Peterhof Castle

One day in St Petersburg, we decided to go to Peterhof, a palace built by Peter the Great.  I could try and recall the details, or you could Wikipedia that!  It’s often called the Versaille of Russia, and you can see why.

Similarities to Versailles
Similarities to Versailles
Supposedly the founatins are all gravity fed, no pumps?
Supposedly the founatins are all gravity fed, no pumps?
Fig leaf modesty here
Fig leaf modesty here
Nothing nicer than white and yellow with gold
Nothing nicer than white and yellow with gold
More founatins
More founatins
Orante gardens
Orante gardens
Hyrofoil - the ONLY way you can get to Petrhof. Seems the novelty really took off here
Hyrofoil – the ONLY way you can get to Petrhof. Seems the novelty really took off here

Back in St Petersburg city, and on another day, we decided to find these pretty gargoyles at a canal pedestrian bridge:

Ornate bridge
Ornate bridge
There's nothing not to like about gilt
There’s nothing not to like about gilt
The little brother babushka
The little brother babushka

Actually Babushka’s were amazing – and usually call Matrushka’s in Russia.  They’re often created by three seperate artists – one for the face, one for the shawl/back, and one for the belly, wich can be scenes from fairy tales.

The choice was extensive
The choice was extensive
Definitely the more ornate, the higher the price
Definitely the more ornate, the higher the price
The other colour I was swoonign for, but couldn't justify buying
The other colour I was swoonign for, but couldn’t justify buying myself what would ultimately become a dust collector.

7 Replies to “Peterhof Castle”

    1. Thanks Fiona – all from an iPhone 4. Which means I have NO fears anyone will steal it!

      It’s definitely a marvel of building empires!

    1. I thought I would too, but the minimalist in me settled to get mum a small set of three, and be done. Her’s were not laquered, which were far less common. And the style was more ‘farmy’ that ‘flashy’

  1. I’d love to buy sets of the matryoshkas but agree, they’d be dust collectors. I think photos and memories of them in mass is best.

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