The grotto is one of the historical park pavilions located in the regular part of the Catherine Park, in the former Tsarskoye Selo (now the Pushkin city of St. Petersburg).
The so-called "Grottos", decorated inside with shells and tuff, in the 18th century were almost a mandatory part of large regular gardens.
The "Grotto" pavilion in the Catherine Park is designed in the same Baroque style and color scheme with The Catherine Palace, and is one of the most original and attractive structures of the park.
The pavilion is located on the bank of the Tsarskoye Selo Big Pond in the center of the Catherine Park, which makes the Grotto even more expressive.
From the garden entrance to the Catherine Palace to the Grotto leads the main alley of the garden, decorated with sculptures of Venetian masters and framed with decorative shrubs and trees. The sculpture can also be seen in the Grotto Pavilion itself.
The grotto was built according to the project of the architect F. Rastrelli, in 1755-1756, under the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.
The interior decoration of the pavilion was made under Catherine II in the 1770s by the architect A. Rinaldi.
The pavilion has rounded corners; the facade has azure walls and white columns. It is decorated with decorative grouped rusticated columns with capitals, openwork lattices and stucco decorations associated with the marine theme.
The building is crowned with a pyramidal fountain with" flowing " streams along the sides of the dome.
In the 1780s, the pavilion began to be called"Morning Hall", because the Empress Catherine II liked to spend the morning hours in the Grotto, doing business and reading.
In the grotto there were products made of colored stone and the sculptural collection of Catherine II, the antique part of which was included in the collection of sculpture of the Imperial Hermitage, which also included the statue of "Voltaire in chairs" by J.-A. Houdon.
The light, refined design of the pavilion's walls has been preserved to this day.
The pavilion is currently used for temporary exhibitions.
In front of the Grotto Pavilion was a jetty. During the Great Patriotic War, it was almost completely destroyed, and in 1971-1972 it was rebuilt according to a new project in granite. Near the pavilion today there are places for recreation and sculptures.
Practical information
The Grotto Pavilion is located in Catherine Park, Pushkin, Saint Petersburg.
Catherine Park with pavilions, together with the Catherine 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 "Grotto" pavilion, are not included in the cost of entering the park - they 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 box office, 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
