"Menagerie" fountains - two identical fountains in the Lower Park of the Palace and Park Ensemble "Peterhof" in Peterhof (St. Petersburg).
Thanks to the jets of water gushing up from the center of the fountain pools, the Menagerie fountains create an impression of power and grandeur.
Menagerie fountains were created in 1722-1724 by the architect N. Michetti.
In the second half of the 18th century, the water columns of the fountains were raised and supported on their tops by gilded copper balls, which, when the fountains were turned off, were lowered into a copper grid. Balls and nets are now missing.
The fountains have round bowls of pools, from the center of which a powerful jet of water shoots up. The water jet of the fountains rises up to 15 meters and is clearly visible from afar.
With such a visual force of the jets, the water in the fountains is consumed sparingly. The word "Menager" itself comes from the French "menager" - to save.
The nozzle for the fountain pipe was proposed by Peter I himself and made according to his own drawing. An inverted copper cone is embedded in a 30 cm diameter pipe at the jet outlet. The water, flowing around the cone, beats under great pressure through a narrow annular gap, forming a hollow column that gives the impression of extraordinary power. This nozzle design is still used today.
Video of fountains " Menazhernye»
Menagerie fountains adorn the stalls at the foot of the Golden Mountain cascade and are not "single" - they are part of the overall ensemble of the Marli Palace and are surrounded by a whole composition consisting of fountains and sculptures, including miniature fountains "Tritons-Bells". Learn more about the Marly Palace and the surrounding ensemble...
The photo was taken from the garden of Venus, located on the opposite side of the pond from the fountains
Practical information
The menagerie fountains and the adjacent ensemble are located in the western part of the Lower Park of the Peterhof Palace and Park Ensemble.
The fountains of Peterhof are closed for the winter (do not work) - from about the middle of October.
In winter, when the fountains are not working, the entrance to the Lower Park is free (free of charge).
During the summer, the fountains are open and the entrance to the park is paid.
Tickets to the park can be purchased at the ticket offices located directly near the entrances to the park or in advance-online on the official website.
We recommend that you check the working hours of the park and fountains, as well as the conditions of visiting and the cost of tickets, immediately before visiting the official website.
Website of the State Museum-Reserve "Peterhof": peterhofmuseum.
You can also visit the State Museum-Reserve "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
Apartments Severnaya Venezia featuring a balcony with lake views, offers 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
