Pushkin, part two: Catherine Palace

Catherine's Palace is quite amazing. It is huge. Not only the palace, but the gardens. It was the summer residence of the ruling family and was kept up after the Revolution. During WWII the Germans used it as an army barracks - what they did not trash while they were there they bombed on their way out. The entire palace has been redone beautifully.

None of this was learned from our tour guide. We were not very popular in the palace (for no reason we could determine) and were pushed into Russian tour of the palace. Thank goodness for my guidebook and the Internet! Otherwise, we would have had no idea of the history we walked through.







Details of the exterior.






The Great Hall



The porcelain pieces are wood stoves/furnaces.






Our hotel is the building seen through the window.


















One of these rooms has been reupholstered with an original bolt of 18th century silk found in the palace.



We were not allowed in the chapel, but is looks beautiful. Dark blue and gold.





The bedroom. There are many rumors detailing Catherine the Great's sexual conquests and I don't imagine the horses fit in here. It is also quite close to the chapel...

I loved seeing the palace. The amber room was amazing. No photographs are allowed, unfortunately. The detail is just astonishing. One of the original panels is still there and indistinguishable from the new. I am so happy I was able to see it!

Location:Pushkin, Russia