1. Great Peterhof Palace
- Where is: Peterhof, Petrodvortsovy district of St. Petersburg.
- Entrance fee: from 450 rubles, children under 7 years old and students under 14 years old free.
This is the main building of the palace and park ensemble “Peterhof“was built by the famous architect of Italian origin Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli in 1755. It was rebuilt from a small two-story house, built according to the ideas of Peter I. Together with other monumental buildings, the renovated place became the summer residence of Russian emperors for many years.
The Grand Palace was almost completely destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. But by the middle of the last century, a team of restorers, historians, artists and architects managed to restore the lost appearance of the building. And today visitors can see the architecture of an example of Elizabethan Baroque, and at the same time admire paintings, sculptures and other unique exhibits of the historical and art museum located within the walls of the palace.
2. Winter Palace
- Where is: Saint Petersburg.
- Entrance fee: adults – from 1,390 rubles, children from 7 to 14 years old – 590 rubles, children under 7 years old free.
Built in 1762 by the same Rastrelli Winter Palace on the banks of the Neva was the residence of Russian emperors during the cold season. Thanks to the direct supervision of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, the building received the lush Baroque features characteristic of her time, and the interiors were decorated with elements of French Rococo.
With the advent of the Soviet era, the Winter Palace lost its status as an imperial residence and acquired its usual significance today – it houses the main exhibition of the State Hermitage. Therefore, when visiting the hallmark of St. Petersburg, you can not only be amazed by the impressive architecture and rich interiors of the palace, but also study unique exhibits – world art from the Stone Age to the end of the twentieth century.
3. Catherine Palace
- Where is: Pushkin, Pushkinsky district of St. Petersburg.
- Entrance fee: from 400 rubles, children under 14 years old free.
In 1724, on the site of the future luxurious creation, a small two-story house appeared, called the stone chambers of Catherine I. But in such a modest form, the building did not stand for long and by 1756, under the leadership of the architect Francesco Rastrelli, it had turned into a large monumental structure in the Elizabethan Baroque style. Then the city of Pushkin was called Tsarskoe Selo, and Catherine Palace at various times it was the “women’s” summer residence of the empresses Catherine I, Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II.
This place is famous for the Amber Room. The decoration made from tree resin was made at the beginning of the 18th century in Prussia and presented to Peter I by King Frederick William. During the Great Patriotic War, the unique interiors were taken to Königsberg, and the building of the Catherine Palace was partially destroyed. In the middle of the last century it was restored, and in 2003 restorers were able to completely recreate the stolen Amber Room.
Visit this place with an interesting history and stroll through the stately gilded halls if you want to feel the beauty and grandeur of the imperial era.
4. Gatchina Palace
- Where is: Gatchina, Leningrad region.
- Entrance fee: from 275 rubles.
In 1766, Catherine II entrusted the construction of the palace to the Italian architect Antonio Rinaldi. Construction took quite a long time, and in 1781 a monumental monument appeared in the suburbs of St. Petersburg. construction, in which we managed to combine the features of English hunting castles and a Russian country estate. The austere palace became one of the favorite vacation spots of the royal family.
For this structure, the Great Patriotic War also turned out to be destructive. Restorers are still working on its restoration to this day. But this does not prevent visitors from admiring the interesting architecture, including the majestic suite of state rooms.
5. Sheremetyevo Castle
- Where is: Yurino village, Republic of Mari-El.
- Entrance fee: 350 rubles, free for preschool children.
The construction of the castle, which belonged to the noble Sheremetyev family, took more than a century: from 1812 to 1915. A whole group of prominent architects worked on the building, and the customers spared no expense in ensuring that building materials, furniture and interior items came directly from abroad. As a result, a bizarre structure with crenellated towers, stained glass windows and mosaic floors arose on the banks of the Volga.
Visit Sheremetyevsky Castle can leave a lasting impression. And not only because of the rich exhibition and interesting interiors. Visitors have the opportunity to stay overnight right in the castle – however, the interior of the rooms here is quite modest.
6. Vyborg Castle
- Where is: Vyborg, Leningrad region.
- Entrance fee: from 350 rubles, children under 16 years old free.
Medieval lock was founded by the Swedes in 1293 during the Third Crusade. For a long time, the building was a defensive fortress and even a prison: the Decembrists served their sentences here. To this day, the building has retained the features of an ancient European castle – a tower, supporting walls and the main building.
Unfortunately, today you won’t be able to look at Vyborg from above – the tall St. Olaf Tower is closed for restoration. But even without this, there will be something to do in Vyborg Castle. So, you can shoot a crossbow, learn pottery and take fencing lessons.
7. Waldau Castle
- Where is: Nizovye village, Kaliningrad region.
- Entrance fee: adults from 100 rubles, children 50 rubles.
The castle of the Teutonic Order was founded in 1264. At first, the building was used as an intermediate fortress, where servants of the order, warriors and priests stayed. In the middle of the 15th century, Waldau was rebuilt and turned into a castle.
Today in Waldau interesting expositiondedicated to weaponry, carpentry and pottery, as well as pharmacy.
8. Oldenburg Palace
- Where is: village of Ramon, Voronezh region.
- Entrance fee: from 30 rubles.
The Old English style palace was founded in 1883 and belonged to the House of Oldenburg, a ducal and princely family of German origin. By the end of the 19th century, in the Russian outback there appeared castle with meter-thick walls, fancy windows and a clock tower. Its construction was initiated by Evgenia Romanovskaya, the great-granddaughter of Napoleon’s first wife, granddaughter of Nicholas I and niece of Alexander II.
Today the monumental building is under restoration. But this won’t stop you from appreciating the interesting architectural solutions in the exterior decoration and taking a walk around the ground floor. From photographs with the palace in the background, it is not always clear that you are in Russia.
9. Palace of the Emir of Bukhara
- Where is: Zheleznovodsk, Stavropol region.
- Entrance fee: for free.
Today the palace is located on the territory of a resort park in a sanatorium. And at the beginning of the last century it was the summer residence of the Emir of Bukhara. True, neither the founder of the construction Seyid-Ahad-Bogodur-Khan, nor the last head of the Bukhara Emirate Tyura-Jan-Alim-Khan ever lived in the palace. The first died, the second succumbed to superstition and eventually transferred the possessions to the imperial family.
To this day, the Emir’s Palace retains its authentic appearance. If you want to briefly immerse yourself in the atmosphere of oriental fairy tales, be sure to visit this place.
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