Around Dvortsovaya Ploschad
Aleksandria Park
To the west of the Lower Park is the Aleksandria Park which is named in honour of Empress Aleksandra Fyodorovna (born Princess Charlotte of Prussia), the wife of Emperor Nicholas I. Originally the area was developed as an estate of Peter the Great's right-hand man Aleksandr Menshikov but this work was brought to a halt in 1727 upon Menshikov's downfall. Work on creating a park began again only a century later in 1825 when Emperor Alexander I gave the land to his brother Nikolai who in 1826 as Emperor Nicholas I ordered the development of a park. Today the Aleksandria Park is run as a branch of the Peterhof State Museum-Reserve and you must pay to enter. Located inside the park are several museums which you have to buy additional tickets for in order to visit.
St Aleksandr Nevsky's Chapel (Gothic Chapel)
Located within Aleksandria Park is the Gothic Chapel which was a favourite home-church of the imperial family. It was built between 1830 and 1834 in the gothic revival style and decorated with cast iron lacy ornaments and copper statues of saints. The chapel is dedicated to Prince Aleksandr Nevsky. In 2006 the chapel was restored and re-consecrated.
Farm Palace
The are two palaces located within the Aleksandria Park although they are far less grand and much more domestic than the Grand Peterhof Palace of the neighbouring estate. The Farm Palace was built between 1828 and 1831 on the orders of Emperor Nicholas I according to a design by Scottish architect Adam Menelaws. It was later renovated to serve as a summer residence for the family of Emperor Alexander II. In 2010 the palace was completely restored and it is now a museum dedicated to the family of Emperor Alexander II. Just outside the Farm, the garden of Empress Maria Aleksandrovna has been recreated.
Cottage Palace
One of the centrepieces of the Aleksandria Park is the Cottage Palace which was built between 1826 and 1829 as a gift from Emperor Nicholas I to his wife. It became a favourite summer residence of the imperial family. Today the cottage is a museum displaying the interiors which also hold various paintings and sculptures.
Palace Telegraph Station
The laying of a telegraph line connecting Peterhof with St Petersburg was first began in 1832 on the orders of Emperor Nicholas I. After several setbacks the line was completed in 1853. In 1859, during the reign of Alexander II this telegraph station was opened and today it houses a museum detailing the workings and the development of the telegraph system in Russia.
Location | Ulitsa Zverinskaya |
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Website | http://www.peterhofmuseum.ru/ |