A walk through Monplaisir is a truly royal pleasure. At the foot of it, quietly whisper the waves of the Gulf of Finland, around the emerald foliage of the Peterhof park, and the palace itself of the early 18th century can give odds to any castle from the far sides of the Loire in its elegance and originality. The name of the mansion is suitable for him, from French Monplaisir can be translated as "my pleasure" - that's exactly what Peter thought about him when he was still planning to erect a small and cozy mansion on the beach.

Monplaisir can be called the "heart" of Peterhof, it was not accidental that he became the beloved palace of the transforming king. Peter the First defined his location, and also worked significantly on the interior and some elements of the decor. I must say that there were many architects near the building - from 1714 to 1723. Such outstanding figures of concrete and sand as Schluter, Braunstein, Leblond and Mikette were working on it. Here the best painters, sculptors and carvers of that time worked.

The palace's layout is astonishing: Peter decided to build a building that would meet the needs of an enlightened and learned man, not an ordinary idle aristocrat. Because here with the ceremonial rooms are adjoining household and living rooms and living rooms. But the main advantage of Monplaisir is, of course, its "filling". Within the walls of the mansion is the country's first collection of paintings by European artists of the 17th and 18th centuries, which were purchased, incidentally, personally by Peter I.

What else remarkable can you see in Monplaisir? Collection of Chinese porcelain and Russian glass, pottery from Holland and kitchen utensils Peter's time, as well as tiles, lacquered panels, carved oak panels, parquet and ubiquitous in Peterhof noble marble.

It is especially pleasant to walk around the premises of the palace, when you realize how much history events took place within its walls . What is there already - here in its time the best people of the homeland were gathered . Monplaisir met Peter's associates: cunning merchants and ambassadors, swearing ship skippers . Here also passed the meeting zdy imperial court, gala receptions, and in 1725 Catherine I solemnly took in Monplaisir the first members of the Academy of Sciences . second Catherine also loved to visit in Monplaisir, gathering here are small, but very fine dining to a narrow circle of close .

Address: Peterhof. How to get there: Monplaisir is located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, between the Great Palace and the park "Alexandria". From October to May, the palace is closed.

Palace Garden, Palace Monplaisir

Monplaisir Palace