COTTAGE PALACE IN PETERHOF / PETRODVORETS

This former
residence of Emperor Nicholas I (who ruled in 1825-55) is a carefully
preserved mid-nineteenth century house meant to
be a small, but comfortable private home for the
royal family. For Nicholas and his family it was
a safe haven, a refuge from tiring court life in
the nearby splendid palaces and parks of Peterhof.
Only the closest courtiers were invited here, and
the Emperor spent his free time watching ships
sailing on the Baltic Sea and drinking tea on an
open verandah.
In a great public
relations move Nicholas regularly invited
peasants to watch him and his family during tea
parties. Of course, the peasants were more than
flattered and spread the word how human and
family-oriented was their monarch. Yet, in
reality Nicholas' reign was a time of political
oppression and economic backwardness, which
resulted in Russia's disastrous performance in
the Crimean War.
Address: 198903, Petrodvorets
Telephone: 427-7146
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