[RUSSIA] St Petersburg - Peterhof

20:49 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

Peterhof is one of the most popular tourist attractions. It is sometimes referred to as “the Russian Versailles” and Versailles was the inspiration for Peter the Great’s desire to build an imperial palace in the suburbs of his new city. Peter’s daughter, Empress Elizabeth ordered the expansion of the Grand Palace and greatly extended the park and the famous system of fountains. Today Peterhof palace and park is drawing millions of visitors every year.

I spent the morning exploring Winter Palace that day. After that, I head to the front of Neva River to take a hydrofoil to Peterhof.

Across the river it’s the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Hydrofoil is the easiest and quickest, but the most expensive way to get to Peterhof.

Boats depart from a small landing stage near the Winter Palace on the Neva river where the tickets are also sold.

I paid RUB 4,080 in total for a roundtrip of the hydrofoil (3 adults).

Passed by Saint Isaac's Cathedral.

A C189 soviet submarine which is now a floating museum.

The journey to the Peterhof takes about 35 minutes.

The boat arrived the Lower Park of Peterhof.

The ticket office of Peterhof Lower Park. Thankfully the queue wasn’t too long.

The ticket price list in Russian and translated partially in English and Mandarin. I’m guessing foreigners pay RUB 750 per adult and locals pay RUB 450 per adult because the entrance fee to the Lower park cost me RUB 1,950 for 3 adults including my tour guide.

Peterhof park is famous for its numerous fountains.

Peterhof was ravaged by the German troops during World War II. However, it was one of the first to be resurrected. The Lower Park opened to the public in 1945.

The most famous fountain in Peterhof is the Great Cascade. It comprises of 64 fountains, over 200 bronze statues, bas reliefs, and other decoration.

At the centre of Grand Cascade stands a statue of Samson wrestling the jaws of a lion. It represents Russia’s victory over Sweden in the Great Northern War. The lion’s mouth shoots a 20 meters high vertical jet of water.

As usual, it’s the baby’s nap time again, haha.

All the fountains in Peterhof operate without the use of pumps. The water collects in the Upper Park and the elevation difference creates the pressure that drives most of the fountains in Lower Park.

People lining up to enter the Grand Palace. A separate ticket is needed to enter the palace. Expect a long queue to enter as there are only two ticketing booths.

The ticket price list of Grand Palace. The palace is closed on Mondays and every last Tuesday. For foreigners, the ticket cost RUB 700 per adult.

After waiting for an hour in queue, it’s our turn to enter and buy the tickets. Photos and videos are not permitted inside.

Before exiting the palace, visitors will pass through the souvenir area.

Is it worth it to see the interior of Peterhof Palace? Maybe. My advice is if you have limited time, definitely head to the park instead of wasting time queuing up to enter Peterhof Palace

View of Grand Cascade from above. It runs from the northern facade of the palace to the Marine Canal.

The parkland at Peterhof is remarkable for its sheer variety of styles in its layout and features.

This is the Eve Fountain. There’s also an Adam Fountain which is in the opposite direction.

Peterhof Hermitage was envisioned by Peter the Great as an informal dining room for his closest associates. It has an unique lift-table, re-created after the sample of the first quarter of the 18th century. Lift table demonstrations are on weekends and public holidays at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm. Open from Wednesday to Monday from 10.30am to 6pm, closed on Tuesdays. Admission is RUB 150.

This is the Lion Cascade. It has 14 dark gray granite columns measuring 8 meters tall.

Two bronze lions gave the name to the whole cascade.

Lion Cascade as seen from another side.

Marly Palace in the western side is a mansion built on the orders of Peter the Great as an intimate retreat.

The Triton Cloche Fountain.

Another famous cascade at Peterhof: Marly Cascade. It is also called Golden Hill due to the gilded risers.

Three statues stands on top of the cascade: Neptune, a Triton and a Nymph.

Terrace Cascade and the Church of the Grand Palace.

In the centre of Orangery Garden, there is a fountain depicting a Triton struggling with a sea monster. A jet of 8 meters high water shoots from the open mouth of the monster. Surrounding it lies 4 bronze turtles which also shoot water from their gaping mouths.