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Visual list Archive · November 2018

Peterhof Palace in Russia (image gallery)

From the archive. Published November 20, 2018. Details may have changed since.

  1. The terrace overlooking the stunning grounds of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    01 The terrace overlooking the stunning grounds of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  2. The famed Grand Cascade at Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. Peterhof is the world's largest palace and park complex.
    02 The famed Grand Cascade at Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. Peterhof is the world's largest palace and park complex. © Special to Cruiseable
  3. The fountain gardens of Peterhof. 500 acres, 200+ statues, 144 fountains and a whole lot of decadence. Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    03 The fountain gardens of Peterhof. 500 acres, 200+ statues, 144 fountains and a whole lot of decadence. Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  4. More than 200 statues and 144 fountains dot the 500-acre gardens of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    04 More than 200 statues and 144 fountains dot the 500-acre gardens of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  5. The Ball Room was used for formal receptions, dinners and balls in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    05 The Ball Room was used for formal receptions, dinners and balls in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  6. The Upper Garden of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    06 The Upper Garden of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  7. A French-made Commode Clock in the Small Passage Room in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    07 A French-made Commode Clock in the Small Passage Room in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  8. More than 200 statues and 144 fountains dot the 500-acre gardens of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    08 More than 200 statues and 144 fountains dot the 500-acre gardens of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  9. The east wall of Peterhof Palace’s Throne Room displays the chair of state placed on a dais beneath the portrait “Catherine II on Her Horse Brilliant.”
    09 The east wall of Peterhof Palace’s Throne Room displays the chair of state placed on a dais beneath the portrait “Catherine II on Her Horse Brilliant.” © Special to Cruiseable
  10. The Crown Room, one of the State Bedrooms in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    10 The Crown Room, one of the State Bedrooms in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  11. A visitor to Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. Expect crowds. Lots of them.
    11 A visitor to Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. Expect crowds. Lots of them. © Special to Cruiseable
  12. The Standard Room in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    12 The Standard Room in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  13. The 500-acre gardens of Peterhof Palace boast 144 fountains, just outside St. Petersburg, Russia.
    13 The 500-acre gardens of Peterhof Palace boast 144 fountains, just outside St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  14. The Oak Study created for Peter I in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    14 The Oak Study created for Peter I in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  15. Peterhof Palace, largely destroyed during WWII, has been restored to its former glory. See it on a cruise of St. Petersburg, Russia.
    15 Peterhof Palace, largely destroyed during WWII, has been restored to its former glory. See it on a cruise of St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  16. Detail of the Throne Room, originally designed in the late 1700s, at Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    16 Detail of the Throne Room, originally designed in the late 1700s, at Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  17. The well-manicured gardens of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    17 The well-manicured gardens of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  18. The restored ceiling of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    18 The restored ceiling of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  19. The view from the terrace in the front of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    19 The view from the terrace in the front of Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  20. One of the pretty fountains at Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    20 One of the pretty fountains at Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  21. An antique chest, saved from the bombing raids in World War II, in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    21 An antique chest, saved from the bombing raids in World War II, in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  22. Part of the sprawling Peterhof Palace complex just outside St. Petersburg, Russia.
    22 Part of the sprawling Peterhof Palace complex just outside St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  23. The cascade at Peterhof Palace begins mornings at 11 a.m. near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    23 The cascade at Peterhof Palace begins mornings at 11 a.m. near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  24. Banquet table at Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    24 Banquet table at Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  25. The Divan Room, one of the State Bedrooms in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    25 The Divan Room, one of the State Bedrooms in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable
  26. Restoration work has returned the Blue Drawing Room to its 1783 glory at Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
    26 Restoration work has returned the Blue Drawing Room to its 1783 glory at Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. © Special to Cruiseable

During our August cruise to the Baltics aboard Viking's ocean ship Viking Sun, the only port we visited for more than a day was St. Petersburg, Russia — and for good reason. There's so much for visitors to see!

I didn't want to miss the chance to see storied Peterhof Palace, so we took one of Viking's included tours to see the world's largest palace and park complex.

We'd briefly considered doing an independent tour, but the process of applying for a Russian visa for a short half-day visit is so onerous that we decided to take the easy route.

We didn't know much about Peterhof before our trip. It was leveled by the Germans during World War II but restored to its former glory in the decades afterward. The palace was built in 1703 by Peter the Great (the name means Peter's court in German). The tsar got the inspiration for the palace design during a trip to France where he saw Chateau de Versailles.

Above are 26 of my best shots of Peterhof and its 500-acre gardens with more than 200 statues and 144 fountains. If you're considering a trip to St. Petersburg, I hope these inspire you to take time out to see the palace and its breathtaking gardens.

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