Lomonosov (Oranienbaum)

  The palace and park complex of Oranienbaum is located 39 kilometers south of Saint Petersburg on the south coast of the Finnish Gulf near Kronshtadt. In 1707 Peter the Great gave the grounds near the seaside to Duke Menshikov.
  The architects D. Fontana and G.Shedel built in 1710-1727 the Grand (Menshikov) Palace that was connected by the channel with the Finnish Gulf. At the same time the regular Lower Garden decorated with fountains and sculptures and the Upper Garden were laid out. From 1743 Oranienbaum became the summer residence of Grand Duke Peter Fedorovitch, the heir of Empress Elizabeth (future Emperor Peter III). During the ten-year period V.V.Rastrelli reconstructed the Grand Palace adding beauty to its decor.
  In 1756 -1762 the Petrstadt Fortress ensemble was constructed on the bank of the Karost River for Grand Duke Peter Fedorovitch where a tiny palace and the Gates of Honor with the tower crowned by a spire were erected to the design of A.Rinaidi. In 1762 Empress Catherine II ordered that the suburb residence called "My Own Countryside House" should have been established.
 For that purpose A.Rinaidi created in 1762-1774 the Chinese Palace and the Katalnaya Gorka Pavilion (roller coaster) with a cupola pavilion.