Pushkin: Catherine’s Palace and Amber Room Tour
Tuesday; last Monday of the month
The history of Tsarskoe Selo, located 25 km to the south of St. Petersburg, dates back to early 18C. At first, Peter the Great gave this land to his favorite, Prince Alexander Menshikov, but later took his gift back and granted it to his wife Ekaterina Alekseevna instead, the future Empress Catherine I. In 1724 the first palace, known as the "stone mansion" of Catherine I was built and the park was laid down. In the middle of XVIII century a remarkable Bolshoy Catherine Palace - the striking example of baroque architecture - was built by the architect Rastrelli, and numerous entertainment pavilions were erected in the park, including «Hall on the Island», Sliding Hill, Hermitage and Grotto. The splendour of the new architectural ensemble immediately caused everybody's admiration and delight.
Catherine Palace and Park, Amber Room