St. Petersburg imperial country residences news

[BobAtchison]

Vladimir:

Thanks for telling us...

That is a huge disappointment - they could have restored some of the rooms of the palace?  What are they spending all the hundred of millions they are getting?  I can't believe this.

NOTHING WILL BE DONE AT THE AP EXCEPT THE FACADE in the next 4 years! Incredible!

Which chinese bridges are being removed - I assume they mean they will be restored.

Bob

[ChristineM]

I share your bitter disappointment Bob, and it is not the impression I was given.   The 'excuse' still remains the naval occupation.   For some reason it seems the Russian authorities find it impossible to bite the bullet and address the dilemma the Alexander Palace seems to represent for them.   There is more to this than an inability to move the few members of naval personnel remaining in the building or to raise the funding.

The Chinese Bridge at the Golden Gates, has had the granite vases and metal 'coral' restored in recent years.   I know they propose replacing the Mandarin lamps on the four pediments.   The Dragon Bridge does not require any work, but Cameron's other superb Chinese Bridge, beyond the Chinese Theatre, is desperately in need of repair and restoration.   It is falling apart.

This does not begin to add up to the kind of sums of monies set aside for restoration work prior to the 2010 anniversary.

tsaria

[Ortino]

As terribly disappointed as I am with that news, I have to be pleased with the fact that something is actually being done. The deplorable state of the Alexander Palace facade has been mentioned over and over again and while I had hoped that more might have been accomplished, this is still an important improvement nonetheless. I believe that once it is completely fixed, it will draw more people to the AP. Rather than seeing a run down palace with a crumbling facade, they'll see a gleaming building much like its neighbor, the Catherine Palace. The neoclassical architecture of the building is lovely with its clean lines and simplicity, and I think it will just take some sprucing up for people to recognize its true beauty. Does anyone know if they're replacing the roof?

[ChristineM]

You asked the vital question, Ortino.   One really severe winter and that roof will collapse.   It leaks like a sieve - including the 'new' roof.   Nobody knows if it will standup to a significant snowfall.   In that sense, fortunately, snowfall in recent years has been diminishing.   15 inches of snow across one square metre area weighs = 440 lbs or over 31 stones - at the very least.   It depends on the type of snow.   

As for smartening up the facade, this reminds me of Potemkin villages.

tsaria

[Vladimir_V.]

In the previous years the museum recreated the furniture.

Bookcases for the libraries

[Vladimir_V.]

Strelna

New temporary exhibition on the second floor of the Travel Peter I`s Palace:
Jerusalem voyage of the Grand Duke Konstantin Nicholaevich. 1859.
Of Strelna Travel Palace: http://www.peterhof.org/museums/strelny/ind2.html

[Vladimir_V.]

Reburial of Empress Maria Fedorovna

Program of events (Kronstadt – Peterhof – Tsarskoe Selo – St Petersburg):
http://www.reburial.um.dk/en/menu/ReburialEvents/TheReburialCeremony/ProgrammeOfEventsInRussia/

(from the official website of reburial: http://www.reburial.um.dk/en )

[Mazukov]

Isn’t  fitting that her remains be brought back to be with her family.

[Vladimir_V.]

New exhibition “Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna” (“Manezh” State exhibition hall. St Petersburg) from the collections of Tsarskoe Selo, Gatchina, Pavlovsk and others Russian museums.
7 September – 8 October 2006
Photographs: http://history.gatchina.ru/events/amanege.htm

[Vladimir_V.]

Tsarskoe Selo

The Society of Friends of the State Museum-Preserve 'Tsarskoye Selo'
website in English: http://eng.tzar.ru/str1_eng

[Vladimir_V.]

Peterhof

Maria Feodorovna monument was open today in Peterhof near Cottage (sculptor V.Klykov).
http://www.5-tv.ru/news/12012.html

Pier in Peterhof
http://www.pravda.ru/photo/report/maria-1491/1/
http://www.pravda.ru/photo/report/maria-1491/4/

Gothic chapel
http://www.pravda.ru/photo/report/maria-1491/6/

[Vladimir_V.]

Peterhof

New temporary exhibition in the Museum of Collectors: ‘Danish porcelain in Russia. 1880th-1917’. From the collections of Peterhof, Pavlovsk (from the Alexander Palace), Gatchina museums and others. Porcelain, photographs, documents.
September 26 – November 26
Detailed illustrated catalog was printed.

The tiger from the Nicholas II`s rooms in the Alexander Palace

[Vladimir_V.]

From Peterhof to Strelna on foot

The restoration of the Peterhof Lower Road (from Alexandria to Strelna town) was completed.
You can walk through Znamenka and Michajlovka Parks, visit the Znamenka Palace (there is a cafe).

The floorplans of the Znamenka Palace (it is a rest house today)

http://www.geocities.com/aa468aa2/znamenka2.JPG

[ChristineM]

This is wonderful news Vladimir.   As you know, it has long been my ambition to travel this road.   I had only imagined travelling by car.   Walking is infinitely more interesting and exciting.   How many kilometres?   Do you know?

tsaria

[Vladimir_V.]

Alexandria Park (Admiral House) – Znamenka Palace: 900m
Znamenka Palace – Michajlovka Palace: 2400m
Michajlovka Palace – Konstantinovsky Park: 3100m (not so interesting way as previous two)

(From Peterhof Grand Palace to Znamenka Palace: 3400m)

The vestibule of the Znamenka Palace