Oranienbaum Palace & Park
Ораниенбаум
A palace complex west of Peterhof that escaped occupation in the Second World War, with Menshikov Palace overlooking the Gulf of Finland and an original Chinese Palace interior.
Oranienbaum (now the town of Lomonosov) lies on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, about 10 km west of Peterhof. The grand palace Menshikov built for himself spreads across a terrace facing the sea. Catherine the Great's Chinese Palace is an exquisite small rococo palace whose chinoiserie decoration, inlaid floors and Glass Bead Room are almost entirely 18th-century originals. This is remarkable among the palaces on the outskirts of St Petersburg, most of which were badly damaged in the war. The park also has the Peter III Palace and the Slide Pavilion. It is much less crowded than Peterhof, making it a good companion for a same-day visit with Peterhof. A suburban train from Baltiysky Station takes about an hour to Oranienbaum-1 station.
Opening hours
Palace 10:30–18:00 (closed Tuesdays; parts closed in winter); park 09:00–20:00
Nearby sights
- Kronstadt Naval Cathedral
- Peterhof
- Lakhta Center
- Gatchina Palace
- Avtovo Station
- New Holland Island
- Mariinsky Theatre
- Yusupov Palace on the Moika