Gatchina is the capital of the Leningrad Region. The city is located eight kilometers from St. Petersburg, in a southwestern direction.
History reference
For the first time, the village of Hotchino is mentioned in the annals of 1500. At the beginning of the 17th century, this territory was transferred to Sweden. After the end of the Northern War, the land again transferred to the Russian state.
In 1765, Empress Catherine II Gatchina was presented as a gift to Count Orlov. It was he who became the owner of the Gatchina Palace, built in the style of Italian medieval castles.
After the death of Count Orlov, it became the property of Paul I, who gave the estate the status of a city.
At the end of the 18th century, the Priory Palace appeared here. At that time, it became the only building in Russia, which was used in the construction of earth technology. The palace became the seat of the Order of Malta.
Innovation
After the death of Paul I, the ruling emperors owned the city. The modern capital of the Leningrad region at that time was a place for the introduction of innovative technologies.
It was in Gatchina at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries that a railway was built. The capital of the Leningrad Region has become a test site for a submarine, a military airfield has appeared here, for the first time electric lights in Russia were lit precisely in Gatchina.
The capital of the Leningrad region was captured by the Nazis during the Great Patriotic War. The Gatchina Palace, many other historical buildings were destroyed during the fighting, so restoration work began in the post-war period.
The capital of the Leningrad Region in 1985 receives the first visitors in an updated form, demonstrating all the splendor of a country residence. In 2015, Gatchina was given the status of a city of military glory, which residents are rightly proud of.
sights
What is the famous cultural capital of the republic? The Leningrad region is represented by many interesting places, but Gatchina occupies a special place.
The central attraction of the city is the Great Gatchina Palace, as well as parks, which are included in the palace complex. They are the "birch house", the pavilions of Venus. The city is also proud of the Priory Palace, a park located around Lake Black. Of particular interest is Gatchina Park. In order to fully explore this territory, it will take at least a week.
With its structure, the Gatchina Palace resembles a huge European castle. Ditches of impressive size, a huge parade ground where the emperor hosted the parades, have been restored to their original splendor.
For hours, Paul 1 watched the soldiers march. The emperor was not indifferent to Prussia, whose soldiers transferred to the Russian army.
Inside the palace there is a huge number of halls, magnificent in their decoration. Silver, gold, expensive wood flooring, paintings, stucco molding, a collection of weapons are unlikely to leave anyone indifferent.
The famous Gatchina trout, which was once on the imperial table, can still be caught today in the palace river Parice. In the White Lake in the summer swans swim, there is crucian carp, pike and even roach.
In the Gatchina park, there is also its own underground passage through which you can get into the emergency castle. It is located two kilometers from the palace, in the Priory park. In the palace located on this territory, Paul 1 once presided, gathering the knights of the Order of Malta.
The foundation of the Gatchina landscape is the Connetable arrow, whose height reaches 232 meters.
It becomes clear which capital of the Leningrad Region is rich in numerous architectural monuments of the 18-20 centuries.
Holy places
Currently, the territory of Gatchina houses existing temples and cathedrals. It is here that there is the Cathedral of the Holy Apostle Paul, the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Intercession Cathedral, the church of the Most Holy Life-Giving Trinity.
In addition to Orthodox churches, churches of other faiths function on the territory of Gatchina: the Lutheran Church of St. Peter, the Lutheran Evangelical Church of St. Nicholas. Masses are held in the Catholic Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In addition to the palace ensembles, in this amazing city, tourists can visit the Museum of the History of Gatchina. Of interest is the museum-estate of P. E. Shcherbov, who is fond of caricatures. The Museum of the History of Aircraft Engine Engineering, the Museum of Naval Glory, and the Children's Museum of Postcards offer interesting expositions.
Modernity
How does the Leningrad Region live at present? Cities and areas located near the northern capital are increasingly attracting the attention of potential property buyers. Currently, a district like Gatchina is a combination of old “Khrushchevs” at the entrance, new buildings in the center. The area of the city of Aerodrome is in high demand, it is convenient to leave it on the highway. Locals often work in St. Petersburg, and prefer to live in such a cozy city as Gatchina.
