Author Topic: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo  (Read 42115 times)

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Scott

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Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« on: October 31, 2004, 07:32:52 PM »
Does anyone have recomendations on hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo (not in Petersburg)?

What about the Kochubey Palace?

Is the "hotel" in the Chinese Village still there?  Is it possible for non-Russians to stay there?

Scott

Offline ChristineM

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2004, 07:38:18 AM »
Dear Scott

The accommodation in the Chinese Village is let out as apartments on a long term basis.  

'Hotels' in Pushkin -

Villa Kochubey
The Guest House of St Sophia Cathedral
The Architects' House
The Catherine Palace

Additionally a new, small, hotel has been opened in the square in the centre of Pushkin, if my memory serves me correctly, it is called the 'Natalia'

tsaria

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2004, 12:23:34 PM »
Dear Tsaria,

I never imagined there could be a hotel in the Catherine palace! Do you know which rooms are used?? I can only think of the service wings that close the courtyard...

Arleen_Ristau

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2004, 12:39:08 PM »
Also let us know the prices of a room at the Catherine Palace.....
Arleen

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2004, 02:14:37 PM »
Dear Antonio and Arleen

Before you get too excited - it is not Maria Feodorovna's bedroom and definitely not Catherine IIs (it is still waiting reconstruction.)

The 'Hotel' has been opened in what was once (phonetically) Baza Odeecha.   This area of the former servants' quarters was used as a rest home.   I stayed in it many times before it was converted into a small hotel last year.   I loved it because of its convenience, but most of all because you feel a little part of history.  

If you look at a plan of the Catherine Palace you will see the 'circle' - the former parade ground.   On the western perimeter where the Catherine Park joins the Alexander Park, there is the Golden Gate.   Follow the service buildings to the right and then left.   It is not the building in the corner, but the separate building which runs almost to the Catherine Palace (the Zubov Wing).

I have not seen the rooms since they were converted into hotel accommodation for 2003.   They are ensuite and I believe they cost either $50 per room or per person (I know that is a huge variation - 100% indeed).   I am sorry I cannot remember.  

If you want to make enquiries, I think the best thing is to telephone/fax or e-mail Tsarskoe Selo Museums Administration.

Hope this is of some help.

tsaria

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2004, 03:13:30 PM »
for US readers: "ensuite" in the UK means it comes with private bath...

"The English and Americans are a common people separated only by their language" -Oscar Wilde.
;D

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2004, 04:34:58 PM »
Dear Forum Admin

Many thanks for the translation!

tsaria

Offline Antonio_P.Caballer

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2004, 06:25:05 PM »
Dear Tsaria,

Thanks so much for your quick answer. Now i really think i´ll try to spend if only a few nights in Tsarskoe, even when, i must confess, i´ve always felt a little moody(sad?) every time i´ve remained there after the palace was closed. I´ll never forget the last day i spent in Petersburg, when we took a late train and arrived in Tsarskoe just 15 minutes before the palace closed. I was alone after the last guided group that toured the palace, and when i looked back to the Empress´ enfilade of rooms i saw as one by one the lights were switched off. It was raining, and we remained by the semicircular flight of steps until a man with militar attire came and closed the main entrance door. No one remained inside, and a black cat sat quietly by the door.
I felt as if the whole palace was dead.

helenazar

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2004, 07:02:56 PM »
Quote
Does anyone have recomendations on hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo (not in Petersburg)?

What about the Kochubey Palace?

Is the "hotel" in the Chinese Village still there?  Is it possible for non-Russians to stay there?

Scott


Scott, you can also try emailing the Pushkin Chamber of Commerce  (chamber@lek.ru) to get more information about lodging...



Offline ChristineM

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2004, 05:44:55 AM »
Dear Antonio,

The black cat - he is wonderful.   He has been there since the Imperial Wing was re-opened.   I have lots of photographs of him sitting at the door of the Imperial Entrance.   Its as though he is waiting for the owners to let him in.

The parks remain open after the palaces close.   This is a good time to explore - the Arsenal, the Farm, the Llama Pond and etc.   Be alert, however.   Pushkin is home to a number of military colleges.   Young conscripts, with nothing better to do, roam the parks at night and there has been trouble in the past.

The town of Pushkin is well worth exploring.   None of the grand ducal palaces is open to the public, nonetheless it is interesting to see their exteriors.   The Pushkin City Museum is a great little museum.

There are good cafes, pubs and restaurants.   There is a restaurant in the Admiralty in the Catherine Park which is open in the evenings.   Some of the restaurants can be quite pricey, especially those close to the palaces.   There is a very good restaurant in Sophia in the same street as Villa Kochubey.

I've spent so much time there over the years, it is interesting to observe its slow gravitation towards creating a tourism infrastructure.   Now I would never dream of staying in St Petersburg.

tsaria

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2004, 06:37:26 AM »
Dear Tsaria,

I was very touched by your words about the cat. I think i also took a photo of him, but at that time i must confess that i took the last photographs quite compulsively(if that words may be used...)

I totally agree with you about the city infraestructure. Everything is changing-developing so quickly! Only four years back things were quite different. The restaurant in the Admiralty we frequented, but there are now so many lovely restaurants. The Staraya Bashnia al fresco restaurant is one of my favourites, since you can have dinner so close to the former tennis court, inside the courtyard of the Fyodorovsky Gorodok.

One of the most recently opened, near the palace, is decorated in the old russian style, and there´s a balcony looking over Anna´s house´s backyard.

They´re also building a lot of lovely houses in classic and even a restrained version of russian art nouveau styles. One of them i thought it was simply a dream, since it was at the corner directly in front of the palace gates.

Sadly all these new restaurants are extremelly expensive and. i think, are almost unaffordable(?) for the inhabitants of the city in general. We frequently saw there only mature men with young women, always carrying Louis Vouiton handbags and the like...

And yes, the city museum is quite lovely, the people there always so kind and helpfully!

 

Arleen_Ristau

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #11 on: November 03, 2004, 02:56:47 PM »
To Tsaria and Antonio.....Many thanks for your wonderful descriptions!  I have my big map of Tsarskoe Selo (I mark everything on it) and for the last 20 years my most fervent dream has been to visit there.  Your descriptions bring it so to life for me.  Now sadly I know that I shall never make it.....but you guys make it so real and a person can ALWAYS dream!      ..Arleen

PS Post pictures please....would love to see the black cat waiting......

Offline Antonio_P.Caballer

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #12 on: November 03, 2004, 06:13:08 PM »
Quote
To Tsaria and Antonio.....Many thanks for your wonderful descriptions!  I have my big map of Tsarskoe Selo (I mark everything on it) and for the last 20 years my most fervent dream has been to visit there.  Your descriptions bring it so to life for me.  Now sadly I know that I shall never make it.....but you guys make it so real and a person can ALWAYS dream!      ..Arleen

PS Post pictures please....would love to see the black cat waiting......


Dear Arleen,

Please do not say never. I wish you can go soon to Tsarskoe and see your dream become real. I looked for the photo and here you have. Sadly, i did not take a close up of the cat but i enlarged a fragment of the original photo so you can see him as better as possible...I know, he looks so tiny....


Scott

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #13 on: November 03, 2004, 07:13:15 PM »
As an update, I have emailed the Pushkin Chamber of Commerce, and several people at the Tsarskoe Selo State Museum and have yet to receive any response - to no great surprise.

A friend of mine in Russia is also attempting find out information about hotels in Pushkin.

If anyone finds any additional information on hotels in Pushkin - especially the one at the Catherine Palace - please let me know.  I would like to know about availabiity, number of rooms, cost, reservation procedure, best way to contact, etc.

Arleen_Ristau

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Re: Hotels in Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo
« Reply #14 on: November 04, 2004, 12:59:39 PM »
Joanna, once again you've researched it all!  This is too cool...thank you so much.  Is that the Alexander Palace in the background of the first picture?    ..Arleen