Palace Marly appeared in Peterhof after the visit of Peter I to Marly-le-Roi - the residence of Louis XIV in 1717. Experts at all times believed that this is the most elegant, modest and at the same time graceful building of Peterhof.
Location
The Marly Palace (Peterhof) is located on the western section of the Lower Park, almost at its border. To the east of it is Marly Pond, and to the west - Sectorial Ponds.
The building was not planned as an exact copy of the French residence. The Marly Palace (Peterhof) is unique, and only a compositional solution unites it with the French prototype. The emperor borrowed only the idea of the purpose of the complex - a combination of decorative and economic.
Peterhof, Marly Palace: history
The palace was built in 1723. The author of the project was the famous architect Johann Braunstein. At first, he planned the construction of a one-story structure, but later Peter I personally corrected the project, deciding that the palace should be two-story. The idea of the king turned out to be very successful: such a decision helped to make the project complete, proportional, harmonious.
The Marly Palace in Peterhof (you can see the photo in this article) was built in three years. Its main highlight is its location. In front of the light beautiful building there is a man-made pond with an almost even surface, creating a striking picture of a huge mirror in which the palace is reflected. Once upon a time, fish were bred in the pond, which, at the ringing of a bell, swam up to feed.
At the end of the 19th century, cracks appeared on the walls of the palace. In 1899, the building was demolished to the ground and put on a completely new foundation. It should be noted that, despite such a complex reconstruction, the original elements of the structure were preserved.
Destruction of the palace
During the war with the Nazis, the invaders created a firing point in the palace, and then blew it up (1944). After the war, the facades of the building were restored, according to the project of Evgenia Kazanskaya. The internal interiors of the building were recreated under the guidance of A. Gessen. Marly Palace (Peterhof) acquired its original appearance in 1954. The last restoration of the building was carried out in 1982. After its completion, a museum was opened here.
Architecture
The Marley Palace (Peterhof) is an elegant building that was intended for the residence of the highest nobility. Catherine I often lived in Marly with her daughters. For some time, Anna (her eldest daughter) lived here with her husband, the Duke of Holstein. The Marly Palace (Peterhof) hosted the French ambassador Chétardie under its vaults. He contributed to the accession of Elizabeth Petrovna to the throne. In the 19th century in MarlyNicholas I and his wife often stayed, as well as Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaevich.
Thousands of tourists annually seek to see Peterhof. Marly is a palace, the size of which is quite impressive, attracting visitors with its exquisite rigor and elegance.
Its area is 113 square meters. The building is completed by a four-pitched mansard roof, which has complex outlines typical for that period. The Monbijou Palace near Berlin was famous for this form of roofing, so in the forties of the 18th century Marley was often called Monbijou. The beauty of the palace lies not in pomp and luxury, but in harmonious architectural proportions and exquisite decoration. Its eastern and western walls are finished with rustication, and small windows are decorated with original platbands. Balconies with graceful lattices, made in the form of patterns of leaves and monograms, give the building grace.
Interior decoration
All guests are amazed by the Marly Palace in Peterhof. The photo inside the palace does not convey the fullness of the sensations that visitors experience. Only when you visit it you can appreciate the beauty of this building.
On the ground floor there were utility rooms - pantry, secretarial, kitchen. There was no front hall. It was replaced by a lobby. In those days it was called the front hall. The walls of the kitchen are covered with unique hand-painted tiles. And today you can see English pewter and Chinese porcelain utensils preserved from those times.
On the second floor were the Chinar and Oak offices. The most valuable species of plane trees and oak were used in their design. There was also a dining room and a living room, a dressing room and a library, as well as a bedroom. The floor in the latter was pine and the walls were paneled in oak. A small but very valuable collection of paintings by talented artists from Western Europe of the 18th century, unique handmade furniture and a library have survived to this day.
Marly Palace from the middle of the 18th century turned into a memorable relic, where for many years personal belongings and clothes of Peter I were kept.
Garden
During the construction of the palace, the Marlin Garden was also created. Peter I planned to grow fruits in it for the royal table. A large pond divided it into two parts: the garden of Bacchus, located in the southern part, and the garden of Venus, which stretched to the north. In the latter, fruits were grown. They tried to turn the Bacchus garden into a vineyard, but all attempts to get a crop were unsuccessful.
Collections
I must say that in the middle of the 18th century, no one specifically planned to turn the Marly Palace into a house-museum. A unique collection of belongings of the Russian emperor was transferred from the Wooden Palace of Peter I. It was located west of Marly, on the shore of the bay. "For dilapidation" it was demolished under Elizabeth Petrovna.
So they got to Marley: kitchen utensils, a patchwork quilt, which, according to legend, was sewn by Catherine I (now it is storedin the palace of Peter I in Strelna), a silver table set and other things belonging to the Russian emperor.
Currently, the Marley collection consists of unique exhibits - this is the emperor's caftan with an embroidered Order of A. the First-Called, and his naval overcoat, and a table with a "slate" board created by the hands of Emperor Peter himself, and the rarest books. There is also a collection of works by little-known Flemish, Italian and Dutch artists of the 17th century: Storka, Silo, Celesti, Belotti and others.
Fishing
St. Petersburg residents know how interesting fishing is in Peterhof. At the Marly Palace in the Lower Park in the Sectoral Ponds, you can still go fishing today. Everyone is invited to catch a fish, and then pay its cost. All the necessary equipment is provided completely free of charge, as is the assistance of the instructor.
This unusual service (or entertainment) is available from the first half of May until the end of September. When fishing, you can catch a sturgeon with a bait. The bite here is excellent, the catch is guaranteed to everyone. If necessary, the instructor will help adults and children. Literally ten minutes later, the caught fish is on the shore. Only her weight is paid.
When guests catch a sturgeon, and then (optionally) release it into a pond (sport fishing) - only the cost of fishing is paid. You can take the fish with you or cook it in a restaurant located nearby. The sturgeon is baked whole and served at the table. The whole cooking process will not take more than 40 minutes. Readiness of fish guests can expectin the restaurant or go for a further walk through the Lower Park and return to the restaurant at the agreed time.
Marly Palace is one of the most modest buildings in Peterhof, but for many visitors it has become a favorite place. Although the facades of the palace are decorated with rather laconic details, and there are only twelve rooms inside, Marly was and will forever remain the most comfortable and homely of all the luxurious palaces of Peter the Great.
