The Peterhof Palace

The Peterhof Palace

Katie Cook

When we think about the extravagance of the Western monarchs of the past, our heads reflexively turn to that of France and England — to Versailles and the Buckingham Palace. These are grand gestures of wealth, but I dare say no one will try harder than a monarch wanting to be noticed. This was the case for many Russian empresses and emperors biding for recognition as a European power with similar values and lifestyles. Everyone has heard of Versailles and hail it as one of the most beautiful palaces in the world, but I argue that the Peterhof Palace is often overlooked. Both its gardens and interior parallel the great palaces in Versailles and Buckingham, but in addition to this, it also is home to the largest fountain park in the world. What’s more, these fountains operate without the use of pumps, making their operation much more efficient and cost-effective. Water is supplied from natural springs and collects in reservoirs in the Upper Gardens. The elevation difference creates the pressure that drives most of the fountains of the Lower Gardens, including the Grand Cascade.

The most famous ensemble of fountains, the Grand Cascade, which runs from the northern facade of the Grand Palace to the Marine Canal, comprises 64 different fountains, and over 200 bronze statues, and other decorations. At the center stands Rastrelli’s spectacular statue of Samson wrestling the jaws of a lion. The lion represents Sweden and is meant to commemorate Russia’s victory over Sweden in the Great Northern War. As you stroll through the park, you’ll find that there are many such references to Sweden, as it was considered one of Peter the Great’s crowning achievements.

In addition to the grand fountains of gold, there were many small “joke” fountains, as well. Apparently Peter was quite the prankster and would often leave his guests soaking wet through hidden fountains triggered by stepping stones or by workers operating the fountains in a hidden place. I think, my favorite fountain was the dog chasing a duck, but back when the fountain was created, the noises made by the duck and the dog were made just by a person sitting in the shadows, constantly just making dog and duck noises for the guests to get the full effect.

Of course, as amazing as the outdoor park is, the interior of the palace is equally fantastic. Truly, a place suitable for an emperor or empress. The unique qualities of each Russian ruler is clearly displayed in each room. Peter the Great began construction of the palace in 1705, but it was quite a modest spread for an emperor. It wasn’t until his daughter Elizabeth, as extravagant as she was, took power that the palace nearly tripled in size and became a true spectacle. All the rooms constructed by Elizabeth were made in the baroque style, which in layman’s terms means gaudy. Gold everything, with a touch of classicist paintings were the main qualities of each baroque room, and it was always breathtaking. Here’s an example of a typical ceiling within the palace:

Elizabeth had great influence over the palace’s finished product, but we can also see the romantic influences of Catherine the Great as well. Romanticism had similar aspects to baroque in the sense that it cherished the arts, but it is much softer and more delicate. It focused more on rooms decorated in pastels and ornate details, rather than showing off wealth in gold. My favorite room of the whole palace was the portrait room. Catherine II commissioned portraits of regular peasant girls and others, which line every part of the wall in the room. Also featured is a tour guide I accidentally took a candid picture of within the portrait hall.

I thought the personalities of each individual was perfectly captured within their portraits. They also were people we would have otherwise never known what they had looked like, as portraits were a luxury reserved for the rich and famous.

There was only one room that still remained that was decorated by Peter the Great and it looked more like a Captain’s office than a palace. Every part of the room, both the furniture and walls, were made completely of the same wood. It was almost laughable how easy it was to identify this room as his. A palace filled with gold and jewels, but instead Peter chose to be practical in his living situation.

Unfortunately, I feel like I cannot do the palace anymore justice just by simply describing it. It is hard to imagine a place like this once belonged to one family that freely roamed the halls millions of people are now hustled through as they take pictures of a museum. I think that is the greatest challenge with all places like this that are out of a different time. With how publicly marketed it is, the true significance is desensitized to the masses of tourists. We forget that this place was more than a palace, but also a home to some of the most globally influential players in history. This is where they raised their children and ran a country, where they held meetings and made world-altering decisions. However, I’ll end by saying that there is a reason Peterhof is one of the biggest tourist attractions in St. Petersburg, and it is something I think everyone should see, especially any Versailles supremacists!

Sources:

http://www.saint-petersburg.com/peterhof/fountains-peterhof/