The sand pond, where the Whale Fountain is located, is located in the Lower Park of the Peterhof Palace and Park Ensemble in Peterhof (Saint Petersburg).
This beautiful man-made ensemble adorns the natural natural area of the western part of the Lower Park, between the Lion Cascade Fountain and The Great Peterhof Palace.
In the Sand Pond there is a fountain composition called the "Whale" fountain.
Sand Pond was dug in 1724 for the construction of a new granite cascade, but the work was never completed. Then the name "Pesochny" was fixed for the pond.
Since 1738, the pond was landscaped: the pond was deepened, the banks were put in order, and in 1740, a huge, brightly colored, wooden sculpture "in the likeness of a fish-whale" with water action from the head was placed in its center, and lead sea bulls protruding from the water were created around the sculpture.
By the end of the 18th century, the sculptures of the fountain had lost their former luster, and in their place the master F. A. Strelnikov built a fountain of the menagerie type: a water column surrounded by four gilded dolphins beat from the surface of the pond.
In the middle of the 19th century, the fountain was dismantled. It was restored during the post-war restoration in 1963.
Despite the fact that during the history of the sculptural decoration of the fountain changed, the original name of the fountain - "Whale", and was fixed for the fountain and has survived to this day.
Practical information
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.
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.
The opening hours of the park and fountains, as well as the conditions of 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 →
All accommodation facilities in St. Petersburg, including in the city center and in Peterhof, can be viewed and booked here
