Friday, June 7, 2013

Day 11 - Peter & Paul Fortress, Peterhof

Monday, May 13, 2013

Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Petersburg's first structure, was built in the early 1700's by Peter the Great.  It never served as a fortress but has been a military base, governmental home, a jail for prominent political prisoners, and is the burial ground of the Russian Imperial family, including Czar Nicholas II.
The cathedral
 
Peter (the Great, stylized version) and Paul
 
While Paul went back to the ship, I opted for the tour of Peterhof.  This is Peter the Great's Summer Palace (called the Russian Versailles) that he used coming and going to and from Europe.  Peter seems to have a great sense of humor; he delighted in luring guests to some of the hundreds of fountains (all operating just on gravity), tricking them into getting wet!   A photographer's paradise!
 
 
 
 
The Grand Cascade
 
 
 
 
 
View from the Grand Cascade
 

No comments:

Post a Comment