Top 25 Attractions in Gatchina

Gatchina is a suburb of St. Petersburg, primarily known for its luxurious palace and park ensemble, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Due to its large size, it is necessary to allocate a whole day for sightseeing, while other equally interesting parts of the city can be left out.

In addition to the main attraction, there are several pretty churches in Gatchina, quiet streets full of inexplicable charm, interesting collections are kept in museums and estates - it would be wrong to ignore all these places. Gatchina was considered the patrimony of Grigory Orlov in the Catherine era and a key center of the aviation industry in the Soviet era, so the city has something to offer inquisitive travelers.

What to see and where to go in Gatchina?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Grand Gatchina Palace

The complex was erected in the 18th century according to the project of A. Rinaldi for Count G. G. Orlov, a favorite of Catherine II. The predominant architectural style of the external appearance and interior decoration of the palace is Russian classicism. After the death of Grigory Orlov, the imperial family began to own the ensemble, after 1917 a museum was created on its territory, which began to be called the “suburban Hermitage”. During the Second World War, the buildings were seriously damaged, reconstruction began only in the 1970s and 80s.

Priory Palace

Quite an original building, whose appearance will stand out against the background of other buildings in Gatchina. It was erected in the 18th century according to the project of N.A. Lvov. The building was erected by order of Paul I for the prior of the Catholic Order of Malta, who had a representative office in Russia. The first reconstruction was carried out in the 1880s. At the beginning of the 20th century, exhibitions began to be organized on the territory of the palace.

Monument to Paul I

The monument to the emperor was erected in the middle of the 19th century. The sculpture was created by the sculptor of Italian origin I. P. Vitali. The opening of the monument was accompanied by a solemn parade attended by Nicholas I. In 1919, the revolutionary authorities tried to get rid of the statue of the hated tsar for obvious reasons, but thanks to the efforts of the curator of the Gatchina Museum, the sculpture was saved for posterity.

Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle

Orthodox church in the pseudo-Russian style with the use of Gothic elements, built in 1852 according to the project of R. I. Kuzmin. The building has reached our time almost in its original form, but the original interior decoration was lost during the Soviet period. The temple contains valuable icons of past centuries and the relics of St. Maria Gatchina.

Intercession Cathedral

The temple was erected right before the start of the Revolution of 1917 with the money of a Gatchina merchant who decided to donate his random lottery winnings to a charitable cause. The consecration of the church took place in 1914 even before the completion of construction work. Services went on until 1939, after which a warehouse was organized in the premises. After the collapse of the USSR, the building was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church and restored.

Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God

A religious building of the late 19th century, designed by D. I. Grimm and consecrated in the presence of Emperor Alexander III. For a long time it served as a parish church for court rangers. In the 1930s, all valuables were confiscated, and the interior decoration was destroyed. Restoration began in 1940-50. The temple is listed as a cultural heritage site of the Russian Federation.

St. Nicholas Lutheran Church

A Lutheran parish arose in Gatchina in 1789. The first church for worship was built of wood four years later. The stone temple in the manner of strict classicism was built in 1825 according to the project of D. I. Kvadri. In Soviet times, the church repeated the fate of almost all religious institutions in the country - it was looted and closed, and the parish itself ceased to exist. After the restoration in 1995, services resumed.

Museum-estate of P. E. Shcherbov

Memorial exposition of the cartoonist P. E. Shcherbov, located in the original building of the early 20th century. The collection consists of two sections: the first is devoted to the history of Gatchina, the second - to the personality and work of Shcherbakov. The estate was built according to the plan of S. S. Krichinsky in the style of St. Petersburg Art Nouveau - a rather rare urban planning style.

Museum of the history of aircraft engine building and repair

The museum exposition is located in the premises of the former aircraft factory, which are architecturally unique buildings. On an area of ​​800 m² there are models of aircraft engines that were previously produced and repaired at the enterprise. You can also see an exhibition of models of aircraft, executed on a reduced scale.

Monument to the submarine of S. K. Dzhevetsky

In 1880, Drzewiecki's submarine, the first mass-produced submarine in the world, was tested in Gatchina. The monument - an exact copy of the ship, made on a scale of 1: 1, was installed in 2006. The boat seems quite small, especially compared to modern devices, but do not forget that it was designed in the 19th century. The monument is located on the road to the Gatchina Palace.

Museum of the City of Gatchina

The exposition is located in the building of the former women's gymnasium built in the 19th century. Museum exhibits are divided into four thematic sections: "Old Gatchina", "Military Hall", "Soviet Hall", "City of Military Glory". During a tour of the museum, you can get acquainted with the history of the city until the beginning of the 20th century, the fate of its inhabitants during the Second World War and the events of the Soviet period.

Constable

An architectural ensemble consisting of an obelisk and a square, erected at the behest of Paul I. During a trip to France, the emperor was so impressed by a similar complex near Paris that he wanted to see something similar in Russia. In 1881, a lightning strike destroyed the obelisk. Five years later, it was restored in an even larger size. In 2016, another restoration of the monument began.

Chesme obelisk

The obelisk is located on the shore of the White Lake, a few hundred meters from the Gatchina Palace. Presumably, it was created by the architect A. Rinaldi. The monument is dedicated to the victory of the Russian fleet in the battle in the Chesme Bay (one of the episodes of the Russian-Turkish war). Since Alexei Orlov was the commander of the squadron, they decided to place the image of the obelisk on the family coat of arms of this family.

Pavilion of Venus

One of the pavilions of the Palace Park, located on the shores of the White Lake. The construction was built after the next trip of Paul I to Europe, who liked a similar building in French Chantilly. The pavilion is made of wood, its foundation is made of slabs and stone. It consists of a vestibule and a Great Hall, decorated with ceiling paintings and stucco in the palace style.

Eagle Pavilion

The building adorns the Palace Park, it stands on one of the islands of the White Lake. The pavilion is a building in the form of a rotunda about 10 meters high. Due to its size and location on a hill, it is clearly visible from the shores. Presumably, it was erected at the end of the 18th century according to the project of V. Brenn. The last renovation took place in the 1970s.

birch gate

Another architectural masterpiece of the Palace Park, erected in the 18th century according to the design of V. Brenn. The gate is considered one of the best creations of the master within the park ensemble of Gatchina. The birch gates are part of the Englischer Garten ensemble. The appearance of the attraction is similar to the buildings of Ancient Rome - the same monumentality, solidity and symmetrical forms.

Birch house and the Mask portal

The composition, which is part of the architectural complex of the Palace Park. It is an outwardly modest pavilion made of birch logs with luxurious interior decoration and an entrance portico made in the best traditions of the classical style (it kind of masks the entrance to the main building). The construction was built for the rest of noble companies walking in the park.

Terrace-pier

In the XVIII century, the pier was used for the ships of the Gatchina flotilla. The total length of the pier, located near the Gatchina Palace, is 51 meters. From the opposite shore of the White Lake, it looks like an integral element of the palace complex. In past centuries, fireworks were often set off on the terrace and theatrical performances were staged.

humpback bridge

The bridge connects two islands of the White Lake. It was built according to the project of A. D. Zakharov in the style of "high classicism". The design serves not only practical purposes - it offers a beautiful view. The bridge was specially placed in such a good place so that the walking public could admire the beauty of the palace park for a long time. Previously, the building was decorated with a balustrade, but it has not survived to this day.

Karpin bridge

The passage is thrown over an artificial strait connecting Karpin Pond with White Lake. The name of the creator of the structure is unknown, however, it is believed that the same V. Brenn worked on it. The original bridge was destroyed during the Great Patriotic War and restored in the 1980s. Today, the attraction favorably emphasizes the picturesque appearance of the Palace Park.

"Aviary"

A pavilion built specifically for keeping pheasants that took part in the imperial hunt. The building was erected according to the project of A. D. Zakharov in 1801. Until 1820, it was used for its intended purpose, after which it was abandoned and dilapidated. In the middle of the 19th century, the building was dismantled and rebuilt from more durable materials. It existed until the 1980s, but after a fire it turned into ruins.

Grotto "Echo"

The grotto was created at the request of the first owner of the Gatchina Palace, Grigory Orlov. It is located on the shore of the lake and is connected by a secret passage to the main hall. "Echo" is a stone arch built of irregularly shaped boulders. The place got its name because of its unusual acoustic properties - the last syllables of a spoken word can be repeated 20-30 times if you stand in a certain place.

Museum-Estate Rozhdestveno

A classic mansion with a landscaped park around it, built at the end of the 18th century according to the project of an unknown author. At various times, the estate was owned by merchants and civil servants, after 1917 a hostel was placed on its territory, after the end of the Second World War - a rural library. Since 2002, a historical exposition has been operating in the mansion.

Centuries-old oak at Silver Meadow

In the palace park of Gatchina there is a special tree that was planted under Count Orlov - an old sprawling oak. According to an alternative version, it appeared much later, but even according to conservative estimates, this oak is at least 200 years old. The tree reaches a height of 20 meters. It successfully survived a massive lightning strike in the 1970s that split it in two.

Complex of Gatchina parks

Gatchina can be called a city of landscape parks arranged in the best palace traditions: with ponds, pavilions, bridges, small architectural forms and mowed lawns. Such places were created in imitation of the European tradition followed by Russian emperors in the 18th-19th centuries. The complex includes the Palace Park and its separate parts - Sylvia, Priory, Menagerie.