Your guide to ALL buildings & facilities of Alexandria Park (PHOTOS)
In the 18th century, Prince Menshikov, a favorite of Peter the Great, planned to build his estate, ‘Moncourage’, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, while Empress Anna Ioannovna established hunting grounds there. Alexander I gave this land to his younger brother, Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich, who greatly loved the seaside. The gift proved to be very timely: upon ascending the throne, Nicholas I gave the estate to his wife, Alexandra Feodorovna, and named it in her honor.
She had asked for "some kind of cottage where my eyes could rest from all this massive and opulent gilding". Construction began with "a country house with an adjoining park," but, in the end, Alexandria became a romantic residence where the monarch and his family could enjoy privacy and take a break from the attentions of the courtiers.
Important information:
*It is prohibited to pick flowers, walk on the lawns, fish or sunbathe.
*Children under 7 years of age, accompanied by their parents, may use balance bikes, bicycles and/or scooters within the museum grounds.
*Children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by their parents when visiting the museum.
*Large items (over 35x40x30 cm) must be stored in the locker.
*Visitors can leave their items in the luggage storage area while visiting the parks (summer season only) or in the cloakroom while visiting the museums.
*It is prohibited to touch the architectural and decorative elements of the buildings, fountains, sculptures and other museum items, as well as to enter the fountain basins.
*It is prohibited to be on the museum-reserve grounds, including the coastal strip of the Gulf of Finland that is part of it, after the museum's closing time.
Location: Peterhof, Alexandria Park, 1
How to get there: The nearest commuter train station from St. Petersburg is ‘Novy Peterhof’. You can also get there from the ‘Avtovo’ (buses #200, #201, #204e, #210) and ‘Prospekt Veteranov’ (minibus K-639B, buses #103, #343e) subway stations to the ‘Alexandria’ stop.
Hours: The palace and park complex is open daily.
Tickets can be purchased on the website or at the museum ticket offices. You can buy tickets for individual buildings or buy a combined pass.
A Russian-language audio guide is included in the Farmers’ Palace ticket price. Audio tours are also available for the Gothic Chapel and the Courier's Lodge: simply scan the QR code on site.
Alexandria Park
This is, perhaps, the most romantic park in the suburbs of St. Petersburg. The Lower Terrace is appreciated by lovers of seascapes, as it slopes down to the Gulf of Finland. The Upper Terrace houses the buildings of the imperial ‘dacha’. Oak groves and birch trees – the northern landscape provides the perfect backdrop for the neo-Gothic buildings.
What to see: On the Lower Terrace, admire the rugged sea views. On the Upper Terrace, take a stroll from palace to palace, take the obligatory photo against the backdrop of the Gothic Chapel and discover the remains of Menshikov's palace, ‘Moncourage’.
Tours: You can even take a sightseeing steam train to Alexandria Park from Peterhof's Lower Park. Tours are only available during the summer season and in good weather.
Opening Hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Park admission closes at 6:45 PM.
Ticket Price: 400 rubles (approx. $4.70) for Russian citizens, 800 rubles (approx. $9.24) for foreign citizens (during the summer season). Admission is free from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM and from 6:00 PM to 7:45 PM. Tickets can be purchased online, at the ticket offices or at the museum's ticket kiosks. In winter, the park can be visited for free.
Cottage Palace
It was with this "cottage" that Alexandria began. Scottish architect Adam Menelaws built the palace in the then-fashionable neo-Gothic style. Even before ascending the throne, Nicholas was fascinated by European medieval castles and Prussian princess Charlotte, his future wife, had adored chivalric romances as a child. Their passion is reflected in the design and décor of the cottage. Instead of pomp, tranquility reigned. Within its walls, Nicholas was no longer an emperor, but, rather, the "husband of a Peterhof landowner" and a father. Alexandra Feodorovna admitted that she was happier there than anywhere else.
What to see: Authentic items that belonged to the imperial family. Including a chandelier with a garland of 25 roses – a gift for the couple's 25th wedding anniversary.
Opening Hours: Daily except Mondays, from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM (summer). During the winter season – Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The ticket offices close one hour before the museum closes.
Ticket price: 500 rubles (approx. $5.80) for Russian citizens, 1,000 rubles (approx. $11.70) for foreign citizens. The price includes a guided tour in Russian (if a group of 20 is formed). During the summer season, an entrance ticket to Alexandria Park is charged separately: 400 rubles (approx. $4.70) for Russian citizens, 800 rubles (approx. $9.00) for foreign citizens.
A combined ticket is available for visiting the palace, park and Palace Telegraph Station: 1,000 rubles (approx. $11.70) for Russian citizens and 2,000 rubles (approx. $23.30) for foreign citizens. Tickets can be purchased on the museum's website or at the ticket office before 3:00 PM on the day of your visit.
Farmers’ Palace
This is the only palace in Russia built specifically for Emperor Alexander II. At various times, it housed an idyllic dairy farm with English cows, as well as staff quarters and utility rooms. In the 1830s, an extension was built for Tsarevich Alexander, which was later converted into the emperor's summer palace.
What to see: Alexander II's study, where he received ministers' reports and worked on the ‘Manifesto on the Abolition of Serfdom’; a clock with 66 dials that shows the time in various cities across Russia and Alaska; one of the first home elevators; and the marble bathtub of Empress Maria Alexandrovna.
Opening Hours: Daily, except Tuesdays, from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM (during the summer). During the winter season, the museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The ticket office closes one hour before the museum closes.
Ticket price: 500 rubles (approx. $5.80) for Russian citizens; 1,000 rubles (approx. $11.70) for foreign citizens (the price includes admission to the ‘Peterhof Summer Residents’ exhibition and the Courier's House, as well as a Russian-language guided tour for groups of 15 visitors). You can purchase a combined ticket for the palace, the Palace Telegraph Station and the Cottage Palace: 1,100 rubles (approx. $12.60) for Russian citizens and 2,100 rubles (approx. $24.50) for foreign citizens. Combined tickets for the palace and the Gothic Chapel are also available: 700 rubles (approx. $8.10) for Russian citizens and 1,350 rubles (approx. $15.70) for foreign citizens. During the summer, an additional entrance fee applies for Alexandria Park: 400 rubles (approx. $4.70) for Russian citizens and 800 rubles (approx. $9.30) for foreign citizens. Tickets can be purchased on the museum's website or at the ticket office before 1:00 PM on the day of your visit.
Gothic Chapel
Nicholas I personally chose this site for the construction and architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel designed it in the Gothic style with lancet portals and stained-glass windows. This "tiny chapel", dedicated to Alexander Nevsky, served as the private chapel for four Russian emperors and their families. In 2006, the remains of Empress Maria Feodorovna were housed in the Gothic Chapel before they were reburied in the Peter and Paul Fortress.
What to see: Figures of angels, saints and apostles on the chapel's facades, as well as the cast-iron decorations.
Opening Hours: Daily from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM, except Tuesdays (during the summer season). The ticket offices close one hour before the museum closes. The museum is open only in clear weather; it’s closed in rainy weather or high humidity.
Ticket price: 350 rubles (approx. $4) for Russian citizens, 600 rubles (approx. $7) for foreign citizens. The price includes a guided tour in Russian (for groups of 15 visitors). Combined tickets for the Gothic Chapel and the Farmers’ Palace are also available: 700 rubles (approx. $8) for Russian citizens and 1,350 rubles (approx. $15.70) for foreign citizens. During the summer, an additional entrance fee applies for Alexandria Park: 400 rubles (approx. $4.70) for Russian citizens and 800 rubles (approx. $9.30) for foreign citizens. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices until 4:00 PM on the day of your visit.
Courier's House
This house, located next to the Farmers’ Palace was built by order of Alexander II. It was intended for the on-duty courier – the messenger who delivered documents between the head of state and ministries and departments.
What to see: the uniforms and belongings of military couriers, including a leather breast pouch, as well as special safes used to transport valuable cargo.
Opening Hours: Daily from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM, except Tuesdays. The ticket office closes one hour before the museum closes.
Ticket price: 350 rubles (approx. $4) for Russian citizens, 600 rubles (approx. $7) for foreign citizens. The price includes a guided tour in Russian (for groups of 15 visitors). During the summer, an additional entrance fee applies for Alexandria Park: 400 rubles (approx. $4.70) for Russian citizens, 800 rubles (approx. $9.30) for foreign citizens. Tickets can be purchased on the museum's website or at the ticket office.
New Farm
Peterhof, Alexandria Park, Sankt-Peterburgsky Prospekt, 5
This farm was built to replace the previous one, on the site of which stood the Farmers’ Palace. It housed a cowshed, a pigsty, various outbuildings, as well as houses for the cowherds and shepherds. In addition to its traditional functions, the farm also served a scientific purpose: it was used to test the effectiveness of various crop cultivation methods.
What to see: For over 10 years, an educational center for children has been operating there, offering workshops, master classes, activities and introductions to history and museum professions.
Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, except Sundays. The ticket office closes one hour before the museum closes.
Ticket price: 400 rubles (approx. $4.70) for children and 650 rubles (approx. $7.60) for adults. Tickets can be purchased on the museum's website.
Palace Telegraph Station
The 24-hour station in Alexandria was part of the optical telegraph network between Kronstadt and St. Petersburg. Its services were available not only to members of the royal family, but also to the city's citizens. For this purpose, the building had two entrances: one for court servants and one for everyone else.
What to see: the station's historical interior, antique telegraph machines and a working model of Jacques Chateau's optical telegraph.
Opening Hours: Daily, except Tuesdays, from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM (during the summer season). During the winter season, admission is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The ticket office closes one hour before the museum closes.
Ticket price: 350 rubles (approx. $4) for Russian citizens, 600 rubles (approx. $7) for foreign citizens. The ticket price includes a guided tour in Russian (for groups of 15 people). A combined ticket for the park, station and Cottage Palace is available: 1,000 rubles (approx. $11.70) for Russian citizens, 2,000 rubles (approx. $23.30) for foreign citizens. Alternatively, a ticket for the park, station and Farmers’ Palace is available: 950 rubles (approx. $11) for Russian citizens, 1,900 rubles for foreign citizens. During the summer, an additional entrance fee applies for Alexandria Park: 400 rubles (approx. $4.70) for Russian citizens, 800 rubles (approx. $9.30) for foreign citizens. Tickets can be purchased on the museum's website or at the ticket office until 3:00 PM on the day of your visit.