Peterhof the Russian Versailles

On my last full day in Russia with Amawaterways we went to Peterhof. Peter the Great was inspired by Versailles when he visited in 1717, which influenced the design of Peterhof. I remember being told that some people preferred Peterhof but that “you would have to see for yourself.”  I found Tsarskoye Selo more beautiful, but I remember Peterhof as the fun palace. At Peterhof a set of sprinklers would go off if you stepped on the wrong spot while trying to sit on a grand bench outside. The inside was beautiful and the outdoors was magical.

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Tsarskoye Selo

Tsarskoye Selo with Amawaterways

Travelling to Pushkin from Saint Petersburg, we were early enough to beat the lines at Tsarskoye Selo. Amawaterways gave us a tour of the palace, taking our group through the history of the different rooms, including a romantic spot for Catherine the Great. There was a great amount of destruction there from World War II, as some parts were still being restored. Once the tour of the rooms which we were able to see was over, it was time to explore the gardens freely.

TsarskoyeSelo enterance

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