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For me, the highlight of our visit to Peterhof was the magnificent gardens and all of those fountains!
There are over 140 fountains and they function from May to mid October, from 11:00am-5:00pm
If you arrive by hydrofoil as we did (see transport tip for more details), you get the best view of the fountains and palace - by walking up the Water Avenue, to the golden Grand Cascade.
The largest fountain statue is of Samson, tearing open a lions jaw, and there are also some hidden fountains designed to scare/drench unsuspecting children.
We took a walk around the gardens, discovering further fountains and were incredibly lucky to see a couple of the elusive red squirrels!
There is a charge to get into the grounds (I think it was around R200), but it is worth it. This charge is waived however in winter.
For details of how to get here, please refer to my transport tip.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
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Peterhof Palace was built by Peter the Great, and sits proudly above the Grand Cascade of golden fountains, looking down the Water Avenue to the sea.
It was built between 1709 & 1724, but was then completely destroyed during WWII. Later it was reconstructed, using photos and maps in the 1950s.
A visit inside the palace cost around R240....and after paying for the hydrofoil and then admittance to the grounds...we were in 2 minds about paying more to go inside...and in hindsight wish that we didn't!
(There was also an additional charge to take photos in the palace)
There was a 30 minute queue to get inside the front door, to then queue to buy tickets, then queue to check bags in, then queue to get funny looking shoe covers, then queue to enter first section of palace....then queue to enter every further section of the palace...sigh...
We really weren't that impressed with the inside of the palace...I say spend your time enjoying the fountains and gardens, take plenty of photos and save your money for a nice lunch.
Daily except Monday and the last Tuesday of each month, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
For details of how to get here, please refer to my transport tip.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
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Piskariovskoye Memorial Cemetery is one of the most impressive national war memorials in Russia. About 500.000 people, most of them civilians are buried in 186 mass graves here. They all died during the 900 day Nazi siege in WWII.
An eternal flame and a monument with the statue of Motherland mark the beginning and the end of the alley with the graves.
Directions:
The Piskariovskoye Memorial Cemetery is located at Prospekt Nepokorionnykh 74, just north of the city centre. The nearest metro stop is Ploshchad Muzhestva, from there it is still a 30 min walk. Local buses or a VT friend with a car are other options to get there.
Updated Feb 10, 2010
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The Pushkin town Tsarskoye Selo is home to two palaces and lovely parks with small lakes.
The baroque Catherine's Palace is famous for the Amber Room which disappeared mysteriously during WWII when the palace was almost totally destroyed.
Directions:
Tsarskoye Selo is located about 25 km south of St. Petersburg. I went to Tsarskoye Selo with VT member yumyum by public transport.
We took a marshrutka from Moskovskaya Metro, from where several marshrutkas leave in this direction. Another option is to take a train from Vitebsky Station to Detskoe Selo Station.
Website: http://www.tzar.ru/
Updated Feb 22, 2010
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Staraya Ladoga was the first Russian capital and has a more than 1000-year old history. The old city is dominated by an ancient fortress, which nowadays houses a museum. Other sights along the River Volkov include a monastery, a nunnery, a chapel and several churches.
VT member Natalya2006 took me to Staraya Ladoga by car and showed me around. The city is located about 130 km northeast of St. Petersburg near the road to Murmansk.
Another option to get to Staraya Ladoga is to take a train from the Moscow Station in St. Petersburg to Volchovstroj from where local buses go to Staraya Ladoga.
Updated Sep 18, 2011
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Peterhof is right on the coast of the Gulf of Finlanf, there were bathhouses dotting the beach area and a dock with a boat basin "harbor" at the end of it. At the edge of the boat basin was a cross shape set into the stones of the pier.
I do not read Russian very well so I am not sure what or who the monumnet comemorates but the Russians seem to be very careful to pay due respect under all circumstances where heroism and selfless sacrifice are concerned.
I view them with great respect for their willingness to honor those who deserve to be honored.
Я рассматриваю их с большим уважением к их готовности соблюдать те, кто заслуживает чтиться.
Updated Jun 7, 2005
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These gentelmen were risking tooth and lip playing brass musical insturments in freezing tempatures but their music was well worth a generous tip of several USD apiece!
Эти gentelmen рисковали зубом и губой, играя медный музыкальный insturments в замораживании tempatures, но их музыка хорошо стоила щедрый наконечник нескольких USD за каждый
Updated Jun 7, 2005
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Peterhof and area. Indeed Peterhof's best season is summer, the fountains are in service and it is beautiful, but even in winter you can appericate the scenes the area offers.
The Cathbedral at Peterhof is very large. Much bigger than you woul;d expect for being well out on the coast line of the Gulf of Finland, but then again, it probably was where the "court" attended services, so it's statement is "configured" accordingly!
Written Jun 5, 2005
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Just a few meters up the street from the cathedral is a small "corner store". It probably is busy in summer when Peterhof is "rocken" with tourists but this was March, well before the hoardes desend. They were totally shocked to find a lone, English speaking tourist in their midst looking for a Pepsi and a candy bar, I became almost the "attraction" of the moment as family, freinds and all desended the stairs seemingly with a bare excuse of "checking on something" and then to try their English by asking me a question.
очень приятные, очень очень приятные люди
Written Jun 5, 2005
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Peterhof has an array of large gravity feed fountains supplied by a large resoviour across the street, behind the cathedral. There is no waste of energy except the lights at night. Tthe water flows naturally without help. Due to the time of year, the whole "system" was shut down, but the fixtures remained in place. LIttle inmagination is needed to mentally see the water flowing with the fountains gushing forth in their fluid display.
Written Jun 5, 2005
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