Gothic motifs of the Tsar's Village

Fog hills

Scotland and the Dark Forests of Bavaria The freshness of northern France and the mystery of the river valleys of the Czech Republic: who among us has not read the historical novels of Walter Scott and Maurice Druon? Who doesn’t care about the heroes of famous ballads? Who among us has not imagined knightly castles and temples in the Gothic style of the late Middle Ages? So mysterious and attractive. But how far all these masterpieces are from St. Petersburg, founded in 1703, in an era when the Middle Ages ended for 200 years. How far is Gothic romanticism from the Tsarskoye Village, founded even later, in 1710. The magnificent Baroque Catherine Palace of Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the restrained nobility of the Giacomo Quarenghi Palace built in classicism, the frivolous charm of the Chinese village of Antonio Rinaldi: this was interesting to the owners of the Tsarskoye Village. Baroque, Classicism, Chinoiserie and Empire: it was fashionable and fresh in the era of crowned residence owners in the XVIII-XIX centuries. And Gothic? What about Gothic? Barbarian style of medieval chivalry. How could he attract Italian, Swiss, and even Scottish architects, who were predominantly educated in Italy, where Gothic was always viewed with suspicion and even arrogance? But, friends, do not rush to conclusions. . Give the Russian nobility a chance. There were in the souls of the most cynical and pragmatic Russian emperors notes of romanticism and interest in chivalry.

The Amber Room and the wonderful Hermitage, the delightful Cameron Gallery and the noble Alexander Lyceum. Let them all stay away a little today. Today we will dispel the fog over the mysterious Gothic castles, towers, temples and pavilions of the Tsar’s Village.

Subjects of study: White Tower, Arsenal, Chapelle, Ruin Tower, Gothic Gate, Pensioner stables, Admiralty, Imperial Farm.

Walking tour of the Alexander and Catherine Park of Tsarskoye Village (Pushkin). The duration of the tour is about 3 hours. Tickets to Catherine Park (150 rubles per adult) are not included in the price of the tour.