Catherine Palace

Welcome to the Catherine Palace, the crown jewel of Tsarskoye Selo, or the 'Tsar’s Village.' As you stand before this sprawling, three-hundred-meter-long facade, you are witnessing one of the most opulent expressions of the…

We enter the palace through the magnificent grand white staircase and find ourselves in the Great Hall, also known as the Hall of Light. This is the largest room in the palace, covering nearly a thousand square meters. …

Now, we reach the heart of the palace and its most famous secret: the Amber Room. The history of this room is as fascinating as its appearance. …

Leaving the main palace, we head toward the Cameron Gallery, a striking structure that marks a shift in architectural style. Commissioned by Catherine the Great, who found Rastrelli’s Rococo too 'flamboyant,' this gallery was…

Deep in the park, we encounter the Hermitage Pavilion, a small but exquisite building that served as a private retreat for Empress Elizabeth and her chosen guests. The term 'hermitage' implies a place of seclusion, and here, the…

As we walk along the bank of the large man-made pond, we come to the Grotto Pavilion. Built during the time of Empress Elizabeth, it was originally intended as a cool retreat during the summer months. …

Continuing our walk around the lake, we cross the famous Marble Bridge, also known as the Palladian Bridge. This elegant structure was modeled after similar bridges in English gardens like Stowe and Wilton House. …

Our journey through the Catherine Palace and its vast gardens draws to a close. We have seen the peak of imperial luxury in the Great Hall and the Amber Room, and we have walked the quiet paths favored by Catherine the Great…