The White Tower is a historical building (pavilion) located in Alexander Park of the former Tsarskoye Selo (now the Pushkin city of St. Petersburg).
The White Tower is a complex resembling a medieval knight's castle, which includes: the ruins of the gate, the White Tower itself, surrounded by a small garden, as well as a moat and rampart.
The White Tower complex was built in 1821-1827 according to the project of the Scottish architect Adam Menelas for the children of Emperor Nicholas I - Grand Dukes Alexander, Nicholas, Michael and Konstantin, who were engaged in military and gymnastic exercises in the complex.
The image of the complex was inspired by medieval knight castles. The dominant and core of the complex was and is the White Tower - "donjon", the main tower in European feudal castles, located inside the fortress walls.
Inside the White Tower, rooms were located one above the other. On the first floor there was a dining room and a pantry, on the second-a living room, on the third and fourth - an office and a bedroom, on the fifth - a dressing room and a library. And the pavilion ended with an open platform, from which a beautiful view of the surroundings of Tsarskoye Selo opened. Also on the top floor of the Tower was the workshop of the court painter A. I. Sauerweid (1783-1844), who gave drawing and painting lessons to the imperial children.
Many famous St. Petersburg masters took part in the decoration of the interiors of the White Tower: the paintings were executed by D.-B. Scotti and V. Brandukov, the furniture was made by the court suppliers the Gumbs brothers, the parquet floors were executed by the master M. Znamensky.
In addition, according to the project of the tutor of the heir of Alexander Nikolaevich, the outstanding Russian poet V. A. Zhukovsky, a bridge fortification was erected next to the Gate-ruins of the complex, which was an earthen fortress, repeating an eight-pointed star in the plan.
During the Great Patriotic War, the White Tower was almost completely destroyed: only the lower part of the building was preserved. The restoration of the monument began in the 1990s.
Currently, the pavilion houses the interactive center of the Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Reserve, where various classes, interactive programs, holidays and master classes for children are held.
Most of the complex is separated from the rest of the Alexander Park by the so-called moat and rampart, topped with a brick parapet.
The white tower has a height of 37.8 meters, is crowned with a crenellated parapet, and wide stairs lead to the entrances and the terrace of the tower, which are guarded on the terrace by lion sculptures made according to the models of C. Landini.
At the level of the second and third floors of the tower there are balconies.
The facades of the tower are decorated with cast-iron sculptures cast at the Alexander Factory according to the models of the Russian sculptor V. I. Demut-Malinovsky.
The gate-ruins on the territory of the complex consist of small towers with gates between them.
The territory of the complex is a small garden with paths for walking, lawns, trees, shrubs and places to relax.
Practical information
The White Tower complex is located in Alexander Park, Pushkin, St. Petersburg.
The Alexander Park with pavilions and the White Tower, together with the Alexander Palace, belong to the State Museum-Reserve "Tsarskoye Selo".
The entrance to the park and to the territory of the complex "White Tower" is free (free).
We recommend checking the working hours of the park and pavilions, as well as the conditions of visiting, on the website of the State Museum-Reserve "Tsarskoye Selo": tzar.ru.
You can visit Tsarskoye Selo with one of the excursions
You can find out about all the ways to get to Pushkin from St. Petersburg (the airport and the city center) here →
In Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) you can stay
The 5-star Pevcheskaya Tower Hotel offers 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 hotelhas a spa center 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 mini-bar, 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.
The hotelhas a 24-hour front desk, a cafe, free Wi-Fi and parking.
The rooms are equipped with airconditioning, 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
