Petrodvorets

Petrodvorets (Peter's Palaces), one of the major palace-and-park complexes, located 29 km/18 mi west of St Petersburg. Founded by Peter the Great in the early 18th century, the stately parks, beautiful fountains, gilt and marble statues of gods and heroes, and lavish decoration of the palace were meant to symbolize the grandeur of Russia.

Town in the Leningrad oblast (region) of the northwestern Russian Federation, located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, 29 km/18 mi west of St Petersburg; population (1990) 81,600. It has a renowned collection of imperial palaces and parks, begun by Peter (I) the Great in 1714. The extensive grounds have majestic fountains and cascades; Petrodvorets has been called the ‘Russian Versailles’.

The palaces of Petrodvorets were ruined during the German occupation 1941-44, and have been painstakingly restored.

The palaces at Petrodvorets include Peter's original villa, Monplaisir, built in 1714 to oversee construction of the new naval facility at Kronstadt, and the Grand Palace, completed just before the tsar's death in 1725.