Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

ST PETERSBURG 145

Winter Palace Façade

Rastrelli embellished the

palace façades with 400

columns and 16 different

window designs.

Hanging Gardens

This unusual, raised

garden is decorated

with statues and

fountains. During the

Siege of Leningrad in

1941, Hermitage

curators grew

vegetables here.

. Winter Palace State Rooms
The tsars spared no expense
in decorating rooms such as
the Hall of St George. These
rooms were not intended for
private life, but were used for
state ceremonies.
. Pavilion Hall
Andrey Stakenschneider’s
white marble and gold
hall replaced Catherine’s
original interior. The hall
houses Englishman
James Cox’s famous
Peacock Clock, which
was once owned by
Catherine’s secret lover,
Prince Grigory Potemkin.

The Small Hermitage, built

between 1764 and 1775, by Vallin

de la Mothe and Yuriy Velten,

served as Catherine’s retreat

from the bustle of the court.

General
Staff
Building

Palace Square

The Winter Palace

was the official

residence of the

imperial family until

the 1917 Revolution.

Main entrance

via courtyard

River Neva adds

to the grandeur of

the Hermitage,

which is situated

on its banks.

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

Dvortsovaya ploschad 2. Map

C3. Tel (812) 710 9079. @ 7,

10, K-141, K-187, K-209, K-228,

K-252.  1, 7, 10. # 10:30am–

6pm Tue–Sat, 10:30am–5pm Sun.

(last admission one hour before

closing). & 8 English (571

8446). 7 - =