One of the most imposing structures of classicistic architecture is the Pawlowsk Palace in Csarskoje Zelo, which nothing else means than Village of Csars. In a distance of only 30 kms from St. Petersburg, the palaces of this area have been the winter-residences for the Csars.
The landscape of Pawlowsk was a gift of Catherine the Great to her son Pawel on occasion of the birth of his first son Alexander in 1777. Pawel (later Csar Paul 1rst.) was married twice. His first wife Natalja Alexejewna - Princess Wilhelmina Luisa of Hessen-Darmstadt – died after a short marriage.
In 1776 Pawel married Princess Sophia Dorothea of Württemberg - Maria Fjodorowna.
Although it has been a political marriage and despite his very difficult and choleric character, Pawel and Maria were one of the rare happy couples. Together they had 10 children – 4 sons and 6 daughters -. Two of them were the later Czars, Alexander 1rst and Nikolaus 1rst.
Maria Fjodorowna was a highly educated Princess and her love and interests have been arts and botany. Together with the wellknown architects Charles Cameron, Vincenzo Brenna, Andrej Voronichin, Giacomo Quarenghi and Jean-Francois de Thomons Pawlowsk Palace and the enourmous park have been constructed over a period of about 40 years. The result, a masterpiece of romantic classicism, a perfect symbiosis of arts, nature and living.
Even if you visit this area in summer or winter, the atmosphere of harmony and peace will probably touch you.
In the center of the palace a round cupola with inside the Italian Hall:
… as well as the Throne-Hall with a spectaculous ceiling. The painting gives the impression of being also a cupola, but finally it is a flat ceiling:
Right and left the wings, which are basically identical. It is the decoration, which makes the right wing being the “male” part of the palace and the left wing the “female” part. The interior decoration of Pawel’s wing is thematically oriented to military and contest:
Maria Fjodorowna’s wing more romantic and impressed by her enourmous knowledge of arts and history:
The landscape architecture offers not only long alleys, also hidden corners, pavilions, memorial places, forest areas, flower beds and playgrounds … not ending ground to walk through, to discover the beauty and phantasy of a Czar-couple with a tragic history.
It’s to every of the yearly hundredthousands of visitors to discover this palace … a palace of superlative in such a manifold variety …
For me personally it’s the most beautiful and romantic palace I’ve ever seen – and I hope that my next visit there will be not so far away.
And also I hope that I could awake also your interest to plan a visit there …
Do sswidanja !
Gabi
© text and pictures: GD
Pawlowsk - Csarskoje Zelo
... and last not least, yes, I've taken all photos of my travelogues myself.
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