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The Summer Palace of Peter the Great (Russian: Летний дворец Петра I) is a modest yet historically significant early 18th-century residence located in the northeast corner of the Summer Garden in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Situated on an island formed by the Fontanka River, Moyka River, and Swan Canal, its northern side faces the left bank of the Neva River, opposite the Cabin of Peter the Great and the Peter and Paul Fortress. As the first palace constructed in the city, it represents Peter the Great's vision for transforming Saint Petersburg into a modern European capital and served as his personal summer home from 1714 until his death in 1725. Note that this should not be confused with the more grandiose Peterhof Palace (often called the "Russian Versailles"), which is a separate complex about 18 miles west of the city center and was also commissioned by Peter but expanded later; Peterhof is not formally known as the Summer Palace, though both sites functioned as imperial summer retreats.
Planning and Construction (1710–1714)
The history of the Summer
Palace of Peter the Great begins with its planning in 1710, as part of
Peter the Great's ambitious vision to develop Saint Petersburg as
Russia's new capital. The site was chosen in the northeast corner of the
Summer Garden, on an island formed by the Fontanka River, Moyka River,
and Swan Canal, with its northern side along the left bank of the Neva
River, opposite the Cabin of Peter the Great and the Peter and Paul
Fortress. This location was previously the estate of a Swedish officer
named Conan before Peter founded the city in 1703. Initially, Peter
built a wooden house there, but in 1710, he commissioned a more
permanent stone structure to serve as his summer residence.
Construction took place between 1710 and 1714 under the direction of
Swiss-Italian architect Domenico Trezzini, who designed it in the
Petrine Baroque style—a blend of Russian and Western European
influences. The palace was modest by royal standards: a two-story stone
building with four-slope roofing, resembling Dutch burgher houses,
emphasizing functionality over grandeur. German baroque sculptor and
architect Andreas Schlüter contributed 28 bas-reliefs on the exterior,
depicting ancient myths, Russian victories in the Great Northern War,
and symbols of naval power, including a central Minerva with trophies
above the doorway. The roof featured iron construction with
dragon-shaped corners for drainage and a copper statue of St. George.
Interiors were handled by architects like Mikhail Zemtsov, Schlüter, and
Nicola Michetti, with identical layouts on both floors: seven rooms
each, featuring red and green walls, oak panels, and stucco fireplaces.
Innovative for the era, it included Saint Petersburg's first sewage
system, running water to the kitchen and bathroom (designed by
Jean-Baptiste Le Blond), a central heating system with blue and white
porcelain-tiled ducts powered by solid-fuel boilers, and a water supply
from a Fontanka River dam to power the Summer Garden's fountains. The
palace was integrated with the Summer Garden, established in 1704 to
commemorate Russia's victory over Sweden, featuring French-style
geometric alleys, Italian marble statues, benches, sidewalks,
fable-inspired fountains, and a wrought-iron fence. Access was primarily
by boat via a small jetty on the Neva, reflecting Peter's preference for
water travel, with mooring rings still visible today.
Residence
and Imperial Use (1714–1826)
Upon completion in 1714, the palace
became Peter the Great's summer home, occupied from May to October each
year until his death in 1725. Peter resided on the ground floor, which
included a reception room, assembly room (grand hall for gatherings),
his workshop for personal projects, and a small jail room where he
personally interrogated, imprisoned, and sometimes released prisoners.
The upper floor housed his second wife, Catherine I, and their 12
children, with rooms like the Green Drawing Room. The palace served as a
venue for entertaining foreign dignitaries, hosting aristocratic
assemblies, and as a base for Peter's travels to and from Europe via
Kronstadt. The Summer Garden hosted grand events, including festivals,
balls, illuminations, and fireworks to celebrate military victories.
Following Peter's death in 1725, the palace hosted a key Supreme Privy
Council meeting and was used intermittently by imperial family members
and courtiers. After Catherine I's death, it remained largely vacant for
years but later became a summer retreat for the imperial court. During
Catherine the Great's reign (1762–1796), the interiors were modified to
accommodate court officials during the summer months. In the early 19th
century, a Venus statue from the garden's Grotto pavilion was relocated
to the Tauride Palace. By 1826, architect Carlo Rossi repurposed the
building as a Coffee House, though it fell into vacancy by the late 19th
century.
Post-Imperial Period, Damages, and Restorations
(1917–1960s)
After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the palace was
preserved as a historical and architectural monument, though it did not
immediately gain museum status. In 1925, it was transferred to the State
Russian Museum's department of history and living environment. It
officially became a museum in 1934, dedicated to showcasing Peter the
Great's daily life, with preserved elements like the original oak
staircase, kitchens, and Catherine's apartments.
During World War II,
the palace and Summer Garden suffered severe damage from a German
Luftwaffe bombing raid as part of the Siege of Leningrad. Postwar
repairs were undertaken, maintaining the original layout. A
comprehensive restoration occurred in the early 1960s under architect A.
E. Gessen, recreating the Petrine-era appearance, including carved oak
panels with Minerva motifs, Dutch tiles on the heating system, and
stucco fireplaces.
Current Status (1960s–Present)
Since 2004,
the Summer Palace has operated as a branch of the State Russian Museum,
focusing on recreating the interiors from Peter the Great's era and
displaying artifacts such as his paintings, clothing, furniture, and
18th-century devices. It remains one of Saint Petersburg's oldest
buildings, offering insights into Russian imperial court life from 300
years ago. The palace is open to visitors from June to October, daily
from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with an entrance fee (around 300 rubles as of
recent data). It symbolizes Peter's Westernization of Russia and the
founding of Saint Petersburg, attracting those interested in the tsar's
pragmatic lifestyle and engineering innovations.
Designed in the Petrine Baroque style, the palace is a simple two-story stone structure resembling Dutch burgher houses, with a four-slope roof and dimensions that emphasize functionality over opulence—quite unlike the lavish palaces built later in Peter's reign. The exterior is adorned with 28 bas-reliefs by Andreas Schlüter, depicting ancient myths, Russian victories in the Great Northern War, and symbols of Russia's naval power, such as a central Minerva with trophies above the doorway. Red bas-reliefs frame the windows, and the iron roof features a drainage system along with dragon-shaped corners and a copper statue of St. George. Access was originally by boat via a small jetty on the Neva side, reflecting Peter's preference for water travel.
The interior layout is identical on both floors, with seven rooms
each, decorated in a restrained style using red and green wall colors,
oak panels, and stucco fireplaces. Key innovations include a central
heating system powered by solid-fuel boilers, with ductwork made of blue
and white porcelain tiles—a rarity for the time. Highlights include:
Ground Floor (Peter's Quarters): A reception room, assembly room
(grand hall for gatherings), Peter's workshop for personal projects, and
the jail room. The original oak staircase leads upstairs.
Upper Floor
(Catherine's Quarters): Similar rooms, including the Green Drawing Room
with preserved furnishings. The kitchen features Dutch tiles and early
plumbing.
Decor and Artifacts: Carved oak panels with Minerva motifs,
Dutch tiles on heating systems, and exhibits of Peter's paintings,
clothing, and furniture.
The palace's modest scale and practical
design reflect Peter's pragmatic character and his admiration for Dutch
architecture, prioritizing efficiency and innovation over extravagance.
The palace is integral to the Summer Garden, a 10-hectare formal park laid out in the French style with geometric alleys, marble statues from Renaissance-era Italy, benches, sidewalks, and fountains inspired by Aesop's fables. The garden includes a wrought-iron fence, monuments to Great Northern War victories, and originally a Grotto pavilion (whose Venus statue was later moved to the Tauride Palace). Peter hosted grand events here, making it a social hub for the aristocracy.
As Peter's earliest residence in his new capital, the Summer Palace symbolizes the founding era of Saint Petersburg and Russia's Westernization under Peter the Great. It offers insight into the tsar's personal life, showcasing his interests in engineering, navigation, and governance. Today, it operates as a branch of the State Russian Museum (since 2004), open to visitors from June to October, daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with exhibits focused on recreating the original interiors and displaying artifacts from Peter's era. The site remains a key attraction for those interested in Russian imperial history, though it's less visited than flashier palaces like the Hermitage or Peterhof due to its simplicity.