A post-conference excursion on Saturday, 28 June 2003 will be organised provided there is sufficient interest. Itinerary: Saint-Petersburg - Peterhof - Saint Petersburg.

Peterhof (Petrodvorets) is situated on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, 29 km from Saint Petersburg. Its parks occupy a territory of about 1000 ha. In 1714 on a high littoral teirace a palace was founded (known as upper halls) and behind the palace the Upper Garden was laid out. At that same time constiuction of fountain cascades and sea channels began.

There is a unique system of water-supply of the fountains which is based on the principle of communicating vessels. The fountains are connected by means of a water-main with spiings welling out in the Ropshinsky Heights. It was also the time when the park later named as Lowei was established there. In the middle of the XVIII century the palace was augmented upon the project of the architect Rastrelli. On the steep slope in front of the palace the Giand Cascade of fountains embellished with bronze sculptures and bas-reliefs dedicated to Russia's victories in the Northern war is located. It consists of 64 fountains. The bronze gilded sculptuies are designed by Kozlovsky, Shouhin, Shchedrin and Martos. In the center of the cascade theie is the famous sculptural group "Samson tearing the lion's jaws". At the base of the cascade there are fountains "Volkhov" and "Neva". In the lower park there were constructed the Marli Palace, the Hermitage and the Monplaisir Palace. The Monplaisir became the first pictuie gallery in Russia which contained a large collection of paintings of Dutch and Flemish masters. In front of the palace a garden with a fountain, parterre and several sculptures. The lower park was planned so that eveiy palace had its poition of fountains: the Grand Cascade coresponds to the Grand Peterhof Palace, the Cascade of Dragons coresponds to the Monplaisir, the Cascade of Lions - to the Hermitage, the "Golden Mountain" cascade - to the Marli Palace. Theie aie also two marble fountains in the square which bear lesemblance to the fountain in front of the St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, hence their name, the "Roman" fountains. The Maili Palace is situated on the shore of a pond and opposite it there is the "Golden Mountain" cascade, the steps of which are faced with marble and gilded copper panels. The marble statues decorating the cascade are designed friom the ancient original sculptures or brought in from Italy in 1870. In the park the alleys aie laid out which are also adorned with fountains. Next to the Lower Park there is the Alexandra Park. the tsar residence of the XIX - XX centimes. The Alexandiia is located in the littoial zone and the upper part of the coastal ledge. Theie are hundred-year-old oaks, lindens, maples, poplars as well as tiees from Sibeiia, Kirghizia, the Far East and Europe. The largest building in the Alexandria Park is a three-story cottage, standing on the edge of a steep slope descending to the sea.

http://www.serzh.ru/petergof/index_en.html

Peterhof Grand Cascad

Fountains Big Cascade and Big Palace (Peterhof)

Peterhof's Monplaisir Palace

Cost of excursion to Peterhof - RUR 1800.