Petergof

  The world-famous palace, fountain and park ensemble of Peterhof is an outstanding landmark of Russian artistic culture of the 18-19th centuries. Founded in the very beginning of the eighteenth century by Emperor Peter the Great not far from his new northern capital St Petersburg, Peterhof was intended to become the most splendid official royal summer residence.
Credit for its creation should go to a great number of eminent architects, artists, and anonymous folk craftsmen. Its wonderful parks, 176 fountains of various forms and styles and four cascades, majestic palaces, numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes, remarkable collections of sculpture, painting and works of the minor arts make Peterhof a veritable gem of art, often called "Capital of Fountains", unique in the world.
Peterhof arose, as if by magic, rivalling in splendour the magnificent park-and-palace complexes of France, Germany, and Italy, and amazed Europe no less than did the newly-built St Petersburg itself. It was regarded as an artistic miracle and as a revelation of the creative abilities of the Russian people. During Peter's lifetime, Peterhof was already a symbol of the blossoming of a young, reformed Russia.
After 1917 the Peterhof ensemble was taken into state custody and turned into architecture and art museum. Nowadays, due to the unforgettable beauty of its fountains, parks and palaces, Peterhof has become the most attractive for numerous Russian and foreign visitors suburban royal park and palace ensemble of the northern Russia's capital. To feel happy, to make their spirits high, people often come to Peterhof and enjoy its magic charms.
The marble obelisk standing near the railing of the Upper Gardens bears the incised number: 29. It marks the distance, in kilometers, between St Petersburg and the splendid Peterhof, formerly a suburban residence of the Russian Emperors and now the world-famous "capital of fountains".
More 3 millions foreign tourists each year visit Peterhof, and are delight, as anything similar in the world is not present more!