Strelna This settlement is one of the earliest inhabited places on the southern banks of the Gulf of Finland. It owes its name to a little river Strelka which runs by. Lying opposite Strelna is Island Kotlin where construction works of fortress Kronstadt had been carried out since 1704 under Peter the Great’s supervision. Russian Tsars visited Kotlin frequently, but it was not always possible to go by water there so they used to travel along the coast line. So at first a small wooden house of Peter the Great appeared here.
This palace was used for rest and meals during stops on the way to Krostadt.
The Resting Palace of Peter the Great Peter the Great used to stay in this palace for rest and meals on the way to the fortress Kronstadt and Oranienbaum, where Menshikov’s main summer residence situated. Fortunately, this wooden palace built in 1705-1706 by F. B. Rastrelly was not totally destroyed during the war, and has come down to our days in a pretty good condition. The palace represents one-story building, only 3,1 meters high with mezzanine of 3,7 meters and a gala entrance from the southern side and open terraces and a balcony from the northern side facing the sea. The exterior facades are rather modest, and so are the interiors since they didn't serve as an official residence, but rather a resting palace on the road. Austere decor of 10 rooms contained only tapestries, paintings and mirrors, and tiles.
This palace is a good starting point for the tour of Peterhof palaces, where Peter’s idea to create a sea residence came to pass. The restorers hope that in future they will be able to return the whole architectural composition, including a stone mill, brick and tile yards, conservatories, apiary and other utilities. Konstantinovsky Palace Peter liked the local relief of Strelna with a naturally elevated terrace and conceived to create a majestic royal sea residence here with beautiful cascades, fountains, canals.
He wished for his residence to be even greater then the residence of French King Lue 14 in Versille, and to demonstrate the might of Russian Empire. The initial layout of the palace and park was drawn by Peter himself, as many other of his projects. Rapid construction work didn’t last long, however, as it appeared to be impossible to create a Russian Versille here because water pressure was too low at first. So Peter gifted this maze to his daughter Elisabeth and concentrated his attention on Peterhof where his idea was finally fulfilled. This palace has an interesting and tragic history but with a happy-end.
As time passed this palace changed many owners, was neglected for many years and now it has the second birth as State Palace of Congresses of Russian Federation is situated there now. To suit these needs great construction and renovation works were carried on. Two hundred million dollars were spent on this project, six thousands people were occupied with building and projection at the same time. As a result great palace and park ensemble with canals, ponds and grottos was restored and new objects were created.
The Palace of Congresses of the Russian Federation supervises such important objects as the small helidrom in the West Park and the modern Press-Centre based in the restored building of 1960s on the seashore. It transmits news all over the world. The cottage village called "The Consular Village" with comfortable houses is now ready for guests. The new 4-star hotel is opened in the rebuilt building of the Arctic College. The former Stable Building is now adapted for administrative and household needs.
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