Head out of town to this palace and enjoy a rural retreat filled with comfort and splendor.
The Pavlovsk Palace and Park is frequented by residents of St. Petersburg looking to escape the bustle and by visitors to the city alike. Its picturesque ponds, leafy grounds and, of course, grandiose palace make it a great place to unwind in. Join the other visitors in reveling in its lavish grounds.
Pavlovsk Palace was initially intended to be a much smaller affair by Scottish architect Charles Cameron, but his modest design was not to Catherine the Great’s liking, so she hired his assistant, Vincenzo Brenna to create a more extravagant structure. The larger palace incorporated part of the smaller structure that had already been built in 1782. The park, also the work of Cameron and Brenna, measures a grand total of 607 hectares (1,499 acres).
Start by strolling around Pavlovsk Palace today to see the changes Brenna made. The building’s huge wings bend inward, sheltering a spacious courtyard with a majestic monument to Pavel, or Paul I. Alongside this is a colonnade decorated with busts.
Go inside to see the decadent rooms the imperial family once used. The Italian Room is decorated in pinks and golds and is modeled on the temples of Ancient Rome. Eros and satyrs feature prominently in the sculptures that surround the room. Another magnificent room is the Hall of War, where the furniture is delicate and ornate. Note the recurring motif of trophies used in the bas-relief and stucco work, hammering home the power symbolism befitting of a Hall of War.
Take a walk in the park for a change of pace. Wander freely around the Private Garden, which was once meant for only imperial feet, and appreciate the riot of colors in the surrounding flowers. Go for a boat ride in the Vokzhalniye Ponds in the summer months or scale one of the grand sets of stairs to get a better view of the green expanse that surrounds the palace. While away an afternoon discovering its various monuments and sculptures.
Pavlovsk Palace and Park are open daily but they do close on one or two days of every month depending on the season, so check ahead before embarking on your trip. Both charge admission fees. The park and palace are 18.6 miles (30 kilometers) from St. Petersburg but you can take the train or bus there.
