St Petersburg - Peterhof

We were up early again this morning to meet our guide at 8.30am to go to Peterhof, which was the summer palace of the imperial family (we again had early entrance tickets to avoid the crowds). It is located about 27km out of St Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland, and was built by Peter the Great in 1705 as he wanted to build something to rival Versailles. It was extended and improved by both his daughter, Elizabeth and later by Catherine the Great. It was occupied by the Nazis during WWII when they lay siege to the city, and on leaving the city they burnt this palace and destroyed most of the building. After the war it was rebuilt by the Soviet government, who although despising the wealth and riches of the nobility, recognised the importance of this building and had it restored to its former glory at enormous cost. Germany helped contribute to its restoration as compensation after the war trials.

It was interesting driving there as we went through Soviet suburbs like Kirov where the architecture is quite different. Our guide told us how she had lived in a communal apartment when she grew up (3 families sharing 10 rooms) and after Perestroika they were moved out to their own and more comfortable apartment in this Kirov area. However life used to be tough with a high crime rate, but today life is so much better with very little crime and it is amazing how much this city has progressed in the 25 years since the iron curtain fell. There is very little unemployment (3%) and one does not see many beggars on the streets as the 8 months of a bitterly cold winter keeps them off the streets and into employment. 

Peterhof is gob-smackingly opulent with so much gold everywhere. It consists of a series of many smallish rooms all very elaborately decorated and furnished, and was used by the Tsars to entertain and impress guests. It has views out onto the Gulf of Finland and also has a beach. The gardens are formal in the French style with many fountains everywhere. I have added an extra of the view from the terrace out to the sea before they switched on the fountains, and another of the chapel. We were lucky to have good weather for our visit but as we got back to the van another storm broke with heavy rain.

Despite being the official summer palace the royal family preferred using Catherine Palace. Tonight we are going to visit Catherine Palace - the boat has arranged a private opening for it's guests to visit the palace after hours and we will also be entertained by a classical concert. We are also being allowed admittance to the Amber Room, which is not usually open to the public. This room has been in the news lately as during the war the Nazis prised all the amber off the walls and hid it along with other major art works, and although the room has been restored to its former state the original amber panelling has never been found. However, last month archaeologists found another Nazi buried treasure site and they are hoping this will contain the missing amber panelling. Catherine Palace is huge, it is 1km in circumference and it took over 100kg of gold to decorate the palace exteriors. As Luke says, no wonder the working classes revolted at this excess!!

I am having a problem with internet - 3G in Russia is very expensive (£6 per MB) and we have limited wifi which Gavin bought for work and if he is not using it the boys are so I am fighting for wifi time!! So I am not getting round to viewing journals