Wow. The incredible Peterhof Palace overlooking the Gulf of Finland adjacent to St. Petersburg is one of the most stunning locations in the world. Sometimes referred to as the Russian Versailles, it's just one of the many palaces that were owned by Peter the Great. Peterhof is not just a palace but actually a series of palaces, fountains, churches and gardens, and is now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The property is immense - 300 acres, and is probably best known for it's elaborate fountains (a total of 173 of them)!
Knowing we were going to see some fountains we decided to keep with the hydraulic and aquatic theme and took a 40 minute boat ridde over from St Petersburg (instead of driving).
This is really the only way to get there because it allows you to experience Peterhof the same way all of Peter the Great's 18th Century guests did - by laying eyes on the entire masterpiece before you from a several hundred meter long canal leading up to the gardens and palace. It's like he built it purposes way back from the entrance so you could have sufficient time to become awestruck prior to arriving at your destination.
My Civil Engineering mind nearly exploded when I learned that all of the fountains throughout the property operate without the use of any pumps. That's right, a 300 acre site with 100+ fountains, all done the hard way (engineered to work under gravity pressure without any mechanical assistance). Water is supplied from natural springs offsite, collects in reservoirs in the Upper Gardens, then fed/dropped down with great velocity directly into the fountains across the lower garden. This elevation difference (head) creates the pressure that drives most of the striking fountains of the Lower Gardens, including the Grand Cascade. The incredible centerpiece Samson Fountain is supplied by a special aqueduct over four km long, drawing water and pressure from a high-elevation source.
Peterhof, like St Petersburg itself, is an amazing symbol of Peter the Great's desire to elevate 18th Century Russia into a sophisticated European power. This is a Russian baroque garden, inspired by Versailles and designed by a pupil of Le Notre (Jean-Baptiste Le Blond). Peter the Great admired Versailles. For this, he chose a site for his summer palace with a good water supply. It stands on a natural terrace overlooking the Baltic Sea. A fabulous marble cascade flows from the palace towards the sea, along the Samson canal. It symbolises Russia's conquest of the Baltic coast in the Great Northern War. The cascade is lined with gilded statues and leads to a basin with a gilded statue of Samson, which depicts Russia tearing the mouth of the mythical lion (symbol of the swedes) open. One of the greatest places I've ever visited.
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