Gatchina

The Gatchina Palace and park is one of Russia's outstanding ensembles. With its own unique identity, it is just another gem in the ring of imperial suburban palaces around St Petersburg.

The palace and park at Gatchina dates back to the time of Empress Catherine II. In 1765, the tsaritsa gave her favourite, Count Grigory Orlov, a lavish gift – the Gatchina estate. The picturesque landscape, spring-fed lakes with connecting tributaries and rivers made it possible to create here the unique landscape park with the palace of remarkable architecture as its focal point. Count Gregory Orlov, the palace's first owner and a collector of hunting weapons, paintings and objects of decorative arts from Western Europe and the East, begun Gatchina palace collection. After his death, the Grand Duke Paul Petrovich came to own the Palace, which later served as an imperial residence from 1796 through 1917. Throughout this time, the collection continued to expand.

In May 1917, the Provisional Government issued a decree on the establishment of artistic and historical commissions in the towns of Peterhof, Tsarskoye Selo and Gatchina for "acquisition, recording and inventory of all movable and immovable property of the former palaces". One year later, on May 19, 1918, the Gatchina Palace opened to the public.

The Palace and its parks suffered significant damage during World War II. Restoration work began as late as 1976. It was not until 1985 that the first 18th century state rooms were opened to the public, including the Anteroom, the Marble Dining Room, Paul's Throne Room and the exhibition displayed on the second floor of the Central Block. In 1993, the clearing of the famous underground passage was complete and its echo can now be heard again. Over the last decade, the Palace Museum has been involved in large-scale restoration and exhibition activities. In 2016, the Palace marked its 250th anniversary.