The Catherine Palace

“Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonders, the kings and their kingdom are standing amazed
Here in Your presence, we are undone.  Here in Your presence, Heaven and Earth become one
Here in Your presence, all things are new.  Here in Your presence, everything bows before You”
-New Life Worship

Saint Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia.  Being a major European cultural center, it is also an important port on the Baltic Sea.  Saint Petersburg, Russia, was not a city that was on our radar, but we were more than thrilled with all that we discovered!  The famous palaces…The Winter Palace, Peterhof Palace, and The Catherine Palace demonstrate the might of the Romanov dynasty through the sheer luxury of the tsars residences!  Today, we take you on a tour of one of those-the most beautiful Catherine Palace!

Fifteen miles south of Saint Petersburg is the town of Tsarskoye Selo.  In the eighteenth century it became an out-of-town imperial residence for the Russian Royal family.   Its centerpiece is the opulent Catherine Palace!

Catherine Palace was built for Empress Petrovna and was completed in 1756.

This is the Portrait Hall and was used to display formal depictions of Russian rulers.  In the center is a unique paper sculpture of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in her official court attire. Wide doorways were definitely necessary!

Large delft porcelain heaters provided heat for the palace

The Green Dining Room- its pistachio colored walls are embellished with white moulded ornament

This was my favorite room in the palace!

The Amber Room was a gift to Peter the Great in 1716 celebrating peace between Russia and Prussia.  It was dubbed “the Eighth Wonder of the World.”  Construction of the Amber Room began in 1701 and was originally installed in the palace of Friedrich I, the first King of Prussia.  Peter the Great admired the room on a visit-and it was presented to him as a gift cementing a Prussian-Russian alliance against Sweden.

It was originally installed in the Winter House in Saint Petersburg, but moved in 1755 to the Catherine Palace.  After 18th-century renovations, the room glowed with six tons of amber and other semi-precious stones.

During World War 2, Nazis looted tens of thousands of art treasures, including the illustrious Amber Room.  In the final months of the war, the amber panels, which had been packed away in crates, disappeared and have remained missing for decades!

The new Amber Room’s reconstruction  began in 1979 and was completed 25 years later.

The White State Dining Room was used for grand banquets and evening meals taken by the Empress

The porcelain service was made at the famous Meissen factory in Germany.  In keeping with eighteenth-century tradition, the table is covered with elaborately draped tablecloths, decorated with garlands of flowers.

Catherine Palace is rich with gold ornamentation!

Hand-painted silk panels line the Chinese Drawing
Room of Alexander I.

The furnishings are exquisite…elaborate porcelain candelabra!

Ceilings are richly detailed!

Chevaliers’ Dining Room is not particularly large so mirrors and false windows containing mirrors on the walls make it spacious and bright!

The Great Hall (also known as the Grand Ballroom) is the centerpiece room at the Catherine Palace.
It is almost 56 feet wide and over 154 feet long!

The Great Hall is on the second floor and occupies the entire width of the palace.  The two tiers of windows enhance the impression of grandness and size.  The area between the windows are covered with gilded mirrors.

We were treated to 18th century music and dancing

The ceiling is elaborately painted and the inlaid parquet floor magnificent!

Royal carriages

Coach made for Empress Catherine II, is striking for its size, opulent gilded carving and rich interior decoration

The five golden domes top the Palace Chapel.  Over 200 pounds of gold were originally used to gild the exterior.

The dazzling 18th century Catherine Palace is a perfect example of Russian baroque…its bright blue exterior is distinguished by row after row of white columns and pilasters with gold baroque moldings running the length of the facade. Catherine Palace was named for Catherine I, the wife of Peter the Great, who ruled Russia for two years after her husband’s death.

The palace owes its grandeur to Empress Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine I.  It was built on a scale to rival Versailles!

As we were leaving the palace, a uniformed brass band entertained and dancers in period costumes performed!

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.  They collapse and fall,
    but we rise and stand upright”
Psalm 20:7-8

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