Peterhof, the upper park: sculptures, fountains, photo

Peterhof is a luxurious park with a lot of fountains and sculptures, which is located 29 kilometers from St. Petersburg, on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. In its scope, this park is not inferior even to the French Versailles, it surpasses the splendor of the fountains.

The park is divided into two parts: Lower and Upper Peterhof. The upper park is much smaller than the Lower Park, but it is not inferior to it in beauty and originality. We can say that each of them is unique and interesting in its own way. In this article we will mainly talk about the Upper Park. Helping at least a little imagine the luxury that distinguishes Peterhof, the photographs posted in the article.

History of the park

Today the royal ensemble of the park includes 4 luxurious cascades and 176 unrivaled beauty fountains. And 300 years ago there were only marshes and located around the village. However, in the 1710s, Peter I issued a decree on the beginning of active architectural and landscape works. Thanks to many extant documents, drawings and drawings, we have even heard information that the projects of individual fountains, as well as the concept of the ensemble's planning in general, and the development of the water supply system belong to the emperor himself.

By 1723 the main palace residence was completely completed and named "Peterhof". The opening of the park together with the launch of the main fountain construction - the Great Cascade - also occurred this year. The name "Peterhof" from the German language is translated as "Petrova manor". Since 1762, Peterhof became also the city that grew up around the royal residence, and the entire palace and park ensemble that sprawled around it. A large cascade and a number of other fountains were dedicated to the Russian victory in the Northern War, after which the Russian Empire appeared. In the museum, the buildings that at first served as the residence of the emperor were transformed after the October Revolution.

Heavy period

During the Second World War, the park came to a dismal period, as enemy artillery almost completely destroyed it. However, thanks to the almost inhuman efforts of the museum workers, almost 50 statues and about 8000 items of palace interiors from here it was possible to take out before the German occupation. This was, of course, an important victory of art, but, unfortunately, the items that were saved, were only a very modest part of all Peterhof treasures.

Revived Peterhof began only after the war, and the periodic restoration work continues to this day. In 1945, the Lower Park of Peterhof was opened. Two years later, the famous Samson fountain was re-installed and completely recreated, the stream of which rushes for 20 meters and which, thanks to its incredible beauty, was not destroyed by the fascists, but was only taken to Germany. Restoration of the Peterhof Palace began in 1952, and in 12 years its first halls were already open. Almost from the ashes rebelled Peterhof. The opening was very solemn.

Peterhof Palace

The Great Imperial Palace is the most outstanding building in the magnificent Peterhof Park. It proudly rises above the Great Cascade leading to the park area. The palace was built in a special style of Petrine Baroque, but in the course of time it was continued to be completed in the style of a mature baroque. Under the palace is a decorative grotto.

As already mentioned, the park zone is divided into Lower and Upper Parks. The lower park is located on an area of 102.5 hectares, and it is fed by a 22-kilometer water conduit. The upper park occupies a smaller area, but it is not inferior to the Lower Park for the splendor and uniqueness of its fountains and statues.

Top Upper Park Attractions

The main attraction, which is famous for Peterhof, Upper Park, is its absolutely perfect symmetry. Fountains here are also located symmetrically: in the center is "Neptune", "Oak" and "Mezhemumny", both other fountains are painted in front of the side palace wings. "Neptune" (fountain) is the dominant of the park, adorned with many unique medieval sculptures.

Another attraction of the Upper Park is the four marble sculptures created by the Italian Giovanni Bonazzza and set here in 1757. These are Pomona, Zephyr, Flora and Vertumn. Even the Upper Garden is decorated with a blooming green alley, which in the autumn season acquires a bright red color.

The Neptune Fountain

Being the main structure of the Upper Park, this fountain really looks luxurious and more saturated than the rest. "Neptune" - a fountain, decorated with a three-tier group of sculptures and towering over it by the sea lord himself, holding in his hand his unchanging trident. On four sides of this composition there are pedestals with masks of sea monsters, from which streams of water beat.

On both sides of the base with Neptune are sitting with oars in the hands of river nymphs. The pedestal itself is decorated with many corals, bas-reliefs and other lead details, as well as bronze figures of a girl and a boy. Still around Neptune are horsemen on hippocampus (sea winged horses), which seem to protect the mythical god and at the same time drive the dolphins. There are dolphins and in the pool of the fountain - eight symmetrically arranged figures.

On the southern side of the Neptune fountain there is a small cascade, with three feet of water draining over it and a statue of Apollo Belvedere, made of bronze (formerly in its place was a statue of "Winter" from lead). Both "Apollo" and "Neptune" appeared here not immediately, but only in 1736. Initially, in the heart of the pool was the "Cart of Neptunova", made of lead, however, after being dilapidated, it was replaced by the sculptural composition "Neptune" (created in the XVII century in Nuremberg). So the initial period of the sculpture was in Germany.

The History of Neptune

The creation of a unique fountain group occurred during the heyday of the German Empire, when hundreds of beautiful monuments were erected in the country. Nuremberg also creates something unique to decorate the city market. The fountain was decided to coincide with the Westphalian world, which put an end to the Thirteen Years' War, the most important event in German history. In this connection, the best masters in the empire worked on the creation of the sculpture. Nymphs next to Neptune personified at that time are not nameless rivers, but concrete ones - Pegnitz and Regnitz. On the pedestal to this day there are the coats of arms of Nuremberg, the city hall and the chancellor. In total, the sculptural composition included 27 figures.

However, at the end of the work, it turned out that there were not enough water in Nuremberg's rivers Pegnitz and Regnitz to operate such a monumental fountain composition. Then it was necessary to disassemble it and postpone it to the so-called best times. As a result, it was only 130 years later that the sculpture came in handy: the city authorities decided to replenish their budget at its own expense and offered Pavel, who was at that time the heir to the Russian throne, who visited Nuremberg on a trip to Western Europe, to acquire Neptune. Paul, wishing to demonstrate the wealth of the Russian Empire, without hesitation, agreed to this step by buying a sculptural group for 30,000 rubles - at that time a lot of money.

Fountain "Mezhemumny"

At the entrance to Peterhof (Upper Park), to the south of Neptune, is a round pool decorated with bronze sculptures of a dragon and four dolphins. From the jaws of the dragon, a jet of water swiftly escapes, dolphins also sprinkle water. In this basin there was originally a lead "Andromeda", then in its place for a number of years there was still more than one sculpture, and as a result a figure of a bronze winged dragon was installed. In this regard, the song was named "fountain" Mezhemumny "(or" Uncertain ").

But on this history of impermanence of this composition continued. The dragon was changed to a dolphin-like sculpture "Sterlet", and eventually - to a cast-iron vase. The dragon returned to its place in 1958, but it was completely new. Both the dragon and the dolphins cast anew over the few remaining drawings.

Fountain "Oak"

The fountain "Oak" in Peterhof is located nearby, in the middle of another, also a round basin. It is a hexagonal star with dolphins at its ends, and in the center a gilded marble sculpture "A Boy with a Mask". Initially, he also looked different. In 1734 there was a lead "Oak", surrounded by six dolphins and three dragons, but after 12 years it was removed. In 1802, this composition was installed in the Lower Park.

Still, the fountain was originally named "Oak", although there was no "Oak" in the composition. For some time in the center of the fountain was a carved wooden "Cornucopia", but it was dilapidated and eventually was replaced by "The Boy with the Mask."

Other Sculptures

"Peterhof" (Upper Park) is also famous for its oldest reservoirs - Square ponds dug in 1719 to provide water to the Lower Park. In 1773 in the center of these reservoirs were established sculptural groups surrounded by dolphins of lead. But after many years they decayed and were replaced by ordinary simple vertical jets. Only in 1956 the Square ponds returned the former appearance.

In the Upper Park you can also see such sculptures of Peterhof as the fountain of Venus Italian, which is a sculpture surrounded by six dolphins. In the background of the fountain you can see the church of St. Peter and Paul, which is part of the Peterhof Palace.

The famous park

And this is just the little thing you can learn about Peterhof and its precious fountains and sculptures. Of course, in such an unsurpassed park it's worth visiting - impressions will be truly unforgettable. Also, you can enjoy what Peterhof is famous for, photos that, although not completely, still convey the beauty of the world-famous park.