Your guide to the Oranienbaum buildings (PHOTOS)
According to legend, Prince Alexander Menshikov saw a greenhouse of orange trees on the territory where he planned to build his residence. Each was signed in Old German – ‘oranienbaum’. The subsequent estate on the shore of the Gulf of Finland would go one to become an adornment of the St. Petersburg suburbs.
Peter I stayed there. Later, when Menshikov was deprived of his entire fortune for embezzlement, Peter III became the owner. It’s believed that he abdicated the throne there in 1762. Today, you can visit Oranienbaum to stroll through its magnificent park and admire the palace and elegant pavilions.
How to get there? The nearest train station from St. Petersburg is the aptly named ‘Oranienbaum-1’. You can also get there by bus from the ‘Avtovo’ and ‘Prospekt Veteranov’ subway stations to the ‘Lomonosov – Vladimirskaya Street’ stop.
The Grand Menshikov Palace
What to see? This is the oldest building of the estate. On the first floor, where the utility rooms once were, there is now a multimedia exhibition about the role of Alexander Menshikov in history. You will also see the Church Pavilion, where the Church of St. Panteleimon is located. It was built during the reign of Prince Menshikov as a monument to Russia's naval victories. In the 2000s, the interiors were restored and the church iconostasis and paintings were recreated. On the second floor, meanwhile, are the recreated palace halls with 19th-century furnishings.
How much does a ticket cost? It costs 750 rubles (approx. $9.50) for Russian citizens and tax residents of the Russian Federation (you must present a passport or document confirming your resident status) and 1,500 rubles (~$18.95) for foreigners. The price includes a tour in Russian. A group tour with an interpreter, meanwhile, costs 9,000 rubles (~$114). In summer, an entrance ticket to the Oranienbaum Park has to be purchased additionally. It costs 450 rubles (~$5.70) for Russian citizens and 900 rubles (~$11.40) for foreigners.
You can also buy tickets on the website or at the museum ticket office.
Chinese Palace
What to see? This was once the personal residence of Catherine II, complete with chinoiserie interiors. The most spectacular is the Glass Bead Cabinet: its walls are decorated with a dozen panels embroidered with silk thread and glass beads. Butterflies and birds flutter across the sparkling background and the gilded frames resemble tree trunks.
How much does a ticket cost? It costs 750 rubles (~$9.50) for Russian citizens and tax residents of the Russian Federation (you must present a passport or document confirming your resident status) and 1,500 rubles (~$18.95) for foreigners. In summer, an additional fee is charged for an entrance ticket to the Oranienbaum Park – 450 rubles (~$5.70) for Russian citizens, 900 rubles (~$11.40) for foreigners. The building is closed in rainy weather and high humidity.
You can buy a ticket at the museum ticket office.
Sliding Hill Pavilion
What to see? Until 1801, this pavilion had special slopes, along which the inhabitants of Oranienbaum rode on special sleds. Over time, however, the attraction fell into disrepair and the building began to be used for receptions. In the elegant white and blue pavilion, you will see a porcelain collection created especially for it, which tells about the main events in the life of Russia in the 18th century.
How much does a ticket cost? It costs 400 rubles (~$5.00) for Russian citizens and tax residents of the Russian Federation (you must show a passport or a document confirming your resident status) and 800 rubles (~$10.10) for foreign citizens. The price includes a guided tour in Russian. In summer, an entrance ticket to the Oranienbaum Park has to be purchased additionally. It costs 450 rubles (~$5.70) for Russian citizens and 900 rubles (~$11.40) for foreigners.
You can buy a ticket on the website and at the museum box office.
Picture House
What to see? Under Peter III, this house was home to a museum, a theater, a library and an art gallery at the same time. Now, the Opera Hall of the house shows a multimedia performance about the Russian theater. Paintings by European masters of the 18th century and a Chinese collection are also exhibited there.
How much does a ticket cost? It costs 350 rubles (~$4.40) for Russian citizens and tax residents of the Russian Federation (you must show a passport or a document confirming your resident status) and 600 rubles (~$8.80) for foreigners. The price includes a tour in Russian. In summer, an entrance ticket to Oranienbaum Park must be purchased additionally. It costs 450 rubles (~$5.70) for Russian citizens and 900 rubles (~$11.40) for foreigners.
You can buy a ticket on the website or at the museum box office.
Palace of Peter III
What to see? This is one of the few buildings of ‘Peterstadt’ that survived during World War II – the “toy” fortress of future Tsar Peter III and his personal residence. The palace is quite small, but is notable for being the first independent work of famous architect Antonio Rinaldi.
How much does a ticket cost? It costs 350 (~$4.40) rubles for Russian citizens and tax residents of the Russian Federation (you must present a passport or document confirming your resident status), 600 rubles (~$8.80) for foreigners. The building is closed in rainy weather and high humidity.
You can buy a ticket at the museum ticket office.
Pavilion ‘Chinese Kitchen’
What to see? Recreated interiors of the palace kitchen and tiled stoves in the pastry shop and coffee shop, where coffee, tea and other drinks were once prepared.
How much does a ticket cost? It costs 300 rubles (~$4.40) for Russian citizens and tax residents of the Russian Federation (you must present a passport or document confirming your resident status) and 600 rubles (~$8.80) for foreigners. The price includes a tour in Russian. In summer, an entrance ticket to Oranienbaum Park has to be purchased additionally. It costs 450 rubles (~$5.70) for citizens of the Russian Federation, 900 rubles (~$11.40) for foreigners.
You can buy a ticket on the website and at the museum box office.
