As is well known, St. Petersburg is home to many residences from the times of the Russian Empire. But what about today? Where does the President stay during visits to St. Petersburg? In which of the city's many palaces are high-level meetings held? The answer is the Konstantinovsky Palace in the suburb of Strelna. Today, this complex is also known as the Palace of Congresses.
Since 2003, a variety of tours have been held in the palace, including visits to the ceremonial halls, presidential apartments, and the palace park. I took part in one of these tours, titled “The Present and the Past,” which covers the interior of the Konstantinovsky Palace and part of the upper park.
How to Get to the Konstantinovsky Palace
Strelna is on the way to one of the most popular suburbs of St. Petersburg—Peterhof. You can reach the Konstantinovsky Palace by train from the Baltic Station or by bus heading toward Peterhof or Lomonosov. Buses and minibuses depart from the Avtovo metro station, and the travel time without traffic is about 30 minutes.
Tours at the palace follow a schedule and are not held daily, so it’s best to confirm the schedule in advance by calling the palace ticket office: +7 (812) 438 53 60. The cost of an adult ticket for a group tour ranges from 280 to 400 rubles, depending on the tour chosen (spring 2019). Please note that photo and video recording are subject to an additional fee (100 rubles).
A Bit of History
The idea of building a luxurious imperial residence on this site was conceived by the first Russian emperor, Peter the Great. The Great Strelna Palace was laid here in 1720, but Peter’s plans were never fully realized, and after his death, construction in Strelna was halted.
It wasn’t until the end of the 18th century that Emperor Paul I gifted the Strelna estate to his son, Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich. Later, the palace became the property of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, son of Emperor Nicholas I. Notably, both grand dukes also owned the Marble Palace in St. Petersburg, which was briefly referred to as the Konstantinovsky Palace, though the name never took hold.
Many famous architects worked on the palace over different periods, including the father and son duo Francesco and Bartolomeo Rastrelli, Andrei Voronikhin, and Andrei Stackenschneider.
During the Soviet era, the palace housed a labor colony, an agricultural museum, a sanatorium, and a school. As with many other palaces, the tenants did not prioritize preserving the cultural heritage, and during World War II, the palace complex suffered significant damage.
The interiors we see today were restored in 2003. In modern times, the palace hosts a wide range of high-level meetings, forums, and summits.
The Konstantinovsky Palace Tour
The “The Present and the Past” tour begins right at the entrance to the palace park complex, with the route passing through the upper park. As you would expect, the grounds are immaculately maintained. Inside the palace, the guide takes the group through several ceremonial halls, some of which are grand and opulent, while others are more intimate and austere.
If you choose the same tour as I did, you’ll have the chance to peek into the rooms where informal presidential meetings are held. Photography is strictly forbidden in these areas, and security is very tight, making it nearly impossible to sneak a quick photo on your phone, as tourists often try to do.
The tour ends on the palace terrace, which overlooks the stunning lower palace park. Covering an area of 100 hectares, it is often compared to the gardens of Versailles for its grandeur.
By the way, grand ducal residences were built not only in the suburbs but also within the city limits. A great example is the magnificent Marble and Nikolaevsky Palaces, both within walking distance of central metro stations.
In summary:
- Stunning ceremonial interiors;
- Part of the tour takes place in a vast park;
- Convenient location: buses to Peterhof depart in the summer almost as frequently as metro trains.
