Gatchina Palace, Imperial palace in Gatchina, Russia
Gatchina Palace is an imperial palace in the town of Gatchina in Russia, now serving as a museum and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The facade uses white limestone, and the building silhouette echoes English Gothic castles with towers and heavy corner wings.
Architect Antonio Rinaldi designed the building between 1766 and 1781 for Grigory Orlov, whom Catherine the Great gifted with the estate. Later, Tsar Paul I took over the residence and commissioned Vincenzo Brenna to carry out extensive modifications according to his military-influenced vision.
The exhibition pieces inside the halls present artwork, furnishings, and personal belongings from several generations of the imperial family, showing how aristocratic taste changed over more than a century. Visitors notice how interiors shifted as residents expressed their preferences and merged different stylistic directions.
Guided tours in several languages bring visitors through throne halls, marble dining rooms, and state chambers on three floors. Access happens through the main entrance, and many halls lie along long corridors, so you should plan time for breaks.
An underground tunnel system connects several building sections beneath the grounds and runs through a grotto with a secret passage to Lake Serebryany. This hidden route was created for discreet movement by residents and is now partially open to visitors.
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