The palace of 2 emperors: Gatchina Estate tour

The history of Gatchina dates back to 1760, when Catherine the Great presented the estate to Grigory Orlov, one of the Empress’s favorites and an initiator of the conspiracy which brought Catherine to the Russian throne. He decided to build an immense palace for himself at Gatchina as a castle for the fine knight. The interior finishing of the place was in a striking contrast to the austere look of the facades faced with the local lime-stone.

The next owner of the estate was Catherine’s son, Paul. Gatchina used to be his favorite estate. The great changes took place in the palace and the park during his time. After Paul became the Emperor, he spared no expense on creation of the state rooms.

Gatchina is also closely interwoven with the life of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, who spent most of his childhood here as this was a home and a favourite residence of his parents, the Emperor Alexander III and his wife Maria Feodorovna.

Gatchina is certainly worth adding to any visitor’s itinerary –not only to admire the carefully restored Palace and to see all the antiquities saved from past generations but also to take in the natural beauty of the lakes and the vast park which covers 700 hectares. The park in Gatchina was the first in Russia to be laid out in the English landscape style imitating “wild nature”.

Additional

Available all year around except Monday and the first Tuesday of the month

Hotel pick up and drop off Entrance fees to Gatchina Palace and Park Transportation by chauffeured car or mini van English, French, German or Spanish-speaking guide assistance along the way

For cancellation up to 3 days, a full refund will be given. For cancellation up to 1 days, 50% refund will be given.