All the fountains of Peterhof are located on the territory of two parks: the Upper Garden and the Lower Park, which, in turn, are the ensemble of the Great Peterhof Palace - the Peterhof Palace and Park Ensemble.
The Peterhof Palace and Park Ensemble is the central ensemble of Peterhof and one of the most beautiful and visited places in St. Petersburg, which is famous for its numerous fountains.
The palace and park ensemble is located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, in Peterhof (St. Petersburg).
The Peterhof Palace and Park Ensemble includes: the Grand Peterhof Palace, the Upper Garden and the Lower Park, which together represent a large-scale work of landscape art, architecture and history, and are also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Grand Peterhof Palace (or simply the Grand Palace) is the core of the ensemble, a gem of history and Baroque style, which now houses restored halls and museums. The palace is surrounded by:
- Upper Garden, where there are swimming pools and ponds with fountains, alleys, parterres, rose garden and Petrovsky pharmacy garden;
- The Lower Park, which contains small palaces and pavilions, where museums are now located; sculptures and monuments; a pier, ponds and flower beds; alleys and places for recreation; and, most importantly, numerous fountains, thanks to which the Lower Park of Peterhof is also known as the "Fountain Park".
In total, there are about 150 fountains in the Peterhof park ensemble.
During the Great Patriotic War, the palace and its parks were destroyed, and many decorative elements of the parks were lost. Later, the ensemble, including the fountains, was restored according to drawings, photographs and drawings.
Fountains of the Upper Garden
The upper garden has an area of 15 hectares, the layout of regular parks and is located on the terrace in front of the southern facade of the Grand Palace, so it is perceived primarily as the main entrance to the former imperial residence.
On the territory of the Upper Garden there are 5 fountains.
Neptune Fountain»
The fountain "Neptune" is the compositional center of the Upper Garden and is set on a high granite pedestal in the center of a large rectangular pond.
The fountain was created in the city of Nuremberg (Germany) and in 1797 was bought by Emperor Paul I, after which it was brought to St. Petersburg and installed in the summer imperial residence in Peterhof.
The bronze figure of the sea god Neptune is depicted with a crown on his head and a trident in his hand. The granite pedestal of the statue is decorated with four gushing mascarons. The pedestal is surrounded by riders on hippocampus (sea winged horses) and trumpeting newts on winged dragons and dolphins. In addition, the pond itself is decorated with figures of dolphins, from the mouths of which trickles of water flow.
The fountain "Neptune" is one of the most outstanding works of Western European art of the 17th century.
Fountain " Mezheumny»
The name of the fountain "Mezheumny" or "Indefinite" is due to the fact that its sculptural decor was often changed.
The pool, created in the 1730s, originally featured the multi-figure lead sculpture group "Andromeda". By the end of the 18th century, the sculpture was replaced by a composition with a sea dragon and four dolphins. In the 19th century, the fountain decor was changed twice, and, in the end, during the post-war restoration, the bronze sculpture of a sea dragon and four dolphins, which the fountain is decorated with today, returned to their places.
The Oak Fountain»
The fountain is set in a circular pool, on a tuff island, made in the form of a starfish. In the center of the fountain is the sculpture "Cupid wearing a mask", made in 1809 by the sculptor D. Rossi. Amur is surrounded by six dolphins, placed on the rays of a star, from the mouths of which gush thin streams of water.
The Oak Fountain is also known for its tradition, which originated from the time of the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and has been revived today. Every year on August 14 (1 in the old style) in the pool of the fountain, the ritual of water consecration and sprinkling with holy water of the regimental banners of all military units located in Peterhof is performed.
Fountains of Square Ponds
The square ponds of the Upper Garden were dug in 1721 and were used as water storage for the fountains of the Lower Park and at first did not have a fountain decoration.
In 1737, lead gilded sculptural compositions based on the models of B. K. Rastrelli were installed in the ponds. The western pond was decorated with the group "Diana's Bathing", depicting the goddess of hunting surrounded by nymphs, dogs and dolphins. And in the eastern pond, the figures of the river god Alpheus and the nymph Arethusa were installed, surrounded by sirens and dolphins.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the pools of the ponds were decorated with marble sculptures of the 18th century "Spring" and "Summer", and during the post-war restoration, their place was taken by statues of Venus of Italy and the young god Apollo. The dolphins for the fountains were cast in bronze according to the preserved samples. Learn more about the Upper Garden and fountains…
Fountains of the Lower Park
The Lower park has an area of 102.5 hectares, the layout of regular parks and is located between the Gulf of Finland and the Great Peterhof Palace.
Grand Cascade, fountains "Basket" and " Samson»
The central compositional place in the Lower Park is occupied by an architectural and water ensemble consisting of: the grandiose fountain "Grand Cascade" with grottos, the fountain "Basket" and the fountain "Samson". It is also one of the most outstanding buildings in the world.
The Grand Cascade Fountain consists of two massive seven-step staircases running down the slope in front of the palace, connected by arches of a Large Grotto and decorated with sculptures.
The grottos of the Grand Cascade are now a museum.
On the lower terrace of the Grand Cascade, in front of the entrance to the Large Grotto, there is a fountain "Basket".
The Samson Fountain, located in a bucket at the foot of the Grand Cascade, is a symbol of Peterhof. Learn more about the fountain ensemble with photos, videos, and descriptions…
Fountain Alley and Sea Channel
The water from the bucket, where the sculptural group of the Samson fountain is located, goes through the channel into the Gulf of Finland.
This channel, which is called "Samsonovsky", originally served as the main entrance to the territory of the palace complex. Guests arrived in Peterhof by ship, after which they were transferred to boats and light vessels that passed through the channel to the bucket, which then served as a harbor (the Samson fountain under Peter I was not yet there).
Today, the "Meteor" excursion ships are moored to the pier in the Gulf of Finland, delivering guests of the park from/to the center of St. Petersburg.
Along part of the canal runs an Alley of Fountains, which has 22 fountains ("Niche" fountains), and the canal itself is crossed by pedestrian bridges.
Also in the Lower Park are:
- paired fountains "Adam" and "Eve", featuring central figures mounted on high pedestals;
- the fountain "Favorite", in which there are moving figures of ducks and dogs that make sounds;
- powerful steam fountains "Menagerie" and "Bowls";
- Pyramid fountain, the water jets of which beat up with such force that they form a water foaming pyramid;
- Golden Mountain and Chess Mountain cascades, where water flows along the steps of the fountain, decorated with sculptures;
- beautiful Roman fountains surrounded by flower beds. According to the composition, the fountains resemble stone water cannons in Rome on the square in front of St. Peter's Cathedral;
- Lion Cascade - a strict fountain in the style of late classicism;
- Maze with a menagerie-type fountain;
- a powerful and lush fountain "Sheaf", in which a central jet of water beats to a height of four and a half meters, around which twenty-four inclined jets beat, arranged in two tiers, the jets of which resemble a large sheaf of heavy ears, showering transparent grains;
- fountain "Sun", whose water jets resemble the Sun;
- fountain "Triton", representing the allegory of the triumph of Russia in the struggle for the Baltic Sea;
- small, but located in a secluded atmospheric zone the Whale Fountain, which adorns a man-made Sand pond;
- other smaller fountains: Terrace fountains, marble bench fountains "Nymph" and "Danaida", fountains "Tritons-bells" and fountains "Bells". Learn more about all the fountains in the Lower Park…
Fountains-firecrackers
In a separate group of fountains in the Lower Park, there are fountains-firecrackers.
Fountains-firecrackers-water fun, - a kind of hidden fountain with a comic surprise, disguised as familiar objects or hidden in the landscape, and the idea of which is that the water jets of the fountain appear unexpectedly and spray visitors, thereby creating a playful mood and immersing guests in the atmosphere of the game.
Only in the Lower Park are seven fountains, firecrackers, five of which (Tree, oak, Umbrella, Water, road and Sofas) are located near each other in the Eastern part of the Lower Park; and two fountain-crackers ("Table with sprinkling" and "Water curtain") - in the caves of the Grand cascade fountain in Central Park. Learn more about all the firecracker fountains in the Lower Park with photos and videos…
Practical information
The palace and Park Ensemble "Peterhof" belongs to the State Museum-Reserve "Peterhof".
The fountains of Peterhof are closed for the winter (do not work) - from about the middle of October until the 20th of April.
In winter, when the fountains are not working, the entrance to the Lower Park is free (free of charge). During the summer season, the fountains are open and the entrance to the park is paid.
Entrance to the Upper Garden is paid.
Tickets to the parks can be purchased at the ticket offices located directly near the entrances to the parks or in advance-online on the official website.
The opening hours of the Grand Palace, the Upper Garden, the Lower Park, and the ensemble's museums, as well as the conditions for visiting and the cost of tickets, are recommended to check on the website of the State Museum-Reserve "Peterhof": peterhofmuseum.
You can visit Peterhof with one of the excursions
All the ways to get to Peterhof from St. Petersburg (the airport and the city center) can be found here →
Near the Palace and Park Ensemble "Peterhof" you can stop
The 4-star Novy Peterhof Hotel features a restaurant, a bar, parking, a tour desk, a spa area with an indoor pool, a gym, a steam bath, a Finnish cedar sauna and an aroma sauna.
The rooms are decorated in a modern style and feature a TV with satellite channels, free Wi-Fi, a safe, bathrobes and slippers, a hairdryer and free toiletries. Some rooms have a seating area.
The room rate can include: breakfast, breakfast + dinner or breakfast + lunch + dinner. Link to the hotel
EGO-LOFT Apartment (Holgin Pond) they offer views of the lake and the city.
The apartmentfeatures air conditioning, a balcony, free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, a washing machine, a bedroom, a kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, and a bathroom with a hairdryer and free toiletries. Link to the apartment
Severnaya Venezia Apartment с features a balcony with lake views, free Wi-Fi, a children's playground, a garden and a shared lounge.
The apartmentfeatures a bedroom, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, an equipped kitchen with a microwave and a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a bathroom with a shower. Link to the apartment
All accommodation facilities in St. Petersburg, including in the city center and in Peterhof, can be viewed and booked here
