Queue for the Catherine Palace online. Visit the Catherine Palace on your own

Catherine Palace... It seems that all the gold in the world is collected in this magnificent summer ceremonial residence of the Russian tsars in Tsarskoye Selo near St. Petersburg. Rastrelli's masterpiece, created more than two and a half centuries ago, amazes even our sophisticated contemporaries - be it Russian or foreign - all of whom it seems impossible to be surprised by anything. One can only imagine the impression he made on his contemporaries. A real national treasure.

It seems that everything is already known and everything has been written about the Catherine Palace, but just dig... The eternal mystery of the disappearance of the magnificent Amber Room alone is worth something! Now this relic, recreated just over ten years ago, attracts a huge number of tourists, and travel agencies in their programs write “Excursion to the Catherine Palace with a visit to the Amber Room.” What injustice! It’s as if the palace is worth absolutely nothing without this reconstructed, recognized masterpiece. Nonsense! It makes an indelible impression on all visitors, some even stronger than the Main Palace of Peterhof. I associate this luxurious baroque building with the dazzling radiance of the sun, gold, amber, lamps...

I had the opportunity to visit the Catherine Palace several times in the period from 2003 to 2009. So I had the honor to see the Amber Room. Like many, she made an indelible impression on me, and not only with her external, material beauty. As you know, amber is a healing and even magical stone. And I was able to experience its magical effect on myself...
It’s a pity that your stay here is limited to a few minutes, and you can’t stay longer and look at everything in detail. The next group is breathing in the back. There is no provision for free movement at all. Even those who come individually to the palace are put into groups.
By the way, there is one very convenient moment - all excursionists are given headphones at the entrance. So everyone can hear the guide well, even those standing at a distance.
Catherine's Palace is living history. Each Russian emperor, starting with Catherine I, contributed something of his own to its construction and development. But the main creators of the palace were ladies - three empresses - the already named Catherine I, as well as Elizaveta Petrovna and Catherine II. It was they who made the Catherine Palace and Park as delightful as we know them.
But today I will not delve into history, but will tell you about our visit to the Catherine Palace during the Christmas holidays in 2013.
On January 5, we arrived in Pushkin to visit two palaces - Catherine and Alexandrovsky. I talked about my successful visit to the Alexander Palace a long time ago (a year ago) in an article. We arrived in the city at 12 o'clock and went straight there - it was logical, because it was the first on the way. It seemed logical to us. But as practice has shown, we made a mistake. Lost time.
I have already written about this, but it would not be a sin to repeat myself: if you come to Pushkin one time, for 1 day, and want to see both palaces, then I recommend starting your acquaintance with the palaces with the Catherine Palace. You can enter the Alexander Palace at any time, without queues or any other difficulties.
With Ekaterininsky everything is more complicated. Individual tourists (i.e. those who arrived without group excursions) they are allowed there only according to a strict schedule: from 12:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 17:00. Crazy queues are added to the tight schedule.

Our trip to the Catherine Palace. Part 1. Ruthless irony of fate

So, at 13.52 we entered the magnificent Catherine Park cheerfully and carefree. Take a look at the turquoise fairytale palace and walked along it along the path cleared of snow.

There were quite a few people, despite the chilly, windy weather. Yes, it’s understandable - Christmas holidays...

The snow-covered park is incredibly beautiful! Looking at all this beauty, we walked forward in anticipation of a miracle.

And then we ran our noses into the queue. But even then we didn’t understand anything. We went around the queue and continued along the path. Look around, take a walk...

We reached the Cameron Gallery. We hung around at the souvenir shop. We went to the toilet (it’s next to the souvenir shop). And we returned to the queue.

We're standing in line... we're looking at the palace in detail... yeah, it's not hot...

To be honest, I couldn’t believe it. Tour groups, of course, bypassed us regularly, but not often. Significantly more, well, simply many times more, came out of the palace of those who had already been shot. Time passed and it was clear that the palace was no longer overcrowded. It's terribly cold outside. Someone from the staff constantly looked out and glanced at the accumulated crowd of people. People stood silently and resignedly. Many believed that they would start launching earlier. There were few people in front of us, we waited and did not lose heart...
But I decided not to waste time and take a walk in the park,

Along the Cold Bath, Agate Rooms, Cameron Gallery...

I kept looking at the palace. I was afraid of being late.

I admired Mirror Pond under the snow and the Lower Bath,

patterned trees,

The beauty of the Cameron Gallery from all sides.

Grotto on the pond.

I was in no hurry. Voz was there too. The queue grew. No one was allowed in. Sonya sat on her dad's shoulders.

My child and I were not alone in the queue - a couple of dozen people from us stood parents with a little boy.
In general, the situation with the children in this museum shocked me. Neither more nor less. The man, who was constantly looking out for some reason, clearly saw the frozen baby sitting on the two-meter dad and did not even offer to go inside the building to warm up.
The second child either felt bad or something else, and one of his parents dared to knock on the door of the palace. They were allowed in, but not further than the threshold, judging by the telephone conversation with the parent who remained in line.
Briefly speaking. Sophie and I didn't wait 20 minutes in line. For more than an hour and a half, we were so numb that we couldn’t stand it and went into the car. There was further standing unbearable. I reasoned this way: I myself have been to the palace several times, and I’m sure I will again. The child is small. She still understands little. The only one left in the queue was our dad, who had never been to this palace, was less cold than us, and who, out of principle, would never leave this, excuse me, fucking queue.
They let people into the building second by second...
It’s interesting, but in these dramatic moments the sun gilded the palace with its light, the sky cleared... Like a slight mockery, irony - the only ones The rays of the sun during our entire Christmas trip to St. Petersburg appeared at the most unpleasant moment of the trip....
And my daughter and I stomped into the car. We didn't care anymore.

Our trip to the Catherine Palace. Part 2. In a blaze of splendor

The Catherine Palace is definitely worth visiting. Another question is that in order to organize your visit, you must try so that it does not cause excruciating pain. The rules here are strict, so be patient in queuing. There are, of course, options to avoid them.

1. Come on weekdays (not weekends or holidays) in the off-season.
2. Come here as part of an organized group.

There are no other options. Did you come to St. Petersburg on a weekend in the summer or on holidays in the winter? Congratulations! In this case, drive up to the palace at least around 10 o'clock (to be sure to get into it at 12 o'clock - individuals are not allowed in before anyway). And don’t forget - the museum is closed on Tuesdays, as well as on the last Monday of the month.
And now photos of my beloved. You are welcome to love and favor me.

This concludes our excursion. Of course, these are not all the halls of the palace, but the main ones. Please note that all we see in the Catherine Palace are the state rooms. Unfortunately, the living quarters of the kings were never restored.
The palace leaves double impression especially for those who were here a long time ago, two or three decades ago, and can compare with the modern situation. The fact that the reception of tourists is streamlined and resembles a conveyor belt, the fact that it is impossible to calmly walk through the museum at a comfortable pace, the fact that the museum has become more like a mechanism, a machine, than a cultural object - all this is sad.
I hope that with my story I only fueled your desire to come and see everything in person. And rightly so. No article, no photographs will convey the splendor of the Catherine Palace and will not create your personal impression.

One of the most famous attractions of the suburbs of St. Petersburg is the Tsarskoye Selo Palace park ensemble in the city of Pushkin. Its pearl is the Catherine Palace. This place receives a huge number of tourists every year. After all, visiting St. Petersburg and not seeing its most famous palace is a big omission for a guest of the city. Let me tell you a little about the Catherine Palace. I am sure that the views of the palace and its famous halls will inspire you to visit this place.

A little history

The palace was founded in 1710. In this year, Tsar Peter I gave his wife Martha Skavronskaya, the future Empress Catherine I, the Sarskaya manor with the surrounding villages. A few years later, the architect Friedrich Braunstein built a small two-story palace. After the death of Catherine I, it passed to I’s daughter, Elizaveta Petrovna.

Since 1741, Tsarskoe Selo has become the official residence of Russian monarchs. Under Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, the palace underwent significant changes. By order of the Empress, it was decided to expand the palace building. Many famous architects worked on this: M. G. Zemtsov, A. V. Kvasov, G. Trezzini, S. I. Chevakinsky. F.B. was invited to refine the interior decoration and appearance of the palace. Shot. He began work in 1756. It was he who came up with the idea of ​​decorating the palace in the Baroque style. Subsequently, each emperor living here brought something of his own.

The palace welcomes its visitor with a gilded grille of the front gate. The facade is made with special chic in the Baroque style. An azure ribbon in combination with snow-white columns, gilded ornaments, and figures of atlans is business card palace He is unique! The luxury and splendor of the building leaves an indescribable feeling of awe and admiration. The Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo, being the official residence of Russian monarchs, hosted the most magnificent balls and masquerades. Here, in the northern wing of the palace, is the Palace Church of the Resurrection. Nearby, the building of the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum is connected by an arch, about which you can read. Around the parade ground there are service buildings - circumferences.

State halls of the Catherine Palace

The first thing that greets you is the Grand (Main) staircase of the palace, made of white marble. This is a magnificent creation by the architect I. A. Monighetti. She was built on the spot Chinese hall. The walls are decorated with vases and dishes made of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, and a large clock and barometer also hang on the wall.

The staircase is decorated with sculptures “Waking Cupid”, and on the opposite side - “Sleeping Cupid”. The walls and ceilings are decorated with carved stucco. On the ceiling there are paintings “The Judgment of Paris”, “Jupiter and Callisto” and “Aeneas and Venus”. The first two were obtained from the collection of the State Hermitage. The third was donated to the museum by a Leningrad resident.

The staircase leads its visitors to the halls of the palace.

Big hall

The first hall you enter leaves the most exciting impression, because you find yourself in the Great Hall of the palace. It was also called the Light Gallery - the largest room. It was intended for official receptions and gala balls. The hall still amazes with its wealth and beauty. Gilded carvings, lampshades and mirrors all around - all this takes your breath away, and you want to examine and remember every bit of the decoration of the hall.

Thanks to 13 large windows on each side and mirrors between them, the architect F.-B Rastrelli was able to achieve such an effect that the hall seems huge and endless. Any sound is repeated 32 times. This was necessary so that the empress’s voice would be more menacing and powerful.

When restoring the hall after the war, architects spent a long time trying to restore this acoustic effect. A few years later he appeared on his own. During the day, the entire hall is shrouded in sunlight reflected in gold, and in the evening and at night it is buried in candles. The picture is completed by a parquet floor made of stained and lightened oak and a lampshade decorating the ceiling with images of soaring figures. Here you want to remember and hum a few notes from the waltz and dance, spin to the beat of the music.

At the ball in Ekaterininsky Far East The guests were eagerly awaiting the appearance of the Empress. And when the doors of the hall opened, their gaze was struck by the golden ceremonial enfilade of the courtyard tsa stretching along the entire building. The Empress walked through this enfilade, completely surrounded by gold, like a living portrait in a golden frame.

This was another brilliant plan of the architect F. -B. Rastrelli, embodied in the Catherine Palace. We heard a lot about balls and masquerades of that time, when festivities began in the evening and continued until the morning. The magnificent decoration of the palace made an indelible impression on foreign guests.

It is a well-known fact that Empress Elizaveta Petrovna was an unrivaled fashionista. She forbade appearing at the ball in the same suit twice. The empress herself had about 15 thousand dresses in her wardrobe. The balls were held on a grand scale. Her courtiers had to comply in everything.

Cavalier's dining room

Next to the Great Hall is the Cavalier Dining Room. Its walls are decorated with paintings and carved gold patterns. The dining table is in the center of the room. It is draped with a tablecloth and gracefully decorated with ribbons. Here are items from the famous order services. The Cavalier Dining Room hosted receptions for small groups of guests, as well as small balls. She is more modest and cozy.

White formal dining room

The white formal dining room served for dinners for the imperial family. Formal dinners and celebrations were held here with luxurious and elaborate table settings, fountains of wine and champagne. On the walls of the hall hang paintings by the court artist I.F. Groota. They depict hunting scenes and still lifes. It was I.F. Groot introduced such a direction in painting as “hunting still life”.

Picture hall

The Picture Hall of the Catherine Palace contains works by the most famous and talented Western European artists of the 17th-18th centuries. A special place is occupied by the painting “Battle of Poltava”, commissioned by I. The room was intended for diplomatic meetings and receptions. Its design was carried out by the above-mentioned architect F.-B. Rastrelli. The paintings were selected by size and color combination to ultimately create a single mosaic covering all the walls of the hall. During the Great Patriotic War, the room was completely destroyed. The paintings were taken out, preserved, and then returned.

Arabesque Hall

The Arabesque Hall is one of Catherine the Great's favorite state rooms. It was decorated by the architect C. Cameron. The panels with arabesques depicted scenes from the life of the ancient Romans: men and women, mythical monsters, subjects of myths and legends. Restraint and exquisite simplicity in details are the hallmark of the room.

Raspberry and Green Pillar

The Crimson and Green Pillar Rooms were named so because of the original design of the walls. Glass "pillars" decorated the walls. Under the glass there was colored foil imitating a precious stone. The rooms got their names in accordance with the color of the foil.

Raspberry Pillar was used for board games.

There was previously a pantry in Zelenaya Stolbovaya. Silverware and porcelain were stored here.

Portrait Hall

In the Portrait Hall of the palace there are paintings with ceremonial images of imperial persons. Presented here the most famous image Empress Catherine I in her ceremonial dress and with the ribbon of St. Andrew the First-Called, as well as ceremonial portraits of Natalya Alekseevna (sister I), Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, Empress Catherine II.

the Amber Room

The eighth wonder of the world - that’s what they call it. It was supposed to serve as an office where one could retire, or, for example, play cards. The amber panels were presented by the Prussian king Frederick William I as a diplomatic gift to Peter I. The Amber Room did not immediately take its rightful place.

Initially, the room in Winter Palace. Only after Empress Elizaveta Petrovna started reconstruction of the palace, the panels were transported to Tsarskoe Selo. They were carefully carried in their arms into the palace, into the room reserved for them. To room b It was completely filled with a delicate golden color, the architect F.B. Rastrelli applied the already tested illusory effect with mirrors. The fire of candles and the midday light of the sun was reflected in the mirrors and amber panels, enlivening the room, saturating it with warm amber light.

The Amber Room was completely lost during the Great Patriotic War. After the Nazis occupied Tsarskoye Selo, she was taken outside Russia. According to one version, in Koenigksberg. According to another, the room was hidden at the bottom Baltic Sea. Until now, this secret has not been revealed.

Scientists and amber craftsmen from Tsarskoye Selo have been working on restoring the room since 1979. They reconstructed the room from surviving photographs. The Amber Room was completely restored in 2003, for the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg.

Work to restore the palace and interiors is still ongoing. Some of the rooms have been restored, but much more needs to be collected literally bit by bit. Architects meticulously, with the help of photographs and documents, create a layout ( wooden model), and gilders cover each decorative element with gold leaf. A whole staff of professionals works painstakingly on every detail of the interior. Their work is difficult to overestimate.

When to visit

When is the best time to visit the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo? It is difficult to give a definite answer to this question. Visiting it in summer, you can admire the views of the palace and park, its wide alleys and the view of the Great Lake. Horseback riding with a crew, on an electric car through the park or on a gondola around Big Lake will make your visit to Tsarskoye Selo unforgettable. But in the summer there are so many visitors that you will have to sacrifice your time standing in line to get into the palace. This can last 20 or 40 minutes. Therefore, many advise visiting the palace in winter and the park in summer.

In my opinion, the most beautiful time to visit is early autumn. The period of “Indian summer” in Tsarskoye Selo was so loved by many writers and poets. The autumn sun is still warm like summer. The foliage on the trees amazes with a riot of colors and combinations. It is no longer as hot and stuffy as in summer, but also not cold and rainy as in autumn or winter. The beauty of the autumn decoration of the trees is in no way inferior to the beauty of the palace, but complements it.

How to get there

The State Museum-Reserve "Tsarskoye Selo" is located at the address: , city, no. 7.

There are several ways to get to the museum:

• From Vitebsky railway station The electric train goes to the Tsarskoye Selo station. The cost of the beater will be about 40 rubles. Travel time is 30 minutes. Then you can get to the museum by minibus No. 371, 377, 382 or by bus No. 371, 382. You can walk. This will take approximately 30 minutes.
• From the Moskovskaya metro station there are minibuses No. 286, 287, 342, 347, 545. Their stop is located behind the “singing fountains” near the House of Soviets. Travel time will be less than an hour depending on traffic jams. The cost of the trip is about 40 rubles.
• Bus No. 187 goes to the railway station in Pushkin. Travel time will be approximately 75 minutes. The fare is 30 rubles. From the station you can take a minibus or bus to the museum.
• From the Kupchino metro station there are minibuses No. 545, 286, 287, 347, and bus No. 186. Travel time is less than an hour. The fare is 40 rubles.

In my opinion, the most convenient way to get to the museum is to take a minibus at the Moskovskaya metro station, quickly and comfortably get to the museum.

Opening hours and prices

Palace opening hours: 10.00 - 18.00. The ticket office is open until 16.45.

Closed: Tuesday and last Monday of the month.

To enter the palace, you need to buy a park ticket between April and October.

The cost of an adult ticket is 120 rubles.

For schoolchildren, students, military personnel, cadets, members of the unions of architects, artists, designers of Russia - 60 rubles.

For pensioners of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus - 30 rubles.

For visitors under 16 years old - free.

I hope my review was interesting and useful. I am sure you will get the most pleasant emotions from visiting the museum and will return there again and again!

And now we return again to the Catherine Palace in Pushkino, where the famous amber room is located. You can read about how we got to Tsarskoye Selo on our own.

When we walked past the Palace for the first time (it was around 11 am), we were scared by the queue that was waiting to open to get inside. Therefore, it was decided to start by walking around the wonderful

However, when we got here 2 hours later, the queue had not decreased at all. But going to Tsarskoe Selo and not visiting Catherine’s palace seemed impossible to us. Therefore, it was decided to definitely get inside.

For those who are planning to visit the Catherine Palace for the first time, I will describe how this can be done in practice. The Palace ticket office is located inside the building. But in order to get inside, there is a long line outside. The “throughput” of the palace is very low. Therefore, how often and how many people get inside, no one can say in advance.

At the same time, numerous tourist groups. Therefore, those who want to visit the palace on their own have to skip them.

The tail of our line ended near the front porch. Here.

As a result, we had to stand for about 40 minutes. As we were told, this is not long at all. “For example, on Monday this week the line stretched all the way to the entrance to the park. And people had to stand for more than two hours,” a security guard near the museum told us in confidence. Therefore, you need to keep this in mind and allow extra time for the queue.

Once inside, we had to spend more 30 minutes for various organizational events. We spent this time solving many problems.

1. Purchasing tickets. There are several cash register windows inside. But when about 100 people are launched, a queue forms for each of them. In this case, they are required to present entry tickets to the park. If you don’t have them or they are lost, you will have to pay extra. You can find out the cost of tickets at the end of the article.

2. Ticket verification and individual search. Almost like being at an airport. Someone even left water bottles here. But no one warned us about this and we were not required to post them.

3. Group Formation. There is no other way to enter the palace. In a small room, special headphones and a radio are distributed in order to listen to the guide’s story. The guide himself, the excursion and shoe covers for each visitor are included in the ticket price.

All these actions, of course, did not add joy. It was very hectic and cramped. There is very little space near the entrance. Plus, there are also souvenir shops here and there are also a lot of people who are just getting ready or have already finished visiting the museum.

It’s very good that we were “positive” and well relaxed after a 2-hour walk around. Therefore, they were calm about everything that was happening. And they understood perfectly well that Catherine could not count on welcoming so many visitors to her Palace! 🙂

Well, perhaps that’s enough technical details, it’s time to start exploring Catherine’s palace.

Excursion to the Catherine Palace

The Catherine Palace was built in the 18th century.

The external blue façade amazingly combines with the color of the sky, and the golden decoration shimmers festively in the sun, which makes the Catherine Palace unexpectedly light and airy. And this despite its enormous size!

The façade of the building is decorated with numerous figures of Atlanteans, caryatids and lions.

In the time of Catherine, all this was covered with gold. As the guide said, about 100 kilograms of gold were spent on gilding the external and internal decorations of the palace.

It must be said that the interior decoration is no less impressive than the external splendor.

And here we are standing near the marble staircase. The guide begins his story, and we gradually move to a completely different era and begin to feel a different rhythm of life.

Climbing the wide main staircase, we find ourselves in a large hall with luxurious paintings on the walls and ceiling.

Huge windows and mirrors, elegant lamps, light oak parquet floors, gilded trim - all this together creates a stunning impression.

The ceiling height is 8 meters, and the total area of ​​this main hall is 800 square meters. There are huge windows on two opposite sides, which makes the room unusually light and airy.

And you can admire and look at the painted ceiling for hours.

And in this huge space you feel completely different: somehow more majestic and free.

There are numerous carved compositions in the corners of the room.

The Front Enfilade is amazing. This is a long through passage through numerous rooms. Due to the abundance of gilded carvings, it received the name “Golden Enfilade”.

The uniqueness of the golden Front Enfilade in the Catherine Palace is that for the first time the length of the front rooms was equal to the length of the entire building.

The concept of adjacent rooms is well known to us even now. But how different this is from how they began in the Catherine Palace and how they ended in the Russian Khrushchev buildings. 🙁

Together with our guide we move from room to room. Everywhere has its own style, its own colors. Each room has a minimum of furniture, which adds even more free space.

Each room has multi-tiered tiled stoves with cobalt painting. If you look at it more closely, you can see various ledges, niches and columns on it. Can I install such a battery in my apartment? 🙂

We pass several dining rooms. The ceremonial tables are set, as if they are waiting for guests. Luxurious porcelain sets, crystal glasses and silverware.

And, of course, one of the wonders of the world (as the museum modestly declares it) is the famous Amber Room. The splendor of this room cannot be described. This is a colossal piece of jewelry!

You can enlarge these secret photos by clicking on them with your mouse. Don't tell anyone what you saw! The filming was carried out with a hidden camera, as photography is prohibited here. 🙄

The many shades of amber and how they are selected according to color are surprising. And amazing sculptures, carved from this stone.

The scale of the work is impressive. To recreate all this beauty, restorers worked for 24 years! And since 2003, the Amber Room of the Catherine Palace amazes and delights all visitors. This is where you want to stay longer and not take your eyes off this amazing man-made MIRACLE!

Having passed through all these wonderful rooms, we again find ourselves on the marble staircase. There are amazing vases and jugs on the walls.

Our excursion is coming to an end. But we are also waiting for an exhibition of photographs, which allows us to appreciate the scale of the tragedy of the Catherine Palace during the Great Patriotic War, and the colossal work that restorers had to do over the years so that we can now again touch our Russian history.

The sad history of Catherine's Palace

Here are just a few photos of how in an instant you can destroy something that has been created over centuries.

The building was almost completely destroyed,

more than 80% of the interior and exterior decoration was lost. Even many trees in the park were cut down.

By 2014, 32 of the 58 halls had been restored.

Part of the façade is still closed and restoration work is underway. Of course, this contrast is impressive. Especially after the luxury we just saw.

The excursion lasted about 40 minutes. After that, we handed over our microphones and headphones, which were then packed into bags to be handed over to the next group. It’s good that the shoe covers were disposable. 🙂

This is almost the end of our wonderful walk. On the street we again saw a queue standing in the Catherine Palace. Its length even increased a little.

Opening hours and ticket prices

Entrance opens at 12 o'clock. Day off is Tuesday.

Ticket price is 400 rubles. (preferential 200 rub.). Prices are for summer 2014.

I have an idea! On the website of the Museum of the Catherine Palace and Park it is possible to purchase tickets online: tkt.tzar.ru/ru/billboard/1

Cost 670 rub. includes entrance to both the park and the palace. As a result, it turns out to be a little more expensive (this kit cost us 520 rubles). But there is a possibility that with these tickets it will be possible to get everywhere without queuing, since a limited number of them are sold per day: only 100 pieces. If anyone tries this option on themselves, write in the comments how it works!

I suggest once again taking a virtual video walk through the Catherine Palace and Park to feel the atmosphere of this historical place.

Well, we had to get to the city of St. Petersburg. There were no problems with the bus. After interviewing several passers-by, we easily found the stop. And, having paid 35 rubles, we were in the city within 35 minutes. The bus dropped us off near the Moskovskaya metro station.

Then it was quite easy to get to our temporary home. But our cultural program for this day is not over yet. In the evening there was a visit to. And it was necessary to prepare for this event, because someone had been waiting for it all their lives!

Our visit to the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin) took place on June 27, 2014. On the map of places in St. Petersburg and Leningrad region, where you have already been.

Write in the comments which palaces you visited and which of them made the strongest impression.

The Tsarskoye Selo Museum Reserve is probably one of the most famous attractions of St. Petersburg. I think almost every tourist who visited the Northern capital was here.

Tsarskoe Selo has beautiful parks, luxurious palaces- a huge territory permeated with the history of pre-revolutionary Russia.

Why I love Tsarskoye Selo

I've been here many times. It's a pleasure to visit this place again and again. Most of all I like to walk through Catherine Park. I talked about it in more detail in. It is divided into regular and landscape parks. For me, its last part is more interesting, but for beautiful photos Of course, Regular Park is also more popular among tourists. Its strict symmetry and abundance of all kinds of decorations makes the most vivid impression on the guests of the Village.

But Tsarskoye Selo is most famous for its palaces. Of course, first of all – the Catherine Palace. Its luxury and beauty are difficult to convey in words. This is a must see! The richness and chic of that era is perfectly conveyed by the decoration and appearance of the palace.

Of course, the Alexander Palace is less pompous. But it attracts guests in a completely different way. If the Catherine Palace is more formal, its halls and rooms do not give the impression that people once lived here (I talked about the Catherine Palace in more detail), then the interior decoration of the Alexander Palace, the preserved interior items make you believe and plunge into the home life of the imperial family.

I was lucky enough to visit the palace before it closed. The office of Nicholas II made the greatest impression on me.

A very cozy and truly homely atmosphere reigns in all rooms. It is easy to imagine that all the things that have survived to this day (and there are a lot of them) were used in everyday life by members of the Romanov family. Read separately about the palace.

Now let's plunge into history, I will tell you about how Tsarskoe Selo appeared. And then I will list all the most interesting places.

A little history

Tsarskoe Selo appeared thanks to Tsar Peter I. It was he who presented the lands of the Sarskaya Manor to his wife Ekaterina Alekseevna (the future Catherine I). The generous gift was greatly appreciated. The history of Tsarskoye Selo as a royal country residence began in 1710. Almost all subsequent Russian emperors loved this place. Ekaterina Alekseevna ordered the construction of a small two-story building on the territory of the Village summer palace, and also create a park around it.

Later Tsarskoe Selo was given the status of a nature reserve. And already since 1990 it has received its modern name– State Museum-Reserve “Tsarskoye Selo”.

How to get there

The museum-reserve is located at: , Pushkin, st. Sadovaya, 7.

You can get there in the following ways:

WITH Vitebsky railway station The electric train goes to the city of Pushkin to the Tsarskoe Selo station:

• Ticket price is 40 rubles.
• Travel time – 30 minutes.
• You can get from the station to the museum using minibus taxis No. 371, 377, 382, ​​buses No. 371, 382 or walk.
• The journey on foot will take about 30 minutes.

From metro station "Moskovskaya" Minibuses go directly to the park:

• Taxi numbers 286, 287, 342, 347, 545.
• The stop is located behind the House of Soviets.
• Usually there are many minibuses with large signs “Tsarskoe Selo”, “Parks of Tsarskoe Selo”, “Palaces”.
• A minibus will take you there in 40 minutes, provided there are no traffic jams.
• The fare will be about 40 rubles.

You can get to Tsarskoe Selo from Moskovsky Prospekt:

• Bus number 187 stops opposite McDonald's.
• Here you can also catch minibuses from the ring from the House of Soviets.
• The bus is coming to the station (Pushkin).
• The fare is 30 rubles.

From metro station "Kupchino" can be reached by minibus:

• Taxi No. 545, 286, 287, bus No. 186.
• Travel time is 30 minutes if there are no traffic jams.
• The minibus ring is located on Vitebsky Prospekt on the metro side.

You can get to Tsarskoe Selo by taxi:

• The trip will cost approximately 500–600 rubles one way.
• Travel time is approximately 30 minutes if there are no traffic jams.

I like to get to Tsarskoye Selo by minibus from the Moskovskaya metro station. Due to the fact that there are always a lot of minibuses there, you can slowly walk up, take a seat and quickly and comfortably get directly to the museum. Along the way you can admire the city landscapes.

Opening hours and ticket prices

Catherine Park

Working hours:

• from September to April from 7:00 to 21:00;
• from May to July from 7:00 to 23:00;
• in August – from 7:00 to 22:00.

Ticket:

• from April 25 to October 20 – 120 rubles. At other times, admission is free.

Catherine Palace

This excursion is the most popular. The lines are the longest here. Therefore, when planning your day, first visit the palace. When purchasing a ticket, keep in mind that it is valid for an hour.

Working hours:

• from June to August – from 12:00 to 20:00;
• in May and September – from 12:00 to 19:00;
• Please remember that the ticket office closes an hour earlier.
• The day off is Tuesday, and from October to April - Tuesday and the last Monday of the month.

The museum offers two types of excursions:

1. The route passes through: the Great Hall, the Dining Rooms, the Crimson and Green Pillar Rooms, the Picture and Portrait Rooms, the Amber Room, the Chinese Living Room, the Pantry, and the Waiter's Room.
   Ticket prices:
   1. adults – 580 rubles;
   2. pensioners – 290 rubles;
   3. cadets, members of artist unions, conscripts, members of Russian unions of architects and designers - 290 rubles;
   4. pupils over 16 years old and students – 290 rubles;
   5. visitors under 16 years of age – admission is free;
2. The route passes through: the Great and Arabesque Halls, the Anti-Chambers, the Amber Room, the Picture Hall and the exhibition “The Romanovs in Tsarskoe Selo”.
   Ticket prices:
   1. adults – 400 rubles;
   2. pensioners – 200 rubles;
   3. cadets, members of the unions of artists, architects, designers of Russia, military personnel - 200 rubles;
   4. pupils over 16 years old and students – 200 rubles;
   5. Visitors under 16 years of age – admission is free.

Alexander Palace

IN this moment closed for reconstruction until 2018.

Museum-Lyceum of A. S. Pushkin

Located in the wing of the Catherine Palace. The entrance to the museum is separate.

Operating mode:

• from 10.30 to 18.00. The ticket office is open until 17.00.

Cost of tickets with excursion:

• adults – 200 rubles;
• pensioners – 100 rubles;
• students – 100 rubles;
• visitors under 16 years old – 80 rubles.

Ticket prices without excursion:

• adults – 120 rubles;
• pensioners – 40 rubles;
• students – 40 rubles;
• Visitors under 16 years of age are free.

What to see

A visit to Tsarskoye Selo will take you the whole day. There are so many places to go!

Catherine Palace

First of all, head to the Catherine Palace. Groups of 20 people are allowed into the palace every 20 minutes. Having purchased a ticket, you must remember that you need to visit the museum within an hour.

The palace is incredibly beautiful! I would advise you to take a walk without a tour, because the guide very quickly leads guests through the halls, and there is no opportunity or time to examine all the beauty more carefully and in detail, to admire and admire everything. For myself, I choose to go to museums like a “savage.” Moreover, you can always join the group and listen, and then continue to wander in your own way. There are many beautiful halls in the palace, each of them is magnificent in its own way. The most famous are the Great Hall and the Amber Room.

Big hall

He's simply amazing! The whole room is simply buried in gold! Every detail of the interior is thought out to the smallest detail, elegant and unique in its beauty. As you know, official receptions and luxurious balls were held here.

To do this, a huge number of candles were lit in the evening, and the walls began to burn, shimmering with gold! The hall made an indelible impression on all guests.

the Amber Room

Incredibly beautiful room. It is rightly called one of the wonders of the world. We must not forget that the original amber panels that decorated the room were irretrievably lost during the Great Patriotic War.

Museum-Lyceum of A. S. Pushkin

After visiting the Catherine Palace, you can walk to the A. S. Pushkin Lyceum Museum. It is located in the wing of the Catherine Palace, which is adjacent to the park fence.

Very interesting excursion in the place where the famous Russian poet studied. You will be shown classrooms and halls, as well as personal rooms of lyceum students. It's amazing how modest the conditions were!

Catherine and Alexandrovsky parks

And many more interesting things can be seen here.

At the moment, the Alexander Palace is closed for reconstruction until 2018, but you can just admire the building itself. It is truly very beautiful and majestic. In Alexander Park there are also many interesting monuments and structures that can be viewed. Entrance to the park is free, so it is very popular among local residents. Here you can go hiking, skiing, or spend time with your family on a picnic.

• Big and Small whims unite Alexander and Catherine parks. They are artificial bridges under which the road to the palaces passes. This photo clearly shows both the Big Caprice and the Small Caprice in the distance.

• The Great Chinese Bridge is located in front of the front parade ground of the Catherine Palace and leads to Alexander Park.

• The White Tower is a complex of buildings in a medieval style. It was built specifically for the children of Emperor Nicholas I. Here the children studied military affairs, fencing and many other disciplines.

And that's far from all that can be seen here!

I hope my review was interesting.I wish you the most pleasant impressions from visiting Tsarskoe Selo!