th centuries, the Peterhof Museum-Reserve. Science City since 2005.

For the first time, Peterhof (German: Peterhof - Peter's yard) was mentioned in the traveling journal of Peter I in 1705 as a “travel yard” and a pier for moving to Kotlin Island. It was one of many manors (“passing houses”) built along the road from St. Petersburg along the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. This is the entry that appeared in the Journal of Peter I dated September 13, 1705

View of the Lower Park from the Grand Palace.

In the 1710s, active landscape and architectural work began here on the construction of the estate of Peter I. In 1714, the Great Peterhof Palace, the Great Grotto with cascades, Monplaisir and other buildings in the Lower Park were founded. Gradually, near the construction of the residence, the Small Sloboda (to the south and southeast of the Upper Park) and the Big Sloboda (to the west, the so-called Old Peterhof, along modern Sobstvenny Avenue) appeared. Ships from Kronstadt and St. Petersburg arrived there, at the Merchants' Pier. In 1721, a water saw mill was founded, and with it a lapidary factory (now the Petrodvorets Watch Factory).

Grand Palace and Grand Cascade.

To supply the fountains of Peterhof, a special water pipeline with a total length of 40 km was built. Along its route there are 18 storage ponds containing more than 1.3 million cubic meters of water and covering an area of almost 100 hectares. The water pipeline was created in 1720-1721 according to the design of hydraulic engineer Vasily Tuvolkov. On August 9, 1721, water cannons began working. By 1723, the formation of the palace and park ensemble was largely completed. By this time, the main planning elements of the Lower Park had been formed, the Grand Palace and Monplaisir Palace had been built, and a water supply system of fountains had been constructed.

Sea Canal and Fountain Alley

The basis of the park's layout is two systems of radial alleys (directions north-south and west-east), intersecting each other. All the main alleys of the Lower Park either face the bay or end with a fountain. The layout strictly adheres to the principle of symmetry. The central axis is the Grand Cascade and the Sea Canal. At equal distances from the axis are the “Adam” and “Eve” fountains, the “Chess Mountain” and “Golden Mountain” cascades, the Monplaisir Palace and the Hermitage Pavilion.

Fountain "Samson tearing the lion's mouth."
It is believed that the figure of Samson appeared in connection with the Poltava victory of Russian troops against the Swedes, won on the day of Sampson the Stranger. The lion is associated with Sweden, since this particular symbol is present on the country’s coat of arms to this day.

The jet shoots up 21 meters.
The fountain-monument was installed in 1735.

According to the original plans, when creating the Grand Cascade, a fountain was not planned in the bucket in front of it, and during the life of Peter I there was no fountain in the bucket. For the first time, the fountain “Samson tearing the mouth of a lion” was installed in a bucket in front of the Great Cascade of Peterhof in 1735 in honor of the 25th anniversary of the historical victory of the Russian army over the Swedes at Poltava (Battle of Poltava), won on June 27, 1709 on St. Sampsonia the Stranger. Throughout the history of Peterhof, there were 3 Samson fountains in front of the Grand Cascade. The first, installed in 1735, was cast from lead by the sculptor B.-K. Rastrelli, the pedestal for the sculpture was probably designed by the architect M. Zemtsov, and the hydraulic equipment was created by the hydraulic master P. Sualem. But by 1801, the sculpture had become dilapidated and was replaced by a bronze group, created according to the designs of the Russian master of classicism M. Kozlovsky. At the same time, A. Voronikhin designed a new pedestal.

Rainbow over Samson...

The fountain was heavily damaged during the German occupation during the Great Patriotic War. The original statue has been lost. In 1947, sculptors V. Simonov and N. Mikhailov, based on archival data, photographs and works by M. Kozlovsky, recreated “Samson”; the restored ensemble was opened on September 14, 1947. On December 28, 2010, the statue was dismantled and sent for restoration, and on April 17, 2011, it was returned to its place.

In the background are the Voronikhin colonnades.

The marble Voronikhin colonnades (1800-1803) received their name after their creator, the former serf Andrei Voronikhin, who was awarded the title of architect for the design of the Peterhof colonnades. The colonnades, made up of paired columns, end in pavilions with high domed roofs. In the center of each dome is a low fountain. On the flat roofs of the colonnades there are fountains in the form of elegant gilded vases. The entrances are guarded by granite lions, carved according to I. Prokofiev’s models. The colonnades were restored in 1966.

Grotto.

ENSEMBLE OF THE EASTERN PART OF THE LOWER PARK:

Fountain "Adam"

The paired fountains “Adam” and “Eve” are located on the axis of Marlinsky Alley, the main alley of the park, running parallel to the seashore. “Adam” is located in the eastern part of the park, “Eve” is in the western; both fountains are compositional and semantic dominants of the corresponding parts of the park and are located almost at their central points. Small squares with diverging rays of large and small alleys are formed around them. The fountains attract attention from afar, appearing in perspective from different angles from many vantage points.

Fountain-joke "Oak"
The “oak tree” with gilded leaves was part of the decor of the fountain, built in 1735 according to a drawing by B. K. Rastrelli for the Upper Garden. In the middle of the 18th century it was dismantled and stored in a storeroom. In 1802, the fountain master F. Strelnikov repaired it and painted it in a natural color

At the same time, tulip fountains and two figured benches were placed around the “Oak”, from behind the backs of which a water canopy suddenly rises. The Oak and Tulip fountains and benches, destroyed during the war, were recreated in 1953 based on surviving fragments and a drawing from 1828.

Fountain-joke “Chinese Umbrella”, or “Mushroom”
In 1796, F. P. Brouwer and I. V. Keyser created the Umbrella Fountain (“Chinese Umbrella”). A massive pillar serves as a support for the roof, completed with a wooden carved flower and bordered with scallops. Under the umbrella there is a round chair with carved elbows. When a fountain operates, jets of one hundred and sixty-four tubes shoot along the edge of the roof, preventing visitors from leaving. In the 1860s, the roof of the “Umbrella” was given the shape of a fly agaric mushroom, emphasized by appropriate coloring, and it became known as the “Mushroom”. The fountain, destroyed by the Nazis, was recreated in 1949 in its original form according to the design of the architect A. A. Olya. The decorative decoration of the “Umbrella” was restored by the carver G. S. Simonov.

Monument to Peter I.

Cascade "Chess Mountain"
Chess Mountain is a cascade located on the slope of a terrace, with black and white, “chess” plateaus.

At the top of the cascade there is a grotto surrounded by three colorful figures of dragons, from whose mouths jets of water burst out. The cascade consists of four ledges and ends in a round pool. On both sides of the cascade there are staircases decorated with white stone statues.

Roman fountains
The fountains are called Roman because their appearance is copied from two fountains installed in Rome, in the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica. “Roman fountains” appeared in the park in 1739 and were made of wood with lead-lined bowls designed by architects I. Blank and I. Davydov.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Nazis damaged the marble cladding of the pyramids, destroyed swimming pools, and blew up pipelines. The fountains were restored already in 1949.

The height of the fountains is more than 10 meters.

Fountain "Sun"
was built in 1721 - 1724 under the leadership of the architect N. Michetti. Twenty jets beat around the central column.

The fountain is located in the center of a fairly large rectangular reservoir, where sturgeon were kept and swans and ducks swam in the 18th century. At the end of the century, the architect Felten converted the pond into a bathhouse. At the same time, a wheel driven by water was placed in the reservoir. The wheel rotates a column, on top of which there are discs with 187 holes, from which streams pour out, making the fountain look like the sun with many rays. At the base of the fountain there are figures of dolphins.

During the Great Patriotic War, the fountain was completely destroyed and restored only in 1956

Monplaisir Palace
Translated from French (French: mon plaisir), the name of the palace means “my pleasure” - that’s what Peter I called it. Monplaisir is located in the eastern part of the Lower Park, right on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. The building was built from 1714 to 1723.

Monplaisir was the favorite palace of Peter I - the interior and exterior decoration of the palace are distinguished by rigor and rationality.

Fountain "Sheaf" - the central fountain in the Monplaisir Garden
The Sheaf Fountain is one of the first fountains of Peterhof, built on the instructions of Peter I. It was created in 1722 - 1723 by the architect N. Michetti and the fountain master Sualem. The center of the composition is a high tuff pedestal in the form of a bunch of ears of corn (sheaf), from which a powerful stream of water shoots out. Below in the circle there are 24 more inclined, thinner jets.

Monplaisir kindergarten

Another joker fountain in the Monplaisir garden

Even though it’s mid-May, spring is just beginning...
And the meteor flies to St. Petersburg...

View of the Sea Canal from the Gulf of Finland.

ENSEMBLE OF THE WESTERN PART OF THE LOWER PARK

Fountain "Eva".
It is an octagonal pool with 16 water jets. The statue was made of Carrara marble by the sculptor D. Bonazza, and was installed before the construction of the fountain, in 1720.

Hermitage Palace
In the ensemble of the western part of the Lower Park, a special place is occupied by the elegant Hermitage pavilion, which is located symmetrically to the Monplaisir Palace. During the construction period, this pavilion was called Petit Monplaisir for some time.

The two-story building is distinguished by well-found proportions. The windows and doors have small glazing characteristic of Peter's time. Openwork wrought-iron grilles of windows and balconies on the second floor level decorate the northern and southern facades.

Hermitages were widespread in the royal residences of Europe in the 18th century. They were intended for communication between persons especially close to the court or for the solitary time spent by monarchs (“Hermitage” translated from French as a hermit’s hut). There was even a lifting table, which was served downstairs and raised to the second floor banquet hall in order to dispense with the presence of servants.

The Peterhof Hermitage is the first such building in Russia. It was built in 1721-1724. designed by the architect I. Braunstein.

By order of Peter I, the Hermitage was surrounded by a moat filled with water, across which a drawbridge (now a stationary one) was thrown from the side of the radial alley.

And then we go to the Marly Palace

The Marly Palace is the main building of the western part of the Lower Park. Despite its small size, it plays an important role in the overall structure of the entire ensemble. Three main alleys radiate from the palace, cutting through the park from west to east: the central - Marlinskaya, the northern - Malibanskaya and the southern - Birch.

The palace stands on an artificial bridge between the large Marlinsky pond and the Sector ponds.

A high embankment located north of Marly protects the palace and Marly Garden from the wind from the Gulf of Finland.

Cascade "Golden Mountain"

The “Golden Mountain” cascade is so named because the vertical part of the cascade steps is trimmed with gilded copper sheet. If you look at the cascade from below, standing at the foot, you get the impression of a flowing golden stream. Located near the Marly Palace.

Lion Cascade
The idea of arranging the Lower Park was based on the principle: each palace must have a corresponding cascade. In 1721, construction began on the Hermitage pavilion and the alley leading to it was laid out. According to the original plan, the prospect of the Hermitage Alley on the southern side was to be closed by the Hermitage Cascade.

The cascade, designed in the style of late classicism, is somewhat unusual for the Peterhof ensemble. It is distinguished by the severity of antique forms, the laconicism of the water design, the emphatically restrained colors of the stone, and the complete absence of gilded details.

In the middle of the colonnade, on a hill made of granite blocks, a statue by F. P. Tolstoy “Nymph Aganipa” was installed.

We return to the Grand Palace and the cascade.

The palace is the main building of the Peterhof palace and park ensemble. Initially, a rather modest royal palace, built in the “Petrine Baroque” style in 1714-1725 according to the Zh-B project. Leblond, and then N. Michetti, was rebuilt under Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in 1747-1752 according to the model of Versailles (architect F.-B. Rastrelli), in the so-called mature Baroque style. 30 halls, including richly decorated state rooms, plastered to resemble marble, with painted ceilings, inlaid parquet and gilded walls.

And these are the fountains of the Upper Park
The upper garden, which has an area of 15 hectares, was laid out under Peter I. Peter, known for his practical approach to everything, used the garden as a vegetable garden in which vegetables were grown. The Upper Garden acquired its modern appearance as a regular park in the second half of the 18th century. At this time, fountains appear in the garden

Fountain "Neptune"
Initially, the fountain figures were created in Nuremberg (Germany). A swimming pool with a pedestal for installing the composition had already been built on the city market square, when it turned out that there was simply not enough water in the local rivers for the functioning of the fountains. The sculptures were dismantled and put in a barn, where they lay for about a hundred years, until the future Russian Emperor Paul came to Nuremberg in the 1780s while traveling around Europe. The city authorities sold the composition to him, valuing it at a huge sum for those times - 30 thousand rubles.

During the Great Patriotic War, all sculptures were dismantled and taken to Germany. In 1947, the sculptural group was again delivered to Peterhof and installed in the same place, but the fountain was launched only in 1956.

Last look at the palace, the park...
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A large cascade stretches out in front of the façade of the Grand Palace. This is not only the most majestic fountain complex in Peterhof, it is one of the most beautiful fountains in the world. The complex was supposed to glorify the victory of the Russian army in the Northern War. Peter I dreamed that all guests of his country residence would be speechless at the sight of this masterpiece of park architecture. And to this day, everyone who comes to Petrodvorets freezes in admiration before this splendor.

The Grand Cascade became a large-scale project, on which leading architects, hydraulic engineers and sculptors of that time worked: I. Braunstein, J.-B. Leblon, N. Michetti, the Barratini brothers, C. Rastrelli and many others.

⛲ large-scale work lasted from 1714 to 1724;

⛲ more than 2000 people worked to create a complex water cascade system;

⛲ via the sea canal the main basin of the Great Cascade is directly connected to the Gulf of Finland;

⛲ the composition combined 64 fountains and 225 sculptural decorations.

During the Great Patriotic War, workers of the museum-reserve buried the statues of the cascade underground and hid them in hiding places to protect them from destruction. But not everything was saved: the statues of Samson, Neva, Volkhov and Triton were stolen. The period of post-war restoration lasted until 1956. Just imagine - all the unique sculptural decor of the cascade was restored bit by bit.

Today you can admire this pearl of fountain art. The complex is especially transformed on the opening and closing days of the fountains, which take place in late May and mid-September. For several days, the Grand Cascade becomes a bright backdrop for laser shows and theatrical performances.

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The Samson Fountain is the compositional dominant of the Grand Cascade and one of the most recognizable symbols of Peterhof. The luxurious sculpture was created in 1735 by order of Empress Anna Ioannovna, who wanted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava in such a solemn way. B.K Rastrelli himself was involved in developing the sketches.

⛲ Samson was originally dressed in a cloak and had a beard;

⛲ sculptures of eight dolphins decorating the composition symbolize the calm Baltic Sea;

⛲ gilded lions represent the four cardinal directions;

⛲ Samson's water column is capable of reaching the height of an 8-story building without the help of pumps; the flow is ensured solely by the pressure difference.

Samson's story is truly unique. The fountain changed its appearance three times. So, at the end of the 18th century, the sculpture lost its gloss and shine, so it was decided to replace lead with bronze. The reconstruction project was led by M.I. Kozlovsky, who tried to preserve the ideological concept of the fountain as much as possible.

During the Great Patriotic War, the statue was stolen; in the 50s, sculptors V. L. Simonov and N. V. Mikhailov began recreating the fountain masterpiece, using pre-war photographs and drawings in their work. Today Samson dazzles us with his magnificence and when you look at him you will undoubtedly see the reflection of several eras.

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Petrodvorets has a completely unique attraction - the grottoes of the Grand Cascade. These underground structures are the architectural center of the fountain complex. Having made a trip here, you will understand how grandiose the project was conceived by Peter I. According to his plan, all the park’s fountains were supposed to work not with pumps, but with the help of a special power supply system from nearby reservoirs. A whole team of architects worked on the project: Jean-Baptiste Leblond, Ivan Braunstein and Nicola Michetti.

⛲ construction of the Upper and Lower grottoes lasted from 1716-1720;

⛲ dungeons were built here, where a complex hydraulic system of fountain pipes passed;

⛲ the pipes are painted in different colors, since previously very young boys became students of fountain masters, who had to quickly navigate which fountains certain pipes were connected to;

⛲ the profession of a fountain master was incredibly honorable, but specialists had to work in difficult conditions; due to constant exposure to darkness, many began to have serious vision problems;

⛲ Since Peter’s times, the legendary joke fountains have been working in the grottoes: the joke table and the water curtain.

A walk through the grottoes will be unforgettable for you; along the way you will definitely visit an amazing museum. Here is a unique exhibition that tells a fascinating story about the work of the fountain masters of Petrodvorets. You will see the work suits of master hydraulic engineers and get acquainted with rare documents and photographs. The Grand Cascade Grottoes will lift the veil of secrecy for you, and you will be able to find out exactly how the greatest fountain complex in the world functions.

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When coming up with the composition of the Russian Versailles, Peter I wanted to decorate each of the palaces of the residence with a unique cascade of fountains. So the Hermitage Cascade was supposed to rise near the Hermitage pavilion. Nicolo Michetti thought out all the compositional details in detail, but the construction of the fountain was postponed and the project was never brought to life. Only in 1799 did the architect Andrei Voronikhin develop a completely new sketch of the cascade.

⛲ at the end of the 18th century, the cascade looked like a rectangular pool with waterfall ledges and marble bowls;

⛲ the main decoration of the fountain of that time were the figures of Hercules and Flora;

⛲ this is the only cascade of the park located on a flat terrace, and not on a slope;

⛲ the cascade in the style of late classicism, which we can see now, appeared only in 1855 and was developed by Andrei Stackenschneider;

⛲ From the composition of the architect A. Voronikhin, only bronze figures of lions have been preserved.

The image of the Lion Cascade has become absolutely unique for Petrodvorets: no luxury, gilding or pomp. The strict, seasoned composition fascinates with its symmetry and sophistication. To decorate the center of the cascade, sculptor Fyodor Tolstoy created a unique sculpture - the Nymph Aganipa with an elegant jug on her shoulder.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Lion Cascade was practically destroyed; in fact, only the base was preserved; the columns and bowls were completely destroyed. Large-scale restoration work was completed only by 2000 and solemnly marked the completion of the post-war restoration of the Lower Park.

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Chess Mountain

In front of the largest square of the Lower Park you will find a picturesque cascade of fountains with black and white slopes. This is the famous Chess Mountain, which is also called the Dragon Cascade. Initially, Peter I planned to create a unique fountain composition here, which would become a symbol of the victory of the Russian Empire over the Swedish fortresses. The fountain was supposed to be stylized in a special way: to build a complex in the form of a destroyed tower. But due to a lack of resources, this project was not destined to be implemented

⛲ the appearance of Chess Mountain was formed from 1737 to 1769;

⛲ cascade height 21 m;

⛲ just like the Grand Cascade, the composition includes the Upper and Lower Grottoes;

⛲ next to the steps there are 10 unique marble statues brought from Italy in 1724;

⛲ according to the original design of Peter I, it was planned to install Neptune’s cart with four horses at the top of the complex, and later the sculpture of B.K. Rastrelli was moved to the Upper Park;

⛲ chessboard style painting appeared only in 1769.

Leading architects of the 18th century took part in the creation of the cascade at different times: Johann Braunstein and the Barattini brothers, Mikhail Zemtsov and Timofey Usov. Leading fountain master Vasily Tuvolkov was responsible for the hydraulic engineering work.

The key reconstruction of the cascade took place in 1737: Mikhail Zemtsov developed a fundamentally new project. The cascade was decorated with figures of dragons, which were carved from wood. So the fountain complex acquired a new name - Drakensberg Mountain.

During the Great Patriotic War, employees of the park ensemble buried the fountain statues in the ground, thus saving the greatest sculptures of the 18th century. After complete restoration, they returned to their places, but the chess slopes and dragon figures were recreated anew. Today you can see for yourself that this is one of the most solemn fountains of Peterhof; it lies majestically on a natural hillside and amazes with its bright composition.

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Once you see the magnificent decoration of the Golden Mountain, you will remember it forever. The gilded steps and luxurious sculptures on the hillside are mesmerizing. Peter I conceived the idea of creating the Golden Fountain Cascade after he saw the country residence of Marly le Roy of the French king Louis XIV. Peter was amazed by the grandeur of the fountain cascades and wanted to decorate Peterhof with a similar ceremonial composition.

⛲ work on the composition of the cascade was carried out from 1722 to 1732;

⛲ the cascade composition is decorated with 18 sculptures, including one of the best works by Italian architect Pietro Baratta: Andromeda chained to a rock;

⛲ according to the original project, Nicolo Michetti, the cascade staircase was supposed to consist of 80 steps, but Peter I had to reduce their number to 21, given the limited length of the slope of the Lower Park.

Unfortunately, Peter I did not see the final work on the cascade; the creation of the complex continued after his death. The project was headed by architect M. Zemtsov. It was under him that the feet were covered with gilded sheets. The Marlinsky cascade acquired a second name - Golden Mountain.

In 1870, a key reconstruction of the fountain complex took place. Ten mythological statues were delivered to Petrodvorets from the Italian city of Carrara to order, which replaced the time-worn lead sculptures.

During the Great Patriotic War, all the statues of the cascade were hidden in underground storage facilities. The steps of the fountain were completely destroyed. The restoration work was divided into several large-scale stages, with the final reconstruction completed in 2015.

The Golden Mountain has an incredible colorful facade, compositionally it is connected with the Grand Cascade and also glorifies the naval power of the Russian Empire. The solemn appearance of the cascade will amaze your imagination; it looks especially festive on a sunny day, when the feet shine especially brightly with their gilding.

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Crackers

The famous joker fountains will bring you a sea of joy and laughter. Peter I had an incredible sense of humor and was therefore inspired by the Versailles tradition of organizing such fun for guests of country residences.

Cracker fountains are true symbols of the park traditions of that time. They were extremely popular in the 18th century and reflect the stylistic features of Baroque and Rococo.

Crackers are hidden in different parts of Peterhof. If you get too close to such fountains, you will certainly fall under a scattering of splashes. However, during tsarist times, not all guests were happy with such fun, as ladies loved to stroll along the alleys in luxurious, expensive clothes.

Almost all the surprise fountains are hidden in the eastern part of the Lower Park, near Monplaisir Alley. It was here that “playing places” were organized for the royal guests.

⛲ Fountain "Oak"

- was created in 1735 according to the design of B.K Rastrelli;

— consists of a metal tree, five tulips and two benches;

— when you approach the composition of branches and tulips, jets of water rise;

⛲ Fountain “Sofas”

- was created in 1723 according to the design of Nicola Michetti;

— visually designed in the manner of trellis sofas, which were in fashion at the beginning of the 18th century;

— jets of water rise from the area in front of the sofa when you try to approach it;

⛲ Fir-tree fountain

— was created in 1784 according to the design of the architect F. A. Strelnikov;

— visually designed as three decorative Christmas trees;

— the mechanism works as soon as you pass by;

⛲ Fountain "Water Road"

- was created in 1721 according to the design of Nicola Michetti;

- in the times of Peter the Great, the alley was illuminated by a water canopy of three hundred jets, the fountain was not popular due to the effect of surprise and was quickly closed, the idea received a second embodiment in 2001;

— the water arch appears on schedule at 13.00, 14.00 and 15.00;

⛲ Fountain “Umbrella”

- was created in 1796 by the architect F. Brower;

— visually designed as a canopy in the Chinese style, decorated with armchairs with carved armrests along the perimeter;

- you must run under the canopy before jets of water begin to fly out of one hundred and sixty-four tubes;

⛲ Fountain “Splash Table” and “Water Curtains” in the Lower Grotto of the Grand Cascade

- were created in 1727 according to the design of Pyotr Eropkin;

— a luxurious table was specially placed in the grottoes, on which there was always a bowl of fruit; as soon as the guest tried to reach out to the vase, streams of water scattered from the tubes placed around the perimeter of the table;

— to this day, when leaving the grottoes, an invigorating water curtain suddenly appears.

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Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve is an amazing composition of fountains located on Marlinskaya Alley. Structurally, Adam is the eastern center of the Lower Park, and Eve is the western center. These fountains were planned by Peter I. The creation of the figures was carried out by the Venetian sculptor Giovanni Bonazza. Today you will find them in the center of the squares, where the alleys converge to form a star pattern.

⛲ the project to create fountains lasted from 1717 to 1728;

⛲ technically, water flows are not sprayed, but are designed in such a way as to fall in large jets;

⛲ the fountains are unique in that you can see them from all points of the Lower Park;

⛲ since 1726, Adam and Eve acquired a new allegorical meaning: the fountains sang the first emperor and the first empress of the Russian Empire - Peter the Great and Catherine I;

⛲ Adam and Eve are the only composition in Peterhof that has preserved its original sculptural decoration.

Diplomatic representative of Peter I Roguzinsky S.L. was actively involved in the purchase of statues for the Summer Garden in Italy. At the same time, by order of Peter I, he ordered the Venetian sculptor Giovanni Bonnaza to produce majestic sculptures of Adam and Eve. The result exceeded all expectations, Peter was delighted.

The first to be created was a fountain for the sculpture of Adam, designed by Nicolo Michetti. The fountain started working under Peter I, but the Eva fountain was launched only during the reign of Catherine I. The Eva pool was designed by the famous architects N. Usov.

During the Great Patriotic War, employees of the palace and park ensemble buried the sculptures in the ground, and miraculously the figures were saved. In the post-war period, a long period of restoration of the statues began. The pedestal of the sculpture of Adam was completely destroyed and had to be recreated. Today you can travel back in time and see Adam and Eve in their original form; the paired composition of the fountains has been reconstructed and fully conveys the original plan of Peter I.

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The sun is a real masterpiece of fountain art. From an engineering point of view, its design is one of the most complex in Peterhof. This unique fountain adorns the central pond of the Menagereine Garden in the Lower Park in the immediate vicinity of the Monplaisir Palace.

⛲ there is a wheel in the fountain that moves with the help of water flows, this is how the column rotates;

⛲ the discs at the top of the column have 187 holes for water outlet;

⛲ on a sunny day, jets of water create an amazing spectacle: colorful rainbows flash everywhere.

Initially, the pond was decorated with a more simple fountain. At the beginning of the 18th century, Peter I wanted to organize a real menagerie in Peterhof. By his order, the Menagere Garden was laid out, decorated with a long pond. In 1724, the architect N. Michetti made a number of changes to the general concept and gave the garden a ceremonial appearance; it was during this period that the first fountain was installed in the pond, which did not strike the imagination at all.

The Sun Fountain appeared much later: under Catherine II. She decided to reconstruct the pond and arrange a royal bath in the garden. I. Yakovlev and Y. Felten took on the project. It was during this period that a multi-level fountain design was developed, which became a real decoration of the garden.

For more than a hundred years, the bathhouse was hidden by walls that completely blocked the fountain. Only in 1926 the fence was completely dismantled. During the war, the fountain was badly damaged; its final restoration was completed only in 1956. During the restoration work, the open version of the fountain was used as a basis. So now you can endlessly admire the most iridescent fountain of Petrodvorets.

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Roman fountains are majestically located on the square in front of the Chess Mountain cascade. Seeing them will undoubtedly transport you to the capital of Italy, because they are incredibly similar to the famous fountains at St. Peter's Basilica. The two symmetrical compositions were designed in 1739 by famous 18th century architects Johann Blank and Ivan Davydov.

⛲ the fountains have a two-tier design, which was incredibly popular in the 18th century;

⛲ in the mid-18th century, garden master Bernhard Fock created unique flower lawns that exactly repeated the shape of Roman fountains;

⛲ from the center of the upper bowl, water flows can rise to a height of more than 10 meters;

The appearance of the Roman fountains underwent several stages of reconstruction, which were carried out under the leadership of F. B. Rastrelli and F. P. Bower, the chief architect of Peterhof. Thus, wooden parts were replaced with stone ones, brick and granite became the main materials, and marble was used for cladding the facades. Thus, the structure became more durable and acquired a solemn appearance.

During the Great Patriotic War, the twin fountains suffered greatly: the pipeline and stone pools were destroyed, and decorative decorations were lost. But despite the serious damage, it was the Roman fountains that were among the first to be reconstructed. Their launch took place already in 1949. And in 1954, decorative elements were completely recreated based on Andrei Gurzhiy’s models. So today you can fully enjoy the incredible grace of the Roman fountains, which have become a true decoration of Peterhof.