Oranienbaum Park

About museum

The Oranienbaum palace and park ensemble, which has survived to the present day in its original form, covers an area of 162 hectares. Here you can see historical monuments built at the orders of A. D. Menshikov, the "semi-sovereign ruler." The Lower Garden adjacent to the palace is one of the oldest formal parks in Russia. In the mid-18th century the Picture House was built for the future Emperor Peter III; it housed cabinets of curiosities, libraries, picture galleries and an opera hall. You can also stroll through the Upper Park with its alleys, ponds and meadows adorned with structures from the reigns of Peter III and Catherine II. The miniature imperial palace located in Petersstadt is a jewel-box of lavish decoration. The most important site in the park is the Chinese Palace, whose seventeen interiors will impress even the most discerning visitors. The pavilion of the Katalnaya Gorka preserves the only artificial marble floor finish in Russia.