The Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo is probably one of the most famous and popular imperial residences in Saint Petersburg. It is so beloved by tourists that even in winter, you can see crowds of visitors from around the world. The distinctive color of the building makes it unmistakable among other Petersburg palaces.
Originally, this site was home to the estate of Saris hoff or Saaris moisio. In Russian, it was called Sarskaya Myza, and eventually transformed into the familiar Tsarskoye Selo. These lands were initially gifted to Peter I's associate, Alexander Danilovich Menshikov. Later, in 1710, the estate was passed to Peter’s fiancée, the future Empress Catherine I.
How to Get There
You can reach Pushkin by either driving your own car or using public transport. I prefer the train — it’s a guaranteed way to avoid traffic and plan your route. The fare is from 47 rubles (spring 2019).
One thing to note is that there are now "Comfort" class trains to Pushkin. I was unaware of this and, as usual, bought a standard ticket at the terminal and boarded the first train to Pushkin, which happened to be a higher class. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to pay the difference with a bank card on the train, so I had to get off and wait for the next train.
The cost of visiting the palace itself is 700 rubles (2019), with discounts for pensioners and students. In summer, to enter the palace, you also need to buy a ticket for the Catherine Park. It's worth it — the park is wonderful, and I have already written about it.
Palace Tour
The palace and park ensemble in Tsarskoye Selo began to take shape in the 1710s-1720s. The palace was started in 1717 and completed seven years later. The architect was Johann Friedrich Braunstein, who had previously worked on the Grand Cascade and the Montplaisir Palace in Peterhof. The Catherine Palace is designed in the Baroque style.
Over time and with changing rulers, the palace was repeatedly rebuilt and expanded. Unfortunately, during World War II, the Catherine Palace was almost destroyed, and the interiors we see today are not original but were restored in the post-war period. By the way, in 2019, another restored hall is set to open — the Lyon Hall.
Today, you can visit the palace either independently or with a professional guide. The tour is included in the price of the ticket. Here, as in the Grand Palace in Peterhof, there is attention to visitor comfort — individual headphones are provided so that each visitor can hear their guide clearly.
Amber Room
From guides in Peterhof, I heard that tourists try to see the Amber Room in their palace. No, this unique attraction is located here in Tsarskoye Selo. As in other rooms of the Catherine Palace, the Amber Room features a recreated interior (except for two original items — the Florentine mosaic and the amber chest). The original was lost during the war and has not been found to this day, although speculation about its whereabouts continues.
The Amber Room was recreated here for the 300th anniversary of Saint Petersburg, in 2003.
After the tour, in warm weather, you can stroll through the Catherine or Alexander Park, which feature many notable buildings. The Alexander Palace is also nearby, but it is currently closed for restoration, at least until 2022.
In summary:
- This is one of the most famous palaces in Petersburg;
- Be prepared for queues in summer;
- The tour is included in the price, and after it, you can explore the halls on your own.
