One hundred and fifty fountains that flow simultaneously, channels that cut through geometric gardens down to the Gulf of Finland, and at the center of it all a golden statue of Samson opening the jaws of a lion: this is the first image that greets those arriving at Peterhof by walking down the central avenue of the lower park. It is not a theatrical set built for photographic effect, but the result of an 18th-century hydraulic project that still works today without mechanical pumps, relying solely on the difference in elevation between the natural springs of the Ropsha hills and sea level.
Peterhof — whose name comes from German and literally means "Peter's court" — was commissioned by Tsar Peter the Great in the early years of the 18th century as an imperial residence overlooking the Baltic. The main construction work began in 1714, and the complex was officially inaugurated in 1723. After Peter's death, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna entrusted the famous architect Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli with the task of expanding and redesigning the main palace, transforming it into the grand Baroque building that can be seen today, with its yellow and white facade approximately three hundred meters long.
The Great Palace and the Interiors of Rastrelli
The main entrance to the palace is from the side of the upper park, where the façade presents its three wings connected by glass galleries and golden domes that emerge at the sides. Rastrelli completed the current version of the building around 1755, and his signature is recognizable in the exuberant use of gold, stuccoes, and mirrors that characterize the interior rooms. The Throne Room, with its large windows overlooking the Gulf, and the Coat of Arms Room are among the most imposing spaces that can be visited on the noble floor.
The interiors suffered severe damage during the German occupation in World War II, when the palace was looted and partially burned. The post-war restoration, which lasted for decades, has returned the rooms to an appearance faithful to the original eighteenth-century designs thanks to historical photographs and inventories of the time. Those who visit today can observe the furnishings and decorations knowing that they are largely meticulous reconstructions, not surviving original pieces.
The Grand Cascade and the Hydraulic System
The scenic heart of Peterhof is the Grand Cascade, which descends from the terrace of the palace towards the maritime canal through two symmetrical staircases decorated with 64 fountains and over 200 gilded bronze sculptures. At the center of the lower basin stands the Samson fountain, several meters high, which commemorates the Russian victory over the Swedes in the Battle of Poltava in 1709: the lion that Samson breaks represents Sweden, whose coat of arms indeed includes a lion.
The hydraulic system that feeds the entire lower park was designed with the collaboration of European engineers and utilizes an aqueduct of about 22 kilometers that brings water from the hillside springs. The natural pressure is sufficient to operate the fountains, some of which reach considerable heights. The central jet of the Samson fountain rises to about 21 meters. The fountains are active seasonally, generally from May to October.
The Lower Park and the Joke Fountains
The lower park extends along the shore of the Gulf of Finland for almost 102 hectares and includes, in addition to the large fountains, a series of more playful installations, the so-called joke fountains («fontany-shutikhi»), designed to wet unsuspecting visitors. Some are hidden along the paths in the form of benches or artificial trees: one sits down or approaches, and sudden jets of water spring from above or the sides. They were a typical pastime of the Baroque courts and have been kept operational at Peterhof as an original attraction.
Along the main axis of the park are also the side pavilions of Marly and Monplaisir, the latter personally preferred by Peter the Great for its location directly by the sea. Monplaisir is a low and modest building compared to the grandeur of the main palace, and it retains some rooms with original Dutch tiles from the Peter the Great era.
How to visit Peterhof
Peterhof is located about 30 kilometers west of St. Petersburg. The most scenic way to reach it is by the Meteor, the hydrofoil that departs from the pier in front of the Hermitage and arrives directly at the maritime canal of the park, with a crossing of about 30-40 minutes. Alternatively, you can take the train from Baltiysky Vokzal station to Novy Petergof station, followed by a short bus ride.
To calmly visit both the palace and the lower park, it is advisable to dedicate at least half a day, preferably arriving early in the morning during the summer months to avoid queues at the entrances. Tickets for the palace and the park are separate. The fountains are turned off in the winter months, during which the park is still visitable but the visual impact is completely different. Those who want to see the complete water show should plan their visit between May and September.
