Paul's summer residence in Pavlovsk

Pavlovsk is the name of the city and also it´s the name of the tsar's residence about 30 km (19 miles) south from St. Petersburg. The summer residence of Pavlovsk was a gift from Catherine the Great to her unloved son Paul. In 1777, after the birth of Paul's firstborn, Alexander, Catherine took her grandson from parents and gave this land to Paul and his wife Maria. The new residence was founded in 7km from Catherine's favourite residence in Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin) and was named after Paul - Pavlovsk.
Catherine the Great commissioned the construction of Paul's Palace to her favourite architect Charles Cameron, who had a lot of disagreements with Paul. No wonder that, when he received power in Russia, in 1796, the work for the construction of Paul's Palace was commissioned to another master - Brenna.

Catherine's son reigned in Russia during 4 years, 4 months, 4 days. In that time Paul's Palace in Pavlovsk served as a Gala summer residence of Russian emperor. After the assassination of Paul in St. Petersburg, during 27 years this summer residence belonged to his widow - Maria. She really liked Pavlovsk  and everywhere we can see her desire to make Paul's Palace more comfortable in a family way. After her death Palace belonged only to Grand Princes. When the Russian revolution was started in 1917, Paul's Palace in Pavlovsk was opened as a state museum. The last owner of the residence, Grand Prince Ivan, was killed in 1918 in Alapaevsk.

At the beginning of the Second World War part of treasures from the collection of Paul's Palace was evacuated to Siberia or was hidden in the cellars of the Palace and under the ground. Pavlovsk was occupied by Nazis for two and a half years.

Nazis used Paul's Palace as their headquarters, when they left this residence in 1944, they have burned it with all other constructons.
According to the documents from the archives, after the war the Paul's Palace was completely rebuilt. Now it is one of the most interesting museums of St. Petersburg. During excursion you will acquaint with Russian culture of the 18-19 centuries.

The collection of watches, furniture, antique sculptures of the Palace of Paul ranks second in Russia after the art collection of the Hermitage. During the visit of the owners of Pavlovsk to Versailles, they were given a lot of pieces of art by the last French King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette.

Paul's Palace is closed on Friday and the first Monday of each month.

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