This tour takes us to the Catherine Palace and Park. Our coach journey will take approximately one hour to reach Pushkin – formerly known as Tsarskoye Selo (or Tsar’s Village) – which is located 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of St Petersburg. The name Pushkin has been used since 1937. This celebrated Russian poet lived in the town at the beginning of the 19th century and the Lyceum School where he studied is connected to the Catherine Palace by an arch.

The Catherine Palace ranks high on the list of the world’s most beautiful buildings. Rastrelli designed the lavish palace in 1752 for Empress Elizabeth, who named it Catherine Palace in honour of her mother, Catherine I, who originally owned the estate. The stunning turquoise, white and gold Baroque façade stretches 300 metres (1,000 feet) and is adorned with a profusion of atlantes (sculpted figures), columns, pilasters and ornamental window framings. Rastrelli used 100 kilograms of pure gold for the exterior gilding and visitors complained that the palace blinded their eyes on sunny days!

Entering the Palace we will ascend the grand staircase to the staterooms on the first floor. The view of a seemingly interminable succession of staterooms gives the impression of a golden corridor. This splendid passageway prepares us for the opulent décor of the Great Hall. Light streams into this glittering hall, illuminating the mirrors, gilded carvings and the vast ceiling painting. For official receptions and balls the hall was lit with 696 candles set in sconces in front of the mirrors, which must have been some sight.

During our visit to the Catherine Palace, we shall see the famous Amber Room. King Friedrich Wilhelm presented the amber wall panels to Peter the Great in 1717. Rastrelli set narrow pilasters faced with mirrors between the panels and installed a canvas frieze above them, painted to match the amber. The panels were made of small pieces of amber and each weighed 800 kilograms. These works of art were too heavy to dismantle and evacuate to safety in World War II and were looted by the Nazis, who dispatched them to Germany and they were never seen again. Preserved photographs and archives helped the Russian art experts to fashion thin amber pieces to match exactly the originals in shape and colour, thus recreating this legendary work of art. Once again, after 30 years of restoration, visitors can be mesmerised by the wealth and warmth of the amber tones, from lemon yellow to a deep red.

The next ruler to leave her mark on the palace was Catherine the Great. She commissioned the Scotsman Charles Cameron to redesign the Baroque interior according to her neo-classical taste. The Green Dining Room, which will remind us of Wedgwood, is considered to be one of his best.

The 1,400 acres of grounds at Pushkin are dotted with charming pavilions set around the central lake. The romantic landscape of the park is animated with the neo-Gothic Admiralty, Chesma Column, Turkish Bath, Marble Bridge, Chinese Pagoda, the Grotto Pavilion and the Hermitage (not the famous museum).

TOUR NOTES: A lot of walking, including approximately 250 metres (820 feet) to reach the Palace, and standing is involved during this tour and there are approximately 30 stairs to the first floor. No lifts are available. It should be noted that slippers/over shoes have to be worn over our outdoor shoes, to protect the flooring, when visiting Catherine Palace – extra care should be taken as this will make the floor surface more slippery. Journey time is approximately one hour each way.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2009 SCANDINAVIA & BALTIC CRUISES