Back in the Days. The Grandeur of Russian Empire. Parks and Palaces near St. Petersburg Pavlovsk
I went to Pavlovsk in September 2008 several days after visiting Pushkin. I was very astonished by the Pushkin park and the palace so I decided to visit the other parks as well. Generally, people on excursions visit both towns during one day, because they are very close to each other – but I didn’t know about it that time.
Is there any difference between the parks of Pushkin and Pavlovsk? Yes, there is, but it is quite subtle. The Pavlovsk Palace is perhaps less luxurious and smaller than the Yekaterininsky Palace, and the Pavlovsk Park has more hills than the Pushkin Park and on the whole looks more forest-like, if I may state so. Also, in the Pavlovsk Park I did feel as if I were the great poet Pushkin himself, which, surprisingly, was not the feeling in the Pushkin Park. I do suggest that you visit the two parks (including palaces) on two different days, but preferably there should not be a long period between the two trips, so that you might compare them.
People are not admitted to the Pavlovsk Palace alone, only in groups, if it has not changed by now. There is
no problem with getting there by train or bus, it is about 30 minutes from the St. Petersburg outskirts. If you go there in autumn, there’ll be the different colours for you which make the whole park look more lively and picturesque (I never went to any of the parks during the summer, except for Peterhof – simply didn’t think of it until the autumn).
From the train station it is not a very short distance to the palace, and while going there I saw some other interesting items like the Temple of Friendship, for example. By the way, be informed that all the parks and palaces are not free of charge (except for the Gatchina Park, which is free). The entrance fee is quite low.
The palace, as one can expect, satisfies one’s lust for art to the full extent, with its beautifully decorated rooms, elegant works of art like sculptures, paintings, lamps and what not. You are not granted to use the flash there, and that might make your photos less colourful, depending on your camera. However, some people did ignore that demand and took photos with the flash. There is perhaps the same
set of rooms and halls as in the Yekaterininsky Palace – great halls, dining-rooms, sleeping rooms, cabinets etc. Somewhere at the end of the palace there is a chapel. Also there is a music hall, if my memory serves me right, and I remember that some musicians played there. Now look at the picture of the tiny mischief Amour with his arrow pointing at you. The guide stated that no matter from which angle you look at this picture, the arrow will be pointed straight at you.
In front of the palace there is a statue of the Pavlovsk founder, emperor Pavel I. Now, I definitely can’t apply the word adventurous to these tiny trips of mine to the parks; but they are definitely inspiring you and developing your artistic taste and your cultural background. That’s the cultural tourism, I think. The parks are so peaceful that one simply forgets the troubles and enjoys the scenery.
The park is massive and one has to walk a long way to see the other attractions in it, like the ‘Twelve Paths’, ‘Ruin Cascade’, ‘Monument to the Parents’ etc. Many of them need restoration. The park is a perfect
example of landscaping, just as the Pushkin Park. Funny, I am now looking at the map and it states – “The Most Beautiful Place”. What could that be, I wonder? I didn’t see it that time. Definitely, a perfect title.
So, let us wander for two or more hours round the park and think of the past (and of the future), and of great men of politics, art, literature… At a moment I felt myself back in the XIX century. The hills make the park quite different from the Pushkin Park, I repeat. Just read the titles of the park alleys – “Alley of the Green Woman”, “Alley of the Young Fianc”, “Alley of the Handsome Fellow”, “The Friendly Alley”! The Slavyanka River crosses the whole park and also there are many other smaller ponds and lakes.
I’ve noticed that I’m talking little, if at all, of any events here. I just describe the park a little. To the other side of the palace, there is the Centaurs’ bridge and the Apollo Colonnade – also in a poor condition (as of 2008).
The park is very romantic. I’d be happy to walk there with
my girlfriend some day. I could even state that the Pavlovsk Park is more romantic than the Pushkin Park, I mean the atmosphere. The map shows 49 attractions. There can be no hesitation whether to go there or not – it’s a treasure. 
More Source:
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Submited at Friday, September 10th, 2010 at 2:00 pm on Europe by hilman
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