Peterhof and Catherine Palace - The Versailles of Russia

Europe in the 1700s was a time of extravagance. The various royal houses of Europe were pretty much consolidated and stable within their borders, and while wars did break out between the major powers, some of the more interesting fighting happened in the realms of prestige and grandeur.

This was a period when royal courts competed over the best scientists, artists, entertainers, and philosophers to come and pretty much hang-out in their respective palaces. And this certainly was the period when they argued over who had the best, most "fabulous" home in the whole continent.

* Thus this is the story of the Peterhof Palace and Gardens, a palace complex commissioned by Peter the Great.

A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic and pre-Russia-Ukraine-War tale.

* Which he ordered built, after his visit to the Palace of Versailles in France, widely regarded as the most beautiful palace of its time in Europe.

* Peter the Great, renowned for bringing the ideals of the Enlightenment to Russia and for founding the city of St. Petersburg, was said to be part-impressed, part envious of how grand the home of Louis XIV was.

* And thus he endeavored to outdo the French King, even going as far as to hire several of the professionals who worked on the Versailles.

* Have a European palace, find a vast, well-manicured palace garden!

* The two-headed eagle, symbol of the House of Romanov, Rulers of Russia, plays a central role in adorning buildings throughout the Palace.

* Pastel-colored buildings are so pleasing to the eye!

* Playing hide-and-seek here must have been a real challenge!

* For the wealthy and powerful of centuries past, a sprawling lawn was the ultimate status symbol.

* Here even an Orthodox Chapel is decked out magnificently!

* Unlike Versailles, which is a tourism hotspot, one does not get a feeling of being too cramped / crowded in Peterhof.

* Angling for the best seats in the house for the water show!

* Woah there fella!

* Even in these esteemed surroundings, the threat of thievery persists!

* Definitely a quest marker (for us video game nerds)

* If only our dogs could see this view!

* Europeans really loved their water spectacles!

* And it's not enough to have one kind of fountain, each one has to be unique and equally eye-catching.

* Kinda reminded me of the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. fountain

* The wife really enjoying the fresh Russian air!

* A few kilometers from Peterhof, stands another must-visit tourist attraction, Catherine Palace.

* Built by Catherine I, wife of the aforementioned Peter the Great, who became Empress of Russia upon his death.

* Catherine Palace was formerly the summer residence of the Russian Tsars.

* Probably the most masculine pillars ever!

* Inside the Palace, we see all the familiar trappings of a royal household.

* Including this epic dining / buffet table!

* And the Grand Ballroom where courtiers undoubtedly gossiped, plotted, and danced to Renaissance European tunes.

* That the aristocrats enjoyed such lavish luxuries while the common Russian folk had to go through persistent hunger and cold definitely explains how the Soviet Revolution eventually came to be.

* I mean just look at the ballroom walls up close!

* "Have some coffee and cake!" - An obscure reference from the 90's cult classic film, Congo

* Today, tourists from across the Russian Federation and Continental Europe are ushered in the various rooms on organized guided tours.

* They must have REALLY loved their meals!

* Ahhh the game of kings! Makes sense especially since Russia has produced hundreds of grandmasters.

* And not a smartphone in sight! The way meals are supposed to be!

* What a very millennial-like painting layout!

* Faberge Eggs (not the souvenirs pictured above) are jeweled eggs created by the House of Faberge in St. Petersburg. To date, only 57 of the original 69 eggs survive, with most of them being in museums and private collections, making them extremely valuable!