The charm and beauty of St. Petersburg is not just confined to its centre, but extends to many of the towns which surround it. Their history begins with that of the Royal residences in Tzars Village (Pushkin), Pavlovsk, Gatchina and Oranienbaum (Lomonosov). They create a unsurpassed galaxy of beautiful parks, lakes, park pavilions hidden amidst the trees, graceful statues and gushing fountains.

All the palaces were badly damaged during the Second World War and literally rebuilt from ruins to shine as a gems in a precious necklace around Saint- Petersburg.

Described as the "minor" capital of Russia, Pushkin is the site of the former Royal summer residence. The Palace and Park ensemble of Tsarskoye Selo (Tsar's Village) is a brilliant example of the architectural and gardening skills of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Its three parks occupy 600 acres. The centre of Tsarskoye Selo is the Catherine Palace, a creation of the architect Rastrelli. Its collections contain exquisite objects of applied-art, furniture, Russian and Western-European paintings, unique collections of arms, porcelain and sculpture. It is also the home of the world-famous Amber Room (now being restored).
The Lyceum is where the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin studied, and is situated very close the Catherine Palace.
Tsarskoye Selo was the favourite place of the last Russian Tsar, Nicolas II and his family. The Alexander Palace became the official Royal residence where the Royal family lived permanently from 1905 until the abdication of Nicolas II in 1917.

In 1777, Catherine II began the construction of a superb palace and park in Pavlovsk, 30 km from Saint- Petersburg on the banks of the river Slavyanka. Known as Paul's Palace, the house was built the early-classical style, and was the home of Catherine's son and future Emperor, Paul I and his family. The palace is surrounded by one of the largest landscape parks in Europe which stretches over 600 acres and was created by talented architects and skillful gardeners over a peroid of fifty years. The palace's architecture, interior decorations and collections were put together especially for this Royal residence, and make it a superb example of the harmony of the golden age of Russian culture.

A jewel in the crown of Russian art, this summer residence of the Russian Tsars is a collection of palaces and fountains located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. Like St. Petersburg it was built by Peter I. The Great Peterhof Palace is the centre of the palace and park ensemble. Three ornamental cascading fountains (one of them the famous "Samson" fountain) lead from the palace to the Lower Park which is comprised of 173 fountains and seven palaces: Monplaisir, Catherine's Palace, Marli, the Hermitage, the Benois Family Museum, the Cottage and the Bath Block.
Peterhof is the site of many art festivals, concerts and fancy dress balls throughout the year.

Lomonosov is the next royal summer residence after Peterhof along the shore of the Gulf of Finland. In 1743 a small fortress called Peterstadt was built here along with a small palace by the architect Rinaldi. At the request of Catherine the Great he also constructed the Chinese Palace and the Katalnaya Gorka (the Sliding Hill pavilion). These palaces are a wonderful combination of elegant rococo and classical styles. The Menshikov Palace, exhibition halls in the Kavalersky Block and the Chinese Kitchen Pavilion are well worth visiting. In the middle of the eighteenth century the famous Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov founded here a mosaic manufactory. In 1948 the town was named after Lomonosov.

Gatchina is yet another collection of palaces and parks and was the first landscape park in Europe. The palace was the residence of the Russian emperor Paul I (often described as Russia's most romantic emperor) and Alexander III. The state rooms, exhibitions of Western European and Russian paintings and eighteenth and nineteenth century art collections are open to public. One of the most unusual features of Gatchina Palace is its underground tunnel which leading to a lake some distance from the house. Two unique pavilions can be found in Gatchina Park, the Birch House and the Pavilion of Venus.

This unique nature reserve is situated only 40 km away from St. Petersburg. River canyons, tremendous waterfalls and beautiful limestone and sandstone rock formations provide an impressive landscape. Together with medicinal clays, meadow flowers, fairy-tale forests and of course the caves, it is a truly idyllic place. Its tangled labyrinths of caves with underground lakes and huge caverns stretch for miles. Professional guides will show you stalactites, take you by boat across underground lakes and guide you through the dozens of galleries and caverns.

The first fortress was founded in 1323 on an island at the point where the River Neva flows out of Lake Ladoga. It was built in a strategic position and guarded the borders of the Russian State. The present day fortress was built later at the end of the fourteenth century. For ninety years it belonged to the Swedes, but then in 1702 was taken back by Peter the Great in the course of the Northern War. For two hundred years it was used as a state political prison, where the members of the royal family, political figures and revolutionaries were confined. During the Second World War the fortress was besieged for 500 days but its garrison never gave in. Visitor can see the restored walls and the towers of the fortress, prison buildings, the Secret House and the Bell tower which gives a picturesque view of Lake Ladoga and the banks of the Neva.