The Summer Palace of Peter I is a historical, architectural, memorial, and artistic landmark from the Petrine era that has endured to this day without having undergone significant alteration. The structure was built in 1711-1712 by architect Dominico Trezini on the site of a Swedish estate belonging to Major von Konow. Together with the adjacent gardens, the palace served as the summer residence of the tsar and his family from May through October.
Peter the Great occupied the palace’s ground floor, which included his Bedroom, Secretarial Room, and Office (Workshop). The first floor was the “female section”, housing Catherine I, the royal children, and ladies in waiting.
After Peter’s death in 1725 the palace was no longer used as a royal residence. In the 1740s, Elisabeth Petrovna had some restoration work done on the building. After that the palace was rented out to persons of high rank for the summers.
By the end of the 18th century the palace had fallen into neglect. In 1794 Catherine II ordered that the original Petrine furniture be replaced with “simple” pieces. Later, Paul I had the wind device, a unique and rare Petrine-era item, moved to St Michael’s Castle.
Only 20 years later was Trezini’s palace given its due attention, during the reign of Alexander L In the 1820s wide-ranging renovations were done on the palace, and the wind device was returned to Peter’s Workshop. Soon after, and for the first time since Peter’s death, the public was permitted inside.
During the era of Nicholas I a detailed list was compiled of the palace’s “historical objects worthy of commemoration”, some of which subsequently underwent restoration.
The Summer Palace was first opened as a memorial museum for the bicentennial celebrations of 1903, when it displayed more than 400 items connected with Peter I and his time. After the exhibition closed, many of the exhibits remained within the palace walls.
From 1925 through 1934 the Summer Palace was part of the History and Customs Department of the Russian Museum. In 1934, however, Peter’s former residence received the official status of an independent museum.
During the Second World War the palace’s exhibits were evacuated to safety, while the building itself sustained damage to the roof and had its windows blown out.
In 1947 the palace was again opened to visitors. Restorative work on the royal quarters was carried out from 1961-1964 under the supervision of architect Arnold Gessen, during which the Summer Palace’s interiors and facades were made to more closely resemble their original appearance.
The interiors of the Summer Palace retain many architectural and decorative elements from Peter’s time, such as ceiling paintings, tiled stoves, and tiles with cobalt designs that cover the walls. The Green Office contains some rare items - original wall paintings on wooden panels and the original built-in crown glass display cases from the beginning of the 18th century. The Workshop houses the wind device, and in the Kitchen you will find a preparation table, sink, stovetop, and exhaust hood. These details of the interior, along with the memorial exhibit items, convey an 18th-century atmosphere.
During the comprehensive restoration of the palace in 2014-2017, the retaining walls of the “little harbor” with forged iron mooring rings, the foundations of the Servants’ Quarters, brick surfacing from the Petrine era, and a part of the granite embankment from the end of the 18th century that adjoins the palace, were all exposed and museumised. The palace’s ceiling paintings and the wind device were restored, the wallpaper and parquet floors were reconstructed, and the weathervane was regilt.
The Summer Palace of Peter I is a historical, architectural, memorial, and artistic landmark from the Petrine era that has endured to this day without having undergone significant alteration. The structure was built in 1711-1712 by architect Dominico Trezini on the site of a Swedish estate belonging to Major von Konow. Together with the adjacent gardens, the palace served as the summer residence of the tsar and his family from May through October.
Peter the Great occupied the palace’s ground floor, which included his Bedroom, Secretarial Room, and Office (Workshop). The first floor was the “female section”, housing Catherine I, the royal children, and ladies in waiting.
After Peter’s death in 1725 the palace was no longer used as a royal residence. In the 1740s, Elisabeth Petrovna had some restoration work done on the building. After that the palace was rented out to persons of high rank for the summers.
By the end of the 18th century the palace had fallen into neglect. In 1794 Catherine II ordered that the original Petrine furniture be replaced with “simple” pieces. Later, Paul I had the wind device, a unique and rare Petrine-era item, moved to St Michael’s Castle.
Only 20 years later was Trezini’s palace given its due attention, during the reign of Alexander L In the 1820s wide-ranging renovations were done on the palace, and the wind device was returned to Peter’s Workshop. Soon after, and for the first time since Peter’s death, the public was permitted inside.
During the era of Nicholas I a detailed list was compiled of the palace’s “historical objects worthy of commemoration”, some of which subsequently underwent restoration.
The Summer Palace was first opened as a memorial museum for the bicentennial celebrations of 1903, when it displayed more than 400 items connected with Peter I and his time. After the exhibition closed, many of the exhibits remained within the palace walls.
From 1925 through 1934 the Summer Palace was part of the History and Customs Department of the Russian Museum. In 1934, however, Peter’s former residence received the official status of an independent museum.
During the Second World War the palace’s exhibits were evacuated to safety, while the building itself sustained damage to the roof and had its windows blown out.
In 1947 the palace was again opened to visitors. Restorative work on the royal quarters was carried out from 1961-1964 under the supervision of architect Arnold Gessen, during which the Summer Palace’s interiors and facades were made to more closely resemble their original appearance.
The interiors of the Summer Palace retain many architectural and decorative elements from Peter’s time, such as ceiling paintings, tiled stoves, and tiles with cobalt designs that cover the walls. The Green Office contains some rare items - original wall paintings on wooden panels and the original built-in crown glass display cases from the beginning of the 18th century. The Workshop houses the wind device, and in the Kitchen you will find a preparation table, sink, stovetop, and exhaust hood. These details of the interior, along with the memorial exhibit items, convey an 18th-century atmosphere.
During the comprehensive restoration of the palace in 2014-2017, the retaining walls of the “little harbor” with forged iron mooring rings, the foundations of the Servants’ Quarters, brick surfacing from the Petrine era, and a part of the granite embankment from the end of the 18th century that adjoins the palace, were all exposed and museumised. The palace’s ceiling paintings and the wind device were restored, the wallpaper and parquet floors were reconstructed, and the weathervane was regilt.
