Tsarskoye Selo /18.06.15, 19.08.15

Tsarskoye selo  was the town containing a former Russian residence of the imperial family and visiting nobility. It's history starts in the 18th century.

Tsarskoye selo is very big. One day is not enough to see everything. This summer I have been there twice and I could see less than half of it.

Let's start from the Catherine palace. In times of first owner Catherine 1 palace was small and unattractive. Each following owner has expanded palace depending on own taste.
It was destroyed during a war. Although the largest part of the reconstruction was completed in time for the Tercentenary of St. Petersburg in 2003, much work is still required to restore the palace to its former glory.

As we can see Tsarskoye selo has all characterizations of Imperila Russian style:

• combination of different colors on facades (mainly pastel colors)

• clear rhythm

• combination of different elements (different forms of windows, columns etc.)

• symmetry

For interior:

• mirrors across each other (to make place visually bigger)

• big beautiful heaters

• exoticism (chinese elements as vases, furniture etc.)

• richly decorated ceils and walls

• sculptures and paintings

Tsarskoye selo is famous not just for it's palace, but also for parks: Alexander park and Catherine park. Together they occupy 227 hectares. There are differnt pavilions etc. in those parks, that are also very interesting. For example, pavilion Hermitage.

It is popular with mechanism of tables. All tables (partly or completely) work as elevator.

Here are some more of those pavilions etc.

For me the most interesting thing in those parks is their combination of English and French landscape gardens. Usually there is just one type in park. Their mix give more interesting solutions of space.