Oranienbaum, palace and park ensemble

Categories / Architecture/Architectural Monuments/Architectural Ensembles
Categories / City Topography/Green Areas/Parks
ORANIENBAUM, a palace and park ensemble (Lomonosov town) that started to form during the first quarter of the 18th century, when the country estate of A.D. Menshikov appeared on the coast of the Gulf of Finland 44 kilometres from St. Petersburg. In 1710-25, a stone palace was constructed on the edge of the coastal promontary, with a regular garden with fountains and sculptures set in front of it. The ensemble also included the Picture House. The lower garden was connected to the sea by a canal. Menshikov's palace was a grandiose building without comparison in the surroundings of St. Petersburg. In 1743, it became a residence of the Crown Prince - future Emperor Peter III and his wife - future Empress Catherine II. Architect F. Rastrelli remodelled its interiors for the new owners. Later, architect A. Rinaldi constructed the Peterstadt Fortress with gates and the palace of Peter III and laid out a regular garden in the valley of the Karasta River. In the 1760s-70s, Rinaldi created for Empress Catherine II the ensemble of the Personal Dacha that encompassed the Stone Hall (the middle of the 18th century), Chinese Palace and Sliding Hill (1762-64). Garden masters I. Hastie and A. Borisov were entrusted with laying out the Personal Dacha's park. The eastern part featured regular planning, while the western part was landscaped. Palaces and parks of Oranienbaum remained the property of Imperial family until 1917; in 1918, they were turned into museums. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, Oranienbaum was in the very centre of Oranienbaum bridgehead, many constructions were severely damaged by gun-fire and airraids.

Reference: Раскин А. Г. Город Ломоносов: Дворцово-парковые ансамбли XVIII в. 2-е изд. Л., 1981; Ломоносов: Дворцово-парковый музей-заповедник: Фотоальбом. Л., 1986.

O. A. Chekanova. Borisov A.
Catherine II, Empress
Hastie I.
Menshikov Alexander Danilovich, Gracious Prince
Peter III, Emperor
Rastrelli Francesco de
Rinaldi Antonio
Lomonosov, town
Раскин А. Г. Город Ломоносов: Дворцово-парковые ансамбли XVIII в. 2-е изд. Л., 1981
Ломоносов: Дворцово-парковый музей-заповедник: Фотоальбом. Л., 1986 China Palace (Lomonosov)
1959