Pavilion of the Venus, Museum pavilion on the Island of Love in Gatchina, Russia
The Pavilion of the Venus is a neoclassical structure with white and yellow walls sitting on a triangular island surrounded by canals and White Lake. Large glazed doors open onto the water, creating a direct connection between the interior space and the surrounding landscape.
Construction took place between 1791 and 1793, inspired by a similar pavilion that Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich had admired at Prince de Conde's estate in France. This French influence shaped the design of this leisure structure built within the Gatchina palace grounds.
The interior shows the ceiling painting 'The Triumph of Venus' by Johann Jacob Mettenleiter, surrounded by wall decorations in grisaille technique that create a refined feeling. This artistic arrangement reflects the taste for French elegance that was fashionable among Russian nobility at the time.
The building is part of the Gatchina State Museum complex and is only accessible by boat. Visitors arrive at designated landing points near the steps that lead to the main entrance.
Visitors reach the building the same way people did when it was first built - by boat and climbing steps through the glazed doors. This original access method preserves a historic experience that has remained unchanged for more than 200 years.
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