Palace of Marley, Peterhof: history, dimensions and photos

The Marley Palace appeared in Peterhof after the visit of Peter I to Marly-le-Roi, the residence of Louis XIV in 1717. Experts at all times believed that this is the most elegant, modest and yet graceful construction of Peterhof.

Location:

The Marley Palace (Peterhof) is located on the western part of the Lower Park, almost at its border. To the east of it is the Marlinsky pond, and to the west - Sectorial ponds.

The structure was not planned as an exact copy of the French residence. The palace of Marley (Peterhof) is unique, and with the French prototype it is united only by the composition decision. The emperor borrowed only the idea of designating a complex - a combination of decorative and economic.

Peterhof, the palace of Marley: history

The palace was built in 1723. The author of the project was the famous architect Johann Braunstein. At first he planned the construction of a one-story structure, but later Peter I personally corrected the project, deciding that the palace should be two-story. The idea of the king was very successful: this decision helped to make the project complete, proportional, harmonious.

The Marley Palace in Peterhof (photo you can see in this article) was built in three years. Its main highlight is the location. In front of the bright, beautiful building is a man-made pond with almost flat surface, creating a striking picture of a huge mirror reflecting the palace. Once in the pond bred a fish, which by the bell bell swam to feed.

At the end of the XIX century on the walls of the palace appeared cracks. In 1899, the building was dismantled to the ground and placed on a completely new foundation. It should be noted that, despite such a complex reconstruction, the original elements of the structure were preserved.

Destruction of the palace

During the war with the fascists, the invaders created a fire point in the palace, and then blew it (1944). After the war, the facades of the building were restored, according to the project of Eugenia of Kazan. The interior interiors of the building were recreated under the direction of A. Hessen. The Marley Palace (Peterhof) gained its original appearance in 1954. The last restoration of the building was carried out in 1982. After its completion, a museum was opened here.

Architecture

The Marley Palace (Peterhof) is an elegant building intended for the residence of the highest nobility. In Marly, Catherine I and her daughters lived often. For some time Anna lived here (her eldest daughter) with her husband the Duke of Holstein. The palace of Marley (Peterhof) took under its arches the French Ambassador Shetardi. He promoted the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna to the throne. In the XIX century in Marly, Nicholas I often stayed with his wife, as well as Tsarevich Alexander Nikolayevich.

Thousands of tourists yearly see Peterhof. Marley - the palace, the size of which is quite impressive, attracts visitors with its exquisite rigor and elegance.

Its area is 113 square meters. The building is completed by a four-story mansard roof, which has complex outlines, characteristic for that period. This form of the roof was famous for the Monbijou palace near Berlin, so in the forties of the XVIII century Marley was often called Monbijou. The beauty of the palace is not in splendor and luxury, but in harmonious architectural proportions and in exquisite decoration. The eastern and western walls are decorated with rust, and the small windows are decorated with original platbands. Balconies with elegant lattices, made in the form of patterns of leaves and monograms, give the building a grace.

Interior decoration

All guests are impressed by the Marley Palace in Peterhof. Photo inside the palace does not convey the fullness of the sensations that visitors experience. Only at his visit can you appreciate the whole charm of this building.

On the first floor there were business premises - a pantry, a secretarial, a kitchen. The main hall was not here. He was replaced by the lobby. In those days it was called the front hall. The walls of the kitchen are covered with unique tiles hand painted. And today you can see here the preserved English tin and porcelain Chinese utensils.

On the second floor there were the Chinar and Oak offices. In their design, the most valuable breeds of plane trees and oak were used. There was also a dining room and a living room, a dressing room and a library, as well as a bedroom. The floor in the latter was pine, and the walls are paneled with oak panels. Up to now, a small but very valuable collection of paintings by talented artists from Western Europe of the XVIII century, unique handmade furniture and a library has been preserved.

The palace of Marley from the middle of the XVIII turned into a memorable relic, where for many years, personal belongings and clothes of Peter I.

Garden

During the construction of the palace, the Marlin Garden was also established. Peter I planned to grow fruit in it for the royal table. The Great Pond divided it into two parts: the Bacchus Garden, located in the southern part and the garden of Venus, which stretches to the north. In the latter, fruit was grown. The garden of Bacchus was tried to turn into a vineyard, but all attempts to harvest were unsuccessful.

Collections

I must say that in the middle of the XVIII century, no one specifically planned to turn the palace Marley in a house-museum. The unique collection of things of the Russian emperor was moved from the Wooden Palace of Peter I. It was west of Marley, on the shore of the bay. "For the dilapidation," he was demolished under Elizaveta Petrovna.

So in Marley got: kitchen utensils, a patchwork quilt, which according to legend was made by Catherine I (now it is kept in the palace of Peter the Great in Strelna), table silver set and other things belonging to the Russian emperor.

Currently, the collection of Marley consists of unique exhibits - this is the caftan of the emperor with the embroidered Order of A. Pervozvanny, and his naval overcoat, and the table created by the Emperor Peter himself with an "aspidic" board, and rare books. Here is a collection of works of little-known Flemish, Italian and Dutch artists of the XVII century: Storka, Silo, Celestia, Belotti and others.

Fishing

Residents of St. Petersburg know how interesting fishing in Peterhof. At the Marley Palace in the Lower Park in the Sector Ponds, today you can fish. All comers are invited to catch fish, and then pay for its cost. All necessary gear is provided completely free of charge, as well as the help of an instructor.

Such an unusual service (or entertainment) is available from the first half of May to the end of September. You can catch a sturgeon fishing. The creek is excellent, the catch is guaranteed to everyone. If necessary, the instructor will help adults and children. Literally in ten minutes the caught fish is on the shore. Only her weight is paid.

When guests catch sturgeon, and then (if desired) release it into the body of water (sport fishing) - only the cost of fishing is paid. Fish can be taken with you or cooked in a restaurant located nearby. Sturgeon baked whole and served to the table. The whole process of preparation does not take more than 40 minutes. Readiness of fish guests can expect in the restaurant or go for a further walk along the Lower Park and return to the restaurant at the agreed time.

The Marley Palace is one of the most modest buildings in Peterhof, but for many visitors it has become a favorite place. Although the facades of the palace are decorated with rather laconic details, and inside only twelve rooms, Marley was and will remain forever the most cozy and domestic of all the luxurious palaces of Peter the Great.