Dutch Admiralty, Architectural folly in Catherine Park, Pushkin, Russia.
The Dutch Admiralty is a three-pavilion complex with Gothic-style details positioned on the shore of the Great Pond in Catherine Park. Today the central building hosts rotating exhibitions while one former service building now serves as a restaurant and departure point for boat excursions.
Construction took place from 1772 to 1775 under architect V.I. Neelov replacing an earlier wooden structure used for imperial vessels. The complex later became a repository for significant objects like the Gottorp Globe before transitioning into a public cultural space.
The second floor hall displayed English engravings of landscape parks and housed the Gottorp Globe until its transfer to the Kunstkamera in Saint Petersburg.
You can explore exhibitions in the main building then grab food at the restaurant or arrange a boat tour on the pond. The location right on the water's edge makes it easy to move between buildings and spend time along the shore.
The decorative metal railings connecting the pavilions came from the Saint Petersburg Mint showcasing industrial mastery of the 1700s. These practical details reveal how thoroughly every element of this pleasure complex was engineered and adorned.
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