Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Three museums are worth considering for those fascinated by St. Petersburg's past.
The
History of St. Petersburg, 1703-1918
exhibit, in the Commandant's House, fills two
floors with an excellent, chronological survey of the relatively short history of this grand
city, displaying artifacts, maps, models, paintings, and costumes—but with minimal Eng-
lish. It's engaging if you already know a bit of local history, but otherwise challenging to
appreciate. The
History of the Peter and Paul Fortress
exhibit features old architectural
drawings and maps, a replica of the angel weathervane that tops the cathedral spire, and
some English descriptions. And the forgotten
MuseumofSpaceExplorationandRocket
Technology
is a surprisingly extensive collection honoring the ingenuity that allowed this
nation to kick off the space race with the 1957 launch of Sputnik (a replica of which you'll
see here). There are old photos of scientists, newspaper headlines, desks and lab equipment,
rocket bases, and space capsules—but virtually no English information.
Outer St. Petersburg
While each of these sights is well worth a visit, they're out on the edge of town and time-
consuming to reach. On a one- or two-day visit, focus on sights in the city center instead.
But with a third day or a special interest, the trek to any of these is rewarding.
If choosing between the two grand palaces, consider this: Peterhof has a fine interior
but particularly grand gardens, with canals, waterfalls, and fountains populated by gilded
statues. Tsarskoye Selo's claim to fame is Catherine's Palace, with a peerless interior that
includes the famously sumptuous Amber Room.
Peter the Great
During the four decades he ruled Russia (1682-1725), Czar Peter I transformed his
country into a major European power. Even more egotistical and self-assured than
your average monarch, Peter gave himself the nickname “Peter the Great”—and it
stuck. He stood well over six feet tall, and his height was a sign of how he would rule
Russia: with towering power and determination. Full of confidence and charm, Peter
mixed easily with all classes of people and at times even dressed cheaply and spoke
crudely.
Although Peter is revered by many Russians today, his reign was not without scan-
dal. A heavy drinker with a short temper, Peter was known to lash out against even his
closest advisors. Even those closest to Peter suffered. He had his own son killed and
exiled his first wife to a convent.
After coming to the throne, Peter grew bored with courtly life in Moscow. He soon
began planning a trip to Western Europe—a remarkable undertaking, given that no
Russian czar had set foot in Europe during peacetime in more than 100 years. He fo-
cused his travels on Holland and England, great maritime powers from whom Peter
wanted to learn everything he could about shipbuilding, technology, navigation, and
seamanship (he even went undercover for a stint in an Amsterdam shipyard).
