Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Need to Know
»
Area Code
812
»
Location
41km west of St Petersburg
SIGHTS
HIST
HISTORIC
ORICAL B
AL BUILDING
UILDING
GREAT PALACE
(
Большой дворец
)
Currently undergoing a vast interior and exterior renovation, this
impressive palace will soon be looking incredible. It was not possible to visit the
palace at the time of writing, but just wandering around its exterior, peeping through
the windows and glimpsing the large, sunken formal gardens that extend in front of it
are interesting enough.
Following Peter's death and Menshikov's exile, the palace served briefly as a hos-
pital and then passed to Tsar Peter III. Of course, Peter III didn't much like ruling
Russia, so he spent a lot of time here before he was dispatched in a coup led by his
wife, the future Catherine the Great.
PARK
ARK
ORANIENBAUM PARK
pation, after WWII Oranienbaum was renamed for the scientist-poet Mikhail
Lomonosov. Now known as Oranienbaum again, it doubles as a museum and
public
park
(adult/student R140/70; 9am-8pm)
, with lots of beautiful pathways, ornament-
al lakes and other follies and pavilions to enjoy.
Beyond the beautiful lake, the
Palace of Peter III
(
Дворец Петра III
; adult/stu-
dent R140/70; 10.30am-6pm Wed-Mon May-Oct)
, also called Peterstadt, is a boxy toy
palace, with rich interiors. It was restored in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but is in
dire need of attention again and its salmon pink walls are now flaking and chipped.
Approach the 'palace' through the monumental
Gate of Honour
, all that remains of
a small-scale fortress where Peter amused himself drilling his soldiers.
