Admiralty is an architectural ensemble consisting of three historical garden and park pavilions, made in the Dutch style and located on the shore of a Large Pond in the landscape part of Catherine Park, in the former Tsarskoye Selo (now the city of Pushkin in St. Petersburg).
The complex was built in 1772-1775 by the architect V.I. Neelov, on the site of a wooden boat shed.
The buildings of the complex were devoted to the features of ancient Gothic castles with heavy facades and crenellated towers.
The lower floor of the central building housed the boats used for courtiers to ride on the Great Pond, and in the 19th century there was a collection of rowing vessels, including the treshkout of the Empress Catherine II and the Turkish kaik of Nicholas I (a gift from the Sultan).
In the towers of the central building there are stairs leading to a large bright hall on the second floor. While riding on the Great Pond of Catherine II, an orchestra played in this hall. On the walls of the hall were English engravings with views of landscape parks, acquired in England in the 1770s. In 1901, the famous Gottorp Globe, made in the Duchy of Gottorp and presented to Emperor Peter I, was installed in the hall. The globe is now in the collectionKunstkamera in St. Petersburg.
On both sides of the central pavilion are two more buildings, which in the past served as Poultry Houses (called "Bird houses") and which contained various waterfowl (ducks, swans), as well as pheasants and peacocks.
The main building of the Admiralty is connected to the buildings by a fence made at the Mint in St. Petersburg.
Today, you can visit the Admiralty, the central building of the complex is used for temporary exhibitions, and in one of the Poultry Houses there is a restaurant "Admiralty".
There are also toilets and a cash register.
From the Admiralty, for a fee, you can take a tour of the landscape part of the Catherine Park in electric cars. You can also take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage in the park.
Near the Admiralty, near the Big Pond, there is a pier with a ferry crossing, from which for a fee you can visit the island of the Big Pond, where the pavilion "Hall on the Island" and the Chesma column are located.
From the pier at the Admiralty, you can take a ride on the pond in a Venetian gondola.
Practical information
The Admiralty Complex is located in Catherine Park, Pushkin, Saint Petersburg.
Admiralty coordinates: 59°42'36.0"N 30°23'53.0"E (59.710000, 30.398056).
Catherine Park with pavilions, together with Catherine's Palace, belong to the State Museum-Reserve "Tsarskoe Selo".
In the summer season (somewhere from the second half of April to mid-October), the entrance to the Catherine Park is paid. Visits to the park's museums, including the Admiralty, are not included in the entrance fee to the park, but are paid separately.
In the Catherine Palace, you can visit the restored halls.
Tickets to the park, pavilions and halls of the palace can be purchased at the ticket offices located directly near the entrances to the park or in advance-online on the official website.
The working hours of the park, the pavilions and the palace, as well as the time of exhibitions, the conditions for visiting and the cost of tickets, we recommend that you check on the website of the State Museum-Reserve "Tsarskoe Selo": tzar.
You can visit Tsarskoye Selo with one of the excursions
In Pushkin, near the Catherine Park and the palace, you can stay
The 5-star Pevcheskaya Tower Hotel features restaurants, a bar, a rooftop observation deck, free Wi-Fi and parking.
Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
The 5-star luxury spa hotel "Tsar Palace Luxury Hotel & SPA"is located in a historic building.
The hotelfeatures a spa area with a swimming pool, a hammam, a salt sauna, a snow fountain, steam baths and a gym; free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk, 2 restaurants, a lobby bar, private parking and meeting and conference rooms.
The rooms are equipped with climate control, a minibar, a safe and a private bathroom.
A buffet breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
3-star hotel Ekaterina, located on the territory of the Catherine Palace and Park Ensemble.
At the hotel: 24-hour front desk, cafe, free Wi-Fi and parking.
Each room here will provide you with air conditioning, a TV, a work desk and free toiletries.
Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
All accommodation facilities in St. Petersburg, including in the city center and in Pushkin, can be viewed and booked here
