Grottos of the Grand Cascade

About museum

The Upper and Lower Grottos of the Grand Cascade in Peterhof serve as the architectural center conceived by Peter the Great. They are faced with tuff and adorned with fountains as well as marble and gilded sculpture. Thanks to the efforts of many people, the complex still presents a cohesive architectural composition with splendid artistic decoration. When moving from the Upper to the Lower Grotto, one can see original brickwork from the Petrine era, the pipes through which water is delivered to the fountains, and the layout of the fountain water conduit — a true monument to the hydraulic engineering of the 18th–19th centuries. The grotto houses an exhibition introducing visitors to the work of past fountain masters, the materials used to make the pipes, and authentic details of the fountains' sculptural ornamentation. On the platform with the 'Basket' fountain, guests can immerse themselves in an incredible water journey.