Exactly 100 albums have passed since we've been to Gatchina first -
in the autumn. During the second visit we've been seeing the palace
in winter.
Now we're having summer, so there's some kind of order :-)
Probably, you'll meet the foreshortenings similar to the ones in the previous albums, however, I hope that I'll be justified by the attempts to supply the shots with more comprehensive comments.
This is the Gatchina palace, it's situated at
Serebryany (Silver) lake bank (behind the palace). It turned out to be a bit crooked owing to the distortions of the lens - the shot is made up of parts. It's built in 1766-1781 by architect A. Rinaldi for G. Orlov - the favorite of Catherine the II, then (1793-1797) it was rebuilt by V.F. Brenna.
The left wing is called a Cooking square, the right one - the Arsenal (Stabling).
Originally the buildings were single-storied.
From 1783 Paul the I used to spend here lots of time - by his order V.Brenna has built on the second storey.
Karpin bridge over the canal connecting Karpin pond and the White lake. There is a dam
(and a cascade) under the bridge, water flows out of Karpin pond into the White lake.
There're several points of view on the word "Gatchina" origin: 1) village "Hotchino above Hotchino lake"; 2) from the swedish Hatchina; 3) from "Gat chinit (in russian - to make a log-path)"; 4)from german "hat Schone" ("has beauty").
Somehow or other, owing to the Northern war (1700-1721) these territories were won back from swedes.
The parks, palaces and pavilions started appearing here since 1766.
The Gatchina park (mainly, the palace one) is different to other famous parks (of Saint-Petersburg suburbs) by the plenty of small lakes and islets, which have bridges between them.
The Eagle pavilion.
By architect V.Brenna, 1792.
By legend Paul the I was shooting from this place at the eagle, which fell where the Eagle Column is :)
From the duck life. Hunting..
There're two of such worn out lions. There's not much to say about them except that they're situated at the terrace-pier at the White lake bank.
Pavilion of Venus at the island of Love.
There's a bridge thrown to this island. Or bridges.
The pavilion is wooden, built by V.Brenna in the french image (pavilion in the park Chatiliez) in 1792-1793.
The "Mask" portal
Built in 1794-1796 according to V. Brenna project.
It's meant for hiding the Birch house.
…and the "Birch house" pavilion itself
The author is not known exactly, N.A. Lvov is suspected. Actually, Lvov is suspected a great deal, as I noticed :)
It was built in 1790s by the order of Paul's the I wife - Maria Fedorovna (intended for his birthday).
Part of Admiralty (in the left).
All that remained from it is only a few stone posts which supported the construction that used to be wooden in the past. Small boats were repaired there.
There was a flotilla of 24 boats here in the XVIII century, by means of which amusing battles were performed.
The Birch gates.
Built in 1795-1798 according to V.Brenna project by workmen D. Visconti and K.A. Plastinin.
Statues of Mars and Bellona were supposed to be in the bays on the right and left. Seemingly, it didn't turn out..
The doors seen under the arc lead to the roof (where the fence is).
The Admiralty gates.
It separates the Palace park from the prospect.
Was built in 1794-1796 according to V.Brenna project.
The metal folds of the gate were made in 1796 at Izhorsky factory.
And now we're outside the main park territory - at the bank of the Black lake. The building at the opposite bank is the Prioratsky palace. Though the place where it's situated is called Prioratsky park, in reality it looks more like a forest.
The vault on the left to the palace was picked by the natives - they swim and lie in the sun here.
Prioratsky palace is interesting first of all because it's built of the pressed soil (except the tower, floors and ceilings). The form was made out of planks, they filled it up with 5-6 centimeters of soil, wet it with water mixed with lime. Then again and again.
Such constructions are called rammed-earth.
The palace was built according to N.A. Lvov project in 1797.
It's called Prioratsky because it was intended for the prior of Maltese order of french emigrant Conde (Paul the I was the grandmaster of the order and, on the whole, the fanatic of this kind of things :)
Now many bridges are destroyed and aren't being restored (there is no money). Sometimes it happens that in order to get to some part of the park, one has to walk round the significant way.
Chesma obelisk is in the right. It was erected in the honor of Alexey Orlov (the brother of the first owner of the palace). In 1770 Russian squadron under his command has annihilated the fleet in the turkish bay.
Authorship by A. Rinaldi.
The forest green house.
Built in 1794-1796. V.Brenna is considered to be the author.
It was burnt during the fascist occupation.
The Silvia gates. Lead from the Palace
park to Silvia (also a park - in the form of forest with paths - alike
Pavlovsk).
The architect of gates is presumably V.Brenna. 1792-1793.
In addition to this album I offer to take a look at several more
shots. Besides, I've expanded FAQ.
