9 ‘Not to Miss’ Highlights When at Peterhof in St Petersburg, Russia
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” Susan Sontag said it so righteously that it catches the heartbeat of every traveler out there looking for new experiences. And, I’ll tell you why I was referring to this line.
Picture this: You travel to a far fairy land with just a few days in hand. You capture all the experiences and mesmerizing events occurred and travel back to your homeland with sweet memories. And while scouting back and forth in those memories you realize that you have missed seeing one of the major beauties of that place. You know it will take a decade of savings to go back to see what you have missed. Sigh! That despondent feeling is truly heart wrenching. But then, you also find out there’s almost a copy of it in another country, which is much more mesmerizing. Ah! What will you do? Of course, add that place to your bucket list and say “I haven’t been everywhere, but this new place is definitely on my list!”
Well, it happened to me too. One of the places I missed seeing was the reason I landed in another country and had the most amazing experience ever.
A few years back, when I returned from a central European sojourn, especially France, I realized that I had missed seeing the Palace of Versailles. When I googled it, I realized that there’s one more place on planet earth that’s much more beautiful than that! And that’s Peterhof, the Russian Versailles in St Petersburg, Russia. Since then, St. Petersburg was on my bucket list.
Peterhof: A Show of Exuberance of the Russian Versailles
Fortunate enough, this year I did get a chance to see this wonderful place and words are not enough to capture this experience.
If Russia is on your bucket list, do make sure St Petersburg is on that list. And if St Petersburg is on your bucket list then make sure Peterhof is on the ‘Must See’ list.
What’s So Unique About Peterhof:
Well, if you are wondering where and what is Peterhof and what so great about it, then here it is: It’s more than two centuries of European aristocratic fashion executed to the highest standards! Located approximately 10 miles of Russia’s St. Petersburg, Peterhof means “Peter’s Garden.” Built for Peter the Great ( the greatest Tsar of Russia), Peterhof encompasses a series of palaces and gardens. It features very interesting and unique water fountains.
What’s fascinating? Peterhof’s Grand Cascade waterfall and all the water fountains run with no pumps. Yes! Natural springs provide the water, which is collected in the Upper Gardens of Peterhof. Then gravity pulls the water over the Grand Cascade and the other Lower Gardens fountains.
Unfortunately, many travelers miss out on seeing some of the major highlights of a beautiful place due to several reasons. I’ve experienced it myself, and do not want that to happen to others!
That’s the reason, this blog. So, I’ve put together 9 ‘Not to Miss’ highlights when at Peterhof Palace, St Petersburg, Russia.
1. The Lower Garden
This lies between the Grand Palace and the Baltic sea shore. It boasts the world’s largest system of fountains. Comprising of three large cascades and more than 120 water fountains, it was designed in the 18th century. The waters of the famous Grand Cascade, located directly below the Grand Palace, descend into a pool, the Marine Canal.
Do take a moment to look at the beauty of each unique golden statue and vases.
Make sure you are in front of the Samson fountain exactly at 11 am, because during the fountain season, at this time, the palace opens the valves of these fountains with rhythm and style with the Russian National anthem playing in the background. If you’re around the fountain closing season, make sure you attend the closing ceremony of the season to watch the grandeur in action.
2. The Marine Canal
This canal links to the Baltic sea and is lined with 20 water fountains and bisects the Lower Gardens at Peterhof. It is one of the most extensive waterworks of the Baroque period.
One of these water fountains, called “The Sun” mimics the sun with a disc of water jets. The entire fountain rotates on a vertical axis, changing the sun’s direction perpetually.
3. The Ball Room Inside the Grand Palace
While inside the palace, you will definitely be awed by its grandeur. It might so happen that you might miss out on some details that are attention worthy. Like the Ball room inside the palace. Both the sides of the room have been decorated with infinity mirrors, which was very clever of them at that time. You can start noticing them only when you start walking further into the room.
4. The Portrait Hall Inside the Grand Palace
After you take a few leaps into the grand palace, you will come across a dull lit room, The Portrait Hall. It has 368 female portraits painted by Pietro Antonio de Rotari in the Rococo style. What’s fascinating is it’s the same woman in all the portraits but in different attire, and most of them staring at you even as you move. Like in Van Gogh’s paintings.
5. The War Paintings in Chesma Hall Inside the Grand Palace
This hall has some of the amazing canvas paintings of the Great Northern war and Second World War. What’s to be noted that these paintings were painted by a painter who never saw the war!
6. Wall Papers Made of Silk All over the Palace
Yes! Many halls across the palace are adorned by wallpapers made of silk. To add to the grandeur, the furniture cushions and the bed too match these wallpapers exactly. In few places, the beautiful Chinaware fireplaces too match these patterns. This gives an illusion effect to all that glitter.
7. Use the West Cascade to Get a Better View of Samson Fountain
Once you come out of the palace and get down stairs to the lower garden, the first highlight is the Samson. Ensure you get down on the west cascade so that you get the front view of the Samson opening the lion’s mouth. It symbolizes the victory of Russia over Sweden in the Great Northern War. Plus, it shoots a 66 feet high water jet from its mouth without a pump.
8. Take the Hydrofoil Route Back to St. Petersburg
Peterhof looks out over the Baltic Sea and the view of it from the top floors of the palace is very soothing. Make sure you take this one-of-a-kind hydrofoil route back to St. Petersburg instead of the road, to get the amazing views of the summer palace and the winter palace.
9. Surprise Fountain Just Like in Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg
If you walk further into the park, it seems there are few water surprise fountains. Well, I missed experiencing them. Few of my friends told that two fountains that look like trees surprise visitors when they step on a particular tile or sit on a particular bench, soaking him/her just enough to surprise. If you happen to see them, please do write your experience below.
Bottom line: Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends :)
My journey from India to St Petersburg will always remain close to me. That voyage will never end, and my mind can never break off from the journey. I missed out on seeing some of the marvels. I hope you don’t miss out on them too. And if you’re planning to visit St Petersburg sometime, then do so in fall season or spring or rainy season to enjoy the fountains.