The Hermitage is one of the 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 "Hermitage" pavilions, whose name comes from the French "ermitage" meaning "hermit's hut", were widely used in the regular gardens of the 18th century.
Such pavilions were intended for recreation and dining of the owner in a narrow circle of the elite.
In Russia, the first Hermitage was built in the park at the The Great Peterhof Palace, by decree of Peter the Great. The Hermitage in Peterhof can still be seen and visited today in The Lower Park of the Grand Palace.
The Hermitage Pavilion in Catherine Park is designed in the Baroque style and is one of the most refined and beautiful buildings in the park.
The construction of the Hermitage in the park at the The Catherine Palace was started in the spring of 1744 according to the project of M.G. Zemtsov. In 1749, the facades of the pavilion, which was ready for that time, were redesigned in accordance with a new project by the chief architect of the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna - F. Rastrelli.
During the history of the pavilion, the facade has changed slightly. So the statues and some other decorative details of the decoration were removed. Since 1753, the stucco decorations have been gilded and the facades painted.
The pavilion was surrounded by a channel of shaped outlines with two bridges. The canal was bordered by a balustrade, also decorated with statues and vases. The canal around the pavilion was never filled with water, which was always lacking in Tsarskoye Selo, and in 1777, at the behest of the new mistress of Tsarskoye Selo - Catherine II, the canal was filled up. During the restoration works of 2005-2006, the canal around the Hermitage was restored on the basis of plans drawn up by V.I. Neelov, materials of archaeological research and a drawing by M. I. Makhaev.
Today, the Hermitage pavilion is located on an artificial island, lined with black and white marble slabs, which is surrounded on all sides by a canal and fenced with a balustrade. You can get to the island to the pavilion via bridges over the moat.
The exterior of the Hermitage combines the blue-green and white colors characteristic of the Catherine Ensemble. It is decorated with balconies with openwork lattices that support the figures of Atlanteans; columns and pilasters with healed carved capitals; gilded stucco details - bas-reliefs, garlands, cartouches, mascarons, framing of window and door openings.
The Hermitage Pavilion has not been rebuilt since the mid-18th century, so its interior decoration has reached our time almost unchanged and taking into account post-war restorations.
The central rectangular hall of the pavilion is connected by galleries radiating diagonally from it with four square offices.
The interiors are decorated with carvings, mirrors and paintings on mythological themes.
The decoration of the main hall of the Hermitage is the same as it was created by F. Rastrelli. Thanks to the wide windows that served as doors to the balconies at the same time, the hall is permeated with light. In the piers between the windows there are mirrors in carved gilded frames, thanks to which the space of the hall is visually expanded.
In earlier times, this hall had dining tables with lifting mechanisms, which were created so that the communication of the hosts and guests was not hindered by the presence of servants.
Today, in the center of the hall there are lifting tables with sets. The Imperial Porcelain Factory made a cup and saucer, a sugar bowl and a teapot on the model of the items of the" Own Tea Set " of the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. Items to copy were provided The State Russian Museum.
The chairs were made on the model of chairs from the mid-18th century from the historical collection of the museum by the corporate member of the Club of Friends of the museum-reserve company "Aquarius Plus" with the financial support of LLC "Kraski Goroda".
The plot of the plafond (painting of the ceiling) of the hall was written by D. Valeriani: "Juno and Jupiter invite the celestials to a table covered with luxurious dishes."
The subjects for the painted panels above the mirrors of the middle hall D. Valeriani borrowed from Ovid's "Metamorphoses":" Bacchus and Ariadne"," Apollo chasing Daphne"," Bacchus crowning Daphne with a starry crown "and"The Abduction of Europa".
The plafonds of the galleries connecting the middle hall with the offices were painted by A. Perezinotti. In content, they echoed the bas-reliefs on the facades of the Hermitage and depicted cupids with allegorical attributes of the seasons.
Practical information
The Hermitage Pavilion is located in Catherine Park, Pushkin, Saint Petersburg.
Pavilion coordinates: 59°42'48.0" N 30°24'12.0" E (59.713333, 30.403333).
The Hermitage Pavilion offers guided tours and temporary exhibitions. Entrance is paid. Open during the summer season.
Near the Hermitage Pavilion is the Hermitage Kitchen, which served as a kitchen for serving receptions held in the Hermitage Pavilion. But, since the Hermitage kitchen was located at the fence of the Catherine Park, it was built in such a way that it also served as one of the entrances to the park, from which it received its second name - "Red Gate". Today it is a historic building with an entrance gate and a restaurant. Learn more about the Hermitage Kitchen...
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 Hermitage 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 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
