The Hermitage Kitchen is a historical pavilion and entrance gate to the Catherine Park of the former Tsarskoye Selo (now the Pushkin City of St. Petersburg).
The Hermitage kitchen was built in the second half of the 1770s by architect V. I. Neelov in the typical neo-Gothic style of the Russian classicism of the 18th century.
The building served primarily as a kitchen for serving receptions held in the nearby Hermitage Pavilion. But, since the Hermitage Kitchen was located at the fence of the front (regular) part of the Catherine Park, it was built in such a way that it performed another function - one of the entrances to the park; from which it received its second name - the "Red Gate", through which you could get to the Hermitage Grove and the Hermitage Pavilion.
In the plan, the Hermitage Kitchen is an elongated rectangle with two projections on the side of the park.
The building is crowned by a round two-tiered tower. In the facades there are semicircular niches, in which decorative vases are placed.
Also, the facades of the Hermitage kitchen are decorated with panels and garlands of stucco towels over the arch of the gate, which gives the structure echoes of the classicism style. The" Gothic " character of the building is given by a crenellated parapet, rectangular and triangular crenellations above the first and upper tiers of the tower, as well as pyramids located at the corners of the building. In imitation of the Gothic buildings of England, the walls of the Hermitage Kitchen remain unpainted, and the seams between the bricks, stucco details, niches and panels on the facades are whitewashed.
View of the Hermitage Kitchen from Sadovaya Street
View of the Hermitage Kitchen from the Catherine Park
Today, as before, the Hermitage Kitchen serves as the entrance gate to the park, and there is also a ticket office.
The pavilion houses a restaurant with the same name. The restaurant also has a buffet, and banquets are organized. Restaurant website: hermitage. gutsait.
Practical information
Catherine Park with pavilions, together with the Hermitage Kitchen and 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.
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, pavilions and the palace, the conditions of 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
, 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
