"Tsarskoe Selo" - museum-reserve, allowing to plunge into the era of empresses

"Tsarskoe Selo" - a museum-reserve is an amazing place in the city of Pushkin. Visiting its sights, guests are immersed in the atmosphere of the times of the great kings and empresses. Only 25 kilometers separate St. Petersburg from the city of Pushkin.

Name of the museum

Some may be surprised, but this place is called not because it has chic parks and palace buildings. It was the geographical location that reflected the fact that the settlement became known as Tsarskoe Selo. The museum-reserve is located on the Izhora Upland. Initially, when there were no palaces, it was a small manor of Sarskaya manor. In Finnish, this phrase means "on a high place". The name is given not casually, as the manor really stands on a hill (above sea level 150 m). Only in time it became known as "Tsarist".

Reincarnation of the manor

In 1710, Peter I made a gift to Catherine and wrote to her this territory together with the estate. And gradually the Tsar's manor turned into Tsarskoe Selo. At this time the construction of the residence began and the majestic palaces began to grow. Today, "Tsarskoe Selo", a museum-preserve, includes the Catherine and Alexander Palaces. And on the territory of 300 hectares a lush park grows. The local landscape is decorated with marble monuments, bridges, ponds and a variety of pavilions. In 1992 Tsarskoye Selo received the status of a reserve.

Catherine Park

We can say that "Tsarskoe Selo" is a museum-reserve, divided into two parts. This is Catherine and Alexandrovsky parks. Everyone has their own sights. Catherine Park consists of the English Park and the Old Garden. The total area of this territory reaches 107 hectares. Inside there is a large pond. A special historical value is the Great Catherine Palace. Its final decoration in the Baroque style falls on the 1750s. The palace is adjoined to the palace, a four-story wing (now a museum), buildings (completed in the late 18th century) and many other historical sights.

Also in the Catherine Park is the Hermitage, where the receptions of the royal guests were held earlier. Especially it is possible to note the elegant pavilion "Grotto" with snow-white columns and modeling of marine themes, this design falls on 1749-1761. And in 1773 several buildings of the same type were erected - the Admiralty.

Alexander Park

It also has two parts, called the Landscape Park and the New Garden, which has three ponds and the Kuzminka River. In 1792 a grandiose construction was started here. Now many people are eager to visit the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo. This is an oblong two-story building, with the main facade of which is in two rows of impressive columns. At the moment it is an operating museum.

In addition to the palace, the park includes the Children's House, in which the children of Nicholas I played. There is also an Arsenal made in the Gothic style, and a White Tower, reminiscent of a knight's castle, around which is a ditch.

Many visitors to the park like to stay at the "Chinese Village" hotel. The complex includes low buildings. They were erected in 1778 with Chinese color. Also on the territory there are the ruins of the "Chinese Theater", in 1941 it was burnt and was not restored.

Museum-Reserve "Tsarskoe Selo": operating mode

These places are attracted not only by their royal origin, but also by the fact that Lermontov, Yesenin, Tyutchev, Tolstoy, Akhmatova and other talented writers have been, lived and inspired here. To plunge into history and feel the former luxury and peace, many people visit Tsarskoye Selo. But this reserve works by the hour. To get to the Catherine Palace, you need to come from 10.00 to 18.00. On Monday - a long day, and the reception lasts until 21.00.

The Alexander Palace takes from 10.00 to 18.00. But every Tuesday and last Wednesday of the month is a weekend. Wishing to walk with an excursion, we must not forget that the ticket office sells tickets until 5 pm.