Gatchina Palace

Gatchina is the odd one among the imperial suburban palaces: built from 1766 by Antonio Rinaldi for Grigory Orlov in local grey limestone rather than stucco and colour, with towers and a moat, so it reads as a castle rather than a baroque residence. Paul I took it over and made it his principal home, adding a parade ground and a military character that suited him. Later Alexander III lived here for most of his reign, which made Gatchina effectively the seat of government in the 1880s. Under the palace runs a stone passage of about a hundred and thirty metres from the cellars out to the Silver lake, built as a private exit; at its far end is a documented acoustic effect, an echo that returns the last syllables of a word clearly enough that guides ask it questions and it appears to answer. The palace was burned in the war and restoration has run since 1976, room by room, and continues.

What you actually see

• The grey stone castle - a palace in local limestone with towers and a moat.
• The underground passage - a hundred and thirty metres from the cellars to the lake.
• The echo - an acoustic effect at the passage end that returns final syllables.
• The residents - Orlov, then Paul I, then Alexander III for most of his reign.

When to go

May to September for the park and lakes. Half a day. The palace is open year-round but restoration closes rooms.

Honest expectations

Restoration is ongoing and a substantial part of the palace is still closed - it is much less complete than Peterhof or Tsarskoye Selo. The passage is visited on the guided route only. The park is large and partly unrestored. Fewer facilities than the other palace towns.

Nearby

The Priory Palace is across the park; St Petersburg is north.